Pressurized Taylor Vortex Reactor for Submicron Particle Synthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Taylor Vortex reactors face difficulties in maintaining the Taylor fluid flow and achieving optimal chemical reactivity and particle growth when gas-phase reactions are involved, as gas bubbles disrupt the flow and reduce reaction time and particle morphology.
Innovation Solution
A pressurized Taylor Vortex reactor with a chamber maintained at a pressure of at least 1 bar, featuring a cylindrical stirring shaft and multiple inlet ports, which promotes Taylor fluid flow and enhances mixing, allowing for continuous production of submicron and micron-sized particles by co-precipitation reactions above the boiling temperature of the reaction media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gas-phase reactions are conducted in a conventional Taylor Vortex reactor, then chemical reactivity is improved, but gas bubbles disrupt the Taylor fluid flow and reduce particle morphology quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by pressurizing the reactor to at least 1 bar, which changes the physical state of the reaction system. This pressure increase reduces gas bubble formation and volume, allowing gas-phase reactions to proceed while maintaining Taylor fluid flow and particle morphology quality. The pressure parameter modification resolves the contradiction between chemical reactivity and particle morphology.
2Quantity of substance
If gas-phase reactions occur in a conventional Taylor Vortex reactor, then reaction volume is increased, but gas bubbles reduce reaction time and deteriorate chemical reactivity
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the pressure parameter to at least 1 bar, the patent compresses the gas phase, reducing gas bubble volume fraction. This allows the reactor to maintain higher effective reaction volume with liquid phase while preventing the time loss associated with gas bubble possession of reactor volume, thus resolving the contradiction between reaction volume and reaction time.
3Ease of operation
If gas-phase reactions are conducted at atmospheric pressure, then operation is simplified, but gas bubbles are trapped in Taylor vortices and reduce mixing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the pressure parameter from atmospheric pressure to at least 1 bar, which suppresses gas bubble formation and trapping in Taylor vortices. This pressure change maintains operational simplicity while significantly improving mixing efficiency by eliminating gas bubble interference with the Taylor fluid flow pattern.
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 pressurized reactor achieves improved particle size distribution, increased reaction efficiency, and reduced gas-phase volume, resulting in enhanced chemical reactivity and particle growth, while minimizing malfunctions and contamination during pressure letdown.
Implementation Method 1
The Taylor Vortex reactor is composed of two co-axially positioned cylinders with a gap in between where the reaction proceeds with the Taylor Vortex flow induced by the rotation of the inner cylinder
Implementation Method 2
a pressurized Taylor vortex reaction minimizing the volume fraction of the gas phase involved in the reaction
Implementation Method 3
allowing for materials or their precursors for a lithium secondary battery to be produced continuously by a co-precipitation reaction at above boiling temperature of reaction media and atmospheric pressure
Implementation Method 4
A depressurizer is connected to an outlet port and depressurizes the reaction product
Implementation Method 5
the reaction apparatus may also include a heat exchanger that cools the reaction product
Implementation Method 6
The present invention provides a technical advantage in forming submicron and/or micron-sized active particles by co-precipitation
Data Source
AI summary
A reaction apparatus includes a hollow chamber with a stirring shaft. The chamber is maintained at a predetermined pressure and accepts at least two reactants from two storage tanks. The stirring shaft rotates around an axis and creates a reaction product. Taylor vortexes are created while the pressure minimizes the volume possession of the gas phase. The reaction product of micron and sub-micron particles is removed from the chamber and depressurized.