Selection of Technical Reactor Equipment for Modular, Continuous Small-Scale Plants

TLDR

Modular, continuous small‑scale plants aim for rapid process development, flexible production, and advanced process conditions, and a configurable layout with predefined equipment enables quick, reliable conceptual development and scale‑up. The authors developed a computer‑assisted selection methodology to rapidly choose plug‑flow reactor equipment for homogeneous liquid‑phase reactions. The methodology identifies favorable technical apparatus and configuration early in process development. This approach facilitates effective planning and guidance of scale‑up experiments, closing the gap between laboratory and process development.

Abstract

Fast process development, flexible production and the utilization of advanced process conditions are the main goals of modular and continuous small-scale plants (MCSPs). A configurable layout of the modules and the use of predefined equipment enable a quick and reliable conceptual process development and scale-up of continuous processes. Therefore, a computer-assisted selection methodology was developed and is presented, which allows the quick selection of plug flow reactor equipment for homogeneous liquid phase reactions. It identifies a favorable technical apparatus and the configuration in the early stages of process development. This can lead to the effective planning and guiding of scale-up experiments and closes the gap between lab and process development.