Quantitative assessment in frequency domain of reactor model simplification

Report, 2007

The subject of this report is to investigate when and how different approximations can be applied to a continuous stirred tank reactor system. A complex first principles model of a first order exothermic reaction, taking place in the reactor, is used as a reference model. A large number of different sets of substances, described by different physical properties, are tested. For each set of substances, a number of approximations leading to model simplifications are tested in closed loop. The results of the investigation are properties to be fulfilled for each approximation to be appropriate. The resulting simplified model equations are also explicitly presented.