Several reactor types are commonly employed in catalytic processes:
Batch Reactors: Ideal for small-scale production and research, these reactors allow for precise control over reaction parameters. Continuous Stirred Tank Reactors (CSTR): Suitable for large-scale, continuous production, offering uniform mixing and excellent temperature control. Plug Flow Reactors (PFR): Characterized by a tubular design, these reactors ensure that reactants move through the reactor in a 'plug' fashion, with minimal back-mixing. Packed Bed Reactors: Common in heterogeneous catalysis, these reactors have the catalyst packed in a fixed bed, allowing reactants to pass through and undergo the catalytic reaction. Fluidized Bed Reactors: Featuring a bed of solid catalyst particles that are fluidized by the upward flow of reactants, these reactors provide excellent heat and mass transfer.
