Benefits of continuous reactors
Benefits of batch reactors
Batch reactors are very versatile and are used for a variety for different unit operations (batch distillation, storage, crystallisation, liquid-liquid extraction etc.) in addition to chemical reactions.
There is a large installed base of batch reactors within industry and their method of use is well established.
Batch reactors are excellent at handling difficult materials like slurries or products with a tendency to foul.
Batch reactors represent an effective and economic solution for many types of slow reactions.
The rate of many chemical reactions is dependent on reactant concentration. Continuous reactors are generally able to cope with much higher reactant concentrations due to their superior heat transfer capacities. Plug flow reactors have the additional advantage of greater separation between reactants and products giving a better concentration profile.
The small size of continuous reactors makes higher mixing rates possible.
The output from a continuous reactor can be altered by varying the run time. This increases operating flexibility for manufacturers.