Catalysis and Chemical Engineering Global Conference

Catalytic reactor design is highly important for fully exploiting the potential of catalysts and contributes to high efficiency in chemical processes. Chemical engineers can achieve higher productivity with reduced energy input by carefully optimizing reaction conditions in reactor design. This session focuses on principles and innovations in catalytic reactor design, showing how new designs in industry are impacting the energy, pharmaceutical, and environmental protection sectors.

Catalytic reactors are specifically designed to facilitate chemical reactions involving catalysts. Consequently, catalytic reactor design has a significant effect on the interaction between catalysts and reactants, as well as on reaction rate and selectivity. Packed-bed reactors, fluidized-bed reactors, and microreactors each offer different benefits suited to specific types of reactions or processes. Understanding these designs can help guide the choice of the best reactor type, whether for large-scale petrochemical production or the synthesis of small pharmaceutical batches.

Among the most widely used catalytic reactors are packed-bed reactors, where catalysts are held in a fixed bed as reactants pass over it. This design is well-suited for continuous processes and finds extensive application in refining and petrochemical industries. Fluidized-bed reactors, on the other hand, allow catalysts to move along with the flow of reactants, improving mixing and heat transfer. These reactors are often used in processes that require high temperatures or involve strong gas-solid interactions, such as fuel production and pollution control.

The microreactor is a more recent design that allows complete control over reaction conditions at a microscopic level. Known for high heat transfer rates and rapid reaction rates, microreactors have a large surface area-to-volume ratio due to their small size. Microreactors are especially useful for testing new catalytic reactions, optimizing process conditions, and safely handling hazardous reactions.