Disclosed microscale reactors comprise lamina for carrying out multi-phase reactions for making desired chemical products, such as biohydrogenated diesel (BHD). Microreactor embodiments include a bottom clamp plate, a top clamp plate, and at least one catalyst plate positioned between and operatively associated with the bottom clamp plate and the top clamp plate. Catalyst plates include a catalyst associated for catalyzing the production of product from feedstock. To address the problems encountered when using microchannel reactors, the microscale-based reactors may include a mixer plate assembly and/or at least one catalyst lamina comprising an array of microscale posts. Disclosed microreactor systems for producing BHD include a feedstock source, a hydrogen source and an inert gas source each fluidly coupled to respective microreactor inlets. Certain method embodiments include operating a microreactor or a microreactor system to produce BHD from a suitable feedstock selected from animal fats, vegetable oils, or combinations thereof.

A reactor system for high throughput applications includes a plurality of reactor assemblies, each reactor assembly including: a fluid source, which fluid source is adapted to provide a pressurized fluid to the flow-through reactors, a flow splitter which flow splitter includes a planar microfluidic chip, which microfluidic chip has a chip inlet channel and a plurality of chip outlet channels, which microfluidic chip further includes a plurality of flow restrictor channels, where each flow restrictor channel extends from said chip inlet channel to an associated chip outlet channel, where the chip inlet channel and the chip outlet channels each have a diameter, where the diameter of the chip inlet channel is the same or less than the length of said chip inlet channel and where the diameter of each chip outlet channel is the same or less than the length of said chip outlet channel.

A plate-type flow reactor device with a first plate (20) having first and second opposing surfaces (22, 24) and one or more through-holes (26); a second plate sealed against the first surface (22) by at least two first O-rings (50); a third plate (40) sealed against the second surface (24) by at least one second O-ring (60); two or more first elongated channels (70) defined between the first surface (22) and the second plate and one or more second elongated channels (80) defined between the second surface (24) and the third plate, wherein each first channel communicates with the at least one second channel (80) via one or more of the through-holes (26) through the first plate (20), and said one first channel (70a) communicates with another first channel (70b) of the two or more first channels (70) only via said at least one second channel (80), and each first channel (70) is individually surrounded by at least one of the first O-rings (50) and the at least one second is individually surrounded by the at least one second O-ring (60).

The invention relates to a flow element for transferring fluids comprising a capillary cartridge (1) having an integrated capillary line (3). The capillary cartridge according to the invention (1) has a ring-shaped channel (8) and securing grooves (6, 6), wherein the flow element is characterized in that the capillary line (3) is arranged in the ring-shaped channel (8). The ends of the capillary lines (3) are connected to connection elements (9) in which securing grooves (6, 6) are secured in a positive locking manner. The flow elements according to the invention contribute toward improved manageability and effectiveness of components. In a preferred embodiment, the flow elements are used as a distribution system in the form of a plurality of capillary cartridges (1-1, 1-2, . . . ). Such distribution systems are of technical importance in the field of catalyst testing apparatuses with reactors arranged in parallel.

A micro-reactor system assembly comprises a stack of at least n process modules (1-6), wherein n is an integer equal to or greater than 1, made from a rigid first material and comprising at least one reactive fluid passage (1A, 1B, 2A, 3A, 6A) for accommodating and guiding a reactive fluid, and at least n+1 heat exchange modules (7, 8) made from a ductile second material other than said first material and comprising at least one heat exchange fluid passage (7A, 8A) for accommodating and guiding a heat exchange fluid, wherein each process module (1-6) is sandwiched between two adjacent heat exchange modules (7, 8).

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 an apparatus, comprising: a plurality of plates in a stack defining at least one process layer and at least one heat exchange layer, each plate having a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge of each plate being welded to the peripheral edge of the next adjacent plate to provide a perimeter seal for the stack, the ratio of the average surface area of each of the adjacent plates to the average penetration of the weld between the adjacent plates being at least about 100 cm.sup.2/mm. The stack may be used as the core assembly for a microchannel processor. The microchannel processor may be used for conducting one or more unit operations, including chemical reactions such as SMR reactions.

A flow passage structure is provided with a fluid flow passage that includes a plurality of straight flow passages, a first return bend that connects the downstream end of the straight flow passage through which a fluid flows from a second end surface toward a first end surface among the plurality of straight flow passages to the upstream end of the straight flow passage which is disposed at the downstream side of the straight flow passage and is adjacent to the straight flow passage, and a second return bend that connects the downstream end of the straight flow passage through which the fluid flows from the first end surface toward the second end surface among the plurality of straight flow passages to the upstream end of the straight flow passage which is disposed at the downstream side of the straight flow passage and is adjacent to the straight flow passage.

A plurality of microfluidic chips are prepared in which a main chip having a minute space into which a liquid is introduced is held in a guide. These microfluidic chips are connected in a row, and the minute spaces provided in two adjacent main chips are connected by a joint chip. The joint chip is held half each by the respective guides so as to straddle the two adjacent main chips to form a portion of a flow channel including the minute spaces provided in the two main chips. The minute spaces included in the two adjacent main chips and a communication flow path built into the joint chip are connected by a main communication hole of the main chip and a joint communication hole of the joint chip to form a flow channel.