A Mathcad‐based educational experience to address the design of nonisothermal plug flow reactors

Abstract

Mathcad is a simple-to-use and intuitive mathematical software that helps students to minimize the mathematical difficulties involved in solving engineering problems. The design of nonisothermal plug flow reactors (PFR) is a fundamental issue within the field of chemical reaction engineering; however, its teaching-learning process is hindered by students' mathematical difficulties in solving ordinary differential equations. In this paper, the software Mathcad was conveniently integrated into an educational experience through the resolution of two real case studies. In the first one, a simple liquidphase reaction is considered in a PFR working at different operating conditions, whereas the second case evaluates a PFR taking place multiple reactions (parallel reactions) with a heat exchanger attached. The assessment of this experience, which was held into two 5-h Mathcad workshops, revealed that Mathcad made the design of non-isothermal PFR more appealing, facilitated the understanding of the design process, and brought another dimension to the way the students perform complex calculations.

A New Algorithm For Solving Thermal Newtonian Flow In Axisymmetric Straight Channel

“…Understanding this twoway coupling is essential to comprehensively analyze and optimize these systems. In recent years, heat transfer and its impact on fluid flow have been extensively studied due to its fundamental importance in various branches of engineering [1][2][3]. The application of engineering design procedures to non-isothermal laminar flow of viscous Newtonian incompressible fluids forced through channels or tubes at a temperature different from that of the fluid is challenging.…”