RE 401: Residence Time Distribution

Objective
To determine the residence time distribution in the given configuration for pulse and step inputs.
Concept
The main objective of this experiment is to introduce the concept and measurement of residence
time distribution and to emphasize its use in the reactor design. The three basic reactor models
viz., batch, back mix (CSTR) and PFR are based on ideal concepts. We often apply these models
to determine the conversion and other parameters. However, owing to non-ideality prevalent in
the 'real' systems, the conversion obtained may not be the true conversion. How do we account
for this non-ideality? The residence time distribution (RTD) or more precisely the E(t) function
may be looked upon as a correction factor to account for the non-ideality. The causes of nonideality could be channeling and back mixing in the case of a PFR and dead zones and nonuniform mixing in the case of a CSTR.
Theory
Imagine that 10 atoms are injected in a PFR in a short time. Since, there is no axial mixing in the
PFR, ideally all these atoms should come out of the reactor at the same time. However, this is not
the case with the real system. Different atoms take different time to come out of the reactor. The
time the atoms have spent in the reactor is called the residence time and the distribution of the
various atoms coming out of the reactor with respect to time is called the residence time
distribution. RTD can be determined experimentally by injecting an inert chemical, molecule, or
atom, called tracer, into the reactor at some time t = 0 and then measuring the tracer
concentration 'C' in the exit stream as a function of time. Pulse and step inputs are the two
commonly used methods of injection.
Pulse Input
In a pulse input, an amount of tracer No is suddenly injected in one shot into the feed stream
entering the reactor in as short a time as possible. The outlet concentration is then measured as a
function of time. The effluent concentration-time curve is referred to as the C curve in the RTD
analysis. If we select an increment of time t sufficiently small that the concentration of tracer,
C(t), exiting between time t and t+ t is essentially constant, then the amount of tracer material,
N, leaving the reactor between time t and t + t is
N = C (t) v t (1)

Where, v is the effluent volumetric flow rate. In other words, N is the amount of material that
has spent an amount of time between t and t + t in the reactor. If we now divide by the total
amount of material that was injected into the reactor, No, we obtain

N
= C(t)v t / No (2)
No

which, represents the fraction of the material that has a residence time in the reactor between
time t and t + t.
For a pulse injection we define
E(t) = vC(t)/ No . (3)
so that
N
= E(t) t
No

(4)

This quantity E(t) is called the residence time distribution function. It describes in a quantitative
manner how much time different fluid elements have spent in the reactor.
Re-writing the above equations in the differential form,
dN = vC(t)dt

.. (5)

and integrating, we obtain

No = vC(t)dt

(6)

The volumetric flow rate v is constant, and so we can define E (t) as:

E(t) = C(t) / C(t)dt

(7)

The integral in the denominator is the area under the C curve.

Step Input
Consider a constant rate of tracer addition to a feed that is initiated at time t = 0. Before this time
no tracer was added to the feed. Thus, we have
C0(t) = 0
C0(t) = C0

t<0
t 0

(8)

The concentration of the tracer in the feed to the reactor is kept at this level until the
concentration in the effluent is indistinguishable from that in the feed; the test may then be
discontinued.
The output concentration from a vessel is related to the input concentration by the convolution
integral:
t

Cout(t) = Cin (t-t')E(t')dt'

(9)

Because the inlet concentration is a constant with time, C0, we can take it outside the integral
sign. Thus,

Cout(t) = C0 E(t')dt'

(10)

Dividing by C0 yields
t
Cout

= E(t')dt'
C0 step 0

. (11)

Thus, the normalized concentration vs. time profile gives the F curve. The relation between E(t)
and F(t) is:
dF(t)
= E(t) .
dt

(12)

For a laminar flow reactor, the velocity profile is parabolic with the fluid in the center of the tube
spending the shortest time. By using a similar analysis as shown above, we obtain the complete
RTD function for a laminar flow reactor as:
t < /2
t /2

