(39c) How Proper Startup and Shutdown Procedures Are Critical in Operating the Laboratory Fixed Bed Reactors

Laboratory scale fixed bed reactors are widely used for testing novel catalysts for chemical processes. These reactors are very small with reactor diameter, typically, in the range of ¼” to ½” and hold about 5-25 grams of catalyst. They are ideal for initial screening of many different catalyst samples at a very small scale. These reactors must be set up properly to ensure good contacting of the reactants with the catalyst particles. Good procedures for startup and shutdown of the reactors are equally important and can play a critical role in the reactor’s performance. A real life example will be shared showing how a reactor’s performance improved dramatically when the reactor’s startup and shutdown procedures were changed.