Adiabatic runaway reaction, blowdown, quench, and inhibition in fire‐engulfed vessels: An experimental study

Two linked PHI‐TEC adiabatic calorimeters were used to simulate a fire heating and runaway reaction scenario. This corresponded to plant‐scale continuous flow reactors that are used for the production of acrylamide: two‐phase venting from a fire‐exposed “blocked in” reactor into a dump tank containing water and a chemical inhibitor was simulated. After venting, continuous supplies of electrical power to both the reactor and the quench vessel were maintained so as to simulate sustained fire exposure. The main purpose of the study was to determine whether this venting and continued fire exposure could induce any secondary decomposition reactions. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2008