Chemical reactors are nothing more than containers in which a chemical reaction is to take place.
This container is used in the laboratory depending on what is to take place inside it.
Colaver tailor-makes many types of chemical reactor for major research and development centres of universities and private companies.
The different types of chemical reactor
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The chemical reactor differs between different types for certain elements.
1) for the type of reaction that must take place in the container.
2) depending on the substances used in the reaction.
3) for the way the reaction takes place: continuous or discontinuous.
The design of the chemical reactor must ensure the best yield of the process. It must be as economical as possible and must avoid dangers to the safety of the researcher. Also because the substances used may be toxic or may produce violent reactions.
Some examples of chemical reactor
Making a Chemical Reactor for Research
When Colaver builds a reactor, it tries to maintain a high standard for the quality of the materials used. But at the same time it uses the minimum necessary quantity of raw materials to keep costs affordable.
As in any business, in the laboratory, in addition to the cost of the operator, the cost of the instruments to be made must also be calculated.
In addition, the cost of the energy often required to stir or heat the substances must also be calculated. Sometimes even to cool.
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When Colaver builds a reactor, he takes into account that these processes must take place in this container:
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- mixing of the reagents
- mixing also achieved with stirrers or other instruments
- controlled temperatures
- defined pressure
- temperature and pressure can be maintained with equipment such as condensers, pumps, heat exchangers, etc.
The choice of reactor to use
Which reactors are used in the laboratory?
Chemical processes can be divided into two broad types: continuous and discontinuous.
Reactors also differ according to this characteristic.
The continuous chemical reactor works 24 hours a day under constant conditions. This type of plant never stops, except for normal maintenance work. Maintenance is usually carried out annually.
The discontinuous reactor usually operates according to load, react and empty cycles.
The continuous reactor operates according to load, react and empty cycles.
Some types of reactor use a heterogeneous catalyst inside.
In this case, the space within which the heterogeneous catalyst is to be positioned must be provided in the design. This space is the so-called "bed".
The catalyst, usually in a solid state, can be fixed or mobile.
Here is a list of some of the reactors that use the heterogeneous catalyst to trigger the desired reactions:
two-phase fluid-solid reactors (stirred reactor, Carberry reactor, axial or radial fixed-bed reactor, dragged or fluidised moving-bed reactor)
three-phase fixed-bed reactors (e.g. drip reactor)
three-phase moving-bed reactors
For more general aspects of the laboratory reactor click here