ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates some basic methods that are used for calculating many different classes of chemical reactions typical in industrial situations by using MATLAB®. Most industrial chemical processes involve some kind of catalyst in order to increase the reaction rates. The behavior of heterogeneous catalysts can be significantly influenced by the rate of heat and mass transfer to and from the sites in the catalyst where the reaction occurs. It is difficult to generalize chemical reaction kinetics because almost every reaction is unique, characterized by a specific chemical model, involving one or more phases, and invariably taking place in one of a great variety of reactor configurations. Problems in chemical kinetics and the design and analysis of chemical reactors are nonlinear and therefore require the solution of complicated algebraic and differential equations by numerical methods, which can be performed well by MATLAB programs. In this chapter, various chemical reaction engineering models and algorithms as well as corresponding MATLAB programs are provided. Throughout this chapter, differential and integral methods are used primarily in analyzing reactor data. In this chapter, various aspects of chemical reaction engineering are covered, including reaction rates, continuous-stirred tank reactor, batch reactor, plug-flow reactor, packed bed reactor, membrane reactor, bioreactor, and nonisothermal reactions.
