Microreactor Device

Abstract

To provide a microreactor device which can suppress fluctuations in cell volume ratio of a slag flow in a mixed fluid forming the slag flow.SOLUTION: A microreactor device 100 includes: a fluid feeding part 200 for feeding a first fluid containing a plurality of liquids having mutual solubility and a second fluid having insolubility to the first fluid, into a mixed flow channel 40, feeding the first fluid into the mixed flow channel by a first fluid feeding amount, and feeding the second fluid from a direction crossing the flow of the first fluid, to form a slag flow in which cells of the first fluid and cells of the second fluid alternately flow side by side, in a mixed flow after joining; a conductivity detection part 60 for detecting conductivity for the slag flow; a cell volume ratio calculation part for calculating a cell volume ratio of the cells of the first fluid to the cells of the second fluid in the slag flow, on the basis of the detected conductivity; and a fluid feeding control part 80 for controlling fluid feeding of the fluid feeding part on the basis of the calculated cell volume ratio.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a microreactor device for mixing mutually soluble liquids in a microchannel. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a known reaction production method uses a channel-forming body called a microchannel reactor as a reaction method for producing a desired reaction product by mixing mutually soluble liquids (reactants) in a flow of a fine channel and causing a reaction (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A microchannel reactor comprises a substrate with a large number of minute grooves formed on its surface, and the fine channels formed by these grooves are used as reaction fields for the liquid reactants.

[0003] By flowing liquid reactants through a microchannel, the contact surface area between the liquids per unit volume can be dramatically increased. By promoting the mixing of the liquid reactants in the microchannel, the length of the microchannel required to complete the mixing of the liquid reactants can be shortened. This allows for the miniaturization of the entire microchannel reactor and suppresses the occurrence of unwanted side reactions during the mixing of the liquid reactants.

[0004] In a microchannel reactor device, a method has been disclosed for promoting the mixing of liquids in a microchannel by forcibly forming a slug flow by introducing a fluid that is insoluble in the liquids to be mixed into the microchannel (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0005] The term "slug flow" as used herein refers to a flow in which two fluids with no affinity for each other, such as a gas and a liquid or an aqueous liquid and an oily liquid, flow simultaneously within a microchannel, with a first fluid phase consisting of one fluid and a second fluid phase consisting of the other fluid flowing alternately in the longitudinal direction of the microchannel. In a slug flow, the two fluids with no affinity are separated by a phase interface, forming alternating cells of the first fluid phase and cells of the second fluid phase. At this time, a circulating flow occurs within the fluid phase cells, resulting in localized stirring. The "cells" referred to here are also called "slugs," and are columns of fluid flowing alternately within the microchannel.

[0006] In reaction production, the mixing of liquid reactants can be promoted by forming a slug flow in a microchannel and utilizing the stirring action of the circulating flow generated in the fluid phase cells. In this specification, the liquids to be mixed in forming the slug flow are referred to as "liquids to be mixed," and the fluid that is insoluble in the liquid to be mixed is referred to as "insoluble fluid."

[0007] In a slug flow, the smaller the cells of the target liquid, the greater the mixing-promoting effect of the circulating flow. In a reaction manufacturing process utilizing the mixing-promoting effect of a slug flow, it is desirable to maintain the volume ratio of the target liquid cells to the immiscible fluid cells in the slug flow within a certain range. Specifically, the smaller this volume ratio, the greater the contribution of the circulating flow to the mixing promotion. However, an increase in the proportion of immiscible fluid cells reduces production efficiency, increases pressure loss in the mixing channel, and leads to unnecessary increases in immiscible fluid consumption. Conversely, the larger this volume ratio, the greater the production efficiency. However, a decrease in the mixing-promoting effect of the circulating flow may result in a decrease in the quality of the reaction product. Conventionally, in a reaction manufacturing process utilizing a slug flow, the ratio of the target liquid cell volume to the immiscible fluid cell volume in a slug flow (hereinafter referred to as the "cell volume ratio") is preset based on the amount of immiscible fluid fed relative to the amount of target liquid fed (hereinafter referred to as the "relative infeed rate of immiscible fluid"). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-168173 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-6130 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] For example, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 2, the cell volume ratio of the resulting slug stream is determined by a preset value for the relative feed rate of the immiscible fluid before the start of liquid mixing, and no means for adjusting the fluid feed rate during the mixing reaction is provided. However, during the mixing reaction, the cell volume ratio of the slug stream may vary from the preset cell volume ratio due to factors such as the physical properties and state of the target liquids and immiscible fluids in the mixing channel, the stability of the fluid supply, etc. Regarding the influence of the physical properties and state of the target liquids and immiscible fluids, for example, the viscosity and thermal expansion coefficient of the target liquids and immiscible fluids used, or the surface tension between the target liquids and immiscible fluids, the cell volume ratio of the slug stream actually flowing in the mixing channel may vary from the preset value.

[0010] The device described in Patent Document 2 does not have a means for adjusting the fluid feed, and therefore cannot respond to fluctuations in the cell volume ratio of the slug flow during the mixing reaction. As a result, there is a problem that fluctuations occur in the quality and productivity of the reaction product. Therefore, from the perspective of further suppressing defects in the production of reaction products due to fluctuations in the cell volume ratio of the slug flow, there is still room for improvement in the configuration of conventional microreactor devices.

