Multiple ranges of flow rate with bistability and limit cycles for Schlögl’s mechanism in a CSTR

Abstract

Continuous flow stirred tank reactor (CSTR) conditions are imposed upon Schlögl’s trimolecular reaction mechanism A+2X ⇄ 3X and X ⇄ B. A nonzero constant flow rate (=inverse residence time) rather than constant concentrations of A,B forces the system far away from equilibrium. This change in constraints leads to some surprisingly complex features; first the system has bistability for separate ranges of flow rates, under constraints of all other parameters being fixed including the concentration of the chemical species in the input. This phenomena occurs even if the input contains A alone. Secondly, there occur limit cycle oscillations, but in that case the input has to include B or X as well as A.