Modular Membrane Reactor With Flexible Seals And Distributors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current membrane reactors lack a modular structure that allows for flexible and variable operation, limiting their ability to efficiently examine membranes and various membrane processes, particularly in terms of energy efficiency and the integrated co-generation and separation of valuable products.
Innovation Solution
A membrane reactor with a modular structure comprising two blocks of fluid chambers, an intermediate element with a planar support and a membrane, and a pressing device, featuring flexible seals that decouple the sealing of the membrane from the blocks, allowing for differential expansion and high-pressure stability, along with distributor elements and microstructure elements for precise flow control and turbulent flow conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If membrane reactors are designed with fixed non-modular structures, then manufacturing and assembly are simplified, but flexibility and adaptability for examining different membranes and processes are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane reactor is divided into modular components including a reactor body, membrane module, distributor element, and seal assembly that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized separately while maintaining overall system flexibility for examining different membranes and processes.
2Reliability
If seals are rigidly coupled to blocks, then structural stability is improved, but differential expansion between blocks and intermediate element causes sealing failures under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible seal assembly is introduced between the reactor blocks and intermediate element, comprising a compressible sealing element that can accommodate differential thermal and pressure expansion. The seal maintains reliable sealing under high pressure conditions while allowing for dimensional changes of the coupled components.
3Measurement precision
If fluid chambers have simple single-line connections, then device complexity is reduced, but flow distribution uniformity and measurement precision are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
A distributor element with multiple fluid lines is positioned within the fluid chamber to create localized flow distribution zones. This configuration ensures uniform reactant distribution across the membrane surface, enabling precise measurement of reaction kinetics while maintaining manageable device complexity through standardized distributor designs.
4Measurement precision
If laminar flow conditions are used, then energy consumption is reduced, but mixing efficiency and heat control are insufficient for accurate kinetic measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs controllable flow rates that can be adjusted between laminar and turbulent regimes based on measurement requirements. By periodically varying flow conditions and using distributor elements to enhance mixing, the system achieves accurate kinetic data with optimized energy consumption rather than maintaining constantly high-energy turbulent flow.
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 measurement of reaction kinetics, high reproducibility of data, and efficient energy use by allowing for ideal flow distribution and heat control, facilitating the examination of membranes and membrane processes with improved economic efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Of great importance is the study of mixed ionic-electronic conductive membranes in which oxygen and electrons are transported through the membrane layer
Implementation Method 2
The planar support or the membrane can expand as a result of thermal or chemical influences, and the expansion of the support can differ from the expansion of the two blocks
Implementation Method 3
distributor elements and microstructure elements for precise flow control and turbulent flow conditions
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4.d
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Membrane reactor for flow reactions, comprising: (a) two blocks (4, 5) with fluid chambers, each having at least one fluid supply line (1, 10) and at least one fluid discharge line (2, 9, 11, 15); (b) an intermediate element (6) comprising a planar support and a membrane arranged in the middle of the support or arranged on the support in the case that multiple membranes are present;(c) a pressing device (3, 14), wherein the intermediate element is provided with seals (5, 7) and is arranged between the fluid chambers of the blocks which are fixed to the pressing device, and wherein the membrane reactor is characterized in that it either has fluid chambers with a plurality of fluid lines, preferably the number of fluid lines is ≥ 4, or that it has at least one distributor element, wherein the distributor element(s) are arranged in the fluid chambers, each between a block and the intermediate element, and are selected from the group consisting of channel structure element, flow breaker or microstructure element, and each fluid chamber is connected to at least two fluid lines.