How Does the Flow Rate Affect the Optimal Temperature of a CSTR?

The optimal temperature of a continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) is the temperature at which the reaction proceeds at the fastest rate. The flow rate of the feed into the reactor can affect the optimal temperature. A lower flow rate will result in a lower optimal temperature, because there is less heat being generated by the reaction.

Questions

• How does the flow rate affect the optimal temperature of a CSTR?
• What is the relationship between the flow rate and the optimal temperature?
• How can the optimal temperature be calculated for a CSTR with a given flow rate?

Answers

• The flow rate affects the optimal temperature of a CSTR by reducing the amount of heat that is generated by the reaction. A lower flow rate means that there is less feed entering the reactor, and therefore less heat is being generated.
• The relationship between the flow rate and the optimal temperature is inversely proportional. This means that as the flow rate decreases, the optimal temperature will decrease as well.
• The optimal temperature can be calculated for a CSTR with a given flow rate using the following equation:

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  optimal_temperature = initial_temperature – (heat_of_reaction / reaction_rate) * flow_rate
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