A pipe reactor is commonly used in the manufacture of
ammonium polyphosphate. A pipe reactor consists
basically of a 5 to 15 meter long corrosion-resistant pipe,
to which ammonia, phosphoric acid and sometimes water
are simultaneously added at one end through a T-shaped
pipe. The latter gives the reactor the name Tee (T)
reactor.
In a simple reaction chamber, anhydrous ammonia
and phosphoric acid react to produce a mixture of
ammonium phosphate, ammonium orthophosphate and
polyphosphates.
