Optimal operating conditions for reactor-separator-recycle system

Abstract

Characteristic equation (CE) for the Reactor-Separator-Recycle (RSR) system is obtained using geometrical methods. Total yield is selected as the objective function of the complex reaction in two-dimensional concentration space. CE for RSR system can be separated into Plug Flow Reactor (PFR) and Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactor (CSTR) based CEs. By combining CE curves of RSR system with the attainable region boundary curves, optimal operating conditions of RSR system for maximal total yield can be conveniently determined. Besides consecutive reaction, application of CE for RSR system can also be extended to other kinds of complex reaction processes.