Page 47 - Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering Ebook

18 Mole Balances Chap. 1

Volume Price Volume Price
5 Gallons $80,000
(wastebasket) (2 Jacuzzis)
i
50 Gallons $143,000
(garbage can) (8 Jacuzzis)
500 Gallons $253,000

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cooling jackets Product
Figure 1-11 Battery of stirred tanks. [Excerpted by special permission from
Chern. Eng., 63(10), 211 (Oct. 1956). Copynght 1956 by McGraw-Hill, Inc., New
York, NY 10020.1

the comparable size of a familiar object) and costs for batch and CSTR reac-
tors. All reactors are glass lined and the prices include heating/cooling jacket,
motor, mixer, and baffles. The reactors can be operated at temperatures between
20 and 450°F and at pressures up to 100 psi.
The CSTR can either be used by itself or, in the manner shown in Figure
1-11, as part of a series or battery of CSTRs. It is relatively easy to maintain
good temperature control with a CSTR. There is, however, the disadvantage
that the conversion of reactant per volume of reactor is the smallest of the flow
reactors. Consequently, very large reactors are necessary to obtain high
conversions.
If you are not able to afford to purchase a new reactor, it may be possible
to find a used reactor that may fit your needs. Previously owned reactors are
much less expensive and can be purchased from equipment clearinghouses
such as Universal Process Equipment or Loeb Equipment Supply.