26
P a r r I n s t r u m e n t C o m p a n y
Reactor Selection Guide
Safety Rupture Disc
to
protect the vessel and the
operator from dangerous
pressures beyond the rated
limit for the vessel.
Thermocouple or Thermowell
for measuring the temperature within the ves-
sel. In small reactors, a thermocouple encased
in a metal sheath extends directly into the
vessel. In larger reactors, and in vessels
constructed of special alloys, the control
thermocouple is inserted into a thermowell
which extends to a point near the bottom of
the vessel.
Internal Stirring System
consists of a motor drive magnetically
coupled to an internal stirrer shaft with
attached turbine-type impeller(s).
Dip Tube
Cooling Coil
Pressure Gage
, analog type,
which shows the pressure
within the vessel at all times.
Gas Release Valve
to release
gas from the reactor during or
at the completion of a run.
Guide or Foot Bearing
with a PTFE bushing
to support and stabilize lower stirrer shaft. (Not
required with footless magnetic drive)
Liquid Sampling Valve
for
withdrawing liquid samples
through the dip tube shared with
the gas inlet valve. Incoming gas
can be used to clear the dip tube
between liquid samples.
Gas Inlet Valve
for charging gas
into the reactor. This valve and the
liquid sampling valve are connected
to a dip tube which extends to the
bottom of the vessel.
3
Confirm Standard Fittings
T
here are a number of options to be considered and
selections to be made in order to complete the speci-
fications for a reactor. You will need to choose from the
following:
1. Sealing Style
Parr reactors may be provided with a flat gasket seal
or an O-ring seal. Most commonly, a flat PTFE gasket is
used. These are generally good for temperatures up to
350 °C. A graphite seal for temperatures up to 500 °C is
used for high temperature systems.
O-ring seals allow for a convenient, boltless closure,
but the material must be checked carefully against the
intended process as there are many solvents and gases
which attack O-rings.
2. Mounting Style
Parr reactors may be provided with a moveable vessel
mounting or fixed head mounting.
In the moveable vessel style the complete vessel
assembly (only the head in the one gallon or larger) is
removed from the heater for charging, product recovery,
and vessel cleaning.
In the fixed head style the head remains in the
mounting and the reactor heater then cylinder drop
away to open the vessel. This is useful for users who
wish to leave inlet and feed lines, discharge and vent
lines, condensers, and similar head connections undis-
turbed between runs. The head is easily removable if
desired by sliding the head out of its slot on the stand.
3. Support Stand
Parr stirred reactors are most commonly mounted on
a bench top stand for sizes of 2 liter or smaller. Vessels
1 liter or larger may be mounted on either moveable
carts or fixed floor stands. Care should be taken to check
stand dimensions with the available space at the user’s
facility.
4. Stirrer Type
Parr reactors have a magnetic drive equipped for
most low viscosity fluids and light slurries. Drives with
4
Specify Detailed Options
