Classical thermo-analytical micro methods (IYrA, DSC) are still very useful for process work, but medium scale instruments based on heat flow measurement are attaining an increasingly important role in this domain. As in many areas, development of reaction calorimetry for industrial applications was driven by needs and by available means (technical capabilities). The needs have been fairly constant over the past decades. There are data needs:
Simulation of industrial mixing conditionsThe main driving force for the development of process oriented calorimetric instruments was the evolution of electronic hardware which made the control of heat flow on a (non micro) laboratory scale easy. The paper gives an overview on the principles of heat flow control and reviews the developments of the fifties and sixties, when the matching of heat flow with heat release by reactions was the goal. With the advent of fast and powerful laptop computers, the focus has shifted. Now, the deduction of true heat release rates from signals which may be badly distorted, is the goal. Some recem developments are reviewed and the hope is expressed that calorimetric equipment, inexpensive enough to be affordable for every laboratory engaged in process work, will be available soon.