The purpose of this study was to determine whether the fluctuations of concentration in the exit stream for a RTD were statistically random.

A 460ml one inlet, one outlet CSTR (Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor) was set up to perform the RTD (Residence Time Distribution) test. A electrical conductivity probe capable of measuring concentration variations in volume elements of the order of 3.00 x 10⁻⁵ml was used to detect the tracer {sodium chloride) response. Flow rates ranging from 52 (ml/min) to 213 (ml/min) and agitation speeds from 0.00 rpm to 200 rpm were covered. The C-curve (concentration curve) was found to be reproducible to within ± 5 % at agitation speed greater than 20 rpm.

The fluctuations for a C-curve were extracted and standard deviation was used to characterize these fluctuations. The fluctuations were found to be not random statistically and the standard deviation of fluctuation was reproducible to within ± 8%.