FLOW DISTRIBUTOR AND REACTOR USING SUCH FLOW DISTRIBUTOR

Abstract

A cylindrical flow distributor (100) for performing, by means of solid reaction members, a biological or chemical transformation, or physical or chemical trapping from, or release of agents to, a fluidic media is provided. The flow distributor (100) comprises: a top wall (1); a bottom wall (2) comprising a central through going opening (13); and an outer wall (3) extending between the top wall (1) and the bottom wall (2). The top wall (1), the bottom wall (2) and an inner envelope surface (5) of said outer wall (3) together define a confinement (7) configured to contain solid reaction membersor a rigid body of a reaction member material. The outer wall (3) comprises a first plurality of longitudinally extending ribs (20) arranged side by side with longitudinal gaps (21) extending in the circumferential direction between two adjacent ribs (20), and a circumferentially extending first scaffold (22) encircling and being fixedly attached to a peripheral outer surface (29) of said plurality of longitudinally extending ribs (20). Further, a reactor using such flow distributor (100) is provided.

Claims

1. A cylindrical flow distributor for performing, by means of solid reaction members, a biological or chemical transformation, or physical or chemical trapping from, or release of agents to, a fluidic media, the flow distributor comprising: a top wall; a bottom wall comprising a central through going opening; an outer wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall; and an inner wall; wherein the outer wall comprises a first plurality of longitudinally extending ribs arranged side by side along a longitudinal centerline of the flow distributor with gaps extending in the circumferential direction between two adjacent ribs, and a circumferentially extending first scaffold encircling and being fixedly attached to a peripheral outer surface of said plurality of longitudinally extending ribs; wherein the inner wall comprises a second scaffold having an extension along an axial direction of the flow distributor, and a plurality of consecutive turns of a second wire being fixedly attached to an outer surface of said second scaffold, such that gaps are formed between each turn of said second wire; and wherein the top wall, the bottom wall, an inner envelope surface of the outer wall and an outer envelope surface of the inner wall facing the outer wall together define a confinement configured to contain solid reaction members or a rigid body of a reaction member material.

2. A cylindrical flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the first scaffold is a first wire spiral wound around the peripheral outer surface of said first plurality of longitudinally extending ribs.

3. A cylindrical flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the gaps extending between two adjacent ribs have a width W.sub.A as measured along the inner envelope surface of said confinement being smaller than the size of solid reaction members or the rigid body of a reaction member material to be contained in the confinement.

4. A cylindrical flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein each rib in the first plurality of ribs has a triangular or trapezoid cross section, and wherein each rib is fixedly attached to an inner surface of the first scaffold via its apex in the event of the cross section being triangular or via its shortest parallel edge in the event of the cross section being trapezoid, whereby the gaps extending between two adjacent ribs as measured along the inner envelope surface of said outer wall is smaller than the gaps extending between two adjacent ribs as measured along an outer envelope surface of said outer wall.

5. A cylindrical flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the gaps between each turn of said second wire have a width as measured in the axial direction along the outer envelope surface of said inner wall being smaller than the size of solid reaction members or the rigid body of a reaction member material to be contained in the confinement.

6. A cylindrical flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the second wire has a triangular or trapezoid cross section, and wherein the second wire is fixedly attached to the outer surface of the second scaffold via its apex in the event of the cross section being triangular or via its shortest parallel edge in the event of the cross section being trapezoid, whereby the gaps extending between two adjacent turns of the second wire as measured along the outer envelope surface of said inner wall facing the outer wall is smaller than gaps extending between two adjacent turns of the second wire as measured along an inner envelope surface of said inner wall.

7. A cylindrical flow distributor according to claim 4, wherein the second scaffold comprises a second plurality of axially extending ribs.

8. A reactor for performing, by means of solid reaction members, a biological or chemical transformation, or physical or chemical trapping from, or release of agents to, a fluidic media, said reactor comprising a vessel in which a cylindrical flow distributor has been mounted, said cylindrical flow distributor comprising: a top wall; a bottom wall comprising a central through going opening; an outer wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall; an inner wall; and a means for rotating the cylindrical flow distributor; wherein the outer wall comprises a first plurality of longitudinally extending ribs arranged side by side along a longitudinal centerline CL of the flow distributor with gaps extending in the circumferential direction between two adjacent ribs, and a circumferentially extending first scaffold encircling and being fixedly attached to a peripheral outer surface of said plurality of longitudinally extending ribs, wherein the inner wall comprises a second scaffold having an extension along an axial direction of the flow distributor, and a plurality of consecutive turns of a second wire being fixedly attached to an outer surface of said second scaffold, such that axially extending gaps are formed between each turn of said second wire; and wherein the top wall, the bottom wall, an inner envelope surface of the outer wall and an outer envelope surface of the inner wall facing the outer wall together define a confinement configured to contain solid reaction members or a rigid body of a reaction member material.

