Safe operating region of chemical reactors in which exothermic and endothermic reactions proceed simultaneously - Tracking function approach

A safe operating region in which the state of a complete mixing type reacto r moves spontaneously towards a stable steady state without manipulative ac tion is determined by the tracking function analysis. The tracking function, which is a linear combination of temperature and con centration of reactant, is displayed with a straight line on the phase plan e and the line moves with time in the direction predicted by the derivative of the tracking function with respect to time. If straight line segments w hich correspond to tracking functions are assemble to form a closed polygon around a stable steady state on the phase plane and each segment moves tow ards the steady state as time passes, then the polygon manifests a boundary of safe operating region. Safe operating regions of the reactor in which dehydration and decompositio n of methanol proceed simultaneously are shown with a tetragon and a heptag on around the stable steady states.