Chemical Engineering Science, Vol.56, No.3, 771-778, 2001
Spatiotemporal patterns in models of cross-flow reactors. Regular and oscillatory kinetics
We simulate and analyze the behavior of stationary and moving spatially periodic patterns in a simple cross-flow reactor with a first-order exothermic reactor and realistically high Pe and Le. Novel nonTuring stationary patterns emerge due to reactor-diffusion-convection interaction in the simple model that incorporates only concentration and temperature as its variables. We extend our previous analysis to account for reversible changes in a catalytic activity. We conduct linear and weakly nonlinear analysis around the critical point - the perturbation amplification threshold, as well as numerical simulations. For the limit case Pe -, co the spatial behavior of the distributed system is analogous to the temporal behavior of the related CSTR problem. In the vicinity of the bifurcation point the emerging spatiotemporal patterns drastically depends on the type of a phase plane and both regular and aperiodic (chaotic) behavior was observed.
Keywords:catalytic packed bed;nonlinear dynamics;oscillations;stability analysis;numerical simulation