Multi-fluid sequential microreactor
By introducing fluid expansion-contraction-asymmetric chaotic flow and temperature control structure into the microreactor, the problem of low mixing efficiency in multiphase reactions of existing microreactors is solved, and the orderly guidance and efficient mixing of fluids are realized, thus expanding its application range.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SUZHOU UNIV
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing microreactors have limitations in handling complex reaction systems and multiphase reactions, especially in multiphase reactions where it is difficult to achieve efficient and controllable fluid mixing.
A multifluid sequential microreactor based on fluid expansion-contraction-asymmetric chaotic flow was designed. By setting an array of grooves with alternating narrow and wide channels in the mixing channel, combined with ITO heating electrodes, the orderly guidance and temperature control of the fluid are achieved, thereby promoting the asymmetric chaotic flow and mixing of the fluid.
It achieves orderly guidance and efficient mixing of three different fluids, improving reaction efficiency and uniformity. It can handle multiphase reactions and is applicable to fields such as chemical synthesis, biochemistry, and pharmaceutical preparations.
Smart Images
Figure CN116870820B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of microreactor technology at the microscale, and more particularly to a multifluid sequential microreactor based on fluid expansion-contraction-asymmetric chaotic flow. Background Technology
[0002] Microreactors are devices that enable chemical reactions to occur at a microscale. Due to their advantages such as high efficiency, low cost, energy saving, and environmental friendliness, they have gradually become a research hotspot in fields such as chemical synthesis and biochemistry. Chaotic fluid flow is widely used in microreactors, significantly improving reaction efficiency and controlling the reaction process. However, existing microreactors still have limitations when dealing with complex reaction systems and multiphase reactions.
[0003] Currently, some studies have shown that asymmetric chaotic flow can effectively enhance mass transfer and mixing in reaction processes, but these methods often face difficulties in handling multiphase reactions. Meanwhile, research on the sequential micro-reactions involving multiple different fluids is also relatively limited. Therefore, it is necessary to propose a novel microreactor to achieve efficient and controllable multiphase reactions. Summary of the Invention
[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present invention aims to provide a multifluid sequential microreactor based on fluid expansion-contraction-asymmetric chaotic flow.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, an embodiment of the present invention provides the following technical solution:
[0006] A multifluid sequential microreactor, comprising:
[0007] Glass substrate;
[0008] A microreactor cover is disposed on the glass substrate. The microreactor cover has an inlet assembly, a channel assembly, and an outlet that are connected in sequence. The inlet assembly includes at least three inlets. The channel assembly includes a transport channel assembly and a reaction channel assembly. The transport channel assembly includes at least three transport channels that are respectively connected to the at least three inlets. The at least three transport channels merge together. The reaction channel assembly includes at least two interconnected mixing channels. An array of grooves is disposed above the mixing channels inside the microreactor cover.
[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, the mixing channel includes narrow channels and wide channels arranged alternately, the width of the narrow channels being smaller than the width of the wide channels, and the groove array including a plurality of narrow grooves and a plurality of wide grooves, the plurality of narrow grooves being located above the narrow channels and the plurality of wide grooves being located above the wide channels.
[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, the at least three inlets include a first inlet, a second inlet, and a third inlet; the at least three conveying channels include a first conveying channel, a second conveying channel, and a third conveying channel; the at least two mixing channels include a first mixing channel and a second mixing channel; a first groove array is provided above the first mixing channel; and a second groove array is provided above the second mixing channel.
[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, the first groove array includes a plurality of first narrow grooves and a plurality of first wide grooves, the second groove array includes a plurality of second narrow grooves and a plurality of second wide grooves, the first mixing channel includes alternating first narrow channels and first wide channels, and the second mixing channel includes alternating second narrow channels and second wide channels.
[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, the width of the first narrow groove is less than or equal to two-thirds of the width of the first narrow channel, and the width of the first wide groove is less than or equal to two-thirds of the width of the first wide channel.
[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, the width of the second narrow groove is equal to the width of the second narrow channel, and the width of the second wide groove is equal to the width of the second wide channel.
[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, the first narrow groove, the first wide groove, the second narrow groove, and the second wide groove are all arrow-shaped.
[0015] As a further improvement of the present invention, the first narrow groove, the first wide groove, the second narrow groove, and the second wide groove are all asymmetrical structures.
[0016] As a further improvement of the present invention, the at least three conveying channels are connected to a converging channel, which is connected to the mixing channel located at the beginning.
