Unsteady state maximun temperature estimation and localization in a tubular chemical reactor

The unsteady state temperature of the reactive mixture along a tubular reactor presents a maximum value resulting from the exothermicity of the chemical reaction.The knowledge of the maximum temperature, (position and value) is an important indicator for safety and quality of reactors in which a highly exothermic reaction takes place. This paper deals with experimental and theoretical estimation and localization of this maximum temperature along a chemical tubular reactor at unsteady state. This reactor is equipped with a jacket in which the refrigerating fluid flows in counter current configuration.The reaction undertaken in the inner tube of the reactor is oxidation of sodium thiosulfate by hydrogen peroxide.The unsteady state is described from the resolution of the model equations, obtained from mass and energy balances, with the numerical method of McCormack.The influences of hydrodynamic, thermal and chemical parameters on the value and position of the maximum temperature are studied.