[0011] The present disclosure is intended to solve the above-described conventional problems, and aims to provide a microreactor device that can suppress fluctuations in the cell volume ratio of a slug flow in a mixed fluid in which a slug flow is formed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, a microreactor device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a microreactor device that introduces and mixes multiple fluids into a mixing channel, and includes a fluid inlet section that feeds a first fluid containing multiple liquids that are soluble in each other and a second fluid that is insoluble in the first fluid into the mixing channel, the first fluid being fed into the mixing channel at a first fluid inlet rate, and the second fluid being fed into the mixing channel at a second fluid inlet rate relative to the first fluid inlet rate from a direction that intersects with the flow of the first fluid fed into the mixing channel, The apparatus comprises a fluid feed section that forms a slug flow in which cells of the first fluid and cells of the second fluid flow alternately in a mixing flow path after the two fluids have merged; a mixing flow path that merges the fed first fluid and second fluid and flows downstream; a conductivity detection section that detects the conductivity of the slug flow; a cell volume ratio calculation section that calculates the cell volume ratio of the cells of the first fluid to the cells of the second fluid in the slug flow based on the detected conductivity; and a fluid feed control section that controls the fluid feed from the fluid feed section based on the calculated cell volume ratio. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the microreactor device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress fluctuations in the cell volume ratio of the slug flow in a mixed fluid in which the slug flow is formed, and to provide a reaction product with stable quality and productivity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a microreactor device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a slug flow formed in a mixing channel of the microreactor device of FIG. [Figure 3] 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of a slug flow formed in the mixing channel of the microreactor device of FIG. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of changes in fluid cell shape and fluctuations in cell volume in slug flow. [Figure 5]2 is a diagram showing an electrode portion of a conductivity measuring device disposed in a mixing flow channel of the microreactor device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the electrode portion of the conductivity measuring device of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a computing device of the fluid feed control mechanism shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a flowchart of a program for the arithmetic unit of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 illustrates a flow chart of a liquid mixing process of a microreactor device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of calculation of a cell volume ratio by a calculation device of a microreactor device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a microreactor device for introducing a plurality of fluids into a mixing channel and mixing them, the microreactor device including a fluid inlet section for feeding a first fluid containing a plurality of liquids that are soluble in each other and a second fluid that is insoluble in the first fluid into the mixing channel, the first fluid being fed into the mixing channel at a first fluid inlet rate, and the second fluid being fed into the mixing channel at a second fluid inlet rate relative to the first fluid inlet rate from a direction intersecting the flow of the first fluid fed into the mixing channel, and the second fluid being fed into the mixing channel at a second fluid inlet rate relative to the first fluid inlet rate, and the second fluid being fed into the mixing channel after the second fluids have joined together. Provided is a microreactor device comprising: a fluid inlet section that forms a slug flow in which cells of one fluid and cells of a second fluid flow alternately; a mixing flow path that merges the introduced first fluid and second fluid and flows downstream; a conductivity detection section that detects the conductivity of the slug flow; a cell volume ratio calculation section that calculates the cell volume ratio of the cells of the first fluid to the cells of the second fluid in the slug flow based on the detected conductivity; and a fluid inlet control section that controls the fluid inlet of the fluid inlet section based on the calculated cell volume ratio.

[0016] According to this aspect, in the mixed fluid in which a slug flow is formed, fluctuations in the cell volume ratio of the slug flow can be suppressed, and a reaction product with stable quality and productivity can be provided.

[0017] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a microreactor device according to the first aspect, further comprising a feed rate adjustment determination unit, which determines adjustment of the second fluid feed rate by comparing the cell volume ratio calculated by the cell volume ratio calculation unit with a predetermined reference value of the cell volume ratio, and the fluid feed control unit controls the second fluid feed rate based on the determined adjustment of the second fluid feed rate.

[0018] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a microreactor device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the conductivity detection unit is configured to detect a first conductivity corresponding to the first fluid and a second conductivity corresponding to the second fluid, and the cell volume ratio calculation unit calculates the cell volume ratio based on the time when the first conductivity is detected and the time when the second conductivity is detected.

[0019] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the microreactor device according to the third aspect, wherein the conductivity detection unit further detects a conductivity having a value between a first conductivity and a second conductivity, and the cell volume ratio calculation unit calculates the cell volume ratio based on the time when the first conductivity was detected, the time when the second conductivity was detected, and the time when the conductivity having a value between the first conductivity and the second conductivity was detected.

[0020] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a microreactor device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the conductivity detection unit includes two or more electrodes arranged in the mixing channel so that their ends are in contact with the slug flow, and each of the two or more electrodes has a coating layer made of an insulating material on a portion other than the ends.

[0021] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a microreactor device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the fluid feed section includes a flow rate adjusting means, and the fluid feed control section controls the amount of second fluid fed by operating the flow rate adjusting means.

[0022] Any of the above-described various embodiments may be combined appropriately to achieve the effects of each of them.

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanation of well-known matters or redundant explanation of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following explanation and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0024] A microreactor device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims. In addition, in each drawing, each element is exaggerated for ease of explanation. Note that substantially identical components in the drawings are assigned the same reference numerals.

[0025] (Embodiment) <Microreactor device> 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a microreactor device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The microreactor device 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a fluid feed section 200, a mixing channel 40, a collection container 50, and a fluid feed control mechanism 300.

[0026] The microreactor device 100 can be used to introduce and mix multiple fluids into a mixing channel. In the microreactor device 100 shown in FIG. 1, multiple mutually soluble target liquids and an insoluble fluid that is insoluble in the multiple target liquids are sequentially fed from the fluid feeder 200 into the mixing channel 40. In the mixing channel 40, the fed multiple fluids join and flow toward the collection container 50. The fluid feed control mechanism 300 detects the conductivity of the slug flow formed in the mixing channel after the insoluble fluids join, and controls the fluid feed from the fluid feeder 200. Arrows A1, A2, B1, B2, and C in FIG. 1 indicate the fluid flow directions, and arrows D, E, and F indicate the transmission directions of data or signals related to the control of fluid feed. Data or signal transmission in the microreactor device 100 may be achieved via wired or wireless connection. The components and operation of the microreactor device 100 are described in detail below.

[0027] <Fluid inlet> The fluid feeder 200 includes a first liquid supply unit 10, a second liquid supply unit 20, and an immiscible fluid introduction unit 30. The first liquid supply unit 10 and the second liquid supply unit 20 respectively supply a first liquid and a second liquid that are soluble in each other to the mixing channel 40, and the immiscible fluid introduction unit 30 feeds an inmiscible fluid that is insoluble in the first liquid and the second liquid into the mixing channel 40.

