Comparing the economics of metal additive manufacturing processes for micro-scale plate reactors in the chemical process industry

Modular chemical process intensification involves the deployment of process intensification technology within the modular construction of chemical processing plants. Process intensification involves improvements in chemical process plant efficiency that drive size and weight reductions in chemical equipment. The use of smaller, lighter weight equipment reduces costs in modular construction leading to lower capital thresholds for pursuing new distributed and specialty chemical markets. Micro-scale plate reactors, with high surface-area-to-volume ratios, provide a platform for reducing the size and cost of chemical reactors due to high rates of heat and mass transfer. However, widespread adoption of this technology is hampered by economics and the lack of existing supply chains. Additive manufacturing processes have the potential to overcome this roadblock. This paper compares the economics of using two prominent metal additive manufacturing processes to produce micro-scale plate reactors.