ABSTRACT
The plug flow and the complete backmix flow—are conceptually ideal extreme propositions. In a real reactor, the flow will certainly lack the complete order hypothesized in a plug flow. Briefly, different fluid elements spend different finite amounts of time inside a real flow reactor. Analysis of the distribution of residence times, therefore, is central to the understanding of the performance of real reactors. Real reactors are characterized by residence time distribution (RTD) functions different from those presented for ideal reactors. For a real reactor, the RTD function is to be determined experimentally. This is done by feeding a known amount of tracer into the reactor in a known fashion and measuring the amount of tracer that comes out of the reactor at different times. RTD tells us about the time the different fluid elements spend inside the reactor.
