Spring Tube Flexible Micro Reactor for Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional micro channel reactors face challenges with poor heat and mass transfer capabilities, limited adjustment range, portability issues, and susceptibility to channel blocking, particularly during chemical reactions involving solid products, which complicates machining and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A spring tube type flexible micro chemical reactor with a scroll spring tube structure that enhances heat and mass transfer through vortex-like flow and vibration, using a gas generating device to disturb the reaction liquid and prevent solid deposition, while allowing for precise control of temperature and mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional micro channel reactor is used, then temperature control is achieved through convection heating, but heat and mass transfer capability is poor and reaction speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane structure that can dynamically deform under gas pressure to create chaotic advection flow patterns, transforming the static laminar flow into dynamic mixing enhanced heat and mass transfer, thereby resolving the contradiction between reaction speed and transfer capability
Solution Approach 2:
The periodic deformation of the flexible membrane creates oscillating flow fields that enhance mixing and transfer rates, effectively improving both heat and mass transfer capability while maintaining fast reaction speeds
2Quantity of substance
If channel size is enlarged to millimeter level, then flow rate increases, but heat and mass transfer capability deteriorates due to reduced surface area to volume ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane creates dynamic flow patterns that enhance mixing and transfer efficiency even at larger channel dimensions, compensating for the reduced surface area to volume ratio by introducing chaotic advection that maintains effective transfer rates at higher flow rates
3Reliability
If micro channel is machined into various shapes to enhance heat and mass transfer, then transfer capability improves, but machining complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex machined shapes with a simple flexible membrane structure that achieves enhanced heat and mass transfer through dynamic deformation, eliminating the need for complicated micro-channel geometries while maintaining transfer capability
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane is actuated by gas pressure to create the desired flow patterns, using pneumatic actuation to achieve complex flow dynamics without complex mechanical structures, thereby reducing machining complexity
4Productivity
If solid products are formed in micro channel reactor, then reaction completeness improves, but channel blocking occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic deformation of the flexible membrane creates varying flow velocities and turbulence that prevent solid particles from settling and clogging channels, allowing reaction completeness to improve without channel blocking
5Reliability
If flow rate is adjusted to control heat and mass transfer, then transfer rate changes, but adjustment range is narrow and portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the membrane from static to dynamically deformable, allowing adjustment of heat and mass transfer capacity through membrane deformation amplitude and frequency rather than just flow rate, thereby expanding the adjustment range and improving portability
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 reactor achieves efficient and dynamically adjustable heat and mass transfer, preventing channel blocking and enhancing mixing, with a simple structure, high integration, and portability, suitable for fine chemicals and drug synthesis requiring strict temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
enhances heat and mass transfer through vortex-like flow and vibration
Implementation Method 2
enhances heat and mass transfer through vortex-like flow and vibration
Implementation Method 3
using a gas generating device to disturb the reaction liquid and prevent solid deposition
Implementation Method 4
the thermal control device for accommodating a heat transfer medium
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a spring tube type flexible micro chemical reactor. It comprises a reactor body, a thermal control device, and a gas generating device. The spring tube type flexible micro chemical reactor enhances the heat and mass transfer using the scroll spring tube, which is able to achieve accurate mixing and dynamic adjustment of the heat and mass transfer and is able to effectively solve the problems of blocking of channels by solid reactant, the poor portability of the reaction, etc.