Provided is a fluid flow device having high freedom of choosing means for detecting flow errors. The fluid flow device includes a channel forming body. The channel forming body forms a plurality of fluid channels, a plurality of detection spaces corresponding to the fluid channels, respectively, and a plurality of communication channels providing respective communications between the fluid channels and the detection spaces corresponding thereto, respectively. Each of the detection spaces contains a detection fluid and a detection gas aligned in a longitudinal direction thereof, and an interface is formed therebetween. The detection gas is contained in the detection space so as to allow the position of the interface to be changed with the pressure change of a processing object fluid that flows through the fluid channels.

The present invention provides microfabricated substrates and methods of conducting reactions within these substrates. The reactions occur in plugs transported in the flow of a carrier-fluid.

A fluid flow controller for introducing fluids into a microfluidic device is provided. The fluid flow controller comprising, at least one high resistance fluid pathway provided between an inlet port and a connection port; at least one low resistance fluid pathway between the inlet and connection port; and at least one valve configured to enable fluid flow through the high resistance fluid pathway, the low resistance fluid pathway or both.

A planar flow reactor includes a straight planar process channel, a flow generator, and a plurality of static mixing elements disposed within the process channel. The flow generator is configured to generate a pulsatile flow within the process channel, and the static mixing elements are configured to locally split and recombine the flow. The straight planar process channel enables the generation of a flow pattern that is largely independent of the width of the process channel, meaning that the throughput may be increased by increasing the width without significantly affecting the residence time distribution or the flow behavior. Furthermore, by creating a pulsatile flow within the process channel, turbulence and/or chaotic fluid flows may be generated even at low net flow rates, i.e. low net Reynolds numbers.

Conversion of heavy fossil hydrocarbons (HFH) to a variety of value-added chemicals and/or fuels can be enhanced using microwave (MW) and/or radio-frequency (RE) energy. Variations of reactants, process parameters, and reactor design can significantly influence the relative distribution of chemicals and fuels generated as the product. In one example, a system for flash microwave conversion of HFH includes a source concentrating microwave or RF energy in a reaction zone having a pressure greater than 0.9 atm, a continuous feed having HFH and a process gas passing through the reaction zone, a HFH-to-liquids catalyst contacting the HFH in at least the reaction zone, and dielectric discharges within the reaction zone. The HFH and the catalyst have a residence time in the reaction zone of less than 30 seconds. In some instances, a plasma can form in or near the reaction zone.

The invention relates to a continuous flow reactor having a wall which delimits a channel, wherein at least one sub-area is arranged in the channel that has microstructuring which includes individual structures, the diameter of which on a base is between about 10 μm to about 100 μm. The invention further relates to methods for reacting a gaseous or liquid educt under the action of a catalyst.

The present invention generally relates to microfluidics, and, in particular, to systems and methods for coalescing or fusing droplets. In certain aspects, two or more droplets within a microfluidic channel are brought together and caused to coalesce without using electric fields or charges. For example, in certain embodiments, droplets stabilized with a surfactant may be disrupted, e.g., by exposing the droplets to a solvent able to alter the surfactant, which may partially destabilize the droplets and allow them to coalesce. In some instances, the droplets may also be physically disrupted to facilitate coalesce. In addition, in some cases, the positions of one or more droplets may be controlled within a channel using a groove in a wall of the channel. For example, a droplet may at least partially enter the groove such that the position of the droplet is at least partially controlled by the groove.

Large bioreactors based on microfluidic technology, and methods of manufacturing the same, are provided, The big microbioreactor can include a chip or substrate having the microfluidic channels thereon, and the chip can be manufactured by forming a master mold, forming a male mold from a photopolymer plate using replica molding with the Fmold, and transferring features of the male to a polymer material.

The invention generally relates to assemblies for displacing droplets from a vessel that facilitate the collection and transfer of the droplets while minimizing sample loss. In certain aspects, the assembly includes at least one droplet formation module, in which the module is configured to form droplets surrounded by an immiscible fluid. The assembly also includes at least one chamber including an outlet, in which the chamber is configured to receive droplets and an immiscible fluid, and in which the outlet is configured to receive substantially only droplets. The assembly further includes a channel, configured such that the droplet formation module and the chamber are in fluid communication with each other via the channel. In other aspects, the assembly includes a plurality of hollow members, in which the hollow members are channels and in which the members are configured to interact with a vessel. The plurality of hollow members includes a first member configured to expel a fluid immiscible with droplets in the vessel and a second member configured to substantially only droplets from the vessel. The assembly also includes a main channel, in which the second member is in fluid communication with the main channel. The assembly also includes at least one analysis module connected to the main channel.

A flow reactor system and methods having tubing useful as polymerization chamber. The flow reactor has at least one inlet and at least one mixing chamber, and an outlet. The method includes providing two phases, an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase and forming an emulsion for introduction into the flow reactor.