[0017] As a further improvement of the present invention, an ITO heating electrode is disposed on the glass substrate, a heat insulation layer is disposed on the ITO heating electrode, the micro-reaction cap is disposed on the heat insulation layer, and a reaction chamber is disposed between the mixing channel at the tail end and the outlet, the reaction chamber facing the ITO heating electrode.
[0018] The beneficial effects of this invention are:
[0019] (1) It can achieve fluid guidance: three different fluids pass through the microchannel structure in a specific order. The entry and exit of the fluids are precisely controlled, thereby ensuring their orderly guidance in the microreactor. This orderly guidance mechanism can effectively avoid mutual interference and violent mixing of the fluids, creating conditions for subsequent mixing reactions.
[0020] (2) Expansion-contraction mixing: During the process of fluid passing through the microchannel structure, specific expansion-contraction regions cause periodic oscillations of the fluid. The groove array can generate asymmetric chaotic flow, which can accelerate the mixing between different fluids and improve the efficiency and uniformity of the reaction.
[0021] (3) Temperature control structure: The microreactor of the present invention is equipped with a precise ITO heating electrode to achieve temperature control. This temperature control structure can adjust the fluid in real time inside the microreactor to ensure the constant temperature during the reaction process and guarantee the stability of the reaction temperature.
[0022] (4) Multiphase reaction: The microreactor of the present invention can simultaneously accommodate three different phases of fluid, such as gas-liquid phase, liquid-liquid phase or gas-solid phase, which makes the microreactor of the present invention important in the treatment of multiphase reaction systems and can expand its application range.
[0023] (5) The three-fluid sequential microreactor based on fluid expansion-contraction-asymmetric chaotic flow of the present invention has a unique structure, is easy to operate, can efficiently realize multiphase reactions, and has broad application prospects in chemical synthesis, biochemistry, pharmaceutical preparations, nanomaterial synthesis and other fields. Attached Figure Description
[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] Figure 2 This is an exploded structural diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] Figure 3 This is an internal front view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] Figure 4 This is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] Figure 5 This is an enlarged view of the first mixing channel and the second mixing channel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Enlarged diagram of B in the middle;
[0031] Figure 7 for Figure 5 Enlarged diagram of C in the middle;
[0032] In the diagram: 1. Glass substrate; 2. Microreactor cap; 201. Outlet; 202. First inlet; 203. Second inlet; 204. Third inlet; 205. First transport channel; 206. Second transport channel; 207. Third transport channel; 208. First mixing channel; 209. Second mixing channel; 210. First groove array; 2101. First narrow groove; 2102. First wide groove; 211. Second groove array; 2111. Second narrow groove; 2112. Second wide groove; 212. Merging channel; 213. Output channel; 214. Reaction chamber; 3. ITO heating electrode; 4. Insulation layer. Detailed Implementation
[0033] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of this invention, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of this invention.
[0034] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 This application discloses a multifluid sequential microreactor, comprising: a glass substrate 1; and a microreactor cover 2 disposed on the glass substrate 1. The microreactor cover 2 is provided with an inlet assembly, a channel assembly, and an outlet 201 that are connected in sequence. The inlet assembly includes at least three inlets, the channel assembly includes a transport channel assembly and a reaction channel assembly, the transport channel assembly includes at least three transport channels that are respectively connected to the at least three inlets, and the at least three transport channels merge together. The reaction channel assembly includes at least two interconnected mixing channels, and a groove array is provided above the mixing channels in the microreactor cover 2.
[0035] To improve the mixing effect of different fluids, the preferred mixing channel includes alternating narrow and wide channels, with the width of the narrow channels being smaller than the width of the wide channels. The groove array includes multiple narrow grooves and multiple wide grooves, with the narrow grooves located above the narrow channels and the wide grooves located above the wide channels. This way, the narrow channels act as contraction regions, and the wide channels act as expansion regions, allowing the fluid to pass through alternating contraction-expansion regions, promoting mixing between different fluids and further improving reaction efficiency and effect. The width of the narrow grooves is less than or equal to the width of the narrow channels, and the width of the wide grooves is less than or equal to the width of the wide channels. When the width of the narrow groove in the same mixing channel is less than the width of the narrow channel, and the width of the wide groove is also less than the width of the wide channel, some fluids will pass through the narrow and wide grooves, generating asymmetric vortex flow within both grooves, thus causing them to mix and react. Other fluids will not pass through the narrow and wide grooves and will not mix with the narrow and wide grooves. In this way, the fluids to be mixed can be controlled sequentially by adjusting the width of the narrow and wide grooves. When the mixing channel is at the end of the reaction, the width of the narrow groove can be made equal to the width of the narrow channel, and the width of the wide groove can be made equal to the width of the wide channel. This allows the fluid to be reacted last and the reactants formed from the previous reactions to pass through the narrow and wide grooves, generating asymmetric vortex flow within the mixing channel, thereby mixing and reacting to obtain the final product.
