Batch reactor process design applications

Spreadsheet Applications. The types of appHcations handled with spreadsheets are a microcosm of the types of problems and situations handled with fuU-blown appHcation programs that are mn on microcomputers, minis, and mainframes and include engineering computations, process simulation, equipment design and rating, process optimization, reactor kinetics—design, cost estimation, feedback control, data analysis, and unsteady-state simulation (eg, batch distillation optimization). 

Consequently, we consider that the industrial scale technological management of microwave assisted chemical reaction is no compatible with batch reactors coupled with multimode applicators. Some typical processes with a systematic decrease of the dielectric losses of the concerned reactant, such as filtration and drying of mineral or pharmaceutical powders are compatible with multimode applicators. To our knowledge, the only industrial batch microwave device is the microwave variant of the Turbosphere ( all in one solution mixer/granulator/dryer designed by Moritz... 

The RC1 is an automated laboratory batch/semi-batch reactor for calorimetric studies which has proven precision. The calorimetric principle used and the physical design of the system are sound. The application of the RC1 extends from process safety assessments including calorimetric measurements, to chemical research, to process development, and to optimization. The ability of the RC1 to generate accurate and reproducible data under simulated plant scale operating conditions may result in considerably reduced testing time and fewer small scale pilot plant runs. 

In semi-batch or continuous operation, the feed rate allows control of the reaction course. Flence it plays an important role concerning the safety of the process. With an exothermal reaction, it is important to be able to limit the feed rate by technical means. One possibility is feed by portions, a method that is only applicable for semi-batch reactors. This mode of addition is the traditional way of limiting accumulation. In this case, the addition must be controlled by the conversion that is, the next portion is added only if the previous portion has been consumed by the reaction. Different criteria can be used to follow the reaction the temperature, the appearance of the reaction mass, chemical analysis, and so on. For a well designed process, the additions can also be performed on a time basis. 

One final note While the techniques used here were applied to control temperature In large, semi-batch polymerization reactors, they are by no means limited to such processes. The Ideas employed here --designing pilot plant control trials to be scalable, calculating transfer functions by time series analysis, and determining the stochastic control algorithm appropriate to the process -- can be applied In a variety of chemical and polymerization process applications. 

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