For complex reactions the optimal reactor networks can involve several reactors operating at various temperature profiles. The often-reported strategy of optimizing parameters of a heuristically predetermined reactor system (Super-structure Approach) falls short of obtaining true solution due to the presence of multiple local optima. Attainable set method gives Global optimum but requires study of each reaction scheme in depth. Here one such study using phase-plane analysis (instead of convexity based analysis) is reported for finding globally optimal non-isothermal reactor network for van de Vusse reaction (A -> B -> C, 2A -> D, objective is to maximize yield of B). Compared to two-reactor networks proposed earlier, it is found that up to 5 reactors (CSTR with/without bypass of feed, Isothermal PFR, Non-isothermal PFR, CSTR, Isothermal PFR) may be required to get the highest yield of the desired intermediate. The proposed method involves only elementary calculus. The detailed solution algorithm has been described using analogy with highways. Three cases with the values of reaction constants reported in the literature have been solved.
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