Simular, High Pressure Simular and Dual Simular: Reaction Calorimeters for Process Safety and Development

The Simular range from H.E.L Group comprises three configurable reaction calorimeters designed to investigate the thermal behaviour of chemical reactions, supporting process safety, development, optimisation and scale-up.

Available as Simular, High Pressure Simular and Dual Simular, the systems support Heat Flow and calibration-free Power Compensation Calorimetry, providing information on reaction heat release, thermal accumulation and cooling requirements to help evaluate thermal hazards and develop safer reaction conditions.

Features and Options

Simular Configuration Comparison 

Simular	High Pressure Simular	Dual Simular

 Image Credit: H.E.L Group 

The following features and options are available across the Simular range, unless otherwise specified.

Vessel Types 

• Insulated reactors in glass, 316 stainless steel and Hastelloy C276, depending on configuration.
• Reactor volumes from 250 mL to 5 L.

Temperature Control 

• −80°C to 250°C, depending on reactor material and circulator.

High Pressure and Vacuum Systems

• Stainless steel and Hastelloy reactors: vacuum to 100 bar typically, with optional configurations up to 200 bar, depending on vessel volume and material.
• Glass reactors: atmospheric-pressure operation, with vacuum capability depending on configuration.

Calorimetry Methods  

• Heat Flow Calorimetry: Measures reaction heat release or absorption through heat exchange between the reactor and its surroundings.
• Power Compensation Calorimetry: Provides calibration-free measurement of reaction heat flow, reducing experimental time.
• Reflux Calorimetry: Optional method for reactions conducted at their boiling point.

Process safety and scale-Up

• Measurement of reaction power, enthalpy, heat accumulation and reaction kinetics.
• Calculation of Maximum Temperature of the Synthesis Reaction (MTSR), heat transfer rates and cooling duty to support thermal risk assessment and process scale-up.

Sampling Systems

• Sampling through active pumps, manual dip tubes, automated level control or multisampling units, such as the ASU.
• Optional gas sampling.

Reagent Addition 

• Standard liquid feed pump and balance combination.
• Optional syringe pumps for low-flow-rate liquid addition.
• Optional gas feeds, including:
  • Pressurized vessels for highly volatile reagents.
  • Bottle and balance combinations.
  • Mass flow controllers (MFCs), with flow rates up to 2,000 mL/min.
  • Automatic solenoid valves for controlled gas addition.

Control options 

 All relevant inputs can be logged, enabling automated monitoring and, where appropriate, feedback control of:

• Reactor stirring speed and torque.
• Liquid feed rate, pH and pressure.
• Gas uptake, gas flow rate and gas evolution.
• Automated sampling and dilution.
• Calculation of condenser cooling duty.

Sensor Options 

• Temperature, pressure, pH, turbidity and conductivity monitoring.
• Optional integration of third-party probes, including in-situ FTIR, particle sizing and Raman spectroscopy.

Stirring 

• Standard automatically controlled 100 Ncm torque motor.
• Glass reactors: stirring speeds up to 600 rpm.
• Metal reactors: stirring speeds up to 1,000 rpm with an overhead magnetic drive.
• Optional higher-torque motors supporting up to 2,000 rpm / 400 Ncm, depending on configuration.

Intelligent Software Control and Analysis 

• H.E.L's WinISO software provides automated data logging, multi-step experimental procedures, parameter control and feedback loops, with an intuitive interface requiring minimal training.
• Offline calorimetric calculations can be performed using iQ software.
• Optional automated adjustment of sampling rates provides greater data resolution during periods of experimental interest.

Safety Features 

• Automatic, user-configurable reaction condition monitoring and shutdown procedures.
• Hardware and software fail-safes on every system.