The engineering task
A batch must be heated within a specified time, held at reaction temperature and cooled in a controlled manner after reaction. Heat loss, varying properties and possible reaction heat make the process transient. The poorest heat transfer may occur at low fill or high viscosity rather than at nominal charge.
Jacket pressure, vessel pressure and temperature may occur independently. Internal and external pressure, jacket connection loads, local nozzle loads and cyclic duty from repeated batches must therefore be considered.
Required design data
- Batch mass, properties and viscosity profile
- Temperature-time programme and reaction heat
- Heating/cooling utility and allowable jacket pressure
- Agitator geometry, speed and number of cycles
Technical solution approach
Set up the transient energy balance
Balance sensible heat, reaction heat, losses and time-dependent heating or cooling over the batch.
Couple agitation and heat transfer
Agitator type, speed, power input and viscosity determine product-side transfer and uniformity.
Select heat-transfer surface
Compare jacket, half-pipe coil and internal coil for area, utility pressure drop and cleanability.
Check critical operating cases
Evaluate low fill, maximum reaction heat, cooling failure, blocked jacket and an empty vessel with a pressurised jacket separately.
Verify mechanics and fatigue
Check vessel, heads, jacket connections and nozzles; include pressure and temperature cycles in fatigue assessment.
Expected deliverables
Suitable SOL ALPHA modules
The modules form a technically plausible toolchain. Their final selection and sequence will be confirmed during the later calculation against the applicable code and project conditions.