
210 Green Chemical Engineering
3.2.3.4 RTD as a Diagnostic Tool
RTD functions (F-curve or E-curve) for ideal CSTR and ideal PFR serve as signatures with
which the RTD obtained for any reaction vessel can be compared to get an idea about the
extent by which the actual reactor deviates from the ideal reactor. For example, the sketches
of the F-curve and the E-curve obtained for some reaction vessel shown (by dotted lines)
in the Figures 3.52 and 3.53 indicate signicant deviation from the RTD plots of both ideal
CSTR and ideal PFR. This clearly shows that the reaction vessel is highly non-ideal. Thus,
RTD serves as a simple diagnostic tool to nd ...