(315g) Singularities in Modeling Reactive Flash Systems

The complexity of the reactive distillation systems arising from the interaction between the vapor-liquid equilibrium, vapor-liquid mass transfer and chemical kinetics lead to a phenomenon known as multiple steady-states (MSS). This work presents the modeling of the isothermal isobaric reactive flash system using the equilibrium model. A continuation analysis is made as a function of the Damköhler number (Da, characteristic liquid residence time/characteristic reaction time) to study the nature of the singularities that appear in the steady state solution. For Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) and tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME) flash reactive separations one type of singularity called ?Hopf? was found that causes the multiplicity. These important results will have significant implications in column design, operation and control.