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P a r r I n s t r u m e n t C o m p a n y
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O p t i o n a l F i t t i n g s
Windows
W
indows can be installed
in Parr stirred reactors
and pressure vessels for visual
observations, light transmis-
sion and other purposes. They
usually are installed in pairs
so that light can be introduced
through one window while the
other is used for viewing. Our
standard material for these
windows is quartz. Sapphire
is also available for small
diameter windows. Alternative
window materials are avail-
able for specific transmission
requirements. They can be
mounted in several different
ways.
Screw-in Circular Windows
The simplest window is
a screw-in type with a 1/2"
diameter viewing area. The
element in these windows
is sealed in a fitting which
screws into the vessel using a
standard 1/2" NPT male pipe
thread. Obviously, the vessel
wall must be thick enough to
provide full engagement for
this thread. PTFE gaskets and
O-ring seals restrict the maxi-
mum operating temperature to
225 or 275 °C, depending upon
the O-ring material. Pressure
ratings range from 2000 to
5000 psi, depending upon the
window material and its thick-
ness. Although these windows
are rather small for straight
optical viewing, they work well
for small video systems and
for laser and other analytical
beams. A limitation of this
design is that there is a dead
space approximately 1-1/4"
long between the inner face of
the window and the inside wall
of the vessel.
Integral Windows
Parr has developed designs
for installing windows in the
wall of the vessel so that the
inside face of the window is
very close to the inside wall of
the vessel. This eliminates the
large dead space associated
with screw-in windows. These
windows are offered in the two
styles described below. The
maximum size of the window
will depend on the size of the
cylinder in which it will be
installed.
Circular Windows
with a
0.5" or 1.0" diameter viewing
area are the standard. Circular
windows are available in a
variety of materials including
sapphire for very high pres-
sures. This type of window
is generally used for visual,
photographic or optical sensor
observations.
Oblong Windows
with a
viewing area 3.50" long and
.62" wide are the standard size
and can be installed on vessels
of 100 mL and larger. These
windows are commonly used
for visual observations in both
the vapor and liquid phases
100 mL Vessel Based On 2430HC3
Cylinder, with Two Quartz Windows
Pressure vessel with multiple 1-inch diameter
windows installed.
and for observing the liquid
level in the vessel. Multiple
windows can be stacked on
larger vessels.
Windows in both the round
and oblong styles can be
furnished in larger sizes upon
request. The windows we have
noted above as standard are
maintained in our inventory for
readily available replacements.
All reactors and pressure
vessels equipped with win-
dows require custom designed
heaters and supports. Flexible
heating mantles and attached
circulating jackets are the most
commonly used heaters for
window vessels.
Windows are sealed into
these vessels with O-rings. For
this reason, vessels equipped
with windows are restricted to
operating temperatures of 225
or 275 °C depending upon the
O-ring material selected.
