Reactor-Ready Pilot

No, unfortunately both of the height reduction kits are not compatible with the larger 30 L and 35 L Reactor-Ready Pilot vessels, due to their size and the necessary use of the Reactor-Ready Pilot lower support plate.  

For Reactor-Ready Pilot, we recommend the use of Radleys large condensers with a high surface area for condensing the vapour generated from the larger vessels. Our general guidance is:

• RR139300: Large Double Coil Rodaviss Condenser 60mm B34 + GL18 + fittings should be suitable for up to 5-10 L vessels.
• RR139302: Large Double Coil Rodaviss Condenser 85mm B34 + GL18 + fittings should be suitable for up to 15-20 L vessels.

The total coil surface areas for RR139300 and RR139302 are 0.13 m² and 0.25 m²respectively.

The vacuum obtained for a whole reaction system is typically approximately 10-50 mbar, although even better vacuum can be achieved – we have observed around 3-5 mbar under stationary test conditions in Reactor-Ready. The vacuum level that is obtained in a specific reaction system will depend on various factors, including:

• The type of reaction system – Reactor-Ready, Reactor-Ready Duo, Reactor-Ready Pilot and Lara have an advanced design with better sealing than other reaction systems, so particularly good vacuum can be achieved
• Whether glass cone stoppers (optional accessories) are used to plug any unused lid ports (required for the best possible vacuum), rather than Rodaviss sealing caps
• The particular vacuum pump used (considering the pump’s ultimate vacuum and speed etc.); also note that when a vacuum pump/tubing is new, you may need to run the vacuum for some hours before the best vacuum levels can be achieved
• Whether there is any water (or other substance) in the system – vacuum can cause this to evaporate, increasing the pressure
• The condition of all the seals/O-rings and piston – these are consumable parts and should be checked and replaced if required
• The condition and position of other components such as stirrer guide, stirrer shaft and probes
• Whether all joints are clean, assembled correctly and tight
• Whether all valves are closed properly
• Whether the vessel/lid clamp is tight enough
• Whether vacuum grease (silicone grease) is used on joints
• The stirring taking place (speed/viscosity etc.)
• The temperature within the vessel
• The reaction taking place within the vessel

For details of our vacuum testing procedure, please contact us.

The part numbers and descriptions for our current pistons are as follows:

Reactor-Ready, Reactor-Ready Duo and Lara pistons are 15 mm.

• RR161100: Piston 15 mm for Single Jacketed Vessel
• RR166055: Piston 15 mm for Vacuum Jacketed Vessel

Reactor-Ready Pilot pistons are 25 mm.

• RR166070: Piston 25 mm for Single & Vacuum Jacketed Vessel

Our general guidelines are that:

• The maximum working volume is about 10% higher than the nominal volume (the one stated in the vessel description)
• The minimum working volume is around 20% of the maximum volume

Please note, if you want to work at a range of volumes, we would advise that you purchase a range of vessel kits as appropriate for those volumes.  Each vessel kit contains a Pt100 temperature probe and stirrer shaft/rotor of a suitable size for that vessel. It’s quick and easy to swap vessels in Reactor-Ready, Reactor-Ready Duo, Reactor-Ready Pilot and Lara, unlike traditional jacketed lab reactors – so you do not need to stick with one vessel per reaction system.

The Reactor-Ready Pilot framework is 1890 mm high with wheels, or 1790 mm with feet instead. If you use it with tall lid accessories such as a condenser with reflux divider and right angle adapter, the total height of the system can be 2225 mm with wheels. If you want to locate Reactor-Ready Pilot in a fume hood with restricted height, it is possible to reduce the height of the framework by purchasing one of the following kits:

• RR210070: Reactor-Ready Pilot Core - 200 mm Height Reduction Kit
• RR210072: Reactor-Ready Pilot Core - 300 mm Height Reduction Kit

We highly recommend:

RR20502: pH Module

Comprising:

• RR20424: pH/mV/Temp Meter Portable + Control Cable
• RR20438: Cable pH Meter to Combination VP Probe 3 m
• RR139087: Adapter Rodaviss B34 to GL25
• RR139125: Swivel 12 mm pH Probe Adapter GL25
• RR20440: Buffer Solution Certified pH 4.01 +/-0.02 – 500 ml
• RR20442: Buffer Solution Certified pH 7.00 +/-0.02 – 500 ml
• RR20444: Buffer Solution Certified pH 9.21 +/-0.02 – 500 ml

