Optimal bypass rates for sequences of stirred tank reactors

A general method of finding the optimal volumes, temperatures and bypass rates for a sequence of stirred tank reactors is developed. After a discussion of the method of dynamic programming, the example of a sequence of adiabatic reactors of equal volume with a single reaction is used as an illustration. A simple graphical construction for determining the optimal bypass rates is given for this case. The limiting cases of the optimal control of a batch reaction by addition of cold feed is also solved.