Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering: Modeling Real Reactors

In industrial chemistry and biotechnology, reactions rarely happen under perfect, laboratory-controlled conditions. Understanding how real-world reactors behave—with all their imperfections, bypasses, and mixing limitations—is essential for designing efficient and safe chemical and biological processes. This text-only course guides you through the foundational principles of reaction engineering, transitioning from ideal reactor models to the complex realities of biological and chemical systems. You will gain the analytical skills needed to diagnose flow issues, model non-ideal behaviors, and optimize reactor performance using modern engineering principles. What you'll learn: Understand the fundamental terminology of chemical kinetics, bioreactions, and mass balances; Model ideal reactors including batch, continuous stirred-tank, and plug flow reactors; Analyze non-ideal flow patterns such as channeling, bypassing, dead volumes, and axial dispersion; Apply Residence Time Distribution functions to diagnose and troubleshoot real-world reactor performance; Evaluate biological reaction kinetics, focusing on enzymatic pathways and microbial growth models; Explore modern sustainable design practices and basic computational simulation concepts for reactor scaling. You will begin with foundational concepts in stoichiometry and kinetics before exploring ideal reactor designs. From there, you will transition to analyzing real-world deviations, learning how to model non-ideal behavior and apply these principles to biological systems. This course is designed for aspiring chemical engineers, biotechnologists, and students seeking a clear, step-by-step introduction to reaction engineering. No advanced prior background in reactor design is required. Start reading today to master the core principles of chemical and biological reactor design.