A model for imperfect mixing in a CSTR

Abstract

When a chemical reaction is carried out in a continuously stirred tank reactor, the behavior may be significantly affected by the efficiency with which the entering chemicals are mixed with the main contents of the reactor. We have developed a model for this effect which assumes that a feed of premixed chemicals remains for a while in totally segregated packets before they are rapidly and perfectly mixed with the rest of the system. The time of this initial segregation is affected by the efficiency of stirring in the reactor. The model has been tested by computations on a mechanism developed by Roelofs et al. for a reaction which would oscillate even in a closed system. It has also been tested by computations on the rapid autocatalytic oxidation of cerous ion by bromate in the presence of a small amount of bromide. The results are qualitatively consistent with effects observed experimentally and in computations with other models including a somewhat similar one by Kumpinsky and Epstein. More quantitative tests should recognize the difference whether two streams of chemicals enter the reactor independently or are premixed before they do so.