This includes the correct RS232 cable for connecting the pH meter to a Data Hub to enable monitoring/control by AVA software. An adapter to secure the pH probe in a B34 socket in the vessel lid is also included. However, you need to purchase a pH probe separately.  You should select the pH probe with the appropriate length for your vessel volume.  You can choose from the following probes:

• RR20432: Combination VP pH Probe 325 mm x 12 mm (100 ml 250 ml 500 ml vessels)
• RR20434: Combination VP pH Probe 360 mm x 12 mm (1000 ml vessels)
• RR20436: Combination VP pH Probe 425 mm x 12 mm (2000 ml 3000 ml 5000 ml vessels)

(Please note, these pH probes are suitable for use at 0-130°C.) For larger Reactor-Ready Pilot vessels, we can supply a custom adapter that fits in an angled B45 lid socket and enables a short pH probe to be positioned deeper in the vessel.  Please contact us for further details. N.B. We cannot guarantee that pH meters or probes not supplied by Radleys would be compatible with Radleys kit.  Please contact us if you require advice on this topic.

The stirrers we offer for our jacketed lab reactor range are PTFE.  PTFE has excellent chemical resistance, and has been selected as it is the most appropriate material for the majority of customers. Furthermore, the standard Reactor-Ready, Reactor-Ready Pilot and Lara stirrers are specially designed to have the correct shaft diameter for their stirrer guide, and an appropriate shaft length and rotor diameter for the specified vessel. We recommend that you use the standard Reactor-Ready, Reactor-Ready Pilot or Lara PTFE stirrers if at all possible.  These are included in the great value vessel kits. We do have some standard stainless steel stirrers, but these are part of the overhead stirrer motor range and are offered for general lab applications rather than for any of our jacketed lab reactors.  They do not have the correct dimensions for Reactor-Ready etc. Nonetheless, if you do need a stainless steel stirrer for Reactor-Ready etc., we could potentially supply one as a custom item.  (Please note, vessel kits are set, so you could not swap the PTFE stirrer in a vessel kit with a custom stainless steel stirrer.) Please be advised, using a stainless steel stirrer shaft within our standard PTFE stirrer guides could lead to wear and shedding of PTFE from the guide.  We would therefore advise using the stainless steel stirrer with a custom stirrer guide that has a PEEK insert in the end to minimise the wearing/shedding.

The stirrers we offer for our jacketed lab reactor range are PTFE.  PTFE has excellent chemical resistance and has been selected as it is the most appropriate material for the majority of customers.  We recommend you use the standard PTFE stirrers if possible. If you are concerned about a risk of PTFE flakes shedding from the stirrer guide/shaft into the vessel, we can reassure you that the design of our drop-in stirrer coupling means that the stirrer shaft does not pivot in the stirrer guide as in traditional designs, and so there is a reduced risk of PTFE wearing. Nonetheless, if your laboratory regulations mean that PTFE would not be acceptable, then yes, we can supply glass stirrer shafts, and glass stirrer guides to use with them.  Please contact us with your specifications if you would like a quotation. Please be advised, glass is by its nature fragile, and so not advised for high viscosity/speed applications. Please also note, you would need to use some lubricant between the glass stirrer shaft and the glass stirrer guide; this can be food-grade if required, as it can come into contact with the vessel contents.

We highly recommend that you purchase vessel kits for use with our standard jacketed lab reactors (Reactor-Ready, Reactor-Ready Duo, Reactor-Ready Pilot or Lara). They are outstanding value for money (costing less than if you purchased all the parts individually), and ensure that you have the key vessel accessories. Vessel kits include the vessel (with sidearm couplings), a PTFE stirrer and a PTFE Pt100 temperature probe both of an appropriate size for the vessel, and an adapter for securing the Pt100 in the lid.

Standard shape Reactor-Ready and Lara vessel kits include an anchor stirrer. Process shape Reactor-Ready and Lara vessel kits, plus Reactor-Ready Pilot vessel kits, include a turbine stirrer. These stirrer shapes suit the majority of customers. Vessel kit components are set and cannot be customised. Nonetheless, the full range of stirrer shapes – anchor, turbine and retreat curve – are available to purchase separately for every vessel volume and shape. Due to the vessel kits’ excellent value for money, if you would like a different shape of stirrer, it would be best for you to order the vessel kit plus the additional stirrer, rather than ordering the parts you want (vessel, preferred stirrer, Pt100 and adapter) individually. Please note, vessel kits do not include a metal vessel support collar.

