On parameter sensitivity for thermal runaway in batch reactors

The parameter sensitive point for thermal runaway of batch reactor with first order reaction was proved to be the contact point where the operation curve is tangent with the inflection points locus of operation curves according to the theory and mathematic features of parameter sensitivity. The upper limit of safe operation temperature of the batch reactor was derived. A new safe operation criterion of the reaction system was obtained by taking advantage of the relationship between the parameter sensitive point on the critical operation curve and the inflection point on the supercritical one. This new criterion was compared with the classic criteria which proposed by Adler and Enig, van Welsenaere, Froment and Wu, et al. Explosion limits for azomethane decomposition as predicted by the new criterion agreed as well with the experimental data measured by Allen and Rice as those predicted by the classic criteria.