Microreactor Mixing via Opposite-Surface Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reactors face challenges in achieving uniform mixing of reactants due to the linear flow of the first reactant and the difficulty in sufficient merging with the second reactant, leading to inadequate mixing uniformity.
Innovation Solution
The reactor design features a flow path structure with first and second introduction grooves on the same surface, merging holes connecting them, and reaction grooves on the opposite surface, allowing the reactants to merge from opposite directions and flow into reaction passages for uniform mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the first introduction groove and reaction groove are formed linearly side by side on the first surface of the base with flush bottom surfaces, then the first reactant flows linearly and smoothly, but the second reactant cannot be sufficiently mixed with the first reactant, resulting in poor mixing uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional planar groove arrangement to a three-dimensional structure by forming the second introduction groove on the opposite surface of the base. This spatial reconfiguration allows reactants to approach each other from opposite directions through the merging hole, fundamentally changing the mixing geometry from linear to volumetric, thereby achieving both smooth flow and uniform mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having both introduction grooves on the same surface as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the arrangement by placing the second introduction groove on the opposite surface of the base. This inversion enables the second reactant to flow upward to meet the first reactant flowing downward, creating counter-directional flow that enhances mixing uniformity while maintaining flow smoothness.
2Device complexity
If the second introduction groove is formed on the second surface of the base opposite to the first introduction groove, then the structure is simplified, but the second reactant is merged with the linearly-flowing first reactant in the middle, making it relatively difficult to sufficiently mix the reactants
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a nested configuration where the merging hole penetrates through the base to connect the first and second introduction grooves. The first and second reactants are nested within their respective grooves on opposite surfaces, and their flow paths are nested within the base thickness, creating a compact integrated structure that achieves both structural simplicity and effective mixing.
3Length of moving object
If the downstream ends of the first and second introduction grooves are merged in the middle, then the flow path is shortened, but the reactants are merged from the same direction, reducing mixing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces asymmetry in the flow path configuration by having the first introduction groove and second introduction groove positioned on opposite surfaces of the base. This asymmetric arrangement causes the reactants to approach the merging point from opposite directions rather than from the same direction, creating turbulent mixing conditions that enhance mixing uniformity while maintaining a compact flow path length.
Data Source
AI summary
A reactor includes respective first and second introduction passages for introducing first and second reactants, a merging passage in which the first reactant merges with the second reactant, and a reaction passage in which the two merged reactants react with each other. First and second introduction grooves respectively constituting part of the first and second introduction passages are formed in a first surface of the base of the flow path structure of the reactor, while a reaction groove constituting part of the reaction passage is formed in a second surface of the base. A merging hole constituting part of the merging passage runs from the first surface of the base to the second surface thereof. The downstream end of the first introduction groove and the downstream end of the second introduction groove merge at the merging hole from different directions.