= Chemical reaction engineering
<Chemical reaction engineering> designs and analyses reactors by combining <chemical kinetics> with <mass balance>, <energy balance> and transport. A desired molecular reaction must be achieved in a vessel where mixing, temperature and <residence time> affect conversion.
For a steady <well-mixed flow reactor> with constant volume $V$, volumetric flow $Q$ and a first-order consumption rate $kC$, the species balance is $0=QC_{\rm in}-QC-kVC$. Hence $C/C_{\rm in}=1/(1+kV/Q)$. This derivation assumes uniform concentration, equal inlet/outlet volumetric flow and constant rate coefficient. An ideal <plug flow> reactor instead gives $C_{\rm out}/C_{\rm in}=e^{-kV/Q}$. Different flow histories can thus yield different conversion at the same mean <residence time>.
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