If the stainless steel reactor is jacketed, what is the heat exchange form?

The heat transfer jacket of a stainless steel reactor is typically constructed from ordinary carbon steel and is designed as a container that fits around the reactor cylinder, creating a sealed space for efficient heat transfer. The jacket includes inlets and outlets for steam, cooling water, or other heating and cooling media.

When steam is used as the heating medium, the inlet pipe is positioned at the top of the jacket, with condensate discharged from the bottom. For liquid heating media, the inlet is placed at the bottom to ensure the jacket is filled with the heat transfer medium, which exits from the top. In larger reactors, spiral baffles may be installed within the jacket to improve heat transfer by increasing fluid velocity and preventing short-circuiting.

For reactors with large diameters or high-pressure heat transfer media, welded semicircular spiral tubes or spiral angle steel structures may replace traditional jacketed designs to enhance heat transfer efficiency and structural strength. A non-condensable gas outlet at the top of the jacket further improves heat transfer efficiency.

The jacket height and distance from the reactor body are determined by process requirements, with the jacket typically positioned 50-100 mm above the liquid level. For larger reactors, heat transfer baffles may be added to increase the heat transfer area, improve agitation, and disrupt vortex-controlled flow patterns. Common baffle types include D-shaped, finger-shaped, sleeve-type, annular tubes, and elliptical tube baffles, which offer higher heat transfer coefficients compared to the jacket alone. However, proper structural design and cleaning considerations are essential when using baffles.