9. Use of a reactor according to claim 8 for performing by means of solid reaction members, a biological or chemical transformation, or physical or chemical trapping from, or release of agents to, a fluidic media.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ENCLOSED FIGURES

[0040] The present invention will be further disclosed with reference to the enclosed figures, in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 discloses a perspective view from above of one embodiment of a cylindrical flow distributor.

[0042] FIG. 2 discloses a perspective view from below of one embodiment of a cylindrical flow distributor.

[0043] FIG. 3 discloses highly schematically a cross section of the cylindrical flow distributor as seen along the longitudinal centerline.

[0044] FIG. 4 discloses highly schematically a cross section of the confinement of the cylindrical flow distributor as seen transverse its longitudinal centerline.

[0045] FIGS. 5A and 45B discloses highly schematically a longitudinal and a transversal cross section of the outer wall.

[0046] FIGS. 6A and 6B discloses highly schematically a longitudinal and a transversal cross section of the inner wall.

[0047] FIG. 7 discloses highly schematically one embodiment of a reactor.

[0048] FIG. 8 is a graph disclosing a comparison between a flow distributor according to the present invention and a flow distributor according to prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0049] In the following one embodiment of the present invention will be discussed starting with the overall design of the cylindrical flow distributor.

[0050] Starting with FIGS. 1-4 two perspective views, a transverse cross sectional view and a longitudinal cross sectional view of one embodiment of the flow distributor 100 are disclosed. To facilitate the disclosure, the inner and outer walls are partly schematically illustrated as solid surfaces in these views.

[0051] The cylindrical flow distributor 100 comprises a top wall 1, a bottom wall 2, an outer wall 3 and an inner wall 4. The outer wall 3 extends between the top wall 1 and the bottom wall 2 and comprises an inner envelope surface 5 facing the longitudinal center line CL of the flow distributor 100. The inner wall 4 extends between the top wall 1 and the bottom wall 2 and comprises an outer envelope surface 6 facing the outer wall 3. The top wall 1, the bottom wall 2, the inner envelope surface 5 of the outer wall 3, and the outer envelope surface 6 of the inner wall 4 do together define a confinement 7 configured to contain solid reaction members (not disclosed) or a rigid body of a reaction member material (monolithic).

[0052] Although the flow distributor 100 in the following will be described and illustrated with the inner wall 4, it is to be understood that the flow distributor 100 with remained function may be provided without the inner wall 4, whereby the confinement 7 instead will be defined by the top wall 1, the bottom wall 2 and the inner envelope surface 5 of the outer wall 3 only.

[0053] As is best seen in FIG. 4, the top wall 1 forming a lid is removable attached by a plurality of screws 8 to a radially extending flange 9 that projects from the inner wall 4. It is to be understood that the flange 9 with remained function may extend from the outer wall 3. It is to be understood that the top wall 1 may be mounted in numerous ways of less relevance to the invention.

[0054] The top wall 1 supports a shaft 10. The shaft 10 is configured to be connected to a means, such as a motor, for rotating the flow distributor 100. It is to be understood that other positions of the shaft are possible with remained function.

[0055] In the disclosed embodiment, the top wall 1 comprises a central through going opening 12. This opening may be omitted with remained function.

[0056] As is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the bottom wall 2 has a central through-going opening 13 which is arranged in the vicinity of the center of the bottom wall 2. The cross sectional area of the opening 13 is substantially smaller than the cross sectional area of the bottom wall 2.

