Palestine Polytechnic University

College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Renewable Energy Engineering

Principles of Mass and Energy Calculations

Modeling Project

Supervisor: Prof. Maher Al-Jabari

Anan Rjoub 185262

Problem Description
A CSTR reactor with variable liquid height is used for a first-order reaction A ->
B. The reactor has a 0.5 m diameter and a total height of 2 m. The inlet flow
rate is 90 L/min, and the outlet flow rate is governed by the Bernoulli equation.
Initially, the tank is filled to 1/10th of its height with a reactant concentration of
0.2 mole/m³. At time t=0, the inlet concentration is increased to 1 mole/m³ and
remains constant.

Figure 1: Process Sketch

Assumptions:
* The tank is perfectly mixed, leading to uniform concentration
throughout the liquid.
* Reaction rate follows first-order kinetics.
* Heat of reaction is negligible.
* No heat transfer to the surroundings.
* The constant K' in the Bernoulli equation is known.

Solution:
We want to apply total and component mass balance equations to this
process:
T.M.B:

2
 Accumulation=(in-out) +(generation-consumption)
Generation= 0, No generation
Consumption=0, No consumption
𝑑𝑚
Accumulation = = 𝑚. 𝑖𝑛 − 𝑚. 𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑑𝑡

But, m= ρ *V
where the density (ρ) is constant
𝑑𝑣
= 𝐹𝑖𝑛 − 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑑𝑡
However, in our case, the volume of the reactor changes with the
height of the liquid, so we relate the volume to the height of the liquid in
the tank. The volume V is a function of the height ℎ
V= A*h
A=D2/4 *π
A=(0.5)2/4 * π = 0.196 m2
Where:
A: Area of the reactor(m2).
h: The height of the reactor(m).
Fin: Flow rate in (m3/min).
Fout: flow rate out (m3/min).
D: Reactor Diameter(m).

𝑑𝐴ℎ
= 𝐹𝑖𝑛 − 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑑𝑡

𝑑ℎ
𝐴 = 𝐹𝑖𝑛 − 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑑𝑡

𝑑ℎ 𝐹𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑡
= −
𝑑𝑡 𝐴 𝐴

3
 The inlet flow Fin is given as 90 L/min, which needs to be converted to
cubic meters per minute for consistency of units:
Fin=90 L/min×1000 m3/L=0.09 m3/min

The outlet flow Fout is given by the modified Bernoulli equation:

Fout=K′⋅h0.5

Since K′ has been provided as 0.750 L/(min*m0.5), we need to convert to

m3/(min*m0.5):
K′=0.75 L/(min*m0.5) ×1000 m3/L= 0.00075 m3/(min*m0.5)

Substituting the values of A and K′, and incorporating into the mass
balance, we have:

𝑑ℎ 4
= (𝐹𝑖𝑛 − 𝐾 ′ ∗ √ℎ )
𝑑𝑡 𝜋𝐷2

Substituting the values of all parameters, we have:

𝑑ℎ
= 0.457 − 3.8 ∗ 10−3 ∗ √ℎ
𝑑𝑡

Where @t=0 h=0.1 m

4
Now: C.M.B for A:
Given:
• Fin=90 L/min = 0.090.09 m³/min (since 1 L = 0.001 m³)
• K′=0.75 L/(min·m⁰·⁵) = 0.000750.00075 m³/(min·m⁰·⁵)
• k=0.033 min⁻¹
• CAin is the concentration in the inlet stream after t=0, which
is 1 mole/m³
• CA0 is the initial concentration of A in the tank, 0.2 mole/m³
• D=0.5 m is the diameter of the tank

We will start by writing the general mass balance equation and then
specify the equations for the given system

𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑖𝑛 − 𝑜𝑢𝑡 + 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

generation=0, A is the reactant.

The general mass balance for A:
𝑑𝑉.𝐶𝐴
= 𝐹𝑖𝑛 ∗ 𝐶𝐴𝑖𝑛 − 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑡*𝐶𝐴 − 𝑉 ∗ 𝑟𝐴
𝑑𝑡

Given that the reaction is first-order, the reaction rate rA =k⋅CA, and
Fout= K′*√ℎ ,V=h*A , A is constant, the component balance equation
becomes:
𝑑ℎ.𝐶𝐴
𝐴 = 𝐹𝑖𝑛 ∗ 𝐶𝐴𝑖𝑛 − (𝐾 ′ ∗ √ℎ)*𝐶𝐴 − 𝑉 ∗ 𝑘 ∗ 𝐶𝐴
𝑑𝑡

Applying chain rule to the derivative; we have:

𝑑𝐶𝐴 𝑑ℎ
𝐴 (ℎ ∗ + 𝐶𝐴 ∗ ) = 𝐹𝑖𝑛 ∗ 𝐶𝐴 − (𝐾 ′ ∗ √ℎ) ∗ 𝐶𝐴 − 𝑉 ∗ 𝑘 ∗ 𝐶𝐴
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

5
 𝑑𝐶𝐴
Rearrange the equation for :
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝐶𝐴 𝐹𝑖𝑛 ∗ 𝐶𝐴𝑖𝑛 (𝐾 ′ ∗ √ℎ) ∗ 𝐶𝐴 𝐶𝐴 𝑑ℎ

= − − (𝑘 ∗ 𝐶𝐴 ) − ∗
𝑑𝑡 𝐴∗ℎ 𝐴∗ℎ ℎ 𝑑𝑡

With initial condition @t=0:

CA=0.2 mole/m3 h=0.1 m

Results
1-Excel Results:

Figure2: Excel Data

6
 Figure3: Excel chart for Hight vs Time.

Figure4: Excel chart for concentration vs Time.

7
2-Mathmatica:

Figure 5: Mathematica solution.

Figure 6: Mathematica Curve

8
Discussion
• Predict if flooding of the reactor will occur:
As shown in the figure below, the height of the water increases until
reach above 2 m which is the height of the reactor.

Excel chart for Hight vs Time.

• What is the effect of reaction constant (k) and the flow rate
constant K’:
Reaction Constant k:
Higher k: Faster reaction rate, leading to quicker consumption of reactant A and a
lower steady-state concentration of A in the reactor.
Lower k: Slower reaction rate, resulting in slower consumption of reactant A and a
higher steady-state concentration of A in the reactor.
Flow Rate Constant K′
Higher K′: Increased outlet flow rate, potentially leading to faster changes
in liquid height and a higher risk of flooding or draining if not balanced by
the inlet flow.
Lower K′: Decreased outlet flow rate, resulting in slower changes in liquid
height and a reduced risk of flooding, but potentially leading to higher
residence time and potentially higher reactant concentration if the
reaction is slower.

9
Conclusion
In conclusion, the mathematical modeling of the CSTR has
demonstrated that the reactor's behavior is highly sensitive to changes in
the reaction rate constant k and the flow rate constant K′. Higher k values
accelerate the consumption of reactant A, potentially lowering its steady-
state concentration, while higher K′ values increase the outlet flow,
affecting the reactor's liquid height and the risk of flooding. The balance
between these parameters is crucial for the efficient and safe operation of
the CSTR.

10