Adiabatic flow calorimeter

The heat capacity of a gas at constant pressure is nonually detenuined in a flow calorimeter. The temperature rise is detenuined for a known power supplied to a gas flowing at a known rate. For gases at pressures greater than about 5 MPa Magee et al [13] have recently described a twin-bomb adiabatic calorimeter to measure Cy. 

A survey of the literature shows that although very different calorimeters or microcalorimeters have been used for measuring heats of adsorption, most of them were of the adiabatic type, only a few were isothermal, and until recently (14, 15), none were typical heat-flow calorimeters. This results probably from the fact that heat-flow calorimetry was developed more recently than isothermal or adiabatic calorimetry (16, 17). We believe, however, from our experience, that heat-flow calorimeters present, for the measurement of heats of adsorption, qualities and advantages which are not met by other calorimeters. Without entering, at this point, upon a discussion of the respective merits of different adsorption calorimeters, let us indicate briefly that heat-flow calorimeters are particularly adapted to the investigation (1) of slow adsorption or reaction processes, (2) at moderate or high temperatures, and (3) on solids which present a poor thermal diffusivity. Heat-flow calorimetry appears thus to allow the study of adsorption or reaction processes which cannot be studied conveniently with the usual adiabatic or pseudoadiabatic, adsorption calorimeters. In this respect, heat-flow calorimetry should be considered, actually, as a new tool in adsorption and heterogeneous catalysis research. 

Figure 6.2 Schematic representation of (a) an adiabatic calorimeter, (b) an isoperibol calorimeter, and (c) a heat conduction (or heat flow) calorimeter. fc and 7] are the temperatures of the calorimeter proper and the external jacket, respectively, and is the heat flow rate between the calorimeter proper and the external jacket.

The Sikarex safety calorimeter system and its application to determine the course of adiabatic self-heating processes, starting temperatures for self-heating reactions, time to explosion, kinetic data, and simulation of real processes, are discussed with examples [1], The Sedex (sensitive detection of exothermic processes) calorimeter uses a special oven to heat a variety of containers with sophisticated control and detection equipment, which permits several samples to be examined simultaneously [2]. The bench-scale heat-flow calorimeter is designed to provide data specifically oriented towards processing safety requirements, and a new computerised design... 

The isothermal and isoperibol calorimeters are well suited to measuring heat contents from which heat capacities may be subsequently derived, while the adiabatic and heat-flow calorimeters are best suited to the direct measurement of heat capacities and enthalpies of transformation. 

The use of a normal adiabatic calorimeter is not ideal when the reaction studied has an induction period as in reaction 3 or when a reaction has to be initiated by breaking an ampoule as in reaction 4 or 5. Much more convenient and reliable is the use of a steady-state heat flow calorimeter. The method used in References 13 and 14 is described here. 

Further developments in calorimetry include the invention of the twin- calorimeter" by Joule (1845) and its modification by Pfaundler (1869XRef 25,p 543) "phase- change calorimer (isothermal) of Bunsen(Ref 15,p 796 Ref 25,p 547) "labirinth flow calorimeter (Ref 25,p 549) "adiabatic calorimeter (nonisothermal), first used by Richards in 1905 (Ref 15,p 797) and modified by Yost, Osborne others (Ref 25,p 550)(See also Ref 3,p ll6)(Parr adiabatic calorimeter is described in Refs 16 29) "constant- temperature- enviroment calorimeter", first used by Nemst in 1907, was modified by Giauque in 1923(Ref 15>p 797)... 

Figure 7.20 Ideal flow calorimeter ( adiabatic" tube no thermal leakage to surroundings).

Figure 7.20 shows an ideal flow calorimeter. A fluid flows at a constant rate v in a tube. Its temperature at the point Xi is Ti = T(xi) = Tp, usually the temperature of the surroundings. If a heat quantity is released in the fluid (by electric means or in the course of a reaction), the result is a rise in the fluid s temperature, which is measured at the point X2- In the presence of ideal adiabatic conditions, the function r2(f) reflects exactly the heat production 0(t) at the heat source but with a time lag At = Axjv (Ax is the distance between the end of the heat source and the point X2). Because the tube has a certain heat capacity of its own, ideal adiabatic conditions cannot be expected. Part of the heat to be measured passes to the tube, the surroundings, and the temperature... 

Heat-flow Calorimeters.— In calorimeters of the adiabatic or isoperibol types, heat-exchange between the calorimeter and its surroundings is either eliminated or is restricted to a small, accurately determined amount. An alternative method is to transfer the heat of reaction completely to a heatsink, so that both the calorimeter and the heat-sink remain essentially isothermal and the calorimetric determination consists of measuring the heat transferred. Two main types have been employed. 

Names have been given to calorimeters (usually having these three components) that are operated in certain modes. In the isothermal calorimeter the temperature Tc of the calorimeter is kept equal to the temperature Ts of the surroundings and both are held constant. In the adiabatic calorimeter Tg is kept equal to T although both may change. In the isoperibol calorimeter 7 is kept constant and 7i, usually initially near 7, undergoes an excursion. In the constant heat-flow calorimeter (7 — 7i) is kept constant. 

A liquid serves as the calorimetric medium in which the reaction vessel is placed and facilitates the transfer of energy from the reaction. The liquid is part of the calorimeter (vessel) proper. The vessel may be isolated from the jacket (isoperibole or adiabatic), or may be in good themial contact (lieat-flow type) depending upon the principle of operation used in the calorimeter design. 

Fig. 1. Theoretical models of adiabatic (1), isothermal (2), and heat-flow (3) calorimeters.

The two basic types of reaction calorimeters commonly used for safety assessments are isothermal (including both heat flow and power compensation calorimeters) and adiabatic. 

The thermochemical study of photochemical or photochemically activated processes is not amenable to most of the calorimeters described in this book, simply because they do not include a suitable radiation source or the necessary auxiliary equipment to monitor the electromagnetic energy absorbed by the reaction mixture. However, it is not hard to conceive how a calorimeter from any of the classes mentioned in chapter 6 (adiabatic, isoperibol, or heat flow) could be modified to accommodate the necessary hardware and be transformed into a photocalorimeter. 

The problems associated with direct reaction calorimetry are mainly associated with (1) the temperature at which reaction can occur (2) reaction of the sample with its surroundings and (3) the rate of reaction which usually takes place in an uncontrolled matmer. For low melting elements such as Zn, Pb, etc., reaction may take place quite readily below S00°C. Therefore, the materials used to construct the calorimeter are not subjected to particularly high temperatures and it is easy to select a suitably non-reactive metal to encase the sample. However, for materials such as carbides, borides and many intermetallic compounds these temperatures are insufficient to instigate reaction between the components of the compound and the materials of construction must be able to withstand high temperatures. It seems simple to construct the calorimeter from some refractory material. However, problems may arise if its thermal conductivity is very low. It is then difficult to control the heat flow within the calorimeter if some form of adiabatic or isothermal condition needs to be maintained, which is further exacerbated if the reaction rates are fast. 

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