www.vapourtec.co.uk

Why Choose Vapourtec ?

 

 

The Vapourtec R Series has a number of unique features but the most important to note are the following:

 

Flexibility

The truth is that many users who are new to flow chemistry don't really know what they will be doing in flow in 2 years time.

The Vapourtec R Series offers the flexibility to start small and expand later as and when needs dictate.

  • Up to 4 reactors (column or coil, heated or cooled) can be used with one R4 reactor module.
  • Choose only what you want .  Select the combination of reactor modules to suit your needs.  Add more later if required.
  • Up to 4 pumps.  Want to perform a multi step reaction with more reagents added at intervals ?  Want to quench that cooled reaction before it leaves the cooled zone ?  With Vapourtec, adding pumps is straightforward and full automated control is retained over all pumps, as well as peak matching to ensure maximum usage of reagents.
  • All backwardly compatible.    New capabilities are constantly being announced, but they are all compatible with even the earliest Vapourtec systems purchased in 2007.

The R Series really is the system you won't outgrow.

 

 

Success

As of September 2011, the Vapourtec Publications page lists  > 50 peer reviewed papers featuring work done on the Vapourtec system.  

Why do users of Vapourtec systems publish disproportionately more successful research than users of other systems ?

There are certainly features of the Vapourtec that help:

  • The system is flexible and can adapt to the changing needs of their research
  • The system is highly productive, allowing each user to get more done
  • Vapourtec offers best in class accuracy of flow and temperature control ensuring repeatability of results
  • The system is reliable and easy to use.  Users spend their time thinking about the chemistry, not the system.

 But there is an alternative explanation too

 

  • The smarter researchers choose the Vapourtec system.

 

 

UV & IR Triggered Peak Collection

The Vapourtec FlowCommander™ software has always featured the facility to ensure correct collection of the reagent peak when the plug of reagents passes through.

There is a computer model which predicts the axial dispersion that takes place with tube reactors, so that it is possible to automatically collect the steady state part of the reaction product peak when it emerges from the reactor.  

But some situations (packed columns) cannot always be perfectly modelled, because different column contents cause different levels of dispersion.

So, In April 2011, Vapourtec announced the capability to use a UV sensor to automatically trigger the collection of peaks.

The software uses the existing dispersion algorithm to estimate the size of the peak (for visualisation and to determine the likely number of fraction collector vials required to capture it) but uses the actual UV trace to determine capture.

 

More details here.

 

 

  Then in November 2011, this facility was extended to FTIR with a collaboration with METTLER TOLEDO.

More details here

 

 

Cooled Reactions

The R Series cooled reactor enables reactions to be run at temperatures down to -70oC, in a compact system that requires no additional recirculating chiller.

Points to nore

  • You can run two cooled reactors at different temperatures.
  • It's simple, cost effective, and compact
  • It's fast -   down to -70oC from an ambient standing start in approx 16 mins.

To find out more, click here

 

 

 

Strong Acid Resistance

The R Series is the only meso scale system available with the proven  capability of complete strong acid resistance throughout the entire flow path.  This enables it to be used for nitrations with fuming nitric acid, for example, but with no compromising on pressure capability.

This capability has been in use worldwide since November 2009, with more than 40 acid resistant systems installed to date.

To find out more, (and see an example of it being used for real nitrations) click here.

 

 

 

 

 

Automated Control Without Limits

With Vapourtec Flow Commander ™ control software, the R Series system becomes a fully integrated automated platform, which is extremely powerful,  yet quick and easy to setup. 

Any number of reactions can be queued for unattended execution.

And it can grow to suit your needs - additional equipment such as UV / IR sensors, fraction collectors and autosamplers are all supported, and the software takes care of all calculation, and setup and sequencing.

To find out more, click here.

Illustration of reagent efficiency with multi step reactions

 

Modular System - Grows with your Needs

The Vapourtec R Series can be expanded step by step, as your requirements change.  Start with a basic stand alone system, and work up if required to a fully automated integrated reaction optimisation system.

Every new capability that has been launched since the R Series first became available has been backwardly compatible. 

None of your investment along the way is ever wasted.

To find out more, click here

As you can see from the picture (right) the Vapourtec system is extremely space efficient.  The "4 pump + Fraction collector" combination shown is approx 1 metre wide.

 

Reaction Visibility and Heat Transfer

The Vapourtec system has a novel method of reactor heating (and cooling) for both column and tubr reactors which means that

  • The reaction is visible at all times
  • The rate of heat transfer in or out of the reaction is particularly high, meaning
    • greater control of exothermic reactions,
    • much faster transition between temperature set points
    • faster return to handling temperatures after completion of reactions at very high temperatures.
  • Temperature control is extremely precise (+/- 1oC across entire temperature range), as it is actually measured at the reactor wall.  This means it is fully representative of actual reagent temperature.
  • There are no "hot spots" in the reactor.  Every part of it is heated (or cooled) to the same temperature.

To find out more, click here.

 

  Vapourtec Tube Reactor

 

 

Pump  Monitoring

Transient or static bubbles inside a pump (or failure to wet perfectly) can cause incorrect or zero flow rate.  But how would you know when it happened ?

The Vapourtec system led the world with this pump monitoring technology, which has been present since the very first R Series system left the factory. 

To find out more, click here

 Vapourtec R2+ module when it detects air in the pump

 

 

 

Stability

Though new features and capabilities are continually being added, the core platform of the Vapourtec R Series has been essentially unchanged for > 4 years, and has been proven in many industrial and academic laboratories worldwide.  Many chemists have returned to place repeat orders, and their feedback as users has enhanced the development of more features.   The R Series is stable, reliable and well engineered.  

 

Flow chemistry is a  fast moving field.

Want to be kept up to date ?

Vapourtec products are continually being improved.  If you'd like to be kept up to date as new products and capabilities are made available,  click here to signup for the bi-monthly Vapourtec email newsletter.  It lists latest publications, new application notes, and information concerning new technology and features.