[0036] Specifically, at least three inlets are included: a first inlet 202, a second inlet 203, and a third inlet 204; at least three conveying channels are included: a first conveying channel 205, a second conveying channel 206, and a third conveying channel 207; and at least two mixing channels are included: a first mixing channel 208 and a second mixing channel 209. A first groove array 210 is disposed above the first mixing channel 208, and a second groove array 211 is disposed above the second mixing channel 209. This arrangement enables a sequential reaction of three fluids. However, it is not limited to a three-fluid sequential reaction; when the number of inlets, conveying channels, mixing channels, and groove arrays increases accordingly, a four-fluid or even more fluid sequential reaction can be achieved.
[0037] Please see Figure 4 At least three conveying channels are connected to a confluence channel 212, which in turn is connected to a mixing channel located at the beginning. Specifically, the first conveying channel 205, the second conveying channel 206, and the third conveying channel 207 are all connected to the confluence channel 212, which is connected to the first mixing channel 208. In this way, the three fluids in the first conveying channel 205, the second conveying channel 206, and the third conveying channel 207 can converge in the confluence channel 208 and enter the first mixing channel 208 together.
[0038] Please see Figure 3 The thickness h1 of the preferred micro-reaction cap 2 is 4 mm. The thickness h2 of the preferred glass substrate 1 is 1 mm. The diameter R1 of the first inlet 202, the second inlet 203, and the third inlet 204 is 1 mm. The length L of the first conveying channel 205, the second conveying channel 206, and the third conveying channel 207 is 5.5 mm. The length L4 of the confluence channel 212 is 3.3 mm. The width W1 of the confluence channel 311 is 0.2 mm. The depth H1 of the first conveying channel 205, the second conveying channel 206, the third conveying channel 207, the first mixing channel 208, and the second mixing channel 209 is 0.2 mm.
[0039] Preferably, the first groove array 210 includes a plurality of first narrow grooves 2101 and a plurality of first wide grooves 2102, the second groove array 211 includes a plurality of second narrow grooves 2111 and a plurality of second wide grooves 2112, the first mixing channel 208 includes alternating first narrow channels 2081 and first wide channels 2082, and the second mixing channel 209 includes alternating second narrow channels 2091 and second wide channels 2092.
[0040] Preferably, the depth H2 of the first narrow groove 2101, the first wide groove 2102, the second narrow groove 2111, and the second wide groove 2112 is all 0.1 mm. The width of the first narrow groove 2101 is less than or equal to two-thirds of the width of the first narrow channel 2081, and the width of the first wide groove 2102 is less than or equal to two-thirds of the width of the first wide channel 2082. Because fluids have fluid interfaces, fluids that do not pass through the first narrow groove 2101 and the first wide groove 2102 will not react with fluids that do pass through them. However, the two fluids that pass through the first narrow groove 2101 and the first wide groove 2102 will first mix and react under the asymmetric vortex flow generated by the first narrow groove 2101 and the first wide groove 2102 to form the first reactant. The width of the second narrow groove 2111 is equal to the width of the second narrow channel 2091, and the width of the second wide groove 2112 is equal to the width of the second wide channel 2092. In this way, the asymmetric fluid vortex generated by the second narrow groove 2111 and the second wide groove 2112 extends to the entire second mixing channel 209, and the third fluid mixes and reacts with the first reactant to form the final second reactant.
[0041] Preferably, the first narrow groove 2101, the first wide groove 2102, the second narrow groove 2111, and the second wide groove 2112 are all arrow-shaped. More preferably, the first narrow groove 2101, the first wide groove 2102, the second narrow groove 2111, and the second wide groove 2112 are all asymmetrical structures, which facilitates the formation of chaotic fluids and the mixing of different fluids.
