In the world of industrial manufacturing—especially in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and petrochemicals—equipment like process reactors and pressure vessels are at the heart of operations. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they serve very different functions in process engineering.

In this blog, we’ll clarify what process reactors and pressure vessels are, how they differ, and where each is used.

What is a Process Reactor?
A process reactor is a specially designed vessel employed to allow chemical reaction under controlled conditions. These may be temperature, pressure, agitation, and catalyst inclusion.

Main Characteristics of a Process Reactor:

• Designed to perform chemical or biological reaction
• Fitted with agitation systems, heating/cooling jackets, and feed/discharge ports
• Configurable in batch or continuous operation
• Constructed from material compatible with the chemicals involved (e.g., stainless steel, Hastelloy)

Typical Applications:

• Pharmaceutical API synthesis
• Production of polymers
• Hydrogenation reactions
• Fermentation
• Specialty chemical production

What is a Pressure Vessel?
A pressure vessel is a vessel intended for the containment of pressure at a substantially different level from ambient pressure. It should have the capability to withstand internal or external pressure, depending on the application. Pressure vessels should meet safety requirements such as ASME, PED, or IS codes.

Key Features of a Pressure Vessel:

• Utilized for storage or pressure containment
• Designed to be highly strong and integral
• Can be vertical or horizontal
• Frequently employed together with other process equipment (reactors, heat exchangers, separators)

Typical Applications:

• Compressed gas or steam storage
• Chemical holding tanks
• Oil & gas separation processes
• Boilers and autoclaves

The Overlap: All Reactors Are Pressure Vessels
It‘s worth noting: All process reactors are pressure vessels (as reactions are frequently carried out under pressure), but not all pressure vessels are reactors.

A reactor is actually a specialized form of pressure vessel—designed not only to contain pressure, but also to actively regulate intricate chemical changes. That is why reactors are generally more sophisticated in design, instrumentation, and control.

ACME‘s Experience in Reactors & Pressure Vessels
At ACME Process Systems, we design and build customized reactors and pressure vessels for numerous industries such as:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Chemicals
• Petrochemicals
• Oil & Gas
• Food & Beverages

Our vessels are:

• Designed for precision and durability
• Built with materials such as SS316L, Hastelloy, Alloy 20
• Meet ASME, GMP, and international engineering standards
• Come in jacketed, limpet coil, or skid-mounted configurations

If you require a pressure-vault reactor for hydrogenation, or a solvent containment storage vessel, we provide systems that operate with safety, integrity, and effectiveness.

Need a Custom Reactor or Pressure Vessel?
Let‘s design it together.
sales@acmeprocess.net
www.acmeprocess.net