Towards efficient and inherently safer continuous reactor alternatives to batch-wise processing of fine chemicals: CSTR nonlinear dynamics analysis of alkylpyridines N-oxidation Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • 2015 Elsevier Ltd. This paper demonstrates the integration of process safety concepts (e.g., reactive chemicals, inherently safer design) with classical reaction engineering/system fundamentals (e.g., first-principles reactor modeling, system dynamics and stability) for identifying economically viable and safe continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) designs for scale-up of batch-wise fine chemical and pharmaceutical syntheses. As an illustrative and industrially relevant example, the homogeneous catalytic exothermic N-oxidation of alkylpyridines is investigated using a jacketed CSTR model. Reactor steady-state multiplicity and oscillation phenomena, which may bring about serious incidents, are analyzed based upon system equations. Reactor design and operation conditions as well as start-up strategies and worst-case scenarios are systematically investigated to address process safety concerns and balance reactor efficiency.

published proceedings

  • CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE

author list (cited authors)

  • Cui, X., Mannan, M. S., & Wilhite, B. A.

citation count

  • 8

complete list of authors

  • Cui, Xiaohong||Mannan, M Sam||Wilhite, Benjamin A

publication date

  • January 2015