hide
Free keywords:
-
Abstract:
In this paper we discuss the behavior of a coupled reactor - separator system. The reactor is modeled as a CSTR sustaining an elementary first order reaction and the separator as a single stage flash unit. The coupling occurs via a recycle of the bottoms stream from the downstream separator to the upstream reactor. The emphasis in this paper is on studying the behavior of the coupled system when the VLE of the mixture has an azeotrope. Consequently the bottoms stream can be reactant rich or lean. Different control strategies for the operation of the reactor and separator are discussed. The stability of the steady states is analyzed analytically for each strategy. Physical explanation for the stabilty results are presented. In general, it is found that the recycle lean stream gives rise to instability.
© 2006 American Chemical Society [accessed 2014 January 9th]
