OPTIMAL PERIODIC CONTROL OF THE INPUT INTO A HETEROGENEOUS CATALYTIC REACTOR

The possibility of conversion increase by periodic control of chemical reactors is studied. Method of determination of parameters of the per iodic input control (amplitude and period) is presented. As an optimal ity criterion the time integral of the difference of the conversion un der periodic and constant operation of the reactor is chosen. The prop osed method is of gradient type, the gradient components are computed with the help of the system of adjoint equations. The method is illust rated by the example of the following catalytic system: continuous sti rred tank reactor, narrow active region catalyst and catalytic reactio n described by Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics. In this example the impr ovement of the reactor performance is significant.