Thermal explosion in a batch reactor charged with a liquid–solid heterogeneous system

Abstract

The characteristics of a thermal explosion in an ideal mixing batch reactor charged with a liquid–solid heterogeneous system are studied. The reactor initially contains both phases. The solid reagent dissolves and reacts in the liquid phase. A strong dependence of the critical value of the Semenov parameter on the dimensionless time of complete dissolution of the solid reagent is established. It is shown that, at short times of complete dissolution, the critical value of the Semenov parameter is practically independent on this time, and the thermal explosion occurs as in a homogeneous system, according to Semenov theory. The heterogeneous properties of the reaction system manifest themselves only at long times of complete dissolution.