Determination of the Residence Time Distribution Function in a Continuous Stirred Tank Reactors

Residence time distribution of a CSTR and a series of four CSTR in a laboratory scale rig have been carried. The water exit fluid coming from the single CSTR or from the 4 CSTR is passed into a measuring cell containing a conductivity sensor connected to a conductivity meter. Tracer injections are pulse and step input. The pulse input is realised by injecting a certain amount of the tracer (aqueous solution of KCl, about 2 cm(3)) at the inlet of the flow-mixing system by means of a syringe, whereas the step input is performed by injecting continuously at the inlet of the flow-mixing system under consideration, a constant rate of 5-6 g/minute by using a peristaltic pump. For the single stirred tank and for the four stirred vessels in series, experimental impulse and step curves were compared with ideal responses.