The difference between reactor and tank

In chemical production and experiment, reactor and tank are two kinds of common equipment, but there are significant differences in structure, function and application field. This article will analyze the differences between the two devices in depth and explore their applicability in different scenarios.

Structure Design of 1. Reactor and Tank

1. the structural characteristics of the reaction kettle

• multilayer structure: The reactor is usually made of 3 to 5 layers of stainless steel(304 or 316), and the thickness of each layer is about 15mm. This design ensures the strength and corrosion resistance of the equipment.
• Removable design: The lid and ear of the kettle body are installed with flange, which is easy to install or disassemble. Part of the kettle is equipped with mechanical stirring device, which can improve the reaction efficiency.
• Heat dissipation design: The bottom of the kettle is provided with a ring-shaped heat dissipation sheet to effectively reduce the temperature rise. There are heat dissipation holes on the top of the kettle cover to help cool down.

1. Structural characteristics of reaction tank

• simple structure: The reaction tank is usually a single structure and consists of two main parts: the tank body and the tank cover. The material is mostly carbon steel or stainless steel.
• Fixed design: The tank body is usually fixed on the ground, and the operating space is small, suitable for small batch production or laboratory use.
• Seal Design: The tank cover usually adopts stretch type or hedge type design, which has good sealing performance and is suitable for high pressure reaction.

Operation mode of 2. reactor and tank

1. operating characteristics of the reaction kettle

• stirring function: Part of the reactor is equipped with a mechanical stirring device, which can improve the uniformity of the reaction mixture. The rotation speed of the stirrer can be adjusted to suit different reaction conditions.
• Temperature control: The reaction kettle usually has a condenser tube and a thermometer to facilitate real-time monitoring of the reaction temperature. Part of the kettle is equipped with automatic temperature control device.
• Safety Design: A safety bracelet is provided at the edge of the kettle cover to prevent accidental touch or ejection.

1. Operating characteristics of reaction tank

• simple operation interface: The reaction tank usually only has a simple control panel, and the operation is relatively simple. The user only needs to adjust the feeding and discharging speed.
• Sealing control: The sealing of the reaction tank is usually manually controlled by the user, and some tanks are equipped with vacuum or pressurization functions.
• Maintenance convenience: Due to the simple structure, the daily maintenance of the reaction tank is relatively easy, which is suitable for small batch production environment.

3. Applicable scenarios of reaction kettle and tank

1. laboratory Uses

• the reactor is suitable for medium-scale production in the laboratory where temperature and reaction conditions need to be controlled, such as chemical synthesis and organic reactions.
• The reaction tank is suitable for occasions requiring simple operation and small batch production in the laboratory, such as extraction and separation.

1. industrial production

• the reactor is suitable for industrial production of high equipment requirements, such as chemical, pharmaceutical, food processing and so on. Its larger scale and higher efficiency are suitable for industrial production.
• The reaction tank is suitable for industrial production of equipment price-sensitive scenarios, such as petroleum Refining, pharmaceutical raw material processing and so on.

1. Special Scene

• high temperature and high pressure reaction: For high temperature and high pressure reactions, such as some polymerization reactions, the reactor is more suitable, and its multi-layer structure and heat dissipation design can better cope with high temperature environment.
• Micro-liter or micro-pressure response: For micro-liter or micro-pressure reactions, the reaction tank is more suitable, with simple structure and low cost, and is suitable for micro-liter reactions.

Summary

there are significant differences between the reaction kettle and the reaction tank in structure, function and application scene. The choice of equipment depends on specific process requirements, scale, and budget constraints. Understanding these differences helps chemical industry professionals make more appropriate choices in practical applications, thereby improving production efficiency and product quality.