Process Scale-Up Calculator
Scale reactor agitation from lab to production using constant tip speed, constant P/V, or constant Reynolds number criteria.
Inputs
Results
Volume Scale Ratio
1,000×
Production Agitator Speed
30 RPM
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the Lab Reactor Volume in liters and the target Production Reactor Volume in liters — the ratio defines the scale-up factor.
- Enter the Lab Agitator Speed in RPM and Lab Agitator Power in watts from bench-scale testing.
- Select the Scale-Up Criterion: 1 = constant tip speed (good for shear-sensitive processes), 2 = constant power per volume (good for mass transfer), 3 = constant Reynolds number (preserves mixing pattern).
- Review the Production Agitator Speed in RPM and Production Power in watts to specify the production agitator motor.
- Note the Impeller Diameter in meters to specify the production vessel and agitator geometry.
- Use the Estimated Mixing Time in seconds to assess blend time and ensure homogeneity at production scale.
How the result changes with Lab Reactor Volume
| Lab Reactor Volume | Volume Scale Ratio | Production Agitator Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 50× | 81.43 RPM |
| 350 | 14.29× | 123.64 RPM |
| 650 | 7.69× | 151.97 RPM |
| 900 | 5.56× | 169.39 RPM |
What each input means
- Lab Reactor Volume
- Volume of the laboratory reactor in liters.
- Production Reactor Volume
- Volume of the production-scale reactor in liters.
- Lab Agitator Speed
- Rotational speed of the lab impeller in revolutions per minute.
- Lab Agitator Power
- Power consumption of the lab agitator in watts.
- Scale-Up Criterion
- Select criterion: 1 = constant tip speed, 2 = constant power per volume, 3 = constant Reynolds number.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersLab Reactor Volume = 5, Production Reactor Volume = 5000, Lab Agitator Speed = 300, Lab Agitator Power = 5 = 5 input(s) provided
- Calculate Volume Scale RatioVolume Scale Ratio1000 = 1000
- Calculate Production Agitator SpeedProduction Agitator Speed = Math30 = 30
- Calculate Production PowerProduction Power = Math500 = 500
- Calculate Impeller DiameterImpeller Diameter0.5985 = 0.5985
Related Calculators
The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.
Reactor Sizing Calculator
Size CSTR and PFR reactors for first-order reactions using the design equation V = FA0·X/(−rA).
Chemical EngineeringEnergy Balance Calculator
Calculate sensible heat, latent heat, total heat duty, and power requirements for process heating and cooling operations.
BiotechFermentation Scale-Up Calculator
Scale bioreactor parameters from lab to production using constant tip speed or constant P/V strategies.
Chemical EngineeringDistillation Column Calculator
Estimate minimum and actual theoretical stages, minimum reflux ratio, and feed stage location using the McCabe-Thiele simplified approach.
More in Engineering.