The Alfa-Laval Reactor

In the following part, four reactors that have been extensively studied in our lab are described the open plate reactor (OPR) - the Alfa-Laval reactor technology (ART ) plate reactor, the Shimtec reactor from Chart Industries, the Corning (glass reactor), and the DeanHex reactor which has been constructed with SiC and stainless steel. 

Some specific flow inserts introduced inside the plates (both reactant and utihty plates) enhance the mixing and residence time and guarantee a good heat transfer capacity [15-17]. 

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Applications of Alfa Laval plate-type continuous reactors to pharmaceutical synthesis were for a liquid-liquid reaction where an alcohol is oxidised to an aldehyde using sodium hypochlorite - resulting in an increased yield compared to the batch operation - and a ring closure reaction. Here the reaction was carried out at a temperature above the solvent s normal boiling point, and again a substantially higher yield was obtained. When reactions were undertaken in micro-reactors very high heat transfer capability was observed, but these would be used in different applications to the Alfa Laval reactor. 

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