Kinetica, Inc. offers a commercial sample testing
service for Accelerating Rate Calorimetry (ARC). This service
provides a cost-effective method for obtaining thermal and pressure
hazards data for condensed phase reactions. The test protocol
conforms to ASTM E 1981-98, " Standard Guide for Assessing
the Thermal Stability of Materials by Methods of Accelerating Rate Calorimetry".
The ARC is an adiabatic calorimeter used for
reactor and pilot plant safety analysis; it determines the
time, temperature, and pressure relationships for exothermic
reactions. A standard ARC test employs a titanium bomb
loaded under an air atmosphere. Inert gas is supplied upon request. A
heat-wait-search cycle is conducted with a 5 °C heat step and
a 20 minute wait time from 50 to 400 °C.
Thermal and pressure hazard parameters related to ARC
data include, onset temperature, adiabatic temperature rise,
pressure generation rate, time to maximum rate, temperature of
no return , and self-accelerating decomposition
temperature. Reactor engineering applications include
heat exchanger sizing, process optimization, and reactor design.
Test data are tabulated in a formal report.
Detailed plots of the raw ARC data are presented for temperature
and pressure vs time, pressure, self-heat rate, and pressure rate vs
temperature, and pressure rate vs self-heat rate.
Typical users of the
ARC testing service are engineers, chemists,
attorneys, and chemical processors that have a
need for process safety data and analysis. Please
contact Kinetica to discuss particular concerns and
requirements for ARC analysis.
