Compact Enzymatic Reactor With Inclined Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing enzymatic treatment processes face challenges in maintaining consistent reaction conditions and controlling contact time, especially in large industrial volumes, which affects product quality and is labor-intensive and costly, particularly in marine raw material processing where space and stability are concerns.
Innovation Solution
A compact reactor design with inclined tubular chambers and coaxial heat exchange, utilizing inert gas for stirring and pressure-assisted material transfer, ensures uniform residence time and consistent reaction conditions, allowing for continuous processing even in varying conditions like those at sea.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If batch processing is used to control contact time, then product quality is improved, but heating speed and productivity deteriorate due to large volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The reactor is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber for enzymatic treatment, second chamber for heating) that operate in sequence. This segmentation allows different processing stages to occur simultaneously in different locations, enabling continuous flow while maintaining precise contact time control in the first chamber and rapid heating in the second chamber, thus resolving the contradiction between quality control and productivity
2Productivity
If multiple small batch volumes are used to improve heating speed, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple processing functions (enzymatic treatment, heating, inactivation) are merged into a single continuous reactor system with sequential chambers. The material flows continuously through the first chamber for treatment, then automatically transitions to the second chamber for heating, eliminating the need for multiple separate batch reactors while achieving rapid heating and maintaining simple device structure
3Manufacturing precision
If batch processing is used to control contact time, then product quality is improved, but labor intensity and automation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reactor operates continuously with material flowing automatically from the first chamber through valve control to the second chamber. This continuous operation eliminates the repeated starting and stopping inherent in batch processes, reducing labor intensity and making the system easier to automate while maintaining precise contact time control through the defined sequential flow path
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
The reactor provides consistent reaction conditions and efficient processing of marine raw materials on board vessels, reducing labor and costs while maintaining product quality under varying wind and wave conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Stirring takes place by means of supplied inert gas being bubbled through the reactor chambers
Implementation Method 2
The treatment takes place in a substantially vertically arranged reactor with separate reactor chambers where the material in each chamber is mixed mechanically with a stirrer and transferred to an adjacent chamber below by utilizing gravitational forces
Implementation Method 3
Required heat exchange can be realized concentrically with and within this vertical coil of reactor chambers
Implementation Method 4
Transportation of partially treated material from one reactor compartment to the next can be performed by supplying an excess of pressure of the inert gas used for stirring
Data Source
AI summary
Reactor for enzymatic hydrolysis of a raw material comprising in sequence: i)—a first heat exchanger adapted to heat the raw material supplied to the reactor to a temperature within a range that favours enzymatic hydrolysis, ii)—a reactor comprising plural in reactor chambers connected in series, separated by closable valves, iii)—a second heat exchanger adapted to heat the reaction mixture to a temperature higher than the temperature range favouring enzymatic hydrolysis, the reactor being formed with inclined tubular reactor chambers assembled to form a reactor with vertical axis, the first reactor chamber being the vertically uppermost chamber of the reactor, while at least one reactor chamber is adapted to be stirred with a through-flowing inert gas.