Parallel reactor system for screening of heterogeneous catalysts

• Subject Area: Fluid Mechanics, Technical Thermodynamics and Thermal Energy Engineering
• Term: Funded in 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 441694699

A parallel reactor system for high-throughput screening of heterogeneous catalysts in pulverized or pelletized form with 8 to 16 parallel reactors (16 preferred but not mandatory) in gas-phase flow reactions with the possibility of dosing liquid reactants is to be procured. Preference is given to a highly flexible system for handling current and future projects of the Chemical Technology department of TUC, such as Sabatier reaction (methanisation of carbon dioxide), CSCDRM (combined steam and carbon dioxide reforming of methane), ammonia-SCR (selective catalytic reduction) of nitrogen oxides with ammonia or CO2-FTS (Fischer-Tropsch synthesis using carbon dioxide) for the production of synthetic fuels. The system to be procured should have either reactors with a high dimensionless ratio l/d > 50 (l reactor length, d inner diameter) or replaceable reactors to realize the above mentioned l/d for exothermic reactions; the reactor materials should allow testing in highly reactive or even corrosive gas mixtures (e.g. H2S). The catalyst volumes targeted for testing are 0,1 - 4 mL. Parallelisation increases the reproducibility of the measurement results by replication and wider screening of the complex parameter space in heterogeneous catalysis. At the TU Chemnitz, and as far as known in the Free State of Saxony, there is no commercial parallel reactor system for the development and testing of upscale-capable heterogeneous catalysts with higher catalytic activity in fluid phase reactions. The catalyst screening that can be efficiently carried out in such a parallel reactor system as well as the finding of catalytically higher active upscale-capable catalysts and corresponding kinetic investigations are important design fundamentals for the development, design and construction of new innovative and sustainable apparatus and synthesis processes. The parallel reactor system for the high-throughput screening of heterogeneous catalysts in parallel reactors is fundamental for the creation of the technological knowledge base in order to increase the efficiency of the test procedures and their reproducibility for the current and further developing research projects, preferably with a current application-oriented industrial background.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Parallelreaktorsystem für die Testung heterogener Katalysatoren
• Instrumentation Group: 8200 Reaktionsgefäße für Hochdruck, Autoklaven
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Chemnitz
• Leader: Professor Dr. Klaus Stöwe