IDA Equipment — Chemical Reactor Manufacturer & Supplier

The QLF series covers multi-shaft reactor vessels from 50L to 2000L. These are batch reactors with a twist — they combine high-speed dispersion (up to 2880 rpm on smaller units) with low-speed mixing in the same vessel. Jacketed for heating and cooling. We also do custom configurations: different agitator types, materials of construction from SS304 through Hastelloy, and control system integration. So it's not one type — it's a platform you can configure for your specific process. On a side note, if you're looking at tubular reactor or packed bed reactor configurations for gas-phase or catalytic work, those fall outside our QLF line, but we can point you to partners who handle plug flow and fixed bed designs.

A batch reactor processes in discrete loads. You charge raw materials, run the reaction, then discharge. A CSTR — continuous stirred tank reactor — keeps a steady flow of reactant going in and product coming out. The choice comes down to your production volume and how the reaction behaves. Low-volume, multi-product plants? Batch makes sense. High-volume, single-product lines where throughput matters? CSTR.

Yes — and honestly, about 80% of our orders involve some level of customization. Common modifications include changing the vessel material (SS316L for corrosive reagent exposure, Hastelloy for acid service), adjusting jacket pressure ratings, swapping agitator blade geometry for specific flow patterns, or adding features like CIP nozzles, sight glasses, or sample ports. Tell us about your application — temperature range, viscosity, whether it involves a solid catalyst bed or purely liquid-phase work, what certifications you need — and we'll propose a configuration.

The basic equation is A = Q / (U × ΔTlm). Q is your heat duty (watts), U is the overall heat transfer coefficient — typically 200–400 W/m²K for jacketed stainless steel vessels, depending on the fluids — and ΔTlm is the log mean temperature difference between your jacket fluid and the reactor contents. The jacket essentially acts as an integrated heat exchanger wrapped around the vessel body. We've got a calculator tool on this page that does this for you. But if you're dealing with a particularly tricky reaction where thermal management is critical, send us the data and we'll run the analysis ourselves.

CE and ISO as standard. Our vessels are designed to meet ASME Section VIII Division 1 for pressure vessel applications. For pharmaceutical customers, we follow GMP fabrication practices — electropolished surfaces, documented weld procedures, material traceability. PED and ATEX certifications are available on request for European installations. The documentation package includes material certificates, weld maps, hydrostatic test reports, and dimensional inspection records.

Standard QLF models ship in 4–6 weeks from order confirmation. Custom builds run 8–14 weeks — it depends on the size and how many modifications we're making. And yes, we ship worldwide. Products have gone to the US, South Korea, South Africa, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Russia, Japan, Thailand, the Netherlands, Australia, and more. We handle export crating, container loading, and can arrange door-to-door freight if needed.