Active Pressure Regulating Arrangement for Parallel Reactors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for performing parallel chemical experiments face challenges in maintaining consistent pressure across multiple reactors, especially at high pressures, and efficiently managing effluent pressure, particularly when dealing with multi-phase flows, which can be dangerous and impractical for sample collection.

Innovation Solution

An array of parallel flow-through reactors with an active pressure regulating arrangement that includes a tunable passage for reactor effluent, controlled by a common pressure chamber and pressure controller, allowing for reduced effluent discharge pressure and maintaining preset pressure conditions across reactors, even at high pressures up to 300 bar, using a backpressure regulating mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If passive pressure regulating arrangements are used in parallel reactors, then device complexity is reduced, but pressure consistency across reactors deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure regulating arrangement complexityVSAvoidpressure consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs active pressure regulating arrangements with sensors and control systems that continuously monitor reactor pressure and adjust flow rates accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent pressure across all parallel reactors despite variations in flow conditions, directly resolving the contradiction between device complexity and pressure consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical pressure regulating arrangements with electronically controlled systems that use feedback signals to adjust pressure. This substitution of mechanical systems with electronic control mechanisms enables more precise and reliable pressure consistency across parallel reactors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If high pressure conditions are maintained in reactors, then reaction efficiency is improved, but effluent discharge safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereaction efficiencyVSAvoideffluent discharge safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces pressure reducing valves as intermediary devices between the high-pressure reactor environment and the atmospheric discharge point. These valves gradually reduce effluent pressure, allowing the reactor to maintain high pressure for efficient reactions while safely discharging effluent at atmospheric pressure, thus resolving the safety contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure regulation system is segmented into distinct stages: the reactor maintains high pressure independently, while separate pressure reducing valves handle the gradual pressure reduction of effluent. This segmentation allows high-pressure reaction conditions to be maintained without compromising discharge safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If individual pressure controllers are used for each reactor, then pressure regulation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure regulation accuracyVSAvoidnumber of pressure controllers

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a common pressure control system that serves multiple parallel reactors simultaneously. This universal pressure controller can regulate pressure across all reactors through a shared control mechanism, maintaining accurate pressure regulation without requiring separate controllers for each reactor, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate and robust pressure regulation across multiple reactors, facilitating safe and efficient sample collection at atmospheric pressure, suitable for high-throughput chemical experiments, including those with two or three-phase flows, and allows for simultaneous reactions under consistent pressure conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the wall member being in contact with a control gas in said pressure chamber and being deformable by a pressure difference between the control gas within the pressure chamber and the pressure of the reactor effluent within the passage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

the flexible wall member defining the actively tunable passage for reactor effluent, which wall member separates the actively tunable passage from a pressure chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS7997297B2System and method for performing a chemical experiment

Publication Date: 2011.08.16 AVANTIUM INTERNATIONAL BV

AI summary

The invention relates to a system for performing parallel chemical experiments. The system comprises an array of parallel flow through reactors each comprising a reaction chamber, a reactor inlet and a reactor outlet connected to the reactor chamber. Downstream of each reactor a corresponding active pressure regulating arrangement is provided for actively regulating the reactor pressure. The pressure regulating arrangement comprises a passage for reactor effluent with an inlet connected to the reactor outlet and an outlet for discharging reactor effluent at a reduced pressure with respect to the reactor pressure.