[0028] In this embodiment, the first liquid supply unit 10, the second liquid supply unit 20, and the immiscible fluid introduction unit 30 each include fluid containers 12, 22, and 32, and pipes 14, 24, and 34 that connect these fluid containers to the mixing channel 40. They may further include pumps 16, 26, and 36 that send the fluids in the fluid containers 12, 22, and 32 for the first liquid into the mixing channel 40 through the pipes 14, 24, and 34, respectively.

[0029] The first liquid and the second liquid supplied by the first liquid supply unit 10 and the second liquid supply unit 20 are fed into the mixing channel 40 along the directions A1 and A2 shown in the figure, respectively, and merge at the junction P1, and the merged liquid to be mixed flows in the downstream direction C shown in the figure along the mixing channel 40. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which two types of liquid are brought into contact and mixed, but when three or more types of liquid are to be mixed, further configurations similar to the first liquid supply unit 10 and the second liquid supply unit 20 may be arranged in parallel in the fluid feeder 200.

[0030] The immiscible fluid introduced by the immiscible fluid inlet 30 is introduced into the mixing channel 40 along directions B1 and B2 in the figure, intersecting the flow of the liquid to be mixed introduced into the mixing channel 40, and merges with the liquid to be mixed at junction P2. In this embodiment, the immiscible fluid is introduced into the mixing channel 40 at junction P2, downstream of junction P1 where the liquid to be mixed is introduced into the mixing channel 40. However, this disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the liquid to be mixed and the immiscible fluid may be introduced into the mixing channel 40 simultaneously at junction P1. The liquid to be mixed and the immiscible fluid introduced in this manner can form a slug flow in the mixing channel 40 after merging, in which cells consisting of the liquid to be mixed and cells consisting of the immiscible fluid flow alternately. The formed slug flow continues along the mixing channel 40 in the downstream direction C in the figure and flows into the collection container 50 at the terminal end P3 of the mixing channel 40. The slug flow formed in the mixing channel 40 will be described in detail below.

[0031] In this embodiment, the first liquid and the second liquid are aqueous solutions, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first liquid and the second liquid may be either water-soluble or water-insoluble as long as they are soluble in each other. For example, the first liquid and the second liquid may be aqueous liquids, organic solvents, or oil-based liquids. The mixing ratio of the first liquid and the second liquid can be freely set.

[0032] In the present embodiment, the main component of the insoluble fluid according to the present disclosure is oleic acid, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The insoluble fluid may be any fluid as long as it is insoluble in the liquid to be mixed. The insoluble fluid may be a liquid or a gas. For example, when the liquid to be mixed is water or an aqueous solution, the insoluble fluid may be, for example, a water-insoluble organic solvent or gas. When the liquid to be mixed is an oil-based liquid, the insoluble fluid may be, for example, water or a gas. When a gas is used as the insoluble fluid, a gas cylinder can be provided instead of the fluid container 32, and a predetermined amount of gas can be pumped into the mixing channel 40 through the piping 34 using the pressure of the gas cylinder. Preferably, a gas that does not affect the reaction product, such as an inert gas such as Ar gas or N2 gas, can be used.

[0033] In this embodiment, pumps 16, 26, and 36 can be used as flow rate control means for feeding the first liquid, the second liquid, and the immiscible fluid, respectively, from the fluid containers to the mixing channel. The present disclosure is not limited to this, and separate flow rate control means, such as a flow meter or a proportional control supply valve (not shown), may be provided. When a gas is used as the immiscible fluid, a gas flow regulator (not shown), for example, may be provided as a flow rate control means for the immiscible fluid. In this embodiment, pumps 16, 26, and 36 are electrically connected to a fluid feed control unit 80 of a fluid feed control mechanism 300, and can be operated under the control of the fluid feed control unit 80 during the mixing reaction to control the amount of fluid fed. This will be described in detail later.

[0034] Furthermore, the first liquid supply unit 10 and the second liquid supply unit 20 may be provided with a thermostatic bath or the like depending on the application to keep constant the temperatures of the first liquid and the second liquid supplied to the mixing channel 40. In this embodiment, a thermostatic bath or the like is omitted and is not shown.

[0035] <Mixing channel> The fluids fed by the fluid feed section 200 join in the mixing flow channel 40. The mixing flow channel 40 may be formed of a microgroove, and in this embodiment includes a first flow channel section 41 and a second flow channel section 42. The first flow channel section 41 is a flow channel from a junction P1 on the upstream side to a junction P2 on the downstream side, and a liquid to be mixed, which is a junction of the first liquid and the second liquid, flows inside the first flow channel section 41. The second flow channel section 42 is a flow channel from a junction P2 on the downstream side to a terminal end P3, and a slug flow, which is formed by the junction of the liquid to be mixed and the immiscible fluid, flows inside the second flow channel section 42.

[0036] The flow channel diameter of the mixing flow channel can be designed within a range that allows the mixing channel to function as a micromixer or microreactor, and can be, for example, 0.1 to 1.0 mm. Although the mixing flow channel 40 is shown as being linear in FIG. 1, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The mixing flow channel 40 may include, for example, a curved flow channel portion, and may be configured to have any length depending on the application.

[0037] In this embodiment, a conductivity measuring device 61 is disposed in the second flow path section 42 and detects the conductivity of the slag flow flowing within the second flow path section 42. To detect the conductivity of the slag flow, the second flow path section 42 has an opening (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, which will be described later), and the electrode portion of the conductivity measuring device 61 is disposed in the second flow path section 42 through the opening. The configuration and arrangement of the conductivity measuring device 61 will be described in detail later.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, the liquids to be mixed and the immiscible fluid merge in the second flow path section 42 of the mixing flow path 40 to form a slug flow. The state of the slug flow flowing in the second flow path section 42 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 shows an example 110 of a slug flow formed in the mixing flow path of the microreactor device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows another example 210 of a slug flow formed in the mixing flow path of the microreactor device of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows an example of changes in the shape of a fluid cell and fluctuations in cell volume in a slug flow. In the following description, for convenience of explanation, a fluid containing multiple liquids to be mixed and fed into the mixing flow path will be referred to as a "first fluid," and an immiscible fluid that is immiscible in the liquids to be mixed will be referred to as a "second fluid."

