Parallel uses of microfluidic methods and devices for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid are described. In some aspects, the present invention relates generally to flow-focusing-type technology, and also to microfluidics, and more particularly parallel use of microfluidic systems arranged to control a dispersed phase within a dispersant, and the size, and size distribution, of a dispersed phase in a multi-phase fluid system, and systems for delivery of fluid components to multiple such devices.

A silicon carbide flow reactor fluidic module comprises a monolithic closed-porosity silicon carbide body, a tortuous fluid passage extending through the silicon carbide body, the tortuous fluid passage having an interior surface, and one or more thermal control fluid passages also extending through the silicon carbide body, the interior surface having a surface roughness of less than 10 μm Ra. A process for forming such modules is also disclosed.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a module structure for photomicro-reactors. The method of manufacturing a module structure for photomicro-reactors according to an aspect of the present invention, which is a method of manufacturing the module structure for photomicro-reactors inside which a reactant and a photocatalyst flow and photochemically react, includes mixing a polymer and a photoinitiator to prepare a photocurable resin, exposing one region of a surface of the photocurable resin to ultraviolet light to form a unit layer having a predetermined thickness, placing the photocurable resin on an upper side of the unit layer, and forming and stacking a plurality of the unit layers by repeatedly performing the forming of the unit layer and the placing of the photocurable resin to form the module structure.

The disclosed invention relates to a method for restarting a synthesis gas conversion process which has stopped. The synthesis gas conversion process may be conducted in a conventional reactor or a microchannel reactor. The synthesis gas conversion process may comprise a process for converting synthesis gas to methane, methanol or dimethyl ether. The synthesis gas conversion process may be a Fischer-Tropsch process.

Microfluidic devices having superhydrophilic bi-porous interfaces are provided, along with their methods of formation. The device can include a substrate defining a microchannel formed between a pair of side walls and a bottom surface and a plurality of nanowires extending from each of the side walls and the bottom surface. For example, the nanowires can be silicon nanowires (e.g., pure silicon, silicon oxide, silicon carbide, etc., or mixtures thereof).

A catalyst is regenerated by an inventive process using a heat exchange fluid such as superheated steam to remove heat during the process relying on efficient heat transfer (e.g., enabled by the microchannel reactor construction) in comparison with prior art heat exchange relying on a phase change, e.g. between water and (partial or complete vaporization) steam, allows simplification of the protocols to enable transition at higher temperatures between steps which translates in reduced duration of the regeneration process and avoids potential water hammering risks.

Parallel uses of microfluidic methods and devices for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid are described. In some aspects, the present invention relates generally to flow-focusing-type technology, and also to microfluidics, and more particularly parallel use of microfluidic systems arranged to control a dispersed phase within a dispersant, and the size, and size distribution, of a dispersed phase in a multi-phase fluid system, and systems for delivery of fluid components to multiple such devices.

In one embodiment, a microfluidic device has a substrate that defines a first inlet for a continuous phase fluid, a second inlet for a dispersed phase fluid, and droplet generators that can produce micro-droplets from the continuous and dispersed phase fluids. The substrate defines (i) a plurality of delivery channels in fluid communication with the first and second inlets, each delivery channel having a first dimension along a first plane that is perpendicular to a transverse direction, and (ii) a plurality of trenches that extend from the delivery channels towards the droplet generators along the transverse direction. Each trench has a second dimension along a plane that is perpendicular to the transverse direction that is smaller than the first dimension. The substrate defines a plurality of vias that extend from the trenches to the droplet generators so as to fluidly connect the delivery channels with the droplet generators.

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.

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.