Scale-up concept for modular microstructured reactors based on mixing, heat transfer, and reactor safety

Abstract Microstructured reactors are characterized by rapid mixing processes and excellent temperature control of chemical reactions. These properties allow the safe operation of hazardous chemistry in intensified processes. Problems occur during scale-up of these processes, where heat transfer becomes the limiting effect. With high flow rates and transitional or even turbulent flow regimes in small channels, rapid mixing and excellent heat transfer can be maintained up to high production rates. For exothermic reactions, limits for parametric sensitivity and safe operation are shown from literature and combined with convective heat transfer for consistent scale-up. Good knowledge of reaction kinetics, thermodynamics and heat transfer is essential to determine runaway regions for exothermic reactions. From these correlations, consistent channel design and continuous-flow reactor setup is shown.