[0039] <Slag flow> 2, in this embodiment, the slug flow 110 flowing in the second flow path section 421 includes first fluid cells 11a and 12a containing the first liquid and the second liquid, and second fluid cells 11b, 12b, and 13b consisting of the immiscible fluid. The first fluid cells 11a and 12a and the second fluid cells 11b, 12b, and 13b are arranged alternately along the second flow path section 42a and flow in the downstream direction C.

[0040] In the slug flow 110, a circulating flow C11 is generated within the first fluid cells 11a and 12a, causing local stirring. This promotes liquid mixing within the first fluid cells 11a and 12a. As shown in FIG. 2, the first fluid cells 11a and 12a have a cell volume V11a, and the second fluid cells 11b, 12b, and 13b have a cell volume V11b.

[0041] Here, the cell volume is expressed as the average cell volume of the plurality of first fluid cells or the plurality of second fluid cells in the target slug flow. In this case, the ratio of the first fluid cell volume to the second fluid cell volume in the slug flow, i.e., the cell volume ratio of the slug flow 110, is V11a / V11b. During the mixing reaction, the cell volume ratio may vary depending on the physical properties and states of the first and second fluids.

[0042] 3 includes cells 21a, 22a, and 23a of the first fluid and cells 21b, 22b, 23b, and 24b of the second fluid. The cells 21a, 22a, and 23a of the first fluid and the cells 21b, 22b, 23b, and 24b of the second fluid are arranged alternately along the second flow path section 42b and flow in the downstream direction C.

[0043] As shown in the figure, the occupancy rate of the cells of the second fluid increases, and smaller, more separated cells of the first fluid are formed in the slug flow 210. It is presumed that a circulating flow C21, which is finer than the circulating flow C11 in the slug flow 110, is formed in each of the smaller first fluid cells 21a, 22a, and 23a. In this case, the cell volume ratio V21a / V21b of the slug flow 210 is smaller than the cell volume ratio V11a / V11b of the slug flow 110.

[0044] The variation in cell volume in slug flow will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 4. In slug flow, a fluid cell has the shape of a cylinder flowing in a mixing channel, and an interface between two fluid phases is formed at its end along the flow direction C. The interface between the two fluid phases forms a partial spherical shape due to the action of surface tension. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, fluid cells 31b, 32b, and 33b have the shape of a cylinder with rounded ends that are close to partial spherical shapes, and have cell volumes V31b, V32b, and V33b, respectively. These fluid cells have central portions with lengths hm31, hm32, and hm33, front ends on the flow direction C side with lengths hf31, hf32, and hf33, and rear ends on the opposite side of the flow direction with lengths hr31, hr32, and hr33.

[0045] The shape of the fluid cell changes depending on the physical properties and state of the fluid contained in the slug flow. For example, the upper fluid cell 31b in Figure 4 may deform to become the lower fluid cell 41b by extending the length of its central portion from hm31 to hm41. Similarly, the upper fluid cells 32b and 33b may deform to become the lower fluid cells 42b and 43b by extending the length of their rear ends from hr32 to hr42 or the length of their front ends from hf33 to hf43. Alternatively, deformations can occur by combining the modifications shown in Figure 3. After the shape change, the fluid cells 41b, 42b, and 43b have larger cell volumes V41b, V42b, and V43b than before the shape change. In this way, the shape of the fluid cell changes and the cell volume fluctuates depending on the physical properties and state of the fluid.

[0046] As mentioned above, in order to provide a reaction product with stable quality and productivity during a mixing reaction, it is desirable to maintain the cell volume ratio of the slug stream within a predetermined range. The cell volume ratio of the slug stream can be preset by setting the first and second fluid feed rates before starting the mixing reaction. However, during the mixing reaction, the shape of the fluid cells may change depending on the physical properties and conditions of the first and second fluids actually flowing in the mixing channel, as shown in Figure 4, and the cell volume ratio of the slug stream in the mixing channel may deviate from the preset cell volume ratio. In this embodiment, the fluid feed control mechanism 300 can grasp the changes in the shape of the fluid cells of the slug stream in the mixing channel and the fluctuations in the cell volume ratio, and control the fluid feed of the fluid feed section based on the grasped changes. This allows not only the fluctuations in the cell volume ratio due to the stability of the fluid supply but also the changes in the shape of the fluid cells due to the physical properties and conditions of the fluids in the mixing channel to be grasped, thereby enabling precise control of the cell volume ratio of the slug stream. The configuration of the fluid feed control mechanism 300 is described in detail below.

[0047] <Fluid feed control mechanism> 1, the fluid feed control mechanism 300 according to this embodiment includes a conductivity detection unit 60, a calculation device 70, and a fluid feed control unit 80. The calculation device 70 is connected to both the conductivity detection unit 60 and the fluid feed control unit 80, and the fluid feed control unit 80 is connected to flow rate adjusting means provided in the fluid feed unit 200, which in this embodiment are pumps 16, 26, and 36.

[0048] (Conductivity detection unit) The conductivity detection unit 60 is used to detect the conductivity of the slug flow formed in the second flow path portion 42 of the mixing flow path 40 after the second fluid has joined. In this embodiment, the conductivity detection unit 60 has a conductivity measuring device 61 and a data transfer unit 62. The configuration of the conductivity measuring device 61 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0049] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an electrode portion 610 of a conductivity measuring device 61 disposed in the mixing flow channel of the microreactor device of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electrode portion 610 of the conductivity measuring device 61 of Fig. 5 taken along the line AA.

