Modular Flow Reactor Chassis With Double Spiral Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current continuous flow reactors lack flexibility in size and volume, requiring multiple reactors of different sizes for various applications, making it impractical to quickly adapt to changing needs.
Innovation Solution
A modular continuous flow reactor system featuring a chassis with a double spiral configuration of channels that can accommodate reactor tubing of varying lengths and diameters, allowing for easy reconfiguration and stacking of reactors to achieve multiple volumes from a single form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple flow reactors of different sizes are manufactured to suit each specific application, then the reactor size can be matched to the application requirements, but it becomes impractical to quickly adapt reactors to changing needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal reactor chassis design with standardized channel dimensions and configurations that can accommodate reactor tubing of varying lengths and diameters. This allows a single chassis type to serve multiple reactor size requirements by simply changing the tubing configuration rather than manufacturing entirely different reactor units for each application.
Solution Approach 2:
The reactor system is divided into modular components including the chassis, reactor tubing, and interchangeable fittings. This segmentation enables flexible reconfiguration where tubing of different lengths can be installed in the same chassis to create reactors of different volumes, allowing quick adaptation without complex manufacturing processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single reactor design is used for all applications, then manufacturing and operation are simplified, but the reactor cannot be easily adapted to different reaction sizes and volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The reactor design incorporates dynamic reconfigurability through standardized channels that can accommodate tubing of variable lengths. The chassis maintains a fixed structural design for ease of manufacture, while the internal tubing configuration can be dynamically adjusted to achieve different reactor volumes and flow paths suitable for various reaction requirements.
3Reliability
If reactors are designed with fixed sizes, then manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but flexibility in reactor volume is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains reliable standardized chassis dimensions and channel geometries for consistent manufacturing quality, while allowing flexibility in reactor volume through variable tubing lengths and configurations. This separation of fixed structural parameters (chassis) from variable process parameters (tubing length, internal diameter) enables both manufacturing reliability and operational flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Modular reactors comprising a chassis, reactor tubing and optionally a cover are disclosed. The chassis comprises a plurality of channels of different lengths into which a length of reactor tubing is placed to create the reactor portion of the flow reactor.