AbstractThe performance of isothermal plug‐flow tubular reactors under periodic inlet concentrations is theoretically analyzed for improvement in yield for homogeneous consecutive reactionsA→B→Cwhich, under conventional steady‐state operation, show input multiplicities in the flow rate on the yield ofB. Two values of flow rate give an identical yield ofBunder steady‐state operation. For periodic operation, a rectangular pulse is assumed for the inlet concentration. It is shown in three numerical examples that under concentration forcing the yield is significantly different for these two inlet flow rates. Under periodic operation the larger value of flow rate gives a higher