Chemical Reactor Safety

The UK Health and Safety Executive has a write up on test methods for exothermicity for chemical reactors. Quoting from the article,
“The main types of test are:
1) basic screening tests;
2) isothermal calorimetry, aimed at quantifying reaction kinetics, heats of reaction, etc for particular reaction systems;
3) adiabatic calorimetry, used mainly for examining the runaway potential of reactions and individual compounds; and
4) combination instruments intended not only to give thermal data but also to calculate appropriate reactor vent sizes.
These tests tend not to give absolute results, in that the experimental conditions may affect the data obtained. Factors such as sample size, container material, heating rate, thermal inertia and endothermic effects (eg evaporation, gas evolution and phase changes) can all affect the result. The work, therefore, needs to be carried out by persons who are adequately trained and experienced in this type of investigation, to ensure that in each case suitable techniques are employed and adequate account is taken of experimental variables”.
Read the write up in this link.