Heat Transfer in Multiphase Processes using Kneader Reactors

Kneader reactor technology has been used over 50 years for a variety of applications including drying, polymer/rubber devolitization, solvent recovery from sludge, and liquid based reactions and polymerizations. In many applications and processes, the rheological behavior of the material in the reactor may change during the course of the process. The material may turn into a gel, become thick, sticky, pasty, and overall hard to process. The material may eventually turn over into free flowing solid granules or powder. Multiphase processes like this are inherently difficult to handle using conventional technology as often this technology cannot handle phase changes. In particular, heat transfer in multiphase processes can be very challenging.

Kneader reactor technology is robust and flexible so that multiple phases can be handled in the same piece of equipment. Heat/energy transfer in kneader reactors will be investigated for a variety of rheological conditions and the transition between different phases will be also examined.