A reflux divider system enables you to switch between refluxing and evaporation/distillation in a jacketed lab reactor.  It allows you to carry out an evaporation after your synthesis without having to change equipment. A reflux divider head is a glass piece with a PTFE valve.  It is fitted in between the condenser and the reactor lid.  When the valve is closed, you reflux: vapour from the vessel travels up into the condenser and condensate flows back down into the vessel. When you open the valve, vapour travels up into condenser as before, but now condensate is run off to be collected in a separate receiver flask. We offer reflux divider kits for our reaction systems, each containing the reflux divider head, a condenser, and fittings for the reflux divider head to connect to a receiver flask. (Items can also be purchased separately.) You have the option of a standard reflux divider head (shown left), or one with a temperature probe port (shown right) together with a short Pt100 probe and adapter. The latter set-up enables you to measure the temperature of the vapour entering the condenser.  This Pt100 could be plugged into a Data Hub to be monitored by AVA software.

The part number for a peristaltic pump that is compatible with AVA Software is:

• RR20470 Peristaltic Pump 600rpm 4000ml/min

However, we highly recommend that rather than purchasing a peristaltic pump individually, you order:

• RR20500: Gravimetric Additions Module.  This includes a balance – you place the feed vessel for the pump on the balance and use it to monitor how much (g) you have added.  In AVA Software, you link the peristaltic pump and balance together and control them as one unit (instruct the pump to add a specified amount in g).

The RR20500: Gravimetric Additions Module also includes important accessories such as the correct RS232 cables to connect the peristaltic pump and balance to a Data Hub and to AVA Software, peristaltic pump tubing and fittings for feeding the tubing into a jacketed lab reactor (Reactor-Ready etc.) lid.

A drip tray is included in the following:

• RR121000 Reactor-Ready Core
• RR121300 Reactor-Ready Duo Core
• LR110055 Lara and LR110050 Lara Lite.

However, it is not included in the RR210000 Reactor-Ready Pilot Core.  For Reactor-Ready Pilot, you can choose from the following options to order separately:

• RR210062: Drip Tray PP 7L Capacity
• RR210064: Drip Tray PP 22L Capacity
• RR210066: Drip Tray PP 45L Capacity

The RR210000 Reactor-Ready Pilot Core includes feet in addition to the standard wheels, so you can install the feet if you prefer. Wheels enable easier movement of the framework.  They can be locked in position for safety. Feet reduce the system height by 100 mm.

We offer three PTFE adjustable rotors that can be added to Reactor-Ready Pilot PTFE stirrers (16 mm shafts). These are usually only used with the larger vessels. Please select the appropriate size adjustable rotor for your vessel. You can choose from:

• RR258300: Adjustable PTFE 4 Blade 45 Angle Rotor 16mm OD 100mm Rotor

Which is a turbine shape that forces the product down and creates good axial flow with low shear force.

• RR258302: Adjustable PTFE 2 Blade Vertical Rotor 16mm OD 100mm Rotor

Which creates tangential flow with gentle stirring. You can position an adjustable rotor where you want along the shaft and secure it in place with the glass-filled PTFE locking nut. Different sizes of adjustable rotors are also available for other jacketed lab reactors such as Reactor-Ready; please see the separate FAQ ‘Can you provide a second rotor for my Reactor-Ready stirrer shaft?’ or contact us for further details.

Reactor-Ready and Lara vessels have a bottom outlet valve with a 15 mm piston and a B19 Rodaviss socket run-off.  Reactor-Ready Pilot vessels have a bottom outlet valve with a 25 mm piston and a B24 Rodaviss socket run-off.

