Introduction
• Efficient heat transfer is a critical aspect of many chemical,
pharmaceutical, and specialty chemical manufacturing
processes. In semi-batch reactors, where reactants are added
during operation and the reaction may consume or release heat,
accurately predicting the heating profile is essential for
maintaining product quality, reducing batch cycle time, and
optimizing energy consumption.
• Traditional methods of estimating heating performance often rely
on empirical calculations or plant trials, which can be both
time-consuming and costly.

The Heat Transfer section of the VisiMix Turbulent module provides a simulation-based approach that enables
engineers to evaluate heating performance under actual process conditions by considering reactor geometry,
agitator design, jacket configuration, fluid properties, and reaction heat effects. By predicting heating behavior
before plant implementation, VisiMix helps reduce development time, minimize costly plant trials, optimize
steam utilization, and improve confidence in process scale-up decisions. This example demonstrates the
application of VisiMix to simulate a steam-heated semi-batch reactor with a heat-consuming reaction and predict
the time required for the reactor contents to reach the desired operating temperature.