THE CONTINUOUSLY-STIRRED DECANTING REACTOR - STEADY-STATE AND DYNAMICFEATURES

The steady-state and dynamic behavior of an exothermic reaction in a c ooled, continuously-stirred decanting reactor (CSDR) is examined. For the case considered, two phases are fed but only one is removed, as re action occurs in the lighter phase and the products are soluble only i n the heavier, decanted phase. A number of distinguishing features of the CSDR are identified. Ignition and extinction phenomena do not occu r because the heat generation rate is a constant, a consequence of com plete conversion of the lighter phase reactant. The buildup of the rea ctive phase as the reactor temperature is decreased may make the opera tion infeasible. Thus, either ten, or one feasible steady-state soluti ons exist. The thermal feedback and variable phase volumes may destabi lize the unique steady state at a supercritical Hopf bifurcation point , making the CSDR a natural oscillator during nonisothermal operation.