COMPLEX DYNAMIC FEATURES OF A COOLED REVERSE-FLOW REACTOR

A reverse-flow reactor (RFR) usually attains a symmetric period-1 stat e, so that the temperature profile just after a flow reversal is a mir ror image of that after the previous Flaw reversal. Recent simulations show that in certain cases a cooled RFR may attain other states with different types of periodicity or even complex quasi-periodic states. The maximum temperature of these states often exceeds that of the symm etric states so that it may deactivate the catalyst and/or lend to saf ety problems. A systematic, numerically efficient method is presented for constructing maps of parameter regions in which a cooled RFR has q ualitatively different dynamic features. The technique is applied to d etermine the dependence of these dynamic features on the cooling capac ity and flow-reversal period. Stable quasi-periodic and asymmetric per iod-1 states exist mainly for short flow-reversal periods. The quasi-p eriodic states usually exist for lower cooling capacities than those f or which the asymmetric period-1 states exist. Stable symmetric and as ymmetric period-1 states exist for the same set of parameters in very narrow regions of the parameter space. The behavior of the RFR in the limit of very fast flow reversals is usually modeled by a countercurre nt flow reactor, with equal flow rates in the two compartments. This c ooled reactor may attain asymmetric states for certain sets of paramet ers.