Coflore^® Flow Reactors

Coflore reactors are multi-stage flow reactors that deliver good plug flow and mixing over a wide range operating conditions. They are available in a range of sizes from laboratory to Industrial scale.

The Coflore design employs a patented mixing technique where free moving agitators within each reaction stage promote mixing when the reactor body is subjected to lateral shaking. This generates intense mixing without the need for rotating shafts, mixing baffles or mechanical seals. Problems of centrifugal separation (when two phases are present) are also eliminated.

Lab scale Coflore ACR reactors use reaction cells and have a working capacity from 10 to 100 millilitres. Industrial scale Coflore ATR reactors use reactors tubes from 1 to 10 litres.


 

 

Mixing

By employing dynamic mixers, the mixing efficiency is substantially independent of reactor stage size, shape or fluid velocity. In tests, Coflore reactors have consistently delivered outstanding mixing performance with homogenous fluids, immiscible liquids, slurries and gas/liquid mixtures.

Plug flow

The key requirements for good plug flow in multi-stage reactors include a sufficient number of stages, good mixing and minimum back mixing between stages. The Coflore reactors use 10 reaction stages at the lab scale and up to 50 stages for industrial scale units. In tests, Coflore reactors have achieved consistently good mixing with zero back mixing (between stages) for reaction times of over 3 hours.


Based on a second order reaction

Process Fluids

The simple internal geometry and strong mixing throughout the Coflore reactors provides an effective means of keeping multiphase mixtures suspended and well dispersed, to maintain orderly flow through the reactor.

Example*: Reaction - 36 litres/hour - reaction time 100 seconds - viscosity 5 cp
Reactor type	Tube diameter (mm)	Tube length (m)	Number of tubes	Pressure drop (bar)	Reynolds number
Micro	0.5	5092	500	13.3	5
Tubular	4	80	1	12.7	318
Coflore	42	<1	1	<0.001	>2300

*An example to illustrate the benefits

Reduce capital and operating costs

The length of a Coflore reactor is typically less than 1% of a tubular reactor. Short, large diameter tubes are cheaper, easier to clean and have longer service life. The reduced pressure drop in the Coflore also contributes to lower pump costs.

Applications

Coflore reactors have been used for a wide range of applications. Some examples include.

Suzuki reaction Hoffmann reaction Grignard reaction Oxidation reaction Biocatalysis

Hydrogenation Bourne reaction Emulsion polymerisation Nano particle synthesis Counter current extraction