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- Englisch (2)
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- Autoignition temperature (1)
- Explosion safety (1)
- Explosionsschutz (1)
- Hotspot (1)
- Micro process engineering (1)
- Mikroverfahrenstechnik (1)
- Thermal Runaway (1)
- Thermisches Durchgehen (1)
- Zündtemperatur (1)
Explosion protection of oxidation reactions in micro reactors was investigated. Lange et al. (2014) reported on the possibilities of operating oxidation reactions in catalyst coated micro reactors within the explosion regime, but also warned about hotspot induced thermal runaway and detonation ignition at certain conditions. Methane and ethene, representing the explosion groups IIA1 and IIB (DIN EN ISO 16852), were used in stoichiometric oxygen mixtures with respect to total oxidation, which represents the worst case scenario in terms of safety assessment. Using laser radiation on a ceramic target inside of the micro channel, an artificial, controllable hotspot was generated. The ignition temperatures of fuel gas/oxygen mixtures inside a micro reactor were measured and their dependencies on initial pressure, initial temperature, volumetric flow rate, and micro channel height were examined. Deflagration reactions prior to the detonation were observed for the first time inside a micro reactor.
Investigations on primary, secondary and tertiary explosion protection have been performed for micro reactors with slit-like channels which are coated with catalyst. Ethene/oxygen mixtures have been used as model gas mixtures representing explosion group IIB (DIN EN ISO 16852). It could be shown that the explosion regime can be significantly reduced when using micro reactors (primary explosion protection). Furthermore, safe Operation inside the explosion regime is possible with micro reactors (secondary explosion protection), but, at certain conditions thermal runaway and ignition of detonations are possible. An unexpected behaviour has been found, because thermal runaway occurred when Volumetrie flow rate was increased. This behaviour is completely opposite to that of multi tube fixed bed reactors which show an increase of safety when increasing volumetric flow rate. Micro reactors can be constructed pressure-resistant even when detonations occur inside (tertiary explosion protection). For the example of o-xylene oxidation it could be shown that space time yield can be increased significantly when entering explosion regime.