ABSTRACT
The chemical reactor has been elevated to the position of being arguably the most important unit to optimise within a chemical processing plant. There are three main types of chemical reactor namely: batch; continuous; semi-batch or semi-continuous. Batch and semi-batch reactors operate in various degrees of unsteady state. Batch reactors are relatively easy to describe since the variable and unsteady operating parameter is the concentration and all material is contained within the reactor during operations. Simple kinetic equations can therefore be used to describe the course of reaction. In the case of semi-batch reactors, however, some materials which are charged to the reactor remain there for the course of the reaction, but others may be added and/or removed continuously. Continuous reactors, as their name implies, operate under steady-state conditions, feedstock and product being added and removed respectively at a steady rate.
