A system is described that is capable of operating as an energy conversion system that functions as a fuel cell and generates electrical current from a fuel or fuels, or as a reactor for conversion of starter materials into more complex molecules through ion-ion and ion-molecules and which may preferably be adapted to operate as a gas to liquid (GTL) process. The system ionises at least one fuel or starter material and manipulates, selects and transports ions for reaction by means of suitable electrostatic or electrodynamic ion guides, filters or drift tubes. The system of the present application replaces the electrolyte, catalyst and/or membrane found in classic fuel cells or GTL processes with an electrostatic or electrodynamic ion manipulation region such as an ion guide, analyser, drift tube or filter.

A continuous acoustic chemical microreactor system is disclosed. The system includes a continuous process vessel (CPV) and an acoustic agitator coupled to the CPV and configured to agitate the CPV along an oscillation axis. The CPV includes a reactant inlet configured to receive one or more reactants into the CPV, an elongated tube coupled at a first end to the reactant inlet and configured to receive the reactants from the reactant inlet, and a product outlet coupled to a second end of the elongated tube and configured to discharge a product of a chemical reaction among the reactants from the CPV. The acoustic agitator is configured to agitate the CPV along the oscillation axis such that the inner surface of the elongated tube accelerates the one or more reactants in alternating upward and downward directions along the oscillation axis.

Reactors are provided that can include a first set of fluid channels and a second set of fluid channels oriented in thermal contact with the first set of fluid channels. The reactor assemblies can also provide where the channels of either one or both of the first of the set of fluid channels are non-linear. Other implementations provide for at least one of the first set of fluid channels being in thermal contact with a plurality of other channels of the second set of fluid channels. Reactor assemblies are also provided that can include a first set of fluid channels defining at least one non-linear channel having a positive function, and a second set of fluid channels defining at least another non-linear channel having a negative function in relation to the positive function of the one non-linear channel of the first set of fluid channels. Processes for distributing energy across a reactor are provided. The processes can include transporting reactants via a first set of fluid channels to a second set of fluid channels, and thermally engaging at least one of the first set of fluid channels with at least two of the second set of fluid channels.

A forced thin film-type flow reactor is provided with a clearance adjustment mechanism that allows the clearance to be set and adjusted by an alternative means. The flow reactor processes a fluid to be processed by passing the fluid to be processed between a first processing surface and a second processing surface capable of moving towards and away from each other, and the flow reactor comprises a pressure balancing mechanism and a mechanical clearance mechanism. The pressure balancing mechanism forms a minute first clearance by providing pressure balance between the pressure applied by the fluid to be processed, which acts in the direction in which the first processing surface and the second processing surface move away from each other, and a force produced by a back pressure mechanism, which acts in the direction in which the first processing surface and the second processing surface move towards each other.

The invention providing methods of loading and unloading particulate from micorchannels in apparatus that contains multiple microchannels, typically apparatus that is designed to operate with hundreds or thousands of particulate-containing microchannels. Aligning a sonicating head at one end of a set of microchannels provides a particularly effective mode for densifying particulate in microchannels.

A microreactor system includes: a microreactor that has two inflow ports into which fluids are introduced and a flow path configured to merge the fluids, and that is configured to mix a first fluid introduced from one of the inflow ports and a second fluid introduced from the other of the inflow ports in the flow path; a first container in which the first fluid is prepared; a second container in which the second fluid is prepared; a first pump configured to feed the first fluid toward the inflow port; a second pump configured to feed the second fluid toward the inflow port; first and second measurement units configured to measure amounts of the first fluid and the second fluid, respectively; and switching units configured to switch at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid to be fed to the microreactor.

Spent catalyst (500) is removed from process microchannels (310) of a Fischer-Tropsch reactor by directing a jet of air (4) from an air knife (1) through slots of a protecting member (2). The air knife is traversed across successive rows of process microchannels (310) in direction A. The spacer member (2) protects an internal microchannel architecture (315) of the process microchannels against damage by the air jet (4) which may approach or exceed sonic velocity as it is directed into the process microchannels.

The present invention relates to a microfluidic reactor for controlling a chemical reaction and a chemical reaction control method using the same, and more specifically provides a microfluidic reactor capable of controlling a chemical reaction on an expanded scale and a microfluidic reaction device including the same. In addition, the present invention provides an ultrafast synthesis method for controlling unstable intermediates using the microfluidic reactor and microfluidic reaction device.

The present invention concerns the field of microreaction devices and of micro-process engineering. It particularly involves devices having micro-channels (internal chambers of micrometric to submicrometric dimensions) for conveying chemical or biochemical mixtures and/or reactions. More specifically, such devices are optimized to achieve high temperature and pressure stresses (i.e. 500° C. and 500 bar). For observation and analysis purposes, the microreaction devices have a wide range of transparency in terms of wavelengths. The subject matter of the present invention relates to a microfluid or microreactor device made of transparent sapphire, preferably in the wavelength range of 150 to 6500 nm, its manufacturing method and to its use.

Disclosed herein are methods for preparing nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles. The methods can involve jet-mixing two or more precursor solutions to form the nanomaterials. By rapidly mixing the precursor solutions, nanomaterials of improved quality and uniformity can be prepared in high yield (e.g., in yields of at least 85%). The methods are also scalable, and allow for the continuous production of nanomaterials. Also provided are jet-mixing reactors that can be used to prepare nanomaterials using the methods described herein.