TEMPERATURE-SCANNING PLUG-FLOW REACTOR

A detailed description of the procedures required to obtain isothermal kinetic data by using a temperature-scanning plug flow non-adiabatic reactor (the TS-PFR) is presented. It is shown that, if certain operating parameters are kept constant from run to run, then, regardless of heat losses or reaction heat effects, valid isothermal rate data can be obtained by observing the conversion and temperature at the outlet of the TS-PFR as the inlet temperature is ramped-regardless of the temperature profile in the reactor or of the fact that steady state may not have been achieved. These observations can be used to obtain isothermal rates, at as many temperatures as one may wish-all from a few simple, quick, automated runs, each consisting of ramping the feed temperature while monitoring conversion and temperature at the outlet.