Multiplicity of Temperature Wave Trains in Periodically Forced Reactors Networks

Networks of catalytic reactors with periodically switched inlet and outlet sections offer a competitive technological solution to the operation of reversible exothermic reactions. Traditionally, this operation mode is implemented by periodically shifting inlet and outlet sections so as to jump a single reactor unit in the flow direction. Here, a network of four catalytic reactors carrying on the methanol synthesis process is considered and the effect of varying the number of reactor units jumped by inlet and outlet ports on network stability and performance is investigated. Bifurcational analysis is performed to characterize the stability range of periodic regimes and to systematically analyze multiplicities and bifurcations as the switching velocity is varied and at different numbers of reactor units jumped by inlet and outlet sections.