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Application of parametric sensitivity to batch process safety: Theoretical and experimental studies
Author(s) -
Alós Miguel A.,
Zaldívar Jose M.,
Strozzi Fernanda,
Nomen Rosa,
Sempere Julià
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.270190306
Subject(s) - sensitivity (control systems) , parametric statistics , thermal runaway , supercritical fluid , thermodynamics , process (computing) , catalysis , heat transfer , thermal , chemistry , batch reactor , nuclear engineering , process engineering , materials science , engineering , mathematics , computer science , organic chemistry , physics , power (physics) , statistics , battery (electricity) , electronic engineering , operating system
The generalised thermal parametric sensitivity criterion is applied to the thermal behaviour of the esterification of 2‐butanol with propionic anhydride in a batch reactor under isoperibolic conditions. The reaction is catalysed by sulphuric acid, and the study covered the effects of both catalyst concentration and, in the absence of catalyst, jacket temperature. The experimental location of regions of parametric sensitivity agreed well with theoretical predictions. However, the process conditions that meet conventional standards for safe process design fall into the supercritical sensitivity region of the parametric model. This apparently contradictory result is discussed. The usefulness of the parametric sensitivity approach is illustrated by practical examples of scale‐up and heat transfer in reactions prone to thermal runaway.