chemical reactor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a chemical reactor mounted on a substrate, the chemical reactor comprising a plurality of ducts for transporting fluids and / or gases during use of the chemical reactor, the ducts optionally comprising pillar structures and at least one connecting duct connected between two of the plurality of ducts for transporting fluids and / or gases from one duct to another, in which a series of individual pillar structures are positioned in tandem along the length of the connecting duct.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Scope of the present invention The present invention generally relates to chemical reactors such as, for example, chromatography systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a chemical reactor having a plurality of ducts interconnected in series.

Background Art

[0002] Systems that utilize liquid propagation have numerous applications including, for example, the manufacture of chemical components, the synthesis of nanoparticles, the separation and / or extraction of components. A specific example of a separation technique for separating mixtures, for example for accurately analyzing them, is chromatography. There are variants in the form of chromatography such as gas chromatography, gel chromatography, thin film chromatography, adsorption chromatography, affinity chromatography, liquid chromatography, etc. Liquid chromatography is typically used in pharmacy and chemistry for both analytical and manufacturing applications. In liquid chromatography, the difference in solubility of various substances having a mobile phase and a stationary phase is used. Since each substance has a unique "binding force" with respect to the stationary phase, they move faster or slower together with the mobile phase, and thus a specific substance can be separated from other substances. In principle, it is applicable to any connection and has the advantage that evaporation of the material is not required and only the effect of temperature fluctuations can be ignored.

[0003] A typical example of liquid chromatography is based on a chromatography column based on a plurality of ducts interconnected in series. By interconnecting various ducts in series, an appropriate length can be generated so that appropriate separation of the phases can be achieved for practical applications.

[0004] To generate efficient separation, Isokawa et al., in Analytical Chemistry 2016, vol.88, pp. 6485-6491, describe how columns with ducts and bends exhibit low dispersion and low pressure drop characteristics in the bends. Here, these specific characteristics are created by the distribution of the column structure according to width and the curvature of the bend, provided in the bend as shown in Figure 1a. However, this results in a complex positioning and distribution of the column structure.

[0005] Alternatively, as can be seen in Figure 1b, no column structure is placed in the curved section. [Overview of the project]

[0006] An objective of the embodiments of the present invention is to manufacture an efficient system for separating materials.

[0007] The aforementioned objectives can be achieved by the apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention.

[0008] The present invention relates to a chemical reactor mounted on a substrate, wherein the chemical reactor comprises a plurality of ducts for transporting fluid and / or gas during use of the chemical reactor, and the ducts optionally comprise column structures and at least one connecting duct connected between two of the plurality of ducts for transporting fluid and / or gas from one duct to another, wherein in the connecting duct, a series of individual column structures are positioned in a vertical line along the longitudinal direction of the connecting duct.

[0009] An advantage of the embodiments of the present invention is that, by placing a column structure within the connecting duct, the pressure resistance of the connecting duct is not a limiting factor in determining the overall pressure resistance of the chemical reactor. An advantage of the embodiments of the present invention is that the use of columns allows for support of the connecting duct, thereby reducing the likelihood, for example, that the duct may rupture due to pressure.

[0010] An advantage of the embodiments of the present invention is that placing a column structure in the connecting duct improves the pressure distribution in the connecting duct and, as a result, throughout the reactor. An advantage of the embodiments of the present invention is that during the manufacture of the reactor, there is little to no generation of waste that may cause problems in the connecting duct during subsequent operation. An advantage of the embodiments of the present invention is that the pressure drop across the connecting duct is limited.

[0011] For each cross-section of the connecting duct, at most one complete column structure arises. For example, alternatively or additionally, one or two partial column structures may arise that are positioned relative to the wall. The cross-section is a section that is transverse to the mean direction of fluid propagation in the connecting duct.

[0012] A connecting duct may be connected between two of several ducts such that the first duct, the connecting duct, and the second duct are arranged in a vertical line downstream.

[0013] The connecting duct may be connected so that, during use, the same flow rate flows through the first duct, the connecting duct, and the second duct.

[0014] The connecting duct may widen where a column structure is present. In some embodiments, the walls of the connecting duct are not straight walls, but locally follow the curvature of the column structure at the level of the column structure. The walls may exhibit a kind of meandering shape. Where no column structure is present, the connecting duct narrows.

[0015] In various cross-sections within the connecting duct, the free passage for the fluid surface This can vary to less than 30%, preferably less than 20%, and more preferably less than 10%.

[0016] The column structure may have a diameter of at least 20%, preferably at least 40%, of the average width of the connecting duct.

[0017] The distance between two adjacent columns of a series of full column structures positioned in the longitudinal direction of the connection duct can be 1 to 10 times, for example, 1 to 5 times the average diameter of the column structure.

[0018] The column structures in the connection duct can have a cylindrical shape.

