ERROR IN HANDLING FINITE CONVERSION REACTOR DATA BY DIFFERENTIAL METHOD

The error introduced by using the differential method to handle reaction rate data from reactors operated at finite conversion in order to establish the rate equation is considered. A general method of evaluating this error is developed and several of the more typical kinetic models are analyzed. The results show that even for reversible reactions and for kinetics of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood type with strong adsorption of reactants or products the differential method can be used up to rather large conversions, about 15% for most cases. Although the results are developed for plug-flow tubular reactors, they can easily be extended to batch systems. © 1969.