Study of exothermic runaway reactions at safe laboratory scale using Accelerating Rate Calorimetry

Tuesday 17^th November 2020
2:00pm GMT UK | 9:00am EST USA

The Accelerating Rate Calorimeter (ARC) has been the benchmark adiabatic safety calorimeter for more than 30 years. Devised by Dow Chemical Company in the 1970's, an explosion at a Dow UK site led to commercialisation of ARC technology. Today this technology is still the number one choice for quantifying exothermic reactions, effect of heat upon materials and simulating runaway reactions.

The presentation will cover

• Process safety considerations
• The purpose of the ARC test
• Theoretical background: Heat-Wait-Seek methodology and the Phi (f) factor
• Data Analysis: TMR (Time to Maximum Rate), ADT₂₄ (Adiabatic Decomposition Temperature), TNR (Temperature of No Return), SADT (Self Accelerating Decomposition Temperature).
• Test design considerations
• ARC operation and options

Speaker
Stephen Ottaway, Director of Operations, Thermal Hazard Technology
Stephen has worked at THT for 14 years and is a technical expert in Accelerating Rate Calorimetry. He holds an MBA from Henley Business School as well as a BSc (Hons) in Molecular Science. Stephen has a wealth of experience gained from installations and training THT’s ARC customers worldwide. In his current role Stephen oversees THT’s global business activity and development.