Method for controlling reactor system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a reactor system comprising a plurality of reactors for a thermal decomposition reaction. Based on the operational control limits of each reactor in the system, a preliminary load allowance function is obtained, and during operation of the system, control factor data for each reactor is fed into a computer to calculate a load allowance for each reactor. Based on the total amount of conversion reactor product and the respective load allowances of each reactor, a system load change is distributed to each reactor, resulting in respective reactor load changes. This data is fed back into the operational control factors for each reactor, resulting in adjustment of the output of each reactor. Operational control factors for each reactor include product output, product composition, reactor temperature, reactor efficiency, and physical properties of the starting material. The present method provides a means for controlling the output of a series of parallel thermal decomposition reactors, such that a desired rate and composition of thermal decomposition product is obtained from any of a number of starting materials supplied to the reactor system.