FORCED CYCLING OF CATALYTIC REACTORS - NUMBER OF CYCLES TO REACH CYCLE INVARIANCE

Extremely slow convergence severely taxes both the available capacity of computers for modelling studies. In order to best utilize resources, and avoid erroneous reports of resonant behavior, it is important that this phenomenon be more fully understood and quantified. In addition, guidelines should be developed to enable the prediction of when to expect the occurrence of slow convergence to cycle invariance during forced cycling of catalytic reactors. In this communication, these objectives are achieved by examining a model for the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide on platinum. It is shown that a very simple relationship quantitatively describes the details of this phenomenon.