How Do Heat and Mass Transfer Limitations Affect Scale-Up?
Heat and mass transfer limitations become more pronounced as the scale of the reactor increases. In a small-scale setup, heat generated by a reaction can be easily dissipated, but in a large-scale reactor, the same amount of heat can lead to hot spots, resulting in [deactivation of the catalyst]() or even hazardous conditions. Similarly, efficient mass transfer is easier to achieve in smaller reactors, whereas in larger systems, diffusion limitations can hinder the availability of reactants to the active sites of the catalyst.
