Chemical Engineering Research & Design, Vol.78, No.3, 481-491, 2000
Effect of process design/operation on the steady-state operability of a CSTR - Reactions A -> B -> C
In this work, the use of the so-called global multiplicity diagrams to understand the way I changes in process design and/or process operation affect the steady-state operability characteristics of a CSTR where the set of reactions A --> B --> C take place is proposed. Using this tool it becomes feasible to detect the sort of process changes that might lead to the removal of process nonlinearities. The implications of such changes for closed-loop control of the CSTR are also discussed, Using the software XPPAUT, different bifurcation diagrams where multiplicities emerge are obtained. Five operating regions in the global multiplicity diagrams are characterized. Based on these diagrams, changes in operating conditions and in process design are proposed to modify the reactor operating region so that process controllability is improved.