Flexible Plastic Bag Reactor for Drag Reducing Polymer Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatus for producing drag reducing polymers face challenges such as polymer adherence to reactor walls, difficulty in achieving consistent product quality, and contamination issues due to the material of the reactor vessels.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for assembling a receptacle and housing system, where the receptacle is made of plastics material and is not self-supporting, allowing for efficient assembly and disassembly, and minimizing air gaps and contamination during polymerization reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polymeric bottles and bags are used as reactor vessels, then the polymerization reaction can be contained, but the polymer adheres extremely to the walls making separation impossible and causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a flexible plastic bag as the reactor vessel, which contains the polymerization reaction while allowing easy removal and separation of the polymer product. The thin film structure prevents extreme adhesion issues compared to rigid polymeric bottles, enabling clean product recovery without contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic bag reactor is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component. After use, the bag can be discarded or replaced without complex cleaning procedures, eliminating contamination risks from previous reactions and reducing the need for extensive reactor maintenance.
2Strength
If multi-layer polymeric vessels are used, then reactor strength at high temperatures is improved, but the complexity of assembly and contamination risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a simple single-layer or multi-layer plastic bag structure that provides sufficient strength for the polymerization process. The flexible film design achieves the required mechanical properties without the complex multi-layer construction of rigid vessels, simplifying assembly while maintaining integrity at reaction temperatures.
3Ease of manufacture
If ground polymers are used as DRA, then cost is reduced, but product quality consistency becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The invention produces polymer in small, discrete batches within individual plastic bag reactors. This segmentation of the production process allows for consistent control of reaction conditions in each batch, ensuring uniform polymer quality while maintaining cost-effectiveness through simple processing and minimal equipment requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(d)
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of assembling apparatus (110) for containing reagents for a chemical reaction. The apparatus comprises an elongate housing (112) and a receptacle (114). The elongate housing (112) may include a cooling means (116), and end fittings (118, 120) which may include ports where fluids may be introduced and/or removed. Specifically, the method relates to the securement of a receptacle relative to the outwardly facing surface of the housing.