Different models of reactors for biodiesel production: A review

The present study is based on the comparison between different types of reactor for Biodiesel production. This study includes working of reactor individually on the basis of size, catalyst used, reactants, variation in the production rate followed by different procedures. Each reactor has some advantages over others followed by a few disadvantages as well. The comparison of reactor is done mainly in terms of reaction-mechanism on the basis of homogeneous and heterogeneous type reactants, catalyst and the quantity of by-products. The study also includes different techniques to provide activation energy to the reactants such as rotatory-spinning, oscillatory flow, ultrasound techniques. Biodiesel is produced by burning the bio-waste in the reactors, the reactors Burn the organic waste in the absence of oxygen, with or without using catalyst at certain high pressure and temperature for the production of biodiesel. The most common process used in the production of biodiesel is through catalytic processes. To produce biodiesel through transesterification reaction, a catalyst is used to increase the rate of reaction but after the completion of the reaction, the catalyst is hard to remove which is a limitation. To overcome this limitation supercritical reactors are introduced. The temperature and pressure above the critical stage of fluid are termed as a supercritical stage. Supercritical reactors burn the biomass at a supercritical stage at this phase boundary between liquid and vapour starts disappearing, therefore, the mixing of biomass becomes easy and the quality of fuel increases without a catalyst. The designing of supercritical reactors is done in such a way that it can be used more efficiently and effectively for the production of biodiesel.