Shenjia Hydraulics

Release Date:

2022-07-04

An autoclave is a pressure vessel used to carry out processes such as vulcanization, nitration, hydrogenation, alkylation, polymerization, and condensation. Autoclaves are widely employed in industries including petroleum, chemical engineering, rubber, agrochemicals, dyes, pharmaceuticals, and food processing, particularly in chemical manufacturing.

An introduction to the applications of autoclaves—save this now!

　　What are the applications of an autoclave? Let’s take a brief look together.

　　The autoclave material‑quantity measurement device comprises a radiation source and upper and lower detectors positioned inside the reactor, with the detectors sequentially connected to a signal‑processing unit and a control‑conversion unit. It outputs a current signal proportional to the product of the counts from the upper and lower detectors, thereby quantifying the material level in the autoclave. This device addresses the challenge of online monitoring of reactor fill levels and continuous production under supercritical conditions. The shearing assembly includes a pressure pump, an extrusion‑mixing pump, and a shearing pump. The extrusion‑mixing pump consists of an inner tube, an outer tube, a main shaft, and mixing plates; the outer and inner tubes form a hollow jacket, while the main shaft is rigidly mounted to the inner tube via a support bracket, with inclined mixing plates fixed to the shaft. The shearing pump comprises an upper cover, an upper base plate, a lower cover, and a lower base plate; the upper base plate, which is uniformly perforated with feed ports, is securely attached to the upper cover, whereas the lower base plate features a discharge outlet and is connected to the lower cover. A pivot pin fixed to the lower base is inserted into the feed ports of the upper base plate. The inlet of the pressurizing pump is connected to the bottom of the reactor via a return line, its outlet is linked to the bottom of the extrusion‑mixing pump, the upper portion of the extrusion‑mixing pump is connected to the feed inlet of the shearing pump’s upper cover, and the discharge outlet of the shearing pump’s lower cover is located at the top of the reactor.

　　As an specialized piece of equipment, the autoclave requires operators to undergo relevant training. What specific precautions should be observed during its use? Let’s take a brief look together.

　　1. Before use, verify that all valves are fully open, paying particular attention to the ports of the pressure gauge and the rupture disc. Be especially mindful of whether the air inlet is blocked; if it is contaminated or obstructed, remove the tubing and the air‑inlet branch pipe from the vessel lid, clean them thoroughly, and then reinstall.

　　2. After the autoclave body has been cleaned and dried, its sealing integrity should be checked first. Place the vessel into the heating furnace, align the protruding portion with the groove, gently rotate the vessel, and then slowly and smoothly close the vessel and the lid. Special care must be taken to protect the sealing surfaces, preventing damage caused by impact between the lid and the vessel’s sealing ring. Once the lid is securely closed, verify that the upper and lower connectors of the reactor are properly aligned; gently rotate the lid to ensure it is evenly seated and that the sealing ring makes good contact. After installing the gasket, proceed with tightening.

　　3. When checking for air tightness, first ensure that all valves—such as the solid feed port, the reactor‑lid vent valve, and the inlet valve—are securely tightened (just enough to create a seal; do not overtighten). Then, with the reactor controller’s stirrer switch and speed/temperature control switches set to zero, turn on the power supply and the display switch.

　　4. Connect the nitrogen cylinder to the autoclave’s inlet via a gas line, and tighten the associated screws. Open the main valve and the pressure‑regulating valve on the nitrogen cylinder; first adjust the regulating valve to the pressure required for the experiment, then open the autoclave’s inlet valve to slowly introduce gas into the reactor. When the pressure displayed in the reactor matches the set pressure on the nitrogen cylinder and remains stable, sequentially close the reactor’s inlet valve and the nitrogen cylinder’s outlet valve. Record the pressure reading in the reactor, and after 30 minutes, check whether the pressure has changed.

5. When temperature and pressure rise abnormally, promptly turn off the heating switch and manually vent the system to ensure equipment stability.