Nonlinear dynamics of a VOC combustion loop reactor

Bifurcation anal. of a network of three catalytic combustors with periodically switched feed position is carried out. The influence of the switch time, of the feed temp. and of the heat exchange coeff. at the wall on the dynamical behavior is studied by a numerical continuation technique based on the spatiotemporal symmetry of the forced system. Sym. and asym. periodic regimes are detected as the bifurcation parameters are changed. The stability range of periodic ignited regimes and their bifurcations are analyzed. In particular, it appears that some complex regimes are the only stable ignited regimes at ambient feed temp. in several operating conditions.