Scale-up 101: What the Novice Should Know about Batch Scale-up

Scaling-up batch chemical processes involves much more than deciding the size of the reactor according to the quantity of product desired.  Scale-up affects heat transfer and mixing which in turn have an impact on many reactions.  In the best case, inattention to scale-up may result in substantially lower yield or purity.  In the worst case, poor scale-up may result in a runaway reaction opening relief devices,  possibly causing a fire or other spectacular decomposition.  This paper provides an overview of the issues and provides rules of thumb useful to the novice.