How to determine the reaction volume
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I would like to ask an expert: For a reaction vessel, how can one determine its reaction volume? What size is appropriate for this vessel to ensure proper progress of the reaction?
As for the gap reaction, no need to say more； The volume V of a reactor operating continuously is usually determined by the feed flow rate F of the reactants into the reactor and the residence time T of those reactants within the reactor. The formula for this is as follows: V = FXT/N, where N is the loading factor of the reactor, which is determined depending on the type of reaction; one can find more details on this in books related to reaction engineering.
Okay, thumbs up – it’s helpful to me, thank you!
The filling factor of the reactor is generally determined with process safety in mind. It’s not as the original poster said; it’s a matter of the manufacturing process to be considered. Theoretically, the loading factor does not affect the process results. But in fact, it does have an impact. For example, if too much or too little material is added, resulting in the mixing device not functioning properly or a reduced mixing effect, then it is necessary to consider adjusting the amount of material used. However, I personally think this is a process issue.
The reactor volume should be related to the processing capacity and the reaction rate; when the processing capacity remains constant, a higher reaction rate requires a shorter residence time, and thus a smaller reactor volume is needed； A low reaction rate and a long required residence time result in a large required reaction volume. Of course, the actual situation will be very complex, but it’s roughly this idea.
I agree with what was said on the fifth floor: for reactors, it is mainly determined by the reaction time and the processing capacity, and there are also many intermediate tanks whose volume can be determined based on empirical residence times.
Maybe I didn’t express myself clearly. I’m referring to a tank with a fixed volume; if it is used as a reaction vessel, what is the loading factor? For example, in a 10,000-liter tank used as an intermittent reaction vessel, how much material can I put inside it at most?