[0057] As is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the confinement 7 contains a plurality of radially extending partition walls 14. The partition walls 14 are attached to the radially extending flange 9. It is to be understood that the partition walls 14 may be arranged or supported in other ways, e.g. by the inner wall 4 or by the outer wall 3. The partition walls 14 may be arranged as a removable insert. The partition walls 14 may be useful to restrict movement of the solid reaction members or one or more rigid bodies of a reaction member material (monolithic) inside the cylindrical flow distributor 100 during use thereof. Thereby, the life length of the reaction members (not disclosed) may be increased and also cleaning of the cylindrical flow distributer 100 may be facilitated. The partition walls 14 may further be arranged to hold fluid permeable cartridges (not disclosed) filled with solid reaction members in place.

[0058] Now turning to FIGS. 1, 5A and 5B, the outer wall 3 will be discussed. FIG. 5A discloses highly schematically a cross section of the outer wall 3 as seen along the longitudinal centerline CL. FIG. 5B discloses highly schematically a portion of a cross section of the outer wall 3 transverse the longitudinal centerline CL.

[0059] The outer wall 3 comprises a first plurality of longitudinally extending ribs 20 arranged side by side along a longitudinal centerline CL of the flow distributor with gaps 21 extending in the circumferential direction between two adjacent ribs 20. The gaps 21 have a width W.sub.A between two adjacent ribs 20 as measured along the inner envelope surface 5 of the confinement 7. The longitudinal gaps 21 are thus distributed in the circumferential direction.

[0060] A circumferentially extending first scaffold 22 to be discussed below encircles the ribs 20.

[0061] In the disclosed embodiment, each rib 20 has a trapezoid cross section. Each rib 20 is fixedly attached to an inner surface 23 of the first scaffold 22 via its shortest parallel edge 24. Thereby the width W.sub.A of the gaps 21 extending between two adjacent ribs 20 as measured along the inner envelope surface 5 of said confinement 7 is smaller than the width W.sub.a of the gaps 27 extending between two adjacent ribs 20 as measured along an outer envelope surface 28 of said outer wall 3. Said outer envelope surface 28 is defined by the inner surface 23 of the first scaffold 22.

[0062] The gaps 21 extending between two adjacent ribs 20 may have a width W.sub.A as measured along the inner envelope surface 5 of said confinement 7 being smaller than the size of solid reaction members or a rigid body of a reaction member material (monolithic) to be contained in the confinement 7. The gaps 21 extending between two adjacent ribs 20 may have a width of 10-1000 μm, and more preferred 20-800 μm and even more preferred 20-500 μm as measured along the inner envelope surface 5 of said confinement 7. The width W.sub.A should be small enough to prevent solid reaction members or a rigid body of a reaction member material (monolithic) configured to be contained in the confinement 7 from being released there through. Still, the width must be large enough from not unduly restricting a fluid flow there through. It is to be understood that the ribs 20 may have other cross sections with remained function. By way of example, the cross section may be triangular. In that event, each rib 20 is fixedly attached to the inner surface 23 of the first scaffold 22 via its apex.

[0063] Accordingly, the inner envelope surface 5 of the confinement 7 will be formed by the bases of the plurality of ribs 20 in the event the rib's cross sections being triangular and by the long parallel edges 25 in the event the rib's cross sections being trapezoid. No matter cross section, the inner envelope surface 5 of the outer wall 3 will be substantially cylindrical. Since the ribs 20 are typically made from an extruded, cut wire, the skilled person will understand that production tolerances may hinder the edge portions no matter cross section from being completely straight.

[0064] The circumferentially extending first scaffold 22 encircles the ribs 20 and is fixedly attached to a peripheral outer surface 29 of said ribs 20. The purpose of the first scaffold 22 is to fixate the ribs 20 to provide a robust outer wall 3 structure to the flow distributor 100. The fixation is preferably made by welding. It is to be understood that other ways of fixation are possible, e.g. by using and adhesive or even brazing.

[0065] In the disclosed embodiment, the first scaffold 22 is formed by a first wire 26 that is spiral wound around the peripheral outer surface 29 of the ribs 20. It is preferred that the pitch P of the spiral is adapted so that there is at least three contact points, each forming a fixation point between each rib 20 and the first scaffold 22. However, the pitch P of the spiral wound first wire 26 should be adapted so that it does not unduly interfere with the radial fluid flow through the gaps 21 to be established during use of the flow distributor 100. The skilled person will understand that the pitch P should be adapted to the diameter and also the height of the cylindrical flow distributor 100.

[0066] In the disclosed embodiment the first wire 26 is disclosed as having a trapezoid cross section. It is to be understood that other cross sections are possible with remained function.

