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258 Modeling of Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design
in the generated heat rate. When the rate of heat generation is greater
than the rate of heat absorbed, a thermal runaway will occur with
disastrous consequences (as the incidents at Seveso and Bhopal have
shown). A review of these incidents in batch reactors reveals the main
causes are:
• Inadequate control systems and safety backup systems.
• Inadequate operational procedures, including training.
• Inadequate engineering design for heat transfer.
• Inadequate understanding of the chemistry process and
thermochemistry.
Figure 4-26. Parallel reactions. (Source: O. Levenspiel, Chemical Reaction
Engineering, 2nd ed., Wiley, New York, 1972.)
