Dead volume and short-circuit diagnostics
Residence time distribution and chemical reactor efficiency

Primary processing of residence time distribution curves enables us to estimate the average residence time of the fluid in the reactor. In most cases, the reactor volume V _R is known, and if the flow rate Q through the reactor can be measured, it is necessary to check whether the mean residence time calculated from the distribution curve is identical to the ratio of V _R /Q, which is known as the geometric residence time.

If the values obtained are equal, the reactor is operating correctly.

On the other hand, if the average residence time is less than the geometric residence time, this may be due to the presence of a dead volume. This is because the volume drained by the fluid is smaller than the reactor volume.

Conversely,...