Continuous tubular flow
Reaction progresses along a defined flow path.
Glass Plug Flow Reactors (PFR)
Glass plug-flow and tubular reactors for continuous gas- or liquid-phase reactions, with static-mixing and falling-film configurations.
UD Technologies · Vadodara, India
Continuous tubular reaction
Control reaction progress along the flow path.
In an ideal plug-flow reactor, material advances through a tube with minimal axial mixing while radial mixing maintains conditions across the flow area. Reactant concentration changes along the reactor length, allowing reaction time to be linked directly to position and flow rate.
UD Technologies configures borosilicate glass PFR systems as tubular, double-pipe, shell-and-tube or falling-film arrangements. Static mixing elements can strengthen radial mixing in laminar or viscous service, while transparent construction makes the evolving process visible.
Low back-mixing
Axial mixing is limited compared with stirred vessels.
Gas or liquid service
Configurations support multiple phase systems.
Visible operation
Glass makes flow distribution and fouling observable.
Salient features
Multiple flow geometries for demanding reaction duties.
The tube arrangement, mixing internals and heat-transfer surface are selected around kinetics, viscosity, phase and temperature limits.
Tubular construction
Hollow-pipe flow provides a direct and scalable continuous reaction path.
Static mixing
Internal elements promote radial mixing for laminar and viscous fluids.
Heat removal
Jacketed and falling-film formats provide high heat-transfer capability.
Process safety
Small working volumes and effective heat transfer can moderate reaction conditions.
Bioprocess options
Transparent tubular arrangements can be configured as photo-bioreactors.
Application-specific geometry
Double-pipe, tubular and shell-and-tube configurations are available.
Reactor configurations
Match the flow regime to the reaction.
Each configuration changes mixing, heat transfer and residence-time behaviour; final selection follows the process parameters.
Tubular plug-flow reactor
Continuous reaction in a defined tubular path
Straight or multi-pass tubular systems support gas- and liquid-phase chemistry with low axial back-mixing.
Configuration
- Flow
- Continuous axial progression
- Mixing
- Radial mixing with limited axial mixing
- Geometry
- Tubular, double-pipe or shell-and-tube
- Internals
- Static mixing elements optional
Falling-film reactor
High heat-transfer reaction in a controlled liquid film
Liquid and gas travel through jacketed columns or tube clusters in annular or annular-mist flow, supporting tight temperature control.
Configuration
- Flow regime
- Annular or annular-mist flow
- Thermal performance
- High heat-removal capability
- Format
- Single jacketed tube or shell-and-tube cluster
- Use case
- Reactions with strict temperature limits
Glass photo-bioreactor
Transparent tubular processing for biological applications
Glass tubular systems can be configured for photo-biological processes such as algae production and other small-scale continuous duties.
Configuration
- Construction
- Transparent borosilicate glass tubing
- Operation
- Continuous circulation or plug-flow arrangement
- Application
- Photo-biological and small-scale production
Related system
Compare with stirred continuous reaction.
Where complete vessel mixing is more important than plug-flow behaviour, review the glass CSTR configurations.
Discuss your requirements