For a B19 run-off, you may wish to use one of the following:

• RR139063: PTFE Hose Adapter B19 for NW12 Tubing (which has a PTFE hose barb for connecting to tubing)

• RR139097: Vertical Run-Off Adapter B19 to Plain (which is a glass bend with drip cone – similar to RR139340 pictured below
• RR139098: Run-Off Secondary Valve B19 to Stopcock (which has a tap – useful to stop any weeping past the piston if working at temperature extremes) – similar to RR139137 pictured below

For a B24 run-off, you can choose from:

• RR139065: PTFE Hose Adapter B24 to 15 mm Bore (which is a wide bore PTFE piece)

• RR139340: Vertical Run-Off Adapter B24 to Plain (which is a glass bend with drip cone)

• RR139137: Run-Off Secondary Valve B24 to Stopcock (which has a tap – useful to stop any weeping past the piston if working at temperature extremes)

An oil bubbler (also called a gas bubbler) is a common piece of general laboratory glassware, which is part filled with oil and vented to the atmosphere. Oil bubblers are generally used to prevent pressure build-up while maintaining an inert atmosphere inside a vessel.  Gas passes (bubbles) out through the bubbler, but air does not pass back through the bubbler to the reaction.  The bubbler therefore acts as a one-way valve.  Oil bubblers also provide a way to view the rate of gas flow. Radleys tend to sell oil bubblers for use with jacketed lab reactors (such as Reactor-Ready) for work under nitrogen etc., as it is important not to pressurise glassware (as described in the separate FAQ entry on jacketed lab reactors and pressure). You may find bubblers in the lab set up with Schlenk lines (vacuum-gas manifolds). Our standard part numbers are as follows; alternative joint sizes (and designs) are available:

• RR139051: Oil Bubbler Type 1 B24 + GL14 + fittings
• RR139314: Oil Bubbler Type 1 B29 + GL14 + fittings

By looking after your equipment, you can ensure it has a long life with consistent high performance. Consumable items such as O-rings are expected to require replacement over time with use.  How frequently this is required will depend on how you are using the equipment (for instance, prolonged use at high speeds and high viscosities will mean faster wearing of the stirrer guide, and very low temperature work can cause the piston O-rings to become brittle).  Please regularly check all seals and moving parts and replace them if they show any signs of wearing etc. – before they fail and you have any significant leak. To prevent downtime, we recommend you keep spare parts so they are available to install whenever required.  We offer maintenance kits containing the most common consumables for each of our standard jacketed lab reactors:

RR121150: Reactor-Ready Maintenance Kit

• RR121027: Oil Wipe for Support Rods (Pack of 10)
• RR121063: Stirrer Guide Bearing Seal B24 10 mm (Pack of 1)
• RR121064: Stirrer Guide Ferrule & Shaft Seal B24 10 mm (Pack of 1)
• RR121071: 23 mm Viton O-Rings for Quick Release Hose Coupling (Pack of 2)
• RR121072: 28 mm Viton O-Rings for Quick Release Hose Coupling – NW12 (Pack of 2)
• RR121090: FEP Encapsulated Silicone Vessel O-ring – DN100 (Pack of 1)
• RR166100: Replacement 15 mm Piston Top O-Ring (Pack of 1)
• RR166102: Replacement 15 mm Piston Middle O-Ring (Pack of 1)

N.B. For Reactor-Ready Duo, simply order 2 x RR121150.

RR210100: Reactor-Ready Pilot Maintenance Kit

• RR121027: Oil Wipe for Support Rods (Pack of 10)
• RR121136: Stirrer Guide Bearing Seal B34 16mm (Pack of 1)
• RR121138: Stirrer Guide Ferrule & Shaft Seal B34 16mm (Pack of 1)
• RR121071: 23 mm Viton O-Rings for Quick Release Hose Coupling (Pack of 2)
• RR210050: 34 mm Viton O-Rings for Quick Release Hose Coupling – NW20 (Pack of 2)
• RR210022: FEP Encapsulated Silicone Vessel O-ring – 200 mm (Pack of 1)
• RR166104: Replacement 25 mm Piston Top O-Ring (Pack of 2)
• RR166106: Replacement 25 mm Piston Middle O-Ring (Pack of 1)

N.B. This does not include the Chemraz 25 mm piston top O-rings (part number RR210074 for a pack of 2), which are recommended for high temperature use.

