A design algorithm for batch stirred tank transesterification reactors

A 50 L per batch, stirred tank reactor, suitable for carrying out transesterification of vegetable oils was designed and constructed. The major design assumptions included stainless steel plate thickness of 2 mm, reaction temperature of 60–65 °C and an initial/final fluid temperature of 25/70 °C. The calculated impeller Reynolds number was in the mixed regime zone of 10–104; the power number was varied between 1 and 5, while a typical propeller speed of 22.5 rev/s (or 1350 rev/min) was adopted. The limiting design conditions were maximum reactor diameter of 1.80 m, straight side height-to-diameter ratio in the range of 0.75–1.5 and minimum agitator motor power of 746 W (1 Hp). Based upon the design, a simple algorithm was developed and interpreted into Microsoft C Sharp computer programming language to enable scale up of the reactor. Performance testing of the realized reactor was carried out while using it to produce Neem oil biodiesel via base – catalyzed methanolysis, which yielded high quality fuel product.

► Simplified algorithm for batch biodiesel reactor design was developed.
► C Sharp software tool for implementing the algorithm was also developed.
► 50 L/batch reactor was constructed and used to process neem oil biodiesel.
► Results showed that the produced neem biodiesel is a fuel grade product.
► Scale-up of the reactor was carried out using the developed software.