The engineering task
Loss of cooling can accelerate an exothermic batch reaction and release more heat than the jacket and cooling system can remove. Temperature, reaction rate and vapour pressure rise together; gas generation or boiling may produce two-phase venting. Normal operation is not the governing state.
Relief begins at a defined set pressure while reaction continues. Maximum heat release, transient pressure, fill level, foaming, backpressure and safe discharge handling must be assessed. Where kinetic data are missing, uncertainty requires testing or explicitly conservative bounds.
Required design data
- Reaction kinetics or calorimetric test data
- Inventories, fill level and thermal properties
- Cooling capacity and credible failure scenarios
- Set pressure, backpressure and disposal system
Technical solution approach
Define the upset
Screen loss of cooling, agitator trip, mischarge and external heating for credibility.
Calculate the runaway transient
Balance reaction heat, heat removal, boiling and gas generation over time to relief onset.
Determine the relief regime
Distinguish single-phase gas/vapour flow from possible two-phase venting using fill level and fluid system.
Size the area
Calculate required mass flow and relief area with set pressure and backpressure.
Check the complete protection system
Assess inlet, valve/rupture disc, discharge line, disposal system and residual vessel pressure as one chain.
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.