BOILING-SLURRY REACTOR - FEASIBLE OPERATION AND STABILITY

In this study the feasible operation and stability of a special boilin g-slurry reactor (BSR), in which a single exothermic chemical reaction occurs, are determined. Its feed consists of a nonvolatile liquid rea ctant dissolved in an inert solvent and gaseous reactants, while the e ffluent consists only of gaseous components. The BSR attains a unique steady state within a bounded range of operating conditions, the bound aries of which are defined by simple algebraic expressions. While the unique steady states are usually locally stable, they are not always g lobally stable. For example, when the start-up temperature is too low, the reactor may not reach the steady state and instead reach a ''fill -up'' state. In that state the liquid volume continuously increases, w hile the concentrations and temperature remain essentially constant. F or some sets of start-up temperatures two distinct fill-up states may exist. When the start-up liquid volume and temperature are very high, a ''dry-up'' state may exist so that the liquid continuously decreases , while the reactor temperature and concentration remain essentially c onstant. This state eventually will shift the reactor to the unique st eady state. Dry-up, fill-up, and a steady state coexist in some parts of the feasible operation region, thus requiring a special start-np pr ocedure. The BSR may exhibit sustained oscillations for some parameter sets.