The reactor system pictured at right includes the following key components:
- A gas handling and mixing sub-system used to blend, regulate, and pre-heat the flow of reactant gas to the bottom of the reactor.
- The lower portion of the fluidized bed reactor incorporates an easily removable porous metal gas diffusion plate and the top of the reactor widens to form a disengaging zone for the fluidized solids. Separate heaters are provided for both the main reactor and disengaging zone.
- A moveable thermocouple in a thermowell is provided for monitoring the internal reactor temperature distribution.
- Internal baffling can optionally be included.
- A differential pressure transducer capable of measuring pressure drop across or within the bed.
- A heated cyclone separator or filter is provided immediately downstream of the reactor to capture the fines resulting from particle attrition.
- The reaction gases are then cooled by a condenser and collected in a product receiver.
- The system pressure can be maintained by an optional automated, dome-loaded, back pressure regulator.
- All system functions and parameters are monitored and maintained by a Parr 4871 Process Controller (not shown).