A High Temperature, High Pressure Reaction-Screening Apparatus

This short note describes an apparatus that has been designed and constructed to allow assessment of the extent of chemical decomposition of fluids and fluid mixtures under high temperature, high pressure conditions. The apparatus is used to screen fluid systems prior to PVT (pressure-volume-temperature) or VLE (vapor-liquid equilibrium) experiments under severe conditions. For a predetermined residence time, the fluids are maintained at the temperature and pressure at which the PVT or VLE experiment will be conducted. The residence time in the reactor is comparable to the expected residence time in the PVT or VLE apparatus. Samples of fluid are withdrawn directly at regular intervals for analysis by gas chromatography, or collected In a sampling vessel for more extensive analysis.