(40b) Process Design for Energetic Chemical Reactions

Synthesis reactions frequently require utilization of energetic reactants or intermediates. These energetic materials can pose unique challenges, such as runaway reactions and/or decompositions leading to an explosion. While emergency relief systems can be designed to safely relieve overpressure, this often results in the release of flammable or toxic materials to the atmosphere.

Equally, if not more important, is designing the operating procedures and control systems to avoid a runaway reaction. This can include semi-batch operation, assurance the reaction is occurring during reactant feeds, measurement of reaction parameters and other ways of limiting the accumulation of unreacted reactant in the vessel.

This session will cover how to safely undertake these reactions in the plant setting.

• Identification of Energetic Reactions
• In-Process explosion hazards
• Chemical Reaction hazards
  • Calorimetry overview (RC-1, ARC, VSP)
  • MTSR vs Decomposition
• Developing a Basis of Safety
• Reaction-related process measurements