STEADY-STATE CUBIC AUTOCATALYSIS IN AN ISOTHERMAL STIRRED TANK

In this paper, we demonstrate how the recently proposed procedure for global steady-state multiplicity analysis by Balakotaiah and Luss may be used to map regions in parameter space having a specific number of feasible solutions. The system chosen is a generalized scheme of autocatalytic reaction taking place in an isothermal CSTR. Both reversible and irreversible cases were considered. For each case, two possible forms of kinetic rate expressions leading to cubic steady-state manifold equations were examined. The influence of the Damkohler number (residence time and feed concentration) and stoichiometry of the autocatalyst have been studied. While stoichiometry may influence the steady-state solution pattern of the irreversible autocatalytic reaction, it was found that the behavior of the reversible reaction is independent of the stoichiometric coefficient of the autocatalyst.