Project Synopsis
Evaluation of batch reactor heating and cooling systems to determine the systems’ ability to meet required batch cycle time requirements of a new product formulation.
Project Summary
BATCH CHEMICAL PRODUCTION FACILITY JACKETED REACTOR HEAT TRANSFER EVALUATION
The client owns and operates a batch specialty organic chemical production facility and was in the process of bringing a new batch recipe on line in existing batch production process equipment. Process Engineering Associates, LLC (PROCESS) was contracted by the client to perform an evaluation of the batch reactor heating and cooling systems to ascertain the systems’ ability to meet batch cycle times heating and cooling requirements.
Initially, PROCESS gathered all engineering, operations, and thermophysical properties data from the client and then constructed a unique spreadsheet-based heat transfer model in order to simulate operation of the dimpled jacketed reactor. Classical heat transfer relationships were incorporated in the model and the model was hand checked for accuracy.
Using the model, PROCESS determined that the jacketed system would not allow the client to simultaneously meet temperature and cycle time requirements, particularly in regard to the proposed cooling cycle. After discussing the results with the client, PROCESS recommended that an external reactor recirculation loop with external heat exchanger be added to the system in order to allow the client to meet the production objectives.
Industry Type
- Batch Chemical Manufacturing
Utilized Skills
- Heat transfer modeling
- Production process cycle time evaluation