[0042] Preferably, please refer to Figure 5 The widths W2 of the first narrow groove 2101 and W3 of the second narrow groove 2111 are both 0.11 mm. The widths W4 of the first wide groove 2102 and W5 of the second wide groove 2112 are both 0.21 mm.
[0043] Preferably, please refer to Figure 6 The distance D1 between adjacent first narrow grooves 2101 is 0.1 mm. The length L5 of both straight sidewalls of the first narrow groove 2101 is 0.07 mm. The included angle A1 of the first narrow groove 2101 is 103°. The distance D2 between one straight sidewall of the first narrow groove 2101 and its axis is 0.03 mm, and the distance D3 between the other straight sidewall of the first narrow groove 2101 and its axis is 0.04 mm. The distance D4 between adjacent first wide grooves 2102 is 0.1 mm. The length L6 of both straight sidewalls of the first wide groove 2102 is 0.08 mm. The included angle A2 of the first wide groove 2102 is 103°. The distance D5 between one straight sidewall of the first wide groove 2102 and the axis of the first wide groove 2102 is 0.05mm, and the distance D6 between the other straight sidewall of the first wide groove 2102 and the axis of the first wide groove 2102 is 0.09mm.
[0044] Preferably, please refer to Figure 7 The distance D7 between adjacent second narrow grooves 2111 is 0.1 mm. The length L7 of both straight sidewalls of the second narrow groove 2111 is 0.08 mm. The included angle A3 of the second narrow groove 2111 is 103°. The distance D8 between one straight sidewall of the second narrow groove 2111 and its axis is 0.03 mm, and the distance D9 between the other straight sidewall of the second narrow groove 2111 and its axis is 0.08 mm. The distance D10 between adjacent second wide grooves 2112 is 0.1 mm. The length L8 of both straight sidewalls of the second wide groove 2112 is 0.1 mm. The included angle A4 of the second wide groove 2112 is 103°. The distance D11 between one straight sidewall of the second wide groove 2112 and the axis of the second wide groove 2112 is 0.09 mm, and the distance D12 between the other straight sidewall of the second wide groove 2112 and the axis of the second wide groove 2112 is 0.12 mm.
[0045] Preferably, the length L9 of the first narrow channel 2081 and the length L10 of the second narrow channel 2091 are both 2 mm. The length L11 of the first wide channel 2082 is 4 mm.
[0046] To facilitate the discharge of the obtained reaction product along the outlet 201, it is preferable that the second mixing channel 209 is connected to the outlet 201 via an output channel 213.
[0047] To facilitate heating, an ITO heating electrode 3 is preferably disposed on a glass substrate 1, with a heat insulation layer 4 on the ITO heating electrode 3. A micro-reaction cap 2 is disposed on the heat insulation layer 4. A reaction chamber 214 is disposed between the mixing channel at the tail end and the outlet 201, facing the ITO heating electrode 3. Specifically, the reaction chamber 214 is disposed between the second mixing channel 209 and the outlet 201. The heat insulation layer 4 can prevent the fluid from corroding and hydrolyzing the ITO heating electrode 3, improving the performance and service life of the ITO heating electrode 3. A direct current can be applied to the ITO heating electrode 3 at the reaction chamber 214, and the reaction temperature can be changed by adjusting the direct current voltage, thereby realizing the occurrence of the reaction, the change of the reaction rate, and the control of the reactant morphology.
[0048] Preferably, one segment of the output channel 213 has a length L13 of 2 mm, and the other segment has a length L14 of 2.5 mm. The width W6 of the output channel 213 is 0.2 mm. Preferably, the diameter R2 of the reaction chamber 214 is 1 mm. Preferably, the diameter R3 of the outlet 201 is 1 mm. Preferably, the thickness h3 of the heat insulation layer 4 is 0.2 mm. Preferably, the heat insulation layer 4 is made of PDMS material. The micro-reaction cover 3 is made of PDMS material.
[0049] To facilitate fluid introduction into the first delivery channel 205, the second delivery channel 206, and the third delivery channel 207 and maintain fluid stability, a flat-headed needle is inserted into each of the first inlet 202, the second inlet 203, and the third inlet 204. The flat-headed needle is hollow inside, and its outer diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the corresponding inlet. Due to the elasticity of PDMS, the needles are clamped in place to prevent air leakage. Fluid can be introduced into each delivery channel using a micro-injection pump and a flexible tubing. The micro-reaction cap 2 is placed in a plasma treatment unit for hydrophilic pretreatment, ensuring the reaction solution smoothly fills the entire channel and preventing the formation of air bubbles.
