MULTIFUNCTIONAL REACTORS

In multifunctional reactors chemical and physical unit operations are carried out simultaneously. Traditionally chemical reaction engineerin g considers mass and heat transfer processes in combination with chemi cal reactions. However, the term multifunctional reactor points to an extended and more detailed view of process integration. By application of these reactors it is possible to save investment and/or operating costs, to meet environmentally relevant limits or to improve process s afety. Mechanical and thermal unit operations are especially good cand idates for integration with a chemical reaction step, In this contribu tion selected multifunctional reactors are presented, which were eithe r adopted from the literature or are the subject of the authors' own r esearch activities.