An Introductory Guide to Chemical Reactors

May 1
18:58

2020

Nancy Whitman

Nancy Whitman

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Chemical reactors. Not something that we are all working with on a daily basis. But this is quite interesting to know more about the different chemical reactors, what they do and how it works. Some people are working with these chemical reactors daily. They need to know everything there is to know about them. A lot more than the basic information that we are going to tell you. These are some of the interesting information about chemical reactors that you might find interesting or that could assist with a project at school.

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Chemical reactors explained

Chemical reactors are just normal chemicals that are changed into reactors. These reactors come in different forms and different sizes. Their molecules are relatively small,An Introductory Guide to Chemical Reactors Articles and what you are seeing is a bunch of reactors that were put together. Being used for different purposes in different industries.

The design of each reactor is determined by many factors but mostly depends on the process of what the reactors are being used for. There are two basic reactors, batch reactors, and continuous reactors.

Batch reactors

Batch reactors are one of the types of chemical reactors that you can find. This is the reactor that is being used in laboratories and not in industries and factories.

These reactors are placed in a test-tube, flask or beaker. Mixed with other chemicals. It is where the chemical reaction takes place and new medication, or cures are invented.  It is also being used in companies where they are selling different products, with the same ingredients.  The reactors can be cleaned and used again, for other tests as well.

Continuous reactors

The other type of chemical reactor is continuous reactors. These reactors aren’t used in a laboratory, they are used in the field. Meaning that these reactors are being used at companies, industries, and manufacturers.

These type of reactors needs continuous work, without interruption for months to work. For example, making hard water drinkable. If the reactor is stopped, the water will not be processed correctly. It can’t be shut down for any reason and the industry needs to take all the precautions to prevent this from happening. The negative thing about the continuous reactors is that once it is built into one device, it can’t ever be used for something else. Meaning that you can’t use the reactors for different processes. You will need different continuous reactors. There is also a different type of continuous reactors. It’s known as:

  • Tubular reactor
  • Fixed bed reactor
  • Fluid bed reactor
  • Continuous stirred tank reactors

Heat exchangers

Something interesting to know is that any of the mentioned chemical reactors will work faster and more efficiently with higher heat sources. This is why heat exchangers are very important when it comes to chemical reactors to have success with the reactors.

The heat exchangers are normally in the form of sulfur trioxide from sulfur dioxide. Most of the time the batch reactors are made worm over an open flame. But the continuous reactors aren’t getting physically warm, they are using gas that is warm like the sulfur trioxide. The more chemical reactors are being used, the higher the temperatures need to be.

This is all the information that you need to know about the chemical reactors. Different reactors are being used for different purposes. Without heat, these reactors won’t react as it should and it will not provide the results as what it should. This is why it is important to make sure that the right temperatures are being used when using any chemical reactors. And, that the right reactor is being used for the right purpose.

Any services pertaining to chemical reactors must only be carried out by specialist reactor services contractors. Processes such as catalyst handling and other tasks are extremely hazardous, requiring a meticulous approach to safety and an acute understanding of proper procedures and protocols.

CR Asia is a leading industrial maintenance, shutdowns and turnarounds specialist, providing a comprehensive range of services to the oil, gas, chemical, refining and power industries, including mechanical and plant maintenance services, mechanical engineering services, heat exchanger maintenance and cleaning services and more.