[0050] The conductivity meter 61 can be either a two-electrode or four-electrode AC type. During measurement, as shown in FIG. 5, the electrode unit 610 of the conductivity meter 61 is placed in the second flow path 42 of the mixing channel through which the slug flow is flowing. The four-electrode type is less susceptible to contamination and polarization on the electrode surface, enabling accurate measurement in high-conductivity regions. However, the electrode structure of a four-electrode type conductivity meter is complex, and the increased contact area between the fluid being measured and the electrode unit may adversely affect the quality of the reaction product. Therefore, it is desirable to select an appropriate conductivity meter based on the effect of the electrode unit of the conductivity meter on the mixing reaction and the conductivity of the first and second fluids flowing in the mixing channel. In this embodiment, a two-electrode AC type conductivity meter is used.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the electrode unit 610 of the conductivity measuring device 61 of this embodiment includes two electrodes 611 and 612. In this embodiment, the second flow path section 42 of the mixing flow path has two openings S1 and S2 that penetrate the outer wall surface 42a and the inner wall surface 42b of the flow path. The two electrodes 611 and 612 of the conductivity measuring device 61 are attached facing each other through the two openings S1 and S2, respectively, and are installed so that their ends come into contact with the slug flow 310 flowing in the second flow path section 42. In this embodiment, the electrodes 611 and 612 are installed at the same flow path cross section perpendicular to the fluid flow direction C in the second flow path section 42 ( FIG. 5 ). This reduces measurement errors due to differences in electrode position in the fluid flow direction. Note that if the electrodes of the conductivity measuring device are not installed at the same flow path cross section, measurement errors due to differences in electrode position can be corrected by the calculation device 70. It is also desirable that the ends of the electrodes 611, 612 inserted into the second flow path section 42 do not interfere with the flow of fluid within the flow path. In this embodiment, the electrodes 611, 612 are installed so that the end faces in contact with the slug flow 310 are flush with the inner wall surface 42b of the second flow path section 42, as shown in the figure.

[0052] In this embodiment, the electrode unit 610 is made of copper (Cu). However, the present disclosure is not limited to the material used for the electrode unit of the conductivity measuring instrument, and the electrode unit may be made of, for example, silver (Ag) or aluminum (Al) in consideration of side reactions with the fluid to be measured and electrical responsiveness.

[0053] In this embodiment, the electrodes 611 and 612 of the electrode unit 610 are configured to have a coating layer made of an insulating material on the portions other than the ends that come into contact with the slag flow. The material of the coating layer may be, for example, a fluororesin such as PTFE or PFA, or other insulating materials. This can reduce measurement errors or instability. Furthermore, if the portions other than the ends of the electrodes are not coated with an insulating material, the conductivity meter 61 can be designed to prevent the existence of a conductive path other than the slag flow between the electrodes 611 and 612 by using an insulating circuit, for example.

[0054] When the slug flow passes through the measurement space between electrodes 611 and 612 of electrode unit 610 of conductivity measuring device 61, the conductivity of each of the first fluid and the second fluid is detected. The detected conductivity data is recorded in data transfer unit 62 and transmitted to computing device 70. The conductivity detection mechanism of conductivity detection unit 60 can employ the configuration of a conventionally known conductivity detection device, and further detailed description thereof will be omitted in this specification.

[0055] (computing device) The arithmetic device 70 receives measurement data of the conductivity of the slug flow from the conductivity detection unit 60 and can calculate the cell volume ratio of the slug flow based on the measurement results of the conductivity of the slug flow that has passed through the measurement space of the electrode unit 610. The configuration of the arithmetic device 70 will be described below with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the arithmetic device 70 of the fluid feed control mechanism 300 shown in FIG. 1. The arithmetic device 70 is, for example, a computer device. A general-purpose computer device can be used as this computer device, and for example, as shown in FIG. 7, it can include a processing unit 71, a memory unit 72, and a display unit 73. The arithmetic device 70 may further include an input device, a memory unit, an interface, etc. The arithmetic device 70 can receive measurement data of the conductivity of the slug flow from the conductivity detection unit 60 and perform arithmetic processing.

[0056] <Processing section 71> Processing unit 71 may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a microcomputer, or any other processing device capable of executing computer-executable instructions.

[0057] ≪Storage section 72≫ The storage unit 72 may be, for example, at least one of a ROM, an EEPROM, a RAM, a flash SSD, a hard disk, a USB memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and the like.

[0058] The storage unit 72 includes a program 75. If the arithmetic device 70 is connected to a network, the program 75 may be downloaded from the network as needed.

[0059] <Program 75> The program 75 may include a cell volume ratio calculation unit 75a and a feed amount adjustment determination unit 75b. The cell volume ratio calculation unit 75a and the feed amount adjustment determination unit 75b are read out from the storage unit 72 and executed by the processing unit 71 at the time of execution.

[0060] The cell volume ratio calculation unit 75a can obtain the length of time during which the respective conductivities of the first and second fluids of the slug flow are detected, based on the time change in the conductivity value of the slug flow detected by the conductivity detection unit 60. Furthermore, the cell volume ratio of the slug flow can be calculated using the flow velocities of the first and second fluids in the mixing channel and the flow channel diameter of the mixing channel.

[0061] The feed rate adjustment determination unit 75b can determine whether the second fluid feed rate should be adjusted by comparing the cell volume ratio calculated by the cell volume ratio calculation unit 75a with a predetermined reference value for the cell volume ratio. The predetermined reference value for the cell volume ratio may be determined depending on the application, for example, within a certain reference range that ensures the desired quality and productivity of the reaction product. For example, the feed rate adjustment determination unit 75b can determine whether the calculated cell volume ratio of the slug flow calculated by the cell volume ratio calculation unit 75a is within the predetermined reference range for the cell volume ratio by comparing the calculated cell volume ratio of the slug flow with the predetermined reference value for the cell volume ratio. Furthermore, for example, if the calculated cell volume ratio of the slug flow exceeds the predetermined reference range for the cell volume ratio, the feed rate adjustment determination unit 75b can determine whether the second fluid feed rate should be adjusted to reduce the difference between the calculated cell volume ratio of the slug flow and the predetermined reference value for the cell volume ratio. The determination of whether the second fluid feed rate should be adjusted by the feed rate adjustment determination unit 75b will be described in more detail later in the description of the liquid mixing process.

