Process Chemistry Screening Reactors

The process chemistry screening reactors are primarily used for chemical process optimization and catalyst life studies. The system comprises four identical units installed in parallel. Each unit includes a feed pot, a liquid pump, a gas mass flowmeter, a reactor vessel (typically filled with a fixed bed of catalyst), and a product collection pot along with required instrumentation.

Experiments typically operate each unit at a unique temperature, pressure, flow rate, and/or catalyst type in order to simultaneously study four process conditions at once. Because this reactor system requires minimal supervision, it allows the type of long-duration testing that is required to analyze product changes over time as well as catalyst deactivation.

Additionally, this reactor system can be used to process small volumes of feedstock. Because of the system’s small size, liquid losses as a result of the wetting of pipe walls and catalyst surfaces are minimized.

Operating Conditions

• Nominal feed rate: 0–10 mL/hr
• Nominal temperature: 0°–800°F (0°–425°C)
• Pressure: 0–1000 psig

Dimensions

• 0.68-in. inside diameter
• 18 in. tall

Potential Feedstocks

• Crop oil
• Algae oil
• Coal-derived liquids
• Other

Other Uses

• This system, coupled with the EERC’s in-house machine shop and fabrication capabilities, can easily be reconfigured to suit the needs of a particular application.

Data Collection

A data acquisition/control system is used to monitor/record all critical temperatures, pressures, and flow rates and to remotely control the system. Liquid product is condensed for analysis (gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy, titration, fuel property testing, etc.), and gaseous product is collected into a gas bag to be analyzed for molecular composition and energy content.

Status

• Built in 2010