The invention provides methods of making laminated devices (especially microchannel devices) in which plates are assembled and welded together. Unlike conventional microchannel devices, the inventive laminated devices can be made without brazing or diffusion bonding; thus providing significant advantages for manufacturing. Features such as expansion joints and external welded supports are also described. Laminated devices and methods of conducting unit operations in laminated devices are also described.

A software-controlled triangle-topology valve-cluster for use at taps or conduit junction points that facilitate fluid-based clearing, gas-based clearing, solvent-based cleaning, gas drying, small-volume burst formation, abandoned-material return, and other valuable operations is disclosed. The invention provides better contamination performance than simple passive or valve-chaperoned T-topology junctions. The valve-cluster arrangement can be implemented or approximated in various ways. For faster performance, simplified programming, or other reasons macro controllability can be provided for operating groups of valves in one or more of simultaneous operation, time-defined sequenced operation, or conditional operation, and such macros can further provide for conditional inputs or parameters. Such macro, conditional-macro, and parameterized-macro control could be implemented in software, firmware, and/or hard-wired logic. The invention can be used in reusable or reconfigurable microfluidic systems, facilitate decontaminated and green disposal and recycling of microfluidics, and other fluidic applications. Features of the invention can also be extended to gas transport.

Although most contemporary and envisioned microfluidic systems are entirely passive or have limited control capabilities, future microfluidic systems require detailed sequenced control of valves and other elements. For this software-control of transport and processes for microfluidic systems under the control of temporal and/or event-driven scripts, script authoring and editing, functional libraries, and other development tools for process and configuration control are proposed with intent towards future standardization. Scripts can respond to external inputs and can comprise conditional-logic, temporal-logic, calculations, hierarchical structure, subroutines, macros, multi-thread and parallel execution operations, procedural calls, interrupts, real-time regulatory control calculations, and element resource allocation.

Scripts can be executed by a script reader, responsive to incoming signals and information, to produce temporal control sequences for operating microfluidic devices, emulation hardware, simulation software, process visualization, etc.

Script authoring/editing tools and readers can record and store information, and can interface to with commercial software, systems, languages, and protocols.

Devices and methods are provided for reducing or removing condensation from compressed air.

The invention provides methods of making laminated devices (especially microchannel devices) in which plates are assembled and welded together. Unlike conventional microchannel devices, the inventive laminated devices can be made without brazing or diffusion bonding; thus providing significant advantages for manufacturing. Features such as expansion joints and external welded supports are also described. Laminated devices and methods of conducting unit operations in laminated devices are also described.

A method for preventing plugging of a continuous-reaction channel-system caused by a by-product of a continuous-reaction being carried out in said channel-system comprises the step of generating at least one ultrasonic wave travelling through said channel-system by coupling in a flow direction of at least one process fluid of a plurality of process fluids said at least one ultrasonic wave into said at least one process fluid.

The disclosure concerns methods comprising forming a phenol and acetone mixture from decomposition of a cumene hydroperoxide or a phenol, acetone, and AMS from the decomposition of a mixture containing dicumyl peroxide in a system comprising one or more reactors where at least a portion of an inner surface of the one or more reactors has a polymer coating and wherein the coating inhibits build-up of a fouling precipitate on the coated inner surface of the one or more reactors as compared to such build-up in the absence of the coating.

The invention discloses a glass lined metal micro-reactor with enhanced heat transfer efficiency in continuous flow operation. More particularly, the invention discloses a glass lined micro-reactor that can be reassembled. The invention provides a novel glass lined metal micro-reactor with micro fluidic channels that provide a better mixing, better heat exchange, and better temperature control. The micro fluidic channels machined in the glass lined metal reactor/mixer may be straight, curved, lamellar, flower shaped, or spiral such that the cross sectional area of the micro fluidic channel is configured to suit the cross sectional area of the micro-reactor.

The invention provides methods of making laminated devices (especially microchannel devices) in which plates are assembled and welded together. Unlike conventional microchannel devices, the inventive laminated devices can be made without brazing or diffusion bonding; thus providing significant advantages for manufacturing. Features such as expansion joints and external welded supports are also described. Laminated devices and methods of conducting unit operations in laminated devices are also described.

This invention relates to a self cleaning reactor and to a process for the oligomerization of ethylene that employs a self-cleaning reactor. The reactor includes a mass of inert, particulate cleaning bodies that are entrained by the liquid in the reactor and scour the internal surfaces of the reactor during normal operation. This scouring action reduces the level of fouling on the reactor surfaces. Foulant material (polyethylene) is removed from the process on a continuous basis but the cleaning bodies remain within the reactor.