[0062] The flow of program 75 executed in arithmetic device 70 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart of program 75 of arithmetic device 70 of Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 8, program 75 consists of the following three steps. A cell volume ratio calculation unit 75a corresponds to step S701, and an input amount adjustment determination unit 75b corresponds to steps S702 and S703. (1) The cell volume ratio of the slag flow is calculated based on the conductivity of the slag flow detected by the conductivity detection unit 60 (S701). (2) Next, the calculated cell volume ratio of the slug flow is compared with a predetermined reference value of the cell volume ratio to determine whether the amount of the second fluid to be fed should be adjusted (S702). (3) Next, the determined adjustment of the second fluid feed amount is transmitted to the fluid feed control unit 80 (S703).

[0063] ≪Display section 73≫ The display unit 73 can display, for example, the cell volume ratio of the slug flow obtained by executing the program 75 by the processing unit 71 and / or the determination result of the adjustment of the amount of second fluid fed on a display or the like. Note that the display unit 73 can be omitted depending on the application.

[0064] (Fluid feed control section) The fluid feed control unit 80 can control the fluid feed of the fluid feed unit 200 by operating the flow rate adjustment means of the fluid feed unit 200 based on the adjustment of the second fluid feed rate determined by the computing device 70. In this embodiment, the fluid feed control unit 80 is connected to the pumps 16, 26, and 36, which are the flow rate adjustment means of the fluid feed unit 200 (FIG. 1). For example, the fluid feed control unit 80 can control the fluid feed of the fluid feed unit 200 by operating one or more of the pumps 16, 26, and 36 based on the adjustment of the determined second fluid feed rate so as to reduce the difference between the calculated cell volume ratio of the slug flow and a predetermined reference value of the cell volume ratio.

[0065] In this way, the microreactor device 100 of the present disclosure can suppress fluctuations in the cell volume ratio of the slug flow during the mixing reaction by controlling the fluid inflow of the fluid inflow section 200 using the fluid inflow control mechanism 300, and can provide a reaction product with desired quality and productivity.

[0066] The liquid mixing process of the microreactor device 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the liquid mixing process of the microreactor device 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of calculation of the cell volume ratio by the arithmetic device 70 of the microreactor device 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0067] <Liquid mixing process in a microreactor> Using FIG. 9, the liquid mixing process using the microreactor device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0068] (1) First, in S801, a first fluid and a second fluid are fed into the mixing channel 40. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first fluid, which includes multiple liquids that are soluble in each other, is primarily composed of water, and the second fluid, which is insoluble in the first fluid, is primarily composed of oleic acid. The second fluid is introduced into the mixing channel 40 from a direction B2 that intersects with the flow of the first fluid fed into the mixing channel 40 (see FIG. 1). This forms a slug flow in which cells of the first fluid and cells of the second fluid flow alternately in a line within the second channel section 42 of the mixing channel 40 after the second fluid joins the first and second fluids.

[0069] (2) Next, in S801, a first fluid inflow rate, which is the rate at which the first fluid is fed, and a second fluid inflow rate, which is the rate at which the second fluid is fed relative to the first fluid inflow rate, are set. The first fluid and the second fluid are fed at the preset first fluid inflow rate and second fluid inflow rate, respectively, by pumps 16, 26, and 36, which are flow rate adjusting means provided in fluid inflow section 200. The influence of the cell volume ratio of the slug flow on reaction productivity and the quality of the reaction product can be verified in advance, and a reference value for the cell volume ratio of the slug flow can be set based on the verification results. The initial values ​​for the first fluid inflow rate and the second fluid inflow rate can be set to fall within a specified reference range for the cell volume ratio of the slug flow. In this embodiment, the ratio of the volume of the cells of the first fluid to the volume of the cells of the second fluid is defined as the cell volume ratio of the slug flow, and the reference value for this cell volume ratio can be set in the range of 0.9 to 1.1.

[0070] In this embodiment, the initial settings of the first fluid feed rate and the second fluid feed rate at the start of liquid mixing are performed by the fluid feed control unit 80 operating the pumps 16, 26, and 36, which are flow rate adjustment means of the fluid feed unit 200. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the initial settings may be performed by manually operating the flow rate adjustment means. Note that S801 and S802 may be executed in the reverse order.

[0071] (3) In S803, the conductivity detection unit 60 detects the conductivity of the slag flow in the second flow path section 42. At this time, the conductivity meter 61 of the conductivity detection unit 60 measures the conductivity of the slag flow passing between the electrodes of the electrode section 610 for a predetermined time, and transmits the obtained measurement data of the conductivity to the calculation device 70.

[0072] An example of conductivity measurement data obtained in this embodiment is shown in Fig. 10. The bottom part of Fig. 10 shows an example of the change over time in the conductivity value of the slug flow in the mixing channel detected by the conductivity detection unit 60, and the top part of Fig. 10 shows an image of the configuration of the slug flow corresponding to the conductivity measurement results shown in the bottom part.

[0073] As shown in the figure, in the slug flow 310 in the second flow path section 42, cells 311a and 312a of the first fluid and cells 311b, 312b and 313b of the second fluid are formed. Conductivity σ H and σ L and t represent the conductivity values ​​of the first and second fluids in the slug flow, respectively, and times t1 and t2 represent the conductivity σ of the first fluid, respectively. H The time at which is measured and the conductivity of the second fluid σ L indicates the time when σ was measured. As described above, due to the action of surface tension, the fluid cell at the boundary between the first fluid and the second fluid has a cylindrical shape with rounded edges at both ends that are close to partial spheres. Therefore, times t1 and t2 indicate the times when the conductivity was detected when the center of the length hm311a of the cell of the first fluid and the center of the length hm311b of the cell of the second fluid passed through the measurement space of the electrode unit of the conductivity measuring instrument 61, respectively. On the other hand, when the boundary between the first fluid and the second fluid passed through the measurement space of the electrode unit of the conductivity measuring instrument 61, σ L and σ H In this embodiment, the detection time of the conductivity corresponding to the front end of the second fluid cell having the length hf311b and the detection time of the conductivity corresponding to the rear end of the second fluid cell having the lengths hr311b and hr312b are set to be equal values, and both are indicated by t3.

