Effect of partial segregation on conversion in continuous stirred‐tank reactors

A model is described which accounts for partial segregation in continuous stirred‐tank reactors by considering packets circulating within a completely micromixed continuous regime. The packets have a nonideal residence time and concentration distribution. Mass transport occurs between these packets and the continuous phase of uniform composition in proportion to their concentration gradients. Laplace transformed tracer responses establish the diffusion and mixing parameters. Over 90% of the system is segregated in unstirred aqueous solutions. Addition of polymer increases segregation by over 40% at a 100 rev/min stirrer speed.