Laminar flow reactor

A continuous-flow reactor in which fluid moves in orderly layers, creating a predictable velocity profile. Its controlled flow supports reaction studies and process design.

Laminar flow: Fluid motion in parallel layers with little mixing between them. The reactor’s orderly layers establish its characteristic velocity profile.
Chemical kinetics: The study of reaction rates and how they depend on conditions such as concentration and temperature. Controlled flow helps relate reaction progress to a defined reaction time.
Plug flow reactor: A continuous reactor model in which fluid moves as uniform plugs with no axial mixing. Its idealized uniform residence time differs from the spread of times in laminar tube flow.
Turbulent flow: Fluid motion characterized by irregular fluctuations and strong mixing across the flow. It contrasts with the orderly layers and limited transverse mixing of this reactor.
Reynolds number: A dimensionless ratio comparing inertial forces with viscous forces in fluid flow. It helps predict whether operating conditions will preserve laminar flow.
Microreactor: A small-volume reactor containing reaction channels typically measured in micrometres or millimetres. Microreactors often use laminar flow to study reactions with precise spatial control.
Poiseuille flow: The pressure-driven flow of a viscous fluid through a long, straight cylindrical tube. It provides the canonical parabolic velocity profile for fully developed laminar tube flow.
Continuous stirred-tank reactor: A continuous reactor in which agitation keeps the contents approximately uniform in composition. Its strong mixing creates a different residence-time pattern from laminar tube flow.
Residence time distribution: A description of how long fluid elements spend inside a flow system. The velocity profile gives different fluid elements different times in the reactor.
Continuous-flow chemistry: Chemical synthesis in which reactants continuously pass through a reactor rather than being processed in batches. Laminar flow reactors are one type of equipment used in continuous-flow synthesis.

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