[0074] For conductivity values, e.g., σ H is the conductivity of the first fluid, which in this embodiment is the aqueous solution, and the value varies depending on the dissolved ion species and their concentration. For example, in the case of a 10 wt% NaCl aqueous solution, the value can be approximately 140 mS / cm. L is the conductivity of the second fluid, which in this embodiment is oleic acid, and since oleic acid has insulating properties, σL can be set to a value close to 0. As mentioned above, it is also possible to use inert gases such as Ar gas and N2 gas as the insoluble fluid. Since these inert gases also have insulating properties, the corresponding σ L can be close to 0.

[0075] (4) Subsequently, in S804, the cell volume ratio of the slug flow is calculated by the cell volume ratio calculation unit 75a of the arithmetic device 70. For example, the conductivity σ corresponding to each of the first fluid and the second fluid detected by the conductivity detection unit 60 is calculated. H ,σ L Based on the detected times t1 and t2, and further using the flow velocities of the first and second fluids in the mixing channel and the flow channel diameter of the mixing channel, the cell volume ratio of the first and second fluids in the slug flow can be calculated. At this time, the σ corresponding to the boundary between the first and second fluids can be further calculated. L and σ H The time t3 at which the conductivity having a value between t1 and t2 is detected can be used to grasp the change in the shape of the boundary between the first fluid cell and the second fluid cell, allowing for more accurate calculation of the cell volume ratio.

[0076] As an example, we will now explain in detail how to calculate the cell volume ratio of a slug flow taking into account the shape of the boundary between the first fluid and the second fluid due to surface tension when the cross section of the mixing channel through which the slug flow flows is circular.

[0077] First, surface tension is the tension that acts on the boundary surface between fluids, and the boundary surface between fluids is formed into a partial spherical shape to minimize surface tension. This partial spherical shape can be approximated to a spherical cap, which is the three-dimensional shape created when a sphere is cut by a single plane. The side portion of the spherical cap is called the cap, and when the radius of the circle at the cut end of the spherical cap is r and the distance from the center of the circle at the cut end of the spherical cap to the cap is h, the volume of the spherical cap can generally be calculated using the following formula.

[0078]

number

[0079] If the cross section of the second flow path section 42 through which the slug flow 310 shown in Figure 10 flows is a circle with a radius r, and the flow velocity of the fluid in the slug flow 310 is u, then if the volume of the cell 311a of the first fluid is V1, the volume of the cell 311b of the second fluid is V2, and the volume of the spherical cavity at the boundary between the first fluid and the second fluid is V3, V1, V2, and V3 can be calculated using the following equations.

[0080]

number

[0081] In this way, the cell volume ratio V1 / V2 of the slug flow 310 can be calculated more accurately by taking into account the shape of the boundary between the first and second fluids due to surface tension. While the calculation method for the cell volume ratio V1 / V2 has been described assuming that the cross section of the mixing channel through which the slug flow flows is circular, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the cross section of the mixing channel through which the slug flow flows may be rectangular or have another shape, and the cell volume ratio of the slug flow can be calculated based on the actual cross-sectional shape of the channel. Furthermore, the calculation of the cell volume ratio of the slug flow based on conductivity is not limited to the above example. For example, if the front and rear ends of the fluid cells in the slug flow do not have uniform shapes, the cell volume ratio can be calculated using the conductivity detection times corresponding to the front and rear ends of the fluid cells.

[0082] (5) Subsequently, in S805, the adjustment of the second fluid feed rate is determined by the feed rate adjustment determination unit 75b of the arithmetic device 70. At this time, the adjustment of the second fluid feed rate can be determined by comparing the cell volume ratio V1 / V2 of the slug flow calculated by the cell volume ratio calculation unit 75a with a preset reference value of the volume ratio.

[0083] For example, in Determination 1, if the calculated cell volume ratio V1 / V2 of the slug flow is greater than a predetermined reference value of the cell volume ratio, a determination can be made to adjust the second fluid feed rate so as to decrease the second fluid feed rate (S806). Conversely, in Determination 2, if the calculated cell volume ratio V1 / V2 of the slug flow is less than the predetermined reference value of the cell volume ratio, a determination can be made to adjust the second fluid feed rate so as to increase the second fluid feed rate (S807). Furthermore, in Determination 3, if the calculated cell volume ratio V1 / V2 of the slug flow is within the predetermined reference range of the cell volume ratio, a determination can be made to adjust the second fluid feed rate so as to maintain the second fluid feed rate (S808).

[0084] Specifically, in this embodiment, for example, the cell volume ratio V1 / V2 of the slug flow calculated by the cell volume ratio calculation unit 75a is compared with a preset reference value range of 0.9 to 1.1 for the cell volume ratio. In this case, for example, if the comparison by the feed rate adjustment determination unit 75b reveals that the cell volume ratio of the slug flowing in the mixing channel is less than the reference value 0.9, the result is Determination 1 shown in FIG. 9. That is, it is estimated that the ratio of the cells 311a and 312a of the first fluid is small and the ratio of the cells 311b, 312b, and 313b of the second fluid is too large, affecting the desired reaction productivity. In this case, the feed rate adjustment determination unit 75b can determine to adjust the second fluid feed rate so as to reduce the second fluid feed rate (S806 shown in FIG. 9).

[0085] On the other hand, for example, when the comparison by the feed rate adjustment determination unit 75b reveals that the calculated cell volume ratio V1 / V2 of the slug flow exceeds the reference cell volume ratio value of 1.1, the determination is made as shown in FIG. 9. That is, it is estimated that the ratio of the cells 311a and 312a of the first fluid is large and the ratio of the cells 311b, 312b, and 313b of the second fluid is too small, which may affect the quality of the desired reaction product. In this case, the feed rate adjustment determination unit 75b can determine to adjust the second fluid feed rate so as to increase the second fluid feed rate (S807 shown in FIG. 9).

