High Pressure Autoclaves, an FAQ Part 2

This is part 2 of a blog post where we address frequently asked questions about our Amar high pressure autoclaves (Read part 1 here).

1. We have been ordering high pressure vessels from our fixed vendor for a long time? Why should we consider a new vendor like Amar?
   A: The world is increasingly global. Do you buy all your chemical feedstock locally? Do you sell products only in your home country? Then why look at high pressure vessels any differently? Our advice is to consider new vendors with an open mind. Evaluate fairly and be open to their pros and cons. Sometimes you can open new possibilities in terms of features, delivery times or even customization. Often a new vendor opens up alternatives for a contingency. Every business needs a contingency plan. Competitive pressures also mean that vendor diversification can allow you to do more with tight budgets.

2. Isn’t it difficult to work with remote vendors in far-away countries? How do we perform a FAT (Factory Acceptance Trial)?
   A: You would be surprised at the options that exist. Many FATs are now conducted remotely over a video conference. Technology makes it easy to conduct. Often we have local third party agencies you trust. Examples are TuV Rheinland, SGS, DNV and many others. These are names you trust but they have teams at our location who can conduct inspections and FAT. In case you have to travel to our facility remember we are barely 8 to 12 hours away from most EU and APAC locations. Our facility is very close to the International airport in Mumbai. Just give it a shot. Our team at Amar is always happy to assist!

3. Do flow reactors mean that soon there will be no high pressure autoclaves left?
   A: No, this is a misconception. Although flow chemistry has great promise, there will be reactions where it makes sense to conduct them in batch mode. Amar has therefore paid equal attention to both product lines: flow and batch. We are one of the few vendors where under one roof you may be able to find both solutions. Select the right solution for your chemistry. Don’t let the vendor dictate the solution to you!

4. I have a challenging exothermic reaction. How should I conduct it in my stainless autoclave or hastealloy high pressure reactor?
   A: Exothermic reactions are always something to be careful about. High pressures intensifies the risk. But there are tips to carry these out safely. Make sure you have adequate pressure relief and it is vented to a safe spot. Whenever possible have a backup safety relieve device. E.g. A RD for a PRV. Have at least two modes of cooling available: e.g. external limpet coil, jackets, internal coils, reflux condensers. Remember that as the reactor size becomes larger the same jacket may not provide sufficient cooling capacity. At some point consider an external Heat exchanger on a circulating loop. Pay special attention to your agitator choice. The best jacket area cannot help you if your stirrer cannot cope with a viscous fluid to keep the reactor internals well mixed. Stay tuned for a more detailed blog post on this topic.

5. How do I cope with process leak scenarios on high pressure autoclaves especially with nasty gases?
   A: The best line of defence is to replace mechanical seals with magnetic drives whenever possible. At Amar we have an extensive range of Mag Drives. We can even retrofit your existing reactors with our seals. The 2nd line of defence is a dedicated sensor that will alarm in case of a leak and shut down the feed via an interlock. The 3rd line of defence is to locate the high pressure autoclave in an area with abundant ventilation or if indoors within a hood. The final line of defence is to always use PPE especially with gases with a low LD50 value. Again, this is a highly complex area and talk to our experts at Amar for advice. [email protected]

Hope this two part series of FAQs gave our customers some guidelines for making a good choice for their next purchase of high pressure reactors or autoclaves!