The SCR is a 50-500-cc/hr, vertically oriented plug-flow reactor designed and utilized to carry out two-phase gas/liquid reactions over solid catalysts on the bench scale. It is used primarily for exploratory research or small-scale liquid processing. The reactor body is constructed of Type 316 stainless steel and is fully enclosed in a single-zone electric clamshell heater. The SCR has been tested to temperatures of 600°C and pressures of 1000 psig. All temperatures, pressures, and flow rates are computer-controlled and monitored from behind an explosion-rated blast wall.

Reagents flow to the SCR through an explosion-rated blast wall to minimize the volumes of flammable gas and liquid in and around the heated equipment. The reactor is plumbed to allow top-down or bottom-up feed, depending on the desired liquid residence time, and flow patterns. All inlet and outlet lines are heated and have independent temperature control to allow reagent preheat or to prevent product condensation.

Multiple thermocouples located throughout the reactor body allow close monitoring of the average bed temperature and of the temperature gradient through the bed. The use of multipoint thermocouples also allows early detection of hot spot formation during exothermic reactions.

Following reaction, products are carried rapidly away from the heated reactor to a glycol-chilled condenser. The condensed product then flows into a dual-sample-bomb system. Each sample bomb in the dual system can be independently pressurized or vented while off-line, preventing any upsets to system pressure during sampling.

A slipstream of the noncondensable product gas can be passed to an online laser gas analyzer. The analyzer measures gas-phase concentrations of H₂, CO, CO₂, CH₄, higher hydrocarbons (C_XH_Y), H₂O, N₂, and H₂S.

Reactions tested to date in the SCR include:

• Crop oil and fatty acid conversion to distillate fuels.
• Distillate fuel hydrocracking and hydrotreating.
• Paraffin reforming to aromatics under mixed atmospheres.
• Alcohol upgrading.