[0019] The cylindrical shape has a grounding surface that coincides with the base of the connection duct. However, the column structures in the connection duct can also have another shape such as a non-rotationally symmetric shape. Alternatively, the column structure can have a round hexagonal shape in which the longitudinal axis of the column is oriented with the longitudinal axis in the flow direction.

[0020] The connection duct can show a bent portion.

[0021] The plurality of ducts can comprise a plurality of substantially parallel ducts, and the substantially parallel ducts can be connected to the connection duct that forms a U-bend portion each time.

[0022] The chemical reactor can comprise a chromatography column.

[0023] The chemical reactor can be a chromatography system.

[0024] The chromatography system can be a high-performance liquid chromatography system.

[0025] In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a design for a chemical reactor as described above.

[0026] The specific and preferred embodiments of the present invention are included in the appended independent claims and dependent claims. The features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims and the features of other dependent claims as indicated, and are not merely explicitly proposed in the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] [Figure 1a]As is known from the prior art, it is a diagram illustrating a part of a chemical reactor to which a duct is connected to a bent portion having a plurality of column structures. [Figure 1b] As is known from the prior art, it is a diagram illustrating a part of a chemical reactor to which a duct is connected to a bent portion having no column structure. [Figure 2] It is a diagram illustrating a microscopic photograph of a part of a duct and a part of a bent portion having a column structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3a] It is a diagram illustrating a detailed photograph of components of a chemical reaction according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3b] It is a diagram illustrating a detailed photograph of components of a chemical reaction according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3c] It is a diagram illustrating a detailed photograph of components of a chemical reaction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] The drawings are merely schematic and not restrictive. For illustrative purposes, the dimensions of some components in the drawings may be exaggerated and may not be represented to scale. The dimensions and relative dimensions do not necessarily correspond to the dimensions and relative dimensions from the actual embodiments of the present invention. The reference numbers used in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0029] The present invention is described with reference to specific embodiments and certain drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereby and is limited only by the claims.

[0030] When used in claims, the terms “contains” and “equipped with” should not be construed as limiting to the items described thereafter, and it should be noted that these terms do not exclude any other elements or steps. They may be interpreted as indicating the presence of the referenced features, values, steps, or components, but they do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, values, steps, components, or groups thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the expression “a device containing items A and B” should not be limited to a device consisting solely of components A and B. It means, with respect to the present invention, that A and B are the only relevant components of the device.

[0031] Throughout this specification, any reference to “one embodiment” or “embodiment” means that certain features, structures, or characteristics described in relation to an embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, throughout this specification, the appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” does not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Furthermore, certain features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any preferred manner in one or more embodiments, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on this publication.

[0032] Similarly, in the description of the sample embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that various features of the invention may be grouped together in a single embodiment, drawing, or description thereof, intended to streamline the publication and aid in the understanding of one or more of the various aspects of the invention. Therefore, the manner in which this publication is described should not be interpreted as a reflection of the intention that the invention requires more features than those expressly mentioned in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the following claims, the aspects of the invention are fewer than all the features of a single previously published embodiment. Thus, the claims following the embodiment for carrying out the invention are expressly included in the embodiment for carrying out the invention, and each independent claim is a separate embodiment of the invention.

[0033] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein contain some features not included in other embodiments, combinations of features from various embodiments are intended to fall within the scope of the invention and to form various embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, any of the embodiments described in the following claims may be used in any combination.

[0034] In embodiments of the present invention, a reference to a cross-section showing up to one all-column structure refers to a situation in which the cross-section is located within a duct and has up to one column that does not come into contact with the side wall of the duct.

[0035] In embodiments of the present invention, references to various cross-sections refer to various cross-sections perpendicular to the mean flow direction, which are positioned at various locations along the mean flow direction of the connecting duct.

[0036] In embodiments of the present invention, the free passage of fluid in various cross-sections perpendicular to the mean flow direction in a connecting duct that fluctuates by less than X% on If mentioned, the maximum free passage that can be retracted across all cross-sections perpendicular to the mean flow direction in the connecting duct. surfaceHowever, the minimum free passage that can be retracted across all cross-sections perpendicular to the mean flow direction in the connecting duct surface This refers to a situation that is not 100% + X% greater than [the specified value].

[0037] In embodiments of the present invention, when referring to the widening of a connecting duct, it refers to the distance between the side walls of the connecting duct in a direction perpendicular to the average flow direction within the connecting duct.

[0038] In embodiments of the present invention, the term "average width of the connecting duct" refers to the width of the duct measured perpendicular to the average flow direction within the connecting duct.

[0039] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a chemical reactor. Such a chemical reactor may be, but is not limited to, a chromatography column. Other examples of chemical reactors that may benefit from the present invention include, for example, a concentration filter or capture column, a reactor with a (micro)catalyst, a multiphase reactor, a fuel cell, an electrochemical reactor, a reactor for capillary electrochromatography, and the like. The present invention also relates to a chemical reactor mounted on a substrate.

