Conti-Reactor

This lab scale high pressure (> 100 bar) test set up was build and engineered by Parr Instruments. Design by Prof. Müller and Parr Instruments. It is highly versatile and actually equipped for “all kinds” of synthesis gas catalysis. The reactor is a large volume high pressure and high temperature “PFR” made of appropriate stainless steel. Measurements of powders and shaped catalysts are both possible. The reactor heating consists of three, PID controlled, independent heating mantle sections. Maximum temperatures depend on utilized heating mantles. Internal temperature profiles measureable by eight inner thermocouples axially (equidistant positioning). Feed Gas can be controlled by three thermal Mass Flow controllers, each capable of a flow maximum of 200 Nml/min. The Gas lines calibrated with H₂, CO and N₂/Ar. Additionally two liquid feed lines exist. These consist of HPLC pumps controlled by Coriolis flow mass flow controllers. Tuning of flows by applying different pump heads is possible. Liquid lines calibrated for H₂O and CO₂. Cooling of The pump head of the CO₂ line by means of a cryostat. The pressure regulation of the set-up is a high precision “air actuated” heated backpressure regulator. Pressure reading is by an appropriate pressure transducer installed in the reactor head (“upstream”). All lines between reactor outlet and online analytics electrically heated to avoid condensation of vapors. Two heated traps installed between online analytics and reactor outlet. This arrangement can be adapted (by appropriate choose of temperatures) to avoid contamination of the sampling arrangement of the online GC. The GC consists of four independent analytical lines and is equipped with dual TCD and dual FID detectors. The column application designed by JAS, involving separation and quantification of: All feed gases, C1 to C6 alkanes, C2 to C6 alkenes and C1 to C4 alcohols. Short analysis time below 20 minutes per run. Whole set-up automatically controlled by a PC software. Process control acquires all temperatures, pressures and flows. Complex, multiple steps measurements programs performed completely automatic. The GC software can also run appropriate “batch runs”. An “MS Excel” based software macro is available (developed by Rubokat GmbH). Software allows visual identification of “stationary state” conditions and performs all necessary calculations on process and GC Data: conversion, selectivities, c-balance, volume contraction and day pressure correction etc.