While both glass and glass-lined steel reactors offer notable advantages, clear distinctions exist that differentiate their overall performance. How do these materials stack up against one another?
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If you are searching for optimum material choices, glass and glass lining are likely at the top of your list.
The construction of composite metal and glass combines the beneficial properties of its primary components. The external steel framework provides the necessary strength, while the internal glass lining offers exceptional corrosion protection and a smooth, non-contaminating surface. As a result:
Although an all-glass design lacks the strength of an external steel structure, Borosilicate glass 3.3 reactors offer equal corrosion resistance to glass-lined vessels, coupled with the added advantage of process visibility. This characteristic makes components from the QVF® Supra series a favored choice in research and development as well as kilo plant production across chemical, biotech, and pharmaceutical sectors.
A third alternative we refer to as the VERI reactor combines the best aspects of both materials. The glass-lined steel framework accommodates higher jacket pressures, leading to increased heat transfer rates through more turbulent jacket flows.
This structural design also permits greater temperature differentials, further enhancing heat transfer efficiency.
Thanks to the flanged bottom outlet connection, the VERI reactor can effectively use the De Dietrich glass-lined steel Clean Valve, enabling various functions without disrupting the process or disassembling the valve.
The glass reactor head offers excellent visibility for monitoring process scale-up and development. It simplifies inspections during CIP processes. By peering through the reactor cover, you can easily check critical operational aspects such as foam production, solid dispersion, or potential mixing issues (e.g., ineffective suspensions).
With strong, corrosion-resistant glass-lined steel integrated with a glass cover and overheads, the VERI reactor combines the corrosion resistance of a glass-lined unit with superior visibility. This innovative reactor model is widely utilized in pilot plants due to its robust construction.
Glass-lined steel process equipment is prevalent in virtually all global pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities and is extensively employed across the chemical, petrochemical, pesticide, metallurgical, and food industries. The unique properties of glass lining provide numerous advantages, making it a top choice for design engineers. Here are 5 key reasons why glass-lined steel can enhance your process:
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Glass-lined steel offers superior corrosion resistance against acids, alkalis, water, and other chemical solutions (with exceptions for hydrofluoric acid and hot concentrated phosphoric acid). This remarkable chemical resistance enables glass lining to endure in conditions that would quickly render most metal vessels unusable. The accompanying chart illustrates that glass lining demonstrates the widest range of corrosion resistance compared to other materials used for equipment, making it a necessity in certain processes.
The chemical, mechanical, and thermal qualities of glass confirm that this material can withstand a wide array of operating conditions. Users of glass-lined equipment can make significant process adjustments without the need for new equipment investments. This flexibility makes glass-lined steel the preferred choice for research and development, processes requiring frequent changes, and diverse applications.
Aggressive reactions can leach metals from unlined mild steel or alloy reactors, leading to contamination from extractable metals such as chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and copper. Such contamination can adversely affect product quality, reduce yield, and in some cases trigger runaway reactions. Glass-lined steel remains inert, preventing contamination. Moreover, it does not negatively impact flavor or color, which is vital for food and drug applications where purity is critical.
In pharmaceutical processes, the ability to clean equipment thoroughly is crucial. Each reactor and associated equipment must be cleaned meticulously between batches to ensure product quality and minimize heat transfer resistance resulting from buildup. Glass-lined steel meets cGMP cleaning and sterilization requirements. Its highly smooth surface facilitates easy cleaning with non-corrosive, low-pressure systems. The smooth finish also resists sticky product accumulation, necessitating less frequent cleaning.
When handled and maintained correctly, glass-lined steel reactors can prove to be a cost-effective solution compared to conventional steel and alloy vessels, whose lifespan can be significantly shortened due to poor corrosion resistance. The synergy of glass and steel creates a composite material that provides product protection on the inside and structural strength on the outside.
If you believe glass-lined steel suits your process, we recommend checking out our Introductory Guide to Glass-Lined Steel Equipment. This complimentary eGuide offers an in-depth exploration of glass lining technology, detailing its history, fabrication, and its chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties.
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