[0050] Preparation of solutions: Weigh out cesium acetate, lead iodide, and lead bromide of a certain concentration and dissolve them in water to form cesium acetate, lead iodide, and lead bromide solutions, respectively.
[0051] Solution sequential reaction: When the solution passes through the first mixing channel 208, the two fluids passing through the first groove array 210 first mix under the asymmetric vortex flow generated by the first groove array; at the second mixing channel 209, the groove width of the second groove array 211 is equal to the corresponding channel width, which will cause the fluid vortex to expand to the entire channel, thereby causing the solution after the reaction in the first mixing channel 208 to react with the third solution.
[0052] In practical use, lead iodide, lead bromide, and cesium acetate solutions are injected into the first inlet 202, the second inlet 203, and the third inlet 204, respectively. When passing through the first mixing channel 208, the lead iodide and lead bromide solutions undergo a mixed reaction to form the first reactant as they pass through the first groove array 210, generating an asymmetric vortex flow. At this time, the cesium acetate solution does not participate in the reaction. When the first reactant and the cesium acetate solution continue to flow through the second mixing channel 209, the vortex flow generated by the second groove array 211 diffuses throughout the channel, and the cesium acetate solution undergoes a second round of reaction with the first reactant, ultimately forming perovskite nanocrystals.
[0053] The sequential microreactor of this invention overcomes the limitations of existing microreactors in handling multiphase reactions and achieving efficient mixing. Through precise structural design and operational control, the microreactor of this invention enables the orderly guidance and mixing of three or more different fluids at the microscale, thereby improving reaction efficiency and product yield.
[0054] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.
[0055] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.
Claims
1. A multifluid sequential microreactor, characterized in that, include: Glass substrate; A microreactor cover is disposed on the glass substrate. The microreactor cover contains an inlet assembly, a channel assembly, and an outlet that are sequentially connected. The inlet assembly includes at least three inlets. The channel assembly includes a transport channel assembly and a reaction channel assembly. The transport channel assembly includes at least three transport channels that are respectively connected to the at least three inlets and converge. The reaction channel assembly includes at least two interconnected mixing channels. Above each of the at least two mixing channels, a groove array is disposed within the microreactor cover. The mixing channels include alternately arranged narrow channels and wide channels, with the width of the narrow channels being smaller than the width of the wide channels. The groove array includes multiple narrow grooves and multiple wide grooves, with the multiple narrow grooves located above the narrow channels and the multiple wide grooves located above the wide channels.
2. The multifluid sequential microreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least three inlets include a first inlet, a second inlet, and a third inlet; the at least three conveying channels include a first conveying channel, a second conveying channel, and a third conveying channel; the at least two mixing channels include a first mixing channel and a second mixing channel; a first groove array is provided above the first mixing channel; and a second groove array is provided above the second mixing channel.
3. A multifluid sequential microreactor according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first groove array includes a plurality of first narrow grooves and a plurality of first wide grooves, the second groove array includes a plurality of second narrow grooves and a plurality of second wide grooves, the first mixing channel includes alternating first narrow channels and first wide channels, and the second mixing channel includes alternating second narrow channels and second wide channels.
4. A multifluid sequential microreactor according to claim 3, characterized in that, The width of the first narrow groove is less than or equal to two-thirds of the width of the first narrow channel, and the width of the first wide groove is less than or equal to two-thirds of the width of the first wide channel.
5. A multifluid sequential microreactor according to claim 3, characterized in that, The width of the second narrow groove is equal to the width of the second narrow channel, and the width of the second wide groove is equal to the width of the second wide channel.
6. A multifluid sequential microreactor according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first narrow groove, the first wide groove, the second narrow groove, and the second wide groove are all arrow-shaped.
7. A multifluid sequential microreactor according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first narrow groove, the first wide groove, the second narrow groove, and the second wide groove are all asymmetrical structures.
8. A multifluid sequential microreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least three conveying channels are connected to a converging channel, which is connected to the mixing channel located at the beginning.
9. A multifluid sequential microreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that, An ITO heating electrode is disposed on the glass substrate, and a heat insulation layer is disposed on the ITO heating electrode. The micro-reaction cap is disposed on the heat insulation layer. A reaction chamber is disposed between the mixing channel at the tail end and the outlet, and the reaction chamber faces the ITO heating electrode.