Selection criteria for reactors
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Type of reaction
Presence of catalyst
Phase involve
Operating conditions( temperature and pressure)
Production capacity and conversion
Reproducible results
Economics of the process
Now different rectors are
1. Batch reactors
 Batch process
 Small scale operations
 Research work
 Manufacturing of expensive products
 For process that are difficult to convert to continuous operations
 Reactions that requires a cryogenic ice bath at a 50 mL scale quickly becomes
unfeasible in a large-scale production
 High conversions and purity like in medicines
2. Continuous stirred tank reactor
 Homogeneous liquid phase flow reaction
 Homogenous catalysis
 Constant density process
 Thus valid for most liquids and
 Valid for gasses only when there is no net change in the number of moles or no
drastic temperature changes
 When continuous agitation and good mixing is required
 Constant density process
 Where very good contact is needed (like in irreversible reactions)
 Where dilution is necessary during the process
 When no limitations on space
3. Plug flow reaction
 Several pipes/tubes (small dia) in parallel
 Reactants are pumped through a pipe or tubes
 Usually used when feed is in gaseous phase
 When higher efficiency is required
 Fast reactions (because it has usually low holding time)
 When there is density variations
 When very high pressure and temperature is needed
4. Packed bed reactor
 Continuous process
 Catalytic reactions
(heterogeneous catalysis)
 Used when the catalyst is expensive ( because here the catalyst is recovered)
 Where high contacting is required
 Not good heat transfer
 Higher conversion per weight of the catalyst as compared to other catalytic reactors
 When Pure feed is used
5. Other types of reactor
6. Other equipments than reactors
 Mixer
 Cooler
 Separator
 Absorber
 Condenser
 Vaporizer etc