Self-Regulating Membrane Reactor for Balanced Reactions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional membrane reactors face challenges in optimizing adjustable parameters and achieving optimal operating points due to high demands on membrane performance, leading to significant changes in reactor performance from minor deviations in performance data.
Innovation Solution
A passively self-regulating membrane reactor design where educts are fed under pressure control, with a membrane that separates reaction and permeate spaces, allowing permeability to specific products while being non-permeable or slightly permeable to others, enabling passive replenishment and control of reactants based on partial pressure differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional membrane reactors use volume or mass flow control for reactant dosing, then precise control can be achieved, but the system complexity increases and optimization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane reactor enables self-regulating reactant dosing where the membrane itself controls the supply of the second reactant from the permeate chamber to the reaction chamber based on partial pressure differences, eliminating the need for external flow controllers and complex dosing systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical flow control systems with a pressure-driven permeation process through the membrane, where reactant dosing is achieved through partial pressure gradients rather than mechanical pumps or valves
2Reliability
If high selectivity membranes are used to meet performance demands, then reaction selectivity improves, but minor deviations in membrane performance data cause significant changes in reactor performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using pressure-controlled feed of both reactants and utilizing partial pressure differences across the membrane, creating a more robust system where performance is less sensitive to membrane variations
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides inherent feedback where the partial pressure of products in the reaction chamber automatically regulates the permeation rate of reactants through the membrane, stabilizing reactor performance against membrane property variations
3Quantity of substance
If the membrane is made highly selective to one component with minimal permeability to others, then separation efficiency improves, but the demands on membrane performance become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by allowing the membrane to be permeable to multiple components (second reactant and second product) rather than requiring absolute selectivity, achieving sufficient separation efficiency with more achievable membrane performance specifications
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
This design allows for efficient, pressure-controlled dosing of educts, automatic adjustment of operating conditions, and reduced membrane requirements, enhancing reaction selectivity and yield without active regulation, and supports process control by maintaining equilibrium and minimizing material loss.
Implementation Method 1
the membrane reactor has a membrane that separates a reaction chamber from a permeate chamber and is permeable to a second reactant and a second product and not or only slightly permeable to a first product
Implementation Method 2
the second reactant can be fed to the permeate chamber under pressure via a permeate chamber inlet
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a passively self-regulating membrane reactor and a method for carrying out balanced reactions. The invention addresses the problem of providing an option by means of which a membrane reactor can be operated simply and efficiently. According to the invention, by means of a passively self-regulating membrane reactor (1) for carrying out balanced reactions using at least two starting materials (A, B) and two products (C, D), the membrane reactor (1) having a membrane (2) which separates a reaction chamber (3) from a permeate chamber (4) and is permeable to a second starting material (B) and a second product (D) and is impermeable or only slightly permeable to a first product (C), the problem is solved in that: the first starting material (A) can be fed to the reaction chamber (3) under pressure via a reaction chamber inlet (5); the second starting material (B) can be fed to the permeate chamber (4) under pressure via a permeate chamber inlet (6); the reaction chamber (3) has a first separating chamber (9) not directly adjacent to the membrane (2); the permeate chamber (4) has a second separating chamber (10) not directly adjacent to the membrane (2); the first product (C) can be removed from the first separating chamber (9) via a reaction chamber outlet (7); and the second product (D) can be removed from the second separating chamber (10) via a permeate chamber outlet (8).