chemical reactor
/ˈkɛmɪkəl rɪˈæktər/ · che·mi·cal re·ac·tor
noun
- A vessel or system designed to contain reactants, control reaction conditions, and collect products of a chemical reaction, typically used in industrial or laboratory settings. The engineers upgraded the plant’s chemical reactor to improve temperature control and boost product yield.
- In process engineering, a unit operation where chemical transformations are carried out, classified by mode (batch, continuous, catalytic, etc.). A continuous stirred‑tank reactor is a common type of chemical reactor in large‑scale production.
Synonyms
Did you know? The first large‑scale chemical reactor was built by Fritz Haber in 1909 for synthesizing ammonia, a breakthrough that enabled the modern fertilizer industry.