Plug Flow Reactor (PFR)

Chemical Engineering

How It Works

A Plug Flow Reactor (PFR) models steady-state continuous fluid flow through a tubular conduit with negligible axial mixing and complete radial diffusion. As fluid packets traverse along the reactor length, reactants are progressively converted into products at a rate dictated by local concentrations. Consequently, a continuous concentration gradient develops along the axial coordinate, achieving higher conversions per unit volume than a single stirred tank of equivalent volume.

Governing Equation
dF_A / dV = -r_A = -k · C_A