234 Chapter 3

DL
L/Lp = i= 1 +ktp—uL = 1 +k-cpDL 1

cp UL
ud eD* dp
For a packed bed, Peclet number Pe = = 2 or = 7 Furthermore, DL for the empty
eDP'
—

tube may be replaced by eD*L. That is,

dp 1
LI = 1 ±kT P - 2

From Eq. (B),

CAin
kip =
CA
CAI r, 1 dp
L/Lp = 1 ± In__
CA ) 2 L
Thus, for 99% conversion C c.6,t =0+ and = 0.02.
Therefore

L/L p = 1 +111(100 x x 0.02) = 1 +0.046

That is, effect of axial dispersion would be to increase length of plug flow reactor by 4.6%.

3.6.1.2.3 Axial and Radial dispersion—Nonisothermal Conditions

When the reactor exchanges heat with the surroundings, radial temperature gradients exist
and this promotes transverse diffusion of the reactant. For an exothermic reaction, the
reaction rate will be highest along the tube axis because the temperature there will be
greater than at any other radial position. Reactants, therefore, will be rapidly consumed at
the tube center resulting in a steep transverse concentration gradient causing an inward
flux of reactant and a corresponding outward flux of products. The existence of radial
temperature and concentration gradients, of course, renders the simple plug flow approach
to design inadequate.

It is now essential to write the mass and energy balance equations for the two dimensions z
and r. For the sake of completeness, we will include the effect of longitudinal dispersion and
heat conduction and deduce the material and energy balances for one component in an
elementary annulus of radius or and length Oz. We assume that equimolar counterdiffusion
occurs, and by reference to Fig. 3.25, write down, in turn, the components of mass, which
are entering the element in unit time longitudinally and radially:
Moles entering by longitudinal bulk flow = 27rrara(Y),
Moles entering by transverse diffusion = r2rrdz r (M
Moles entering by longitudinal diffusion = r2rroz(-Dz