E(t) = 0
E(t) = 2/2t3

(13)

(14)

We can also determine the mean residence time:

tm =

tC(t)dt t C t
=
C t
C(t)dt

The variance of residence time is defined as:

2 =

t i2 Ci t i

C t
i

2 =

tm2

. (15)

.. (16)

tm2

The Dispersion number is defined as D/uL and is given by:

2

2
tm2

D D
=2
-2
(1-exp(-uL/D))
uL uL

(17)

Apparatus
Outline of the Experimental Set-up
To online data
acquisition system
Conductivity
probe

CSTR

Conductivity probe

L
F
R

Water inlet

To drain

Step &/or pulse input

Figure 1: RTD-I Experimental Setup

Water inlet
Step &/or pulse input
To online data
acquisition system

CSTR
Conductivity probe
To drain

Figure 2: RTD-II Experimental Setup

The set-up for RTD-I consists of one PFR (LFR) and one CSTR connected in series. The set-up
for RTD-II consists of single CSTR. Two reservoirs are provided for the continuous phase
(water) and tracer (dilute NaOH solution) respectively. Peristaltic pumps are used to pump the
water and tracer to the reactor/s. The dispensing mode available with the pumps can be used to
give a pulse input. The concentration at the exit of the reactor/s is/are monitored by conductivity
probes.

Procedure

1.
2.
3.
4.

Check whether both the reservoirs (water and tracer) are full.
Measure the volume of the reactors in the given configuration.
Adjust the flow rates of both the fluids so that they are in the given range of residence time.
Start the flow of water through the reactors and allow the system to attain steady state (w.r.t.
flow rate).
5. For step input study, start the flow of water through the reactors and allow steady state to be
attained.
6. Purge the tracer pump tubing with the solution from the reservoir. Ensure that the flow rate is
the same as started with.
7. At a particular time instant, stop the flow of water and simultaneously start the flow of tracer.
8. Note down the conductivity values w.r.t. time at every 10 sec. intervals initially, followed by
30 sec. intervals later when the change in the conductivity values is not rapid.
9. Continue till the conductivity values become steady.
10. Prepare about 100 ml of 5 N NaOH solution for pulse input study.
11. Purge the pump tubing (to be used for dispensing) with the prepared solution.
12. Activate the dispensing mode on the pump and set the quantity to dispense. Set the flow at the
maximum value so that the set quantity will be dispensed at the maximum flow rate, thus,
acting as a pulse input.
13. At a particular time instant press the 'start' button on the pump and simultaneously start the
'stop watch'. Prior to dispensing, ensure that the valve on the feed line is open.
14. Note down the conductivity w.r.t. time at every half residence time intervals. Initially (till two
residence times) note down the values at every 10 sec time intervals. The time span can be
eventually increased when the change in conductivity is not rapid.
15. Continue till the conductivity values attain or approach back the initial values.
Calculations
Pulse Input

1. Plot concentration (conductivity) C vs. t.

2. Calculate E(t) using equation 7.
3. Calculate Etheo(t):
Etheo (t ) =
Etheo (t ) =

(LFR)

2t 3
1

exp( t )

(CSTR)

4. Plot Eexp(t) and Etheo(t) vs. t.

5. Calculate the mean residence time (tm).
6. Calculate variance (2), 2 and D/uL using equations 15-17 [only in the case of LFR]
7. Calculate and plot Eexp(t) and Etheo(t) for given configuration.

Step Input

1. Plot concentration (conductivity) vs. t.

2. Evaluate Ftheo(t) using equation 12.
3. Plot Fexp(t) i.e. C/C0 and Ftheo(t) vs. t.
4. Differentiate this with respect to t to obtain Eexp(t).
5. Plot Eexp(t) vs. t.
6. Evaluate Ftheo(t) for given configuration and plot Ftheo(t) and Fexp(t) vs. t.

Results

Single Reactor

tm
D/uL

Configuration