Shenjia Hydraulics

Release Date:

2022-07-14

An autoclave is an industrial vessel used to carry out chemical reactions under high pressure; some are equipped with agitators or heat-transfer systems. Autoclaves are also referred to as pressurized reactors. They consist of a reaction vessel, an agitator and associated drive system, a cooling system, a heating furnace, and other components.

Valuable insights: A one-minute guide to understanding autoclave controllers.

　　What is the controller of an autoclave like? Let’s take a brief look together below.

　　1. The enclosure features a standard aluminum alloy chassis, with a rear‑pull‑out cover for convenient maintenance and inspection. The front panel is equipped with a digital temperature display, voltmeter, tachometer, control switches, and adjustment knobs to facilitate operator control.

　　2. Electrical Principle: All electronic components of the stirring control circuit are mounted on a single circuit board. The system employs a dual closed-loop control scheme, offering high speed‑regulation accuracy, stable operation, and strong anti‑interference performance. It also features comprehensive protection functions, including speed limiting and overcurrent protection. By adjusting the “speed control” knob, the DC voltage supplied to the DC motor can be varied, thereby regulating the motor speed and controlling the stirring rate.

　　3. The heating circuit employs a solid-state relay (commonly referred to as a voltage‑regulating module) to adjust the voltage, thereby simplifying the circuitry. To regulate the heating power, simply turn the “Voltage Adjustment” knob. Additionally, the control section of the heating circuit is equipped with an intelligent digital display, allowing the heating temperature to be freely set according to process requirements with high temperature‑control accuracy (see the thermometer’s user manual for details).

　　4. All external wiring is routed from the controller’s terminal block to the rear panel via waterproof connectors.

　　What is the structural principle of an autoclave? Let’s take a brief look together below.

　　1. The kettle body and lid are made of 1Cr18Ni9Ti stainless steel. The kettle body is connected to the flange via threaded joints, while the lid is a flat, flush‑mounted cover secured by circumferentially evenly spaced main bolts and nuts.

　　2. The main sealing interface of the autoclave employs an A‑type double‑seal configuration, while other sealing points utilize line‑contact seals between arcuate and planar surfaces, as well as between arcuate surfaces. Excellent sealing performance is achieved through the high precision and smoothness of these contact surfaces.

　　3. The reactor vessel is externally fitted with a cylindrical silicon carbide heating core, through which the electric heating wire passes; the wire’s ends extend through the lower side of the furnace shell and are connected to the controller via terminal blocks and rubber‑insulated cables.

　　4. The reactor head is equipped with a pressure gauge, a rupture disc holder, a vapor–liquid valve, a temperature sensor, and other instruments, enabling real-time monitoring of the reaction conditions inside the vessel, adjustment of the internal medium ratios, and safe operation.

　　5. The coupling consists primarily of a pair of high‑strength inner and outer magnetic rings, with a pressure‑bearing spacer positioned between them. The agitator is driven by a servo motor via the coupling. By controlling the speed of the servo motor, the agitation rate can be regulated.

　　6. The upper part of the spacer sleeve is equipped with a tachometer coil. When the integrated agitator rotates along with the internal magnetic ring, the tachometer coil generates an induced electromotive force that corresponds to the stirring speed; this voltage is transmitted to the tachometer, which displays the stirring speed.

　　7. A cooling water jacket is installed between the magnetic coupling and the pot lid; when operating at high temperatures, cooling water must be supplied, as excessive magnet temperature can lead to demagnetization.

　　8. The bearings are made of 1Cr18Ni9Ti stainless steel or high‑strength electrochemical graphite, offering excellent wear resistance and a long maintenance interval.