In electrical engineering, the time taken for an electronic circuit to change from one steady state to another steady state is called the transient time.
When a chemical reactor is being brought into operation, the concentrations, temperatures, species compositions, and reaction rates are changing with time until operation reaches its nominal process variables.
When a switch is closed in an electrical circuit containing a capacitor or inductor, the component draws out the resulting change in voltage or current, causing the system to take a substantial amount of time to reach a new steady state.
A capacitor acts as a short circuit immediately after the switch is closed, increasing its impedance during the transient state until it acts as an open circuit in its steady state.
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