An initial commitment toward development, the experience accumulated during 20 years carrying out projects, and strong involvement with customers during the implementation and operation stages accredit PID Eng&Tech as specialists in designing and building pilot plants and laboratory reactors.

PID Eng&Tech has developed in collaboration with ICP (Catalyst and Petrochemical Institute of CSIC, Spain) systems and devices for solid addition and for catalyst and polymer slurry driving between different reaction steps. These mechanisms have been specifically designed for performing the process at microscale.

• Gas lines: monomers and comonomers feed streams and nitrogen lines for inertization purposes.
• Solvent lines: Catalyst and cocatalyst feed line.

In this way, the integrated control pressure/relation loop allows the user to work holding simultaneously a stable desired pressure and a stable desired relations during the reaction time.

All the process and control variables and parameters are registered in only one software application. In addition, software allows the operator to design automatic procedures for design and automate the run.

Plant has several independent safety levels: automatic switch off in case of any problem, pressure, level and temperature security systems; all of that based on a Programmable logic controller (PLC) device independent of PC. PLC manages the alarm signals from controllers. In addition, actuated valves are configured according to good safety practices.

The most outstanding feature of the plant is its feeding system (pending patent), which  has been developed by PID Eng&Tech and can feed up to 1.5 kg/h of different solids and mixtures in an homogenous, constant and reproducible way. The design of the system prevents hot gases from entering in the feeding hopper, which would ruin the experiment.

• The reactor is divided in reactor zone and freeboard zone.
  The operating homogeneous temperature is up to 900ºC.
  Reactor zone is Ø = 3” and length = 770 mm. Freeboard zone is Ø = 5” and   length = 535 mm.
• The pressure is measured drop inside reactor, for fluidization speed determination.
• Particle removal system is installed to collect char and ashes from bed in continuous during the experiments.
• The radiant type furnace reaches 1000ºC and has two zones to improve the uniform temperature.

• Gases streams (air, O2) for fluidize the bed and gasify are preheated up to 350ºC – 400 ºC.
• Water is fed by means of an alternative positive displacement pump and vaporized up to 350ºC – 400 ºC.
• Secondary air is introduced in the middle of the reactor.

Continuous and non-fluctuation feeding system consists of 10 litres hopper and two screw feeders. The solid flow is constant from 0.2 to 1.5 Kg/h.

• A nitrogen flow will continuously flush the dosing screw, promoting the motion of the solids.

• Two cyclones connected in series and heated up to 400ºC, allow removing solid particles from gas stream.

• A SS316 Shell and multitube heat exchanger is used to cool the hot gases and condense tar and steam.

• Two filter placed in parallel allows to cleaning product gas from smaller particles which are not separated in cyclones.

• A Programmable Logic Controller controls the alarms of the plant, launching the corresponding actions in case of failure.
• The software is responsible of process monitorization, data acquisition and registration and experiment automation.

• Liquid feeding system (for glycerin).
• Gas meter.
• Tar collection system.
• Additional hopper for solid feeding system.

Technology applied is at the top worldwide. Standarized system becomes short production delivery time and confidence on his performances. The Plant will be High Pressure Certified PED/97/23/EC.

Until six (n) continuous gases feed lines to reactor. Flow control system by Mass Flow Controllers (Bronkhost High-Tech), including manual valves, check valves, fitting and accessories (P&ID diagram). Gases line preheating system including temperature control loop can be installed.

Up to two liquid feed lines can be installed as standard. Pumps can be selected for micro-flow (HPLC from Gilson) or standard process pumps (Dosapro) for different pressures and flows. Relief valves for calibration, check valves, manometers and usual safety devices will be installed. Liquid lines preheating/evaporating systems can be selected. Inertized vessels, tracings and all usual features can be installed.

Power control is based on Phase Angle Control (PAC) voltage supply. Overtemperature alarm is also included.

• Magnetic Drive system “Magnedrive” between the motor and the stirrer.
• Stirrer speeds up to 3300 rpm. Stirring speed sensor.
• Control and display of stirring speed
• The “dispersimax” turbine-type impeller suitable for gas/liquid reactions.

• Cooling Coil. Thermowell.
• Liquid Sample tube with valve.
• Blow Pipe with valve.
• Sparge Tube with valve.

• Heating with electrical resistance in the vessel of reactor.
• Optional jacket to heat thermal with fluid.
• Cooling with internal cooling coil or external baffled jacket.

Also weight scale can be selected on the configuration sheet for real time acquisition on computer.

Type of temperature control also can be selected. One or two weight scales for real time acquisition on computer can be selected. Pressure control system for the reactor or , when a fractionation is needed, two different pressure controllers for reactor and separators can be selected. Pressure control is based on the patented PID Eng&Tech microregulation servocontrolled valve (at this brochure). Overpressure interlocks with feeding and oven are installed.

Control system based on distributed PID controllers and remote computerized supervision and automation (for process recipes). PC and Process@ software is included. Engineering and documentation.

With an excellent reaction temperature control and making use of a precise HPLC pump for gasoil dosification, even for very short reaction time (10 seg), this unit carry out reaction and regeneration in-situ and consecutives stages, with coke and gases analysis. The four liquid products obtained are collected in a cooled receiver until the end of the experiments.

Configuration can also be setup as a complete parallel system. This includes two furnaces and reactors for parallel mode operation. Each reactor has its own temperature and pressure control and with the added valves and plumbing can also provide serial mode operation.

• Gas mixer with three mass flow controllers for incoming gases
• Stainless-steel, 9-mm reactor
• Radiating oven with low thermal inertia capable of reaching 1050 oC
• Valve for bypassing the reactor enabling isolation while the feed analysis commences
• Liquid-gas separator

Several options can be easily added to the Effi Microreactor, configuring the instrument to the exact needs of the researcher.