A GENERAL SIMULATION-MODEL OF BATCH CHEMICAL REACTORS FOR THERMAL CONTROL INVESTIGATIONS

This paper describes the development of a dynamic simulation model for stirred tank batch or semi-batch chemical reactors fitted with an alt ernative heating-cooling system. Heat and mass balances are establishe d for the reactor and its jacket. Since the general purpose of our res earch is the thermal control of these reactors, special attention is d evoted to the behaviour of the heating-cooling system. In this article , we are particularly concerned with an alternative system, i.e. diffe rent fluids at a constant temperature can be alternatively delivered t o the jacket. The computer simulation programme is flexible, enabling simulation of a batch or semi-batch reaction vessel, ranging from a la boratory pilot plant to a full-scale production plant. A control algor ithm is included which allows reactor operation with open or closed-lo op temperature control. To demonstrate the good performance of the sim ulation model, experimental results are presented for both a pilot pla nt and an industrial reactor.