Characterizing the Normal Reaction

For both hazard evaluation and process development it is essential to characterize the reaction under normal (non-runaway) conditions. The information required is  

It is important to investigate the effects on the reaction kinetics and rates of heat generation and gas evolution of factors such as scale-up, agitator configuration, materials of construction, variations in addition rate, reactant concentration and hold times. The effects of process maloperations should also be established. 

To carry out an exothermic batch or semi-batch reaction under thermal control, it is necessary either to allow the temperature to rise (in which case secondary or decomposition reactions may become important) or to remove the heat of reaction at the same rate as it is generated. (See also case histories Al 20-23, pages 167-168.) 

The rate of heat production depends on four main factors  

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This section describes how to obtain thermodynamic, kinetic, gas evolution and heat transfer information from the various calorimetric techniques, described in Section 3.4 on page 32, which are available to characterize the normal reaction. 

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