Optimization of chemical reactor networks with respect to flow configuration

In Ref. 1, Jackson treated for the first time an optimization problem in which changes in chemical reactor performance were related to small changes in the mixing pattern or flow configuration. His algebraic structure could handle arbitrary kinetic schemes, but had the severe limitation in that onlyglobal mixing in the reactor network was considered. In the present paper, it is shown how the approach can be further generalized to take into accountlocal mixing in the network, by introducing continuous-stirred tank reactors of given volume at a newly defined type of nodal point. Relatively simple algebraic equations are derived, which can be used as a basis for optimizing performance by successive adjustments in the mixing pattern. Finally, the new equations are applied to a simple example, and the results are shown to agree with those obtained by direct calculation.