What are the special requirements for the feeding method of a high-pressure reactor?

The feeding method of a high-pressure reactor must meet special requirements for safety, sealing, and controllability to ensure stable operation under high pressure conditions. The feeding system typically employs a high-pressure pump or gas booster to overcome the high-pressure resistance within the reactor and deliver the material. For liquid feed, a high-pressure pump such as a plunger pump or diaphragm pump is required, with its outlet pressure exceeding the reactor's operating pressure, and equipped with pressure buffers and safety valves to prevent pressure fluctuations. Gas feed requires precise regulation using pressure reducing valves and flow controllers to avoid instantaneous high-pressure surges. The feed pipeline design must consider high-pressure sealing, typically employing double-ferrule fittings or metal-sealed flanges to ensure no leakage under high pressure. All feed interfaces should be equipped with check valves to prevent backflow that could lead to contamination or hazards.

The sequence and rate control of the feed are crucial for reaction safety. For multi-component reactions, the feed sequence must be determined based on the reaction characteristics, such as adding the stable component first and then slowly adding the active component. The feed rate must match the rate of exothermic reaction; excessively rapid feed may lead to excessively high local concentrations and trigger violent reactions. The automated control system uses mass flow meters and pressure sensors to monitor in real time, achieving precise feed regulation. For the addition of solid catalysts or sparingly soluble materials, high-pressure solid feeders or premixed slurry feeding methods can be used to avoid clogging and uneven distribution. The material selection of the feeding system must be compatible with the material characteristics. For corrosive media, Hastelloy or titanium pipes should be used, and inert gas purging ports are used to remove air from the feeding system.