| abstract |
In stirred tank chemical reactors, the average age of the reactor contents affects many properties of the product including, for example, product homogeneity. The average age of the reactor contents can be determined by constructing a transparent model of the reactor and filling the transparent model of the reactor with a fluid containing a fluorescent dye and having flow properties comparable to those of the reactor in use. Light is shone on the fluid as it is agitated under reaction conditions and the clarified fluid flows into the form. Images of the reactor contents were taken, and the average fluid age of the contents of the model was determined relative to the outlet age of the contents. This method can be applied to determine eg which reactor port to use, what agitator to use, what flow rate to use to improve reactor function. |