Chemical reactors, control

The SIMULAR, developed by Hazard Evaluation Laboratory Ltd., is a chemical reactor control and data acquisition system. It can also perform calorimetry measurements and be employed to investigate chemical reaction and unit operations such as mixing, blending, crystallization, and distillation. Ligure 12-24 shows a schematic detail of the SIMULAR, and Ligure 12-25 illustrates the SIMULAR reaction calorimeter with computer controlled solids addition. 

Another type of nonlinear control can be achieved by using nonlinear transfonnations of the controlled variables. For example, in chemical reactor control the rate of reaction can be controller instead of the temperature. The two are, of course, related through the exponential temperature relationship. In high-purity distillation columns, a transformation of the type shown below can sometimes be useful to "linearize the composition signal and produce improved control while still using a conventional linear controller. 

The scope of this book, like that of all books, is limited by the experience of the author. It would be impossible to discuss all possible types of chemical reactors and presumptuous to include material on reactors with which I have little or no familiarity. Despite its limitations, I hope the readers find this book interesting and useful in providing some guidance for handling the challenging and very vital problems of chemical reactor control. 

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