[0040] A chemical reactor comprises multiple ducts for transporting fluids and / or gases during the use of the chemical reactor, and the ducts optionally comprise columnar structures. Such ducts are often microfluidic ducts. These ducts are typically interconnected in series to obtain columns of sufficient length to precisely separate substances. The chemical reactor also comprises at least one connecting duct connected between two of the multiple ducts for transporting fluids and / or gases from one duct to another. Thus, such a connecting duct typically creates bends in its design and may have, for example, a U-shape. Columnar structures are provided within the connecting ducts. They are positioned as a series of individual columnar structures in a longitudinal row along the longitudinal direction of the connecting duct. Thus, the columnar structures are arranged sequentially such that for each cross-section of the connecting duct, there is at most one complete columnar structure. Partial columnar structures may be positioned relative to the walls such that the inner walls of the duct are not straight walls but exhibit bends. The walls are, for example, the free passages of fluids in various cross-sections within the connecting duct. surface However, this can be adjusted to vary by less than 30%, preferably less than 20%, and more preferably less than 10%. Here, the connecting duct is typically wider where column structures arise.

[0041] The column structures within the connecting duct typically have a diameter of at least 20%, preferably at least 40%, of the average width of the connecting duct. The distance between two adjacent columns in a series of individual column structures within the connecting duct may, in embodiments, be 1 to 10 times the average diameter of the column structure, for example, 1 to 5 times the average diameter of the column structure.

[0042] The shape of the column structure in the connecting duct may be cylindrical, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, columns with cross-sections such as hexagonal, polygonal, elliptical, or more irregular shapes may be used.

[0043] The width of the connecting duct is typically smaller than the width of the duct to minimize dispersion within the connecting duct. The ratio of the width of the connecting duct to the width of the duct is typically 1 to 1 / 100. The present invention also favors wider connecting ducts because the columns can provide additional strength.

[0044] A chemical reaction typically has an inlet connected to one of several effective ducts for the fluid / gas to enter the duct, and an outlet connected to one of several effective ducts for at least one component of the fluid / gas to be discharged from the duct.

[0045] The materials used to fabricate the reactor can range from the latest technologies to known materials. Typically, materials that can be treated with anode treatment are used.

[0046] The characteristics of the duct and possible columns can correspond to those known from the latest technology. The duct may have widths of, for example, 50 μm to 250 mm, 50 μm to 100 mm, 50 μm to 100 mm, or 50 μm to 20 mm. The duct may have depths of 2 μm to 1 mm, for example, a typical wafer thickness of 2 μm to a silicon disk. Columns within the duct may have typical dimensions of 100 nm to 3 mm, for example, 100 nm to 100 μm.

[0047] As an example, Figure 2 shows microscopic photographs of a portion of a duct and connecting duct according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 3A shows a first example of a part of the design for a chemical reactor, thereby providing a plurality of parallel effective ducts having a column structure and interconnected via connecting ducts. Figure 3B shows some of the ducts and bends in more detail, and Figure 3C shows details of micro-columns in the connecting ducts for a specific example in which the embodiment is not limited. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that this example is provided for illustrative purposes only, and that the specific dimensions shown in the drawings are illustrative and not limiting.

Claims

1. A chemical reactor mounted on a circuit board, Multiple ducts for transporting fluids and / or gases during use of the chemical reactor, The system comprises at least one connecting duct connected between two of the plurality of ducts for transporting the fluid and / or gas from one duct to another, A chemical reactor in which, in the connecting duct, a series of individual column structures are positioned in a vertical line along the longitudinal direction of the connecting duct such that, for each cross-section perpendicular to the average flow direction in the connecting duct, at most one complete column structure is formed.

2. The chemical reactor according to claim 1, wherein the connecting duct is bent and therefore connected between two of the plurality of ducts.

3. The chemical reactor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting duct widens at the location where a column structure is formed.

4. The chemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the surface of the free passage for the fluid varies by less than 30% in various cross-sections perpendicular to the mean flow direction in the connecting duct.

5. The chemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the column structure has a diameter of at least 20% of the average width of the connecting duct.

6. The chemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the distance between two adjacent columns in the connecting duct is 1 to 10 times the average diameter of the column structure.

7. The chemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the column structure in the connecting duct has a cylindrical shape.

8. The chemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the connecting duct shows a bend.

9. The chemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the plurality of ducts comprises a plurality of substantially parallel ducts, and the substantially parallel ducts are connected to a connecting duct that each forms a U-bend.

10. The chemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the chemical reactor comprises a chromatography column.

11. The chemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the chemical reactor is a chromatography system.

12. The chemical reactor according to claim 11, wherein the chromatography system is a high-performance fluid chromatography system.

13. The chemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the connecting duct is connected between two of the plurality of ducts such that the first duct, the connecting duct, and the second duct are located downstream in a vertical line.

14. The chemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the connecting duct is connected between two of the plurality of ducts such that, during use, the same flow rate flows through the first duct, the connecting duct, and the second duct.

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