What Is a Stirred Tank Reactor? Working Principles, Components, and Industrial Applications Explained

One of the most versatile and common varieties of equipment used in process industry, and often referred to as a chemical reactor or mixing vessel, is a Stirred Tank Reactor (STR). The STR is essentially a container that is used to perform chemical reactions in controlled temperature, pressure and mixing conditions. YHCHEM is aware that through mastery and progress on this primary technology, the company can offer its services to very diverse industries all around the world, including the biopharmaceuticals and new energy.

YHCHEM is aware that the primary purpose of an STR is to create a homogeneous environment where reactants react constructively and this is done by mechanical agitation of an impeller system. The agitator provides uniformity in temperature and concentration throughout the vessel using all the reactants and making the most of the heat and mass exchange. YHCHEM can carefully control such important parameters as stirring rate, temperature (jacketed heating/cooling), pressure, and addition rate of feeds. Such a degree of control is necessary to obtain the highest possible reaction yield, the consistency of the products, the safety of the processes. YHCHEM has been the pioneer of providing this high-resolution controllability, both to delicate laboratory-scale reactions, as well as large-scale production.

A contemporary STR is an intricate system of interdependent parts.

In consideration of the corrosive materials and pressures, YHCHEM considers the vessel that is normally composed of high-grade stainless steel, glass-lined steel, or specialty alloy. The agitation system consists of a motor, shaft and impeller(s) and the design of the impeller (turbine, paddle, and anchor) is based on the viscosity and mixing needs. YHCHEM has typically partnered with external jacket or internal coil heat transfer systems to create thermal stability never seen before through the combination of its precision temperature control systems. The other important observation made by YHCHEM is that it has access ports and controls where reactants may be fed, sampling, and sensors to be placed to measure pH, temperature, and pressure. In YHCHEM these components are combined in such a way that they are arranged in strong, scalable systems, using the collaboration with major research institutions to implement the newest developments in materials science and fluid dynamics.

YHCHEM understands that a reactor can be at the center of a bigger system and hence provide solutions as a whole. YHCHEM has the understanding that the reaction process may be directly coupled with Distillation Series or Extraction series equipment to partition and purify the product on the spot. Other supporting equipment that YHCHEM has also incorporated includes the Pump Series which ensures a safe transfer of fluids and the High-Quality Glass Instrument Processing service offered by the company which provides ancillary parts required. This is a scientific one stop philosophy with over 10,000 installed systems around the globe which ensure that the clients have a simplified route to perfection and efficiency in the operations processes.

YHCHEM knows that stir tank reactors (STRs) have an incredible flexibility, hence their invaluability in any industry across the globe. These reactors play a crucial role in the industries that YHCHEM caters to; the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and fermentation under stringent GMP in biopharmaceuticals; the production of battery components, solar cell materials and novel polymers in new energy and materials; and key processes such as catalysis, hydrogenation and polymerization in petrochemicals. STRs are also used in food processing and environmental protection including fermentation, additive mixing and wastewater treatment.

Stir tank reactor is still a key player in the contemporary chemical processing. YHCHEM realizes that it is only when it is precise in engineering, designed with an integrated approach and that it realizes its application requirements that it can succeed. YHCHEM notes that it’s balanced mix of technologies and the worldwide distribution network show that the development of theSTR technology is based on the need to offer end-to-end, reliable, and scalable services that will spur progress in innumerable sectors on the planet.