Pressurization Of A Flowed Stream Without A BPR
Unlike batch chemistry, reagents have a short tenure at the energized zone in flow format. More importantly, reagents must exit the reactor through the outlet of the reactor tube at a steady flow-rate. Limiting the tenure of the reagents (and the product) within the boundary of the reactor tube brings a myriad of benefits, from limiting degradation of the product into by-product(s) to enhancing overall process safety. However, conducting a flow reaction under pressure and extracting the product out of the pressurized reactor without depressurizing the reactor tube is challenging. One common technique to accomplish both (flowing under pressure and liberating product) continuously uses constricted flow-path (e.g., a BPR) downstream of the energized zone. The back-pressure from the constricted path forces the reagents to stay energized within the confinement of the reactor. The BPR holds the liquid reagent in its liquid state even when the reactor temperature exceeds its boiling point. However, a BPR device comes with its own demerits. A stream that carries solids or a viscous matter struggles to move through the restricted flow-path of the BPR and often experiences over-pressurization due to clogging. Downstream cross-contamination between experiments is also a major drawback of BPR-based pressurized reactors.
We build pressurized flow reactors that maintain fluid communication with a remote pressure ballast, which is pressurized using an inert gas, to hold energized reagents within the energized zone of the reactor. This unique flow pressurization technique does not use any constricted flow-path as a part of the reactor and is compatible with reagent streams that may include solids. It is important to note that the internal pressure and the pressurization mechanism of the pressure ballast is programmable so you can modulate pressure inside the reactor as situations necessitate either manually or through a closed feedback loop.
Please contact us to learn more about the BPR-free pressurized flow reactor and how we may assist you incorporating this unique pressure control mechanism in your process.