Vibrational control of chemical reactions in a CSTR with delayed recycle stream (Q1900639)

The paper gives a mathematical justification about the possibility to operate an irreversible exothermic chemical reaction in the vicinity of an unstable steady state by inserting zero mean oscillations into the input and output flow rates. The theoretical aspects of the problem consist of determining conditions for the existence of stabilizing periodic functions, and of finding actual parameters of vibrations that ensure the desired response. The first part of the paper through definitions, propositions and theorems gives some theoretical insight into the first aspect. The second aspect is illustrated by a detailed example. It is shown that large vibrations have a greater stabilizing effect. Smaller vibrations have a reduced stabilizing effect but their response can be more accurately predicted. The results of the paper represent one of the first successful analytic application of periodic control to delay differential equations.