SAFETY ANALYSIS FOR ESTERIFICATION OF NEOAPENTVL GLYCOL WITH PROPIONIC ACID IN CSTR

Abstract

Probably chemical reactors represent the most hazardous units of the chemical industry. Safety analysis of a chemical reactor requires basic knowledge of all particular reactor processes. The design of chemical reactors, especially the safety design process, requires basic knowledge of all particular processes proceeding in the reactor, and their influence on the reactor behavior. A useful tool for safety analysis is a mathematical model of the reactor. By simulation of its performance one can reveal the real reactor behavior. In present study, Model based safety analysis has been considered. One dimensional isothermal model for esterification of neo-pentyl glycol with propionic acid in continuous stirred tank reactor is presented. In this article, a homogeneous CSTR was assumed. The objective of this study is to determine how multiple steady states might arise. A comparison of the static and continuation method of the identification of multiple steady states and their stability is presented. Finally, the implications of safety analysis for operation and control of reactors with multiple steady states are discussed. The model equations have been solved for mentioned operating and boundary conditions by using ODE solver in MATLAB 7.0