Tubular reactors are continuously operated reactors. Tubular reactors make possible the cost-effective production of large product quantities with consistent quality.
The main component of CE 100 is the tubular reactor with ten temperature-controlled sections. Two pumps convey the reactants from the receiving tanks into the preheating sections and then into the reactor. The preheating sections consist of a coiled tube located in the hot water tank. After preheating, the reactants are mixed just before they enter the reactor. The electrical conductivity of the reaction mixture is measured at the inlet, in the centre and at the outlet of the reactor. While the reaction mixture flows through the reactor, the reactants react to the products. The mixture of products and unreacted reactants leaves the reactor and is collected in a tank.
The volumetric flow rates of the reactants and thus also the retention time in the tubular reactor are adjusted at the pumps. The ten sections of the tubular reactor consist of tubular heat exchangers. The reaction mixture flows in the inner tube of the heat exchanger and the hot water flows in the outer tube. This hot water circuit is temperature controlled. The controller on the switch cabinet makes it possible to set the desired temperature and displays the current temperature in the hot water tank. Three stirring machines ensure uniform mixing and temperature distribution in the reactant tanks and in the hot water tank.
Sensors record the temperatures and electrical conductivities. The measured values are read from digital displays and can be transmitted simultaneously via USB directly to a PC where they can be analysed using the software. The reaction is analysed using the measured electrical conductivities and the conversion rate calculated from this.