[0086] Furthermore, when the comparison by the feed rate adjustment determination unit 75b reveals that the calculated cell volume ratio V1 / V2 of the slug flow is within the cell volume ratio reference range of 0.9 to 1.1, the determination is made as shown in Fig. 9 as Determination 3. That is, it is estimated that the slug flow in the mixing channel is in a state where the desired reaction productivity and the desired quality of the reaction product can be ensured. In this case, the feed rate adjustment determination unit 75b can determine to adjust the second fluid feed rate so as to maintain the second fluid feed rate (S808 shown in Fig. 9).

[0087] Subsequently, the result of the determination by the feed rate adjustment determination unit 75b regarding the adjustment of the second fluid feed rate is transmitted to the fluid feed control unit 80. Based on the determination result, the fluid feed control unit 80 operates the flow rate adjustment means provided in the fluid feed unit 200, thereby, for example, controlling the second fluid feed rate to be reset to an adjusted value (return to S802), or maintaining the set second fluid feed rate to proceed with liquid mixing. In this way, by repeating the operations of S802 to 805, and 806, 807, or 808 in the mixing reaction, fluctuations in the cell volume ratio of the slug flow can be suppressed, and a reaction product with stable quality and productivity can be provided.

[0088] In this way, the microreactor device 100 of the present disclosure can grasp not only the fluctuation in the cell volume ratio due to the stability of the fluid supply, but also the change in the shape of the fluid cell due to the physical properties and state of the fluid in the mixing channel, and can precisely control the cell volume ratio of the slug flow.

[0089] In addition, the fluid supply control mechanism 300 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may control the relative supply amount of the second fluid to the supply amount of the first fluid by adjusting the supply amount of the second fluid by the fluid supply section, or alternatively or in addition to adjusting the supply amount of the first fluid depending on the application.

[0090] Although the above embodiment describes controlling the inflow of fluid based on a comparison between the calculated cell volume ratio and a predetermined reference value of the cell volume ratio, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the inflow of fluid may be controlled based on a comparison between the fluctuation in the cell volume ratio of the slug flow calculated based on the conductivity of the slug flow detected continuously and a predetermined reference value.

[0091] As described above, the accompanying drawings and detailed description have been provided to explain exemplary embodiments of the technology disclosed herein. Therefore, the components described in the accompanying drawings and detailed description may include not only components essential for solving the problem, but also components that are not essential for solving the problem in order to illustrate the technology. Therefore, the fact that these non-essential components are described in the accompanying drawings or detailed description should not be interpreted as immediately indicating that these non-essential components are essential.

[0092] Although the present disclosure has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims, and such modifications and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0093] The present disclosure is applicable to an apparatus for mixing fluids that are soluble in each other, and is also applicable to, for example, the production of fine particles using a hydrothermal synthesis reaction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 10,20 Liquid supply section 30 Insoluble fluid introduction section 40 Mixing channel 12, 22, 32 Fluid container 14, 24, 34 Piping 16, 26, 36 Pump 41, 42, 421, 422 Flow path section 42a, 42b Channel wall 50 Collection container 60 Conductivity detector 61 Conductivity measuring instrument 62 Data Transfer Unit 70 Arithmetic unit 71 Processing section 72 Memory section 73 Display section 75 Programs 75a Cell volume ratio calculation section 75b Feed amount adjustment judgment section 80 Fluid feed control section 100 Microreactor device 200 Fluid inlet 300 Fluid feed control mechanism 610 Electrode section 611,612 electrodes S1,S2 opening 110,210,310 Slug flow C11,C21 Circulating flow V11a, V21a, V11b, V21b cell volume V1, V2 cell volume V3 Volume of the front or rear end of the fluid cell

Claims

1. A microreactor device for introducing a plurality of fluids into a mixing channel and mixing the fluids, a fluid inlet unit that feeds a first fluid containing a plurality of liquids that are soluble in each other and a second fluid that is insoluble in the first fluid into the mixing channel, the fluid inlet unit feeding the first fluid into the mixing channel at a first fluid inlet amount, and feeding the second fluid into the mixing channel at a second fluid inlet amount relative to the first fluid inlet amount from a direction that intersects with the flow of the first fluid fed into the mixing channel, thereby forming a slug flow in the mixing channel after the second fluid joins with the first fluid, in which cells of the first fluid and cells of the second fluid flow alternately side by side; a mixing flow path in which the first fluid and the second fluid are mixed and flow downstream; a conductivity detection unit for detecting the conductivity of the slag flow; a cell volume ratio calculation unit that calculates a cell volume ratio of the first fluid cell to the second fluid cell in the slug flow based on the detected conductivity; a fluid feed control unit that controls fluid feed of the fluid feed unit based on the calculated cell volume ratio; Equipped with Microreactor device.

2. Further provided with a feed amount adjustment determination unit, The feed amount adjustment determination unit determining whether to adjust the second fluid feed rate by comparing the cell volume ratio calculated by the cell volume ratio calculation unit with a predetermined reference value of the cell volume ratio; the fluid feed control unit controls the second fluid feed amount based on the determined adjustment of the second fluid feed amount. The microreactor device according to claim 1 .

3. The conductivity detection unit configured to detect a first conductivity corresponding to the first fluid and a second conductivity corresponding to the second fluid; the cell volume ratio calculation unit calculates the cell volume ratio based on a time when the first conductivity was detected and a time when the second conductivity was detected. The microreactor device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the conductivity detection unit further detects a conductivity having a value between the first conductivity and the second conductivity; the cell volume ratio calculation unit calculates the cell volume ratio based on a time when the first conductivity was detected, a time when the second conductivity was detected, and a time when a conductivity having a value between the first conductivity and the second conductivity was detected. The microreactor device according to claim 3 .

5. The conductivity detection unit two or more electrodes disposed in the mixing channel such that their ends contact the slug flow; Each of the two or more electrodes has a coating layer made of an insulating material on a portion other than the end portion. The microreactor device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. the fluid inlet portion includes a flow rate adjusting means; the fluid feed control unit controls the second fluid feed amount by operating the flow rate adjustment means. The microreactor device according to claim 1 or 2.

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