Catalyst and reactor are inextricably linked through catalyst dynamics and gradients of operation variables inside the reactor due to chemical reactions and physical transport processes. Catalyst dynamics means that structure and reactivity of a catalyst change if there are changes in temperature, species concentration, flow velocity and pressure. Spatial and temporal gradients in these variables occur in catalytic reactors due to the interplay of chemical reactions and transport of species, heat, and momentum.

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In most applications, the processes inside the catalytic reactor remain hidden. Reactors are normally intransparent, operate at high temperature and pressure conditions and contain toxic, flammable or even explosive chemicals. Figuratively speaking, the reactor is a „black box“. Measurements are restricted to inlet and outlet flows, mathematical models are often too simplified and reactor optimization is based on trial and error.

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REACNOSTICS provides reactor hardware, measurement services and modeling capabilities to help customers optimize their catalytic reactors based on knowledge. We strive to make the reactor „transparent“ by measuring and/or modeling the concentration, temperature and flow field inside the reactor and characterize the local state of the catalyst by spatially resolved spectroscopy.