DETERMINATION OF THE MICROMIXING LEVEL IN A CSTR - TRANSIENT STEP RESPONSE OF REACTIVE TRACERS

An experimental technique for the determination of the level of micromixing in a CSTR is proposed. The technique involves the generation and the analysis of the transient step response of reactive tracers with nonlinear kinetics. Two existing micromixing models, a two-environmental model based on the spectral interpretation of turbulent mixing and Toor's hypothesis, are used to develop the predictive equations for the determination of the limits and the level of micromixing. The effects of the initial reactants concentration ratio, the intensity of mixing and the Damkohler number on the level of micromixing, predicted by the two models, are then compared.