THALETEC Glass-Lined High Pressure Reactors for the Process Industry
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Additive manufacturing (AM) is being used to develop new and innovative products in a wide range of industries, including equipment and plant construction for the process industry, as demonstrated by THALETEC’s high-pressure reactor. Traditionally constructed from materials like stainless steel, these reactors, crucial for chemical reactions, now benefit from AM. THALETEC, in collaboration with JUREC, pioneers certified additively manufactured reactors meeting stringent standards, marking a significant advancement in equipment and plant construction for the process industry.
THALETEC has developed a prototype high-pressure reactor using the selective laser melting (SLM®280) process. The new reactor has a number of advantages over traditional high-pressure reactors, including:
- Integrated temperature control channels for improved heat transfer
- Higher pressure capacity despite lower wall thickness
- Guaranteed diffusion-proof and chemically highly-resistant coating
- Reduced weight
The new-solution prototype glass-lined high-pressure reactor was prepared using the selective laser melting metal-based additive manufacturing process. The use of the SLM®280 process opens the possibility of building the high-pressure reactor with an integrated temperature control channel for the heating or cooling of the reactor‘s interior. SLM®280 process’s precision enables intricate inner structures, addressing limitations of traditional manufacturing methods. This innovation not only optimizes functionality but also reduces weight, crucial for laboratory applications.
THALETEC’s prototype high-pressure reactor demonstrates the potential of AM to revolutionize the design and manufacturing of equipment for the process industry. The new reactor has a number of advantages over traditional high-pressure reactors, including improved heat transfer, higher pressure capacity, reduced weight, and a guaranteed diffusion-proof coating. THALETEC has also developed a tested and proven approach to certify AM pressure equipment according to PED.
