Thermal Testing
Know your chemistry's thermal hazard before a runaway reaction finds out for you.
Laboratory testing to characterise runaway reaction potential, exothermic onset temperature, adiabatic temperature rise and decomposition energy.
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What is Thermal Testing?
Thermal Hazard Testing uses calorimetric techniques — including Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), adiabatic calorimetry, and reaction calorimetry — to characterise the thermal stability and reactivity of process chemicals and reaction mixtures. Testing determines exothermic onset temperature, adiabatic temperature rise (ATR), time to maximum rate under adiabatic conditions (TMRad), and decomposition energy, identifying runaway reaction potential before it is discovered in the plant.
Why It Matters
- ●Identifies runaway reaction potential before scale-up, when consequences are most severe
- ●Provides the quantitative basis for safe operating temperature margins and cooling failure response time
- ●Required input for relief system sizing (DIERS methodology) on exothermic and gas-generating reactions
- ●Critical for batch and semi-batch reactors in pharmaceutical, API and specialty chemical manufacturing
Our Methodology
- 1Reaction chemistry and process condition review to define test scope
- 2Screening calorimetry (DSC) to identify exothermic/decomposition onset temperature
- 3Adiabatic calorimetry to determine adiabatic temperature rise and TMRad
- 4Cooling failure scenario analysis using measured thermal hazard data
- 5Recommendations on safe operating limits, alarm setpoints, and relief system adequacy
Deliverables
Industries We Serve
FAQ
Thermal Testing Frequently Asked Questions
What is thermal hazard testing?
Thermal hazard testing uses calorimetric techniques such as DSC and adiabatic calorimetry to measure a chemical reaction's exothermic onset temperature, adiabatic temperature rise, and decomposition energy, identifying runaway reaction risk before it occurs at plant scale.
What is adiabatic temperature rise (ATR)?
Adiabatic temperature rise is the temperature increase a reaction mixture would undergo if all the heat released by the reaction were retained with no heat loss to surroundings — a key measure of how severe a runaway reaction could become.
Why is thermal hazard testing important for batch reactors?
Batch and semi-batch reactors accumulate reactants and heat in ways continuous processes do not, making them especially vulnerable to runaway reactions if cooling fails — thermal hazard testing quantifies this risk and informs safe operating limits and relief system design.