LR199010: Lara Maintenance Kit

• RR121063: Stirrer Guide Bearing Seal B24 10 mm (Pack of 1)
• RR121064: Stirrer Guide Ferrule & Shaft Seal B24 10 mm (Pack of 1)
• RR121071: 23 mm Viton O-Rings for Quick Release Hose Coupling (Pack of 2)
• RR121072: 28 mm Viton O-Rings for Quick Release Hose Coupling – NW12 (Pack of 2)
• RR121090: FEP Encapsulated Silicone Vessel O-ring – DN100 (Pack of 1)
• RR166100: Replacement 15 mm Piston Top O-Ring (Pack of 1)
• RR166102: Replacement 15 mm Piston Middle O-Ring (Pack of 1)

N.B. This applies to the current model of Lara (Lara Plus) only – not the older Lara Classic; if you have a Lara Classic (serial number 1001 to 1060), please contact us for advice. Other items that should be regularly checked and replaced as required are the PTFE piston itself, the PTFE stirrer shaft, and the whole PTFE stirrer guide. If you require help identifying part numbers for any reaction system parts, please feel free to contact us, and we’ll be happy to help. Please also ensure the reaction system is kept clean (for example, clean up any chemical spillages on metal parts immediately, and do not allow residue to build up in the bottom outlet valve) to prevent avoidable damage.

After learning about all of the advantages of Reactor-Ready and Reactor-Ready Pilot, some customers ask whether they can purchase parts (such as a stirrer guide) to use with an existing reaction system from another supplier. Reactor-Ready and Reactor-Ready Pilot parts have been designed to be used together in a complete Reactor-Ready or Reactor-Ready Pilot system.  If you tried to use a part in a reaction system from another supplier, it is likely that it wouldn’t be compatible (wouldn’t fit properly), we couldn’t guarantee performance, and also you would be missing out on the other outstanding features of Reactor-Ready and Reactor-Ready Pilot. We would therefore recommend a complete Reactor-Ready or Reactor-Ready Pilot system for the best possible experience. You can request a demonstration here.

The image above shows the tops of the Reactor-Ready and Reactor-Ready Duo frameworks. The hole with a black border is where you insert an overhead stirrer support rod.  The black ‘liner’ of this hole is two adapters (there is one half on each side) you can remove to insert larger diameter support rods. If you misplace one of these black pieces, you can purchase a replacement: RR121041: I-Beam Stirrer Rod Reducing Spacer Note that this is a pack of 1 (one half, for one side of the metal I-beam). For Reactor-Ready Pilot, the part number is the same.

The Reactor-Ready Pilot framework (including drip tray) is 540 mm wide and 650 mm deep. The manifolds and vessel-to-manifold hoses will increase the width (by approximately 400 mm). If you mount receiver flasks (optional accessories) on the frame, the overall system will be about 200 mm wider (based on 5 L receiver flasks).

Yes, you can purchase replacement PTFE collars for the lid/vessel O-ring. For Reactor-Ready, Reactor-Ready Duo and Lara, the part number is:

• RR121095: PTFE Support Collar for FEP O-Ring – 100 mm

For the larger Reactor-Ready Pilot, it is:

• RR210024: PTFE Support Collar for FEP O-Ring – 200 mm

 

Yes, you can purchase stirrer guides (as pictured below).

For Reactor-Ready, Reactor-Ready Duo and the current Lara (Lara Plus), the part number is:

• RR121060: Stirrer Guide Assembly B24 10 mm

For the larger Reactor-Ready Pilot, it is:

• RR121132: Stirrer Guide Assembly B34 16 mm

For Lara Classic (serial number CLR-​1001 to CLR-1060), the PTFE stirrer guide (the replacement to the old metal/glass stirrer guide) is:

• LR171150: Lara Classic Stirrer Guide (s/n CLR1001-60)

For other types of jacketed lab reactors (traditional or custom), please contact us to discuss.​ Spare parts for these stirrer guides are also available. You can refer to the separate FAQ entry, ‘What spare parts are available for my Reactor-Ready or Reactor-Ready Pilot stirrer guide?’

Yes, the drop-in coupling is available as a spare part.

For Reactor-Ready and Reactor-Ready Duo, the part number is:

• RR121065: Stirrer Drive Drop-in Coupling B24 10 mm

For the larger Reactor-Ready Pilot, the part number is:

• RR121140: Stirrer Drive Drop-in Coupling B34 16 mm

Spare parts for the drop-in couplings are also available; please refer to the separate FAQ entry, ‘​How do I change the metal pins of the Reactor-Ready drop-in coupling or the stirrer guide cap?’

It is easy to order a Reactor-Ready Pilot system. Part number RR210000 Reactor-Ready Pilot Core includes all the following items: Vessel kits, optional glassware accessories, overhead stirrer motors, circulators (thermoregulators), and any software are then ordered separately.