Generalized criteria for predicting the dynamics of continuous-flow chemical systems .2. Application to chemical reactors

The Markovian intensities approach developed in the first part of this series is successfully applied to a non-linear chemical reactor model. The analysis shows that the component version Phi(K) of the dimensionless parameter Phi derived in Part I for predicting the dynamics of a continuous-flow adsorber is completely valid also for the reactor case. Criteria identical to those of a continuous-flow adsorber are obtained for attaining the dynamic equilibrium behaviour (i.e. no transport and kinetic limitations exist). As in the adsorber case the modified parameter Phi'(N) = Phi(K)/N is responsible for defining the asymptote as a limit for a practically effective process. The parameter Phi'(N) is also shown to be suitable in predicting the steady-state behaviour of a chemical reactor. The latter parameter determines the range of dimensionless steady-state concentrations attainable for a given reactor system. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.