[0067] Now turning to FIGS. 1, 6A and 6B, the inner wall 4 will be discussed. FIG. 6A discloses highly schematically a cross section of the inner wall 4 as seen along the longitudinal centerline CL. FIG. 6B discloses highly schematically a portion of a cross section of the inner wall 4 transverse the longitudinal centerline CL.

[0068] The inner wall 4 comprises a second scaffold 30 having an extension along the axial direction of the flow distributor 100, i.e. along the longitudinal centerline CL.

[0069] The inner wall 4 comprises a plurality of consecutive turns of a second wire 31 being fixedly attached to an outer surface 32 of said second scaffold 30, such that axially extending gaps 33 are formed between each turn of the second wire 31.

[0070] The second wire 31 has in the disclosed embodiment a trapezoid cross section. The wire 31 is fixedly attached to the outer surface 32 of the second scaffold 30 via its shortest parallel edge, whereby the gaps 33 extending between two adjacent turns of the second wire 31 as measured along the outer envelope surface 6 of said inner wall 4 facing the outer wall 3 have a width W.sub.B that is smaller than the width W.sub.b of gaps 35 extending between two adjacent turns of the second wire 31 as measured along an inner envelope surface 36 of said inner wall 4.

[0071] The axially gaps 33 between each turn of said second wire 31 may have a width W.sub.B as measured in the axial direction along the outer envelope surface 6 of said inner wall 4 being smaller than the size of solid reaction members or a rigid body of a reaction member material (monolithic) to be contained in the confinement. The gaps 33 between each turn of said second wire 31 may have a width W.sub.B of 10-1000 μm and more preferred 20-800 μm and even more preferred 20-500 μm as measured in the axial direction along the outer envelope surface 6 of said inner wall 4. The width W.sub.B should be small enough to prevent solid reaction members or a rigid body of a reaction member material (monolithic) configured to be contained in the confinement from being released there through. Still, the width W.sub.B must be large enough from unduly restricting a fluid flow there through.

[0072] The second scaffold 30 comprises a second plurality of axially extending ribs 34. The second scaffold 30 is configured to fixate the second wire 31 to provide a robust inner wall 4 structure to the flow distributor 100. The plurality of ribs 34 may be arranged side by side with circumferentially distributed gaps 37 between two adjacent ribs 34. The number of ribs 34 should be adapted so that they do not unduly interfere with the radial fluid flow to take place through the gaps 33 along the along the outer envelope surface 6 of said inner wall 4. In the disclosed embodiment, the ribs 34 are disclosed as having a quadrangular cross section. It is to be understood that other cross sections are possible, such as a triangular or trapezoid cross section.

[0073] The attachment between the ribs 34 of the second scaffold 30 and the second wire 31 is preferably made by welding. It is to be understood that also other methods may be used, such as adhesive bonding or even brazing.

[0074] It is to be understood that the second wire 31 may have other cross sections with remained function. By way of example, the cross section may be triangular. In that event, the wire 31 is fixedly attached to the second scaffold 30 via its apex.

[0075] Accordingly, the inner envelope surface 6 of the inner wall 4, i.e. the envelope surface facing the outer wall 3 will be formed by the long parallel edge of the wire 31 in the event the second wire 31 having a trapezoid cross section and by the base of the wire 31 in the event the second wire 31 having a triangular cross section. No matter cross section, the inner envelope surface 6 of the inner wall 4 will be cylindrical. Since the second wire 31 typically is made from an extruded wire, the skilled person will understand that production tolerances may hinder the edge portions no matter cross section from being completely straight.

[0076] Reference is now made to FIG. 7 a reactor 1000 for performing, by means of reaction members, a biological or chemical transformation, or physical or chemical trapping from, or release of agents to, a fluidic media is schematically disclosed. The reactor 1000 comprises a vessel 200 in which a cylindrical flow distributor 100 has been mounted. The flow distributor 100 has the very same design as that previously disclosed, whereby like reference numbers are used for like features. To facilitate the disclosure, the ribs forming part of the outer wall 3 and the gaps between the ribs have been omitted. Also the partition wall has been omitted.

[0077] In the disclosed embodiment, the vessel 200 comprises a bottom wall 201 and a circumferentially extending side wall 202. It is to be understood that the vessel 200 by way of example also may be provided with non-disclosed features such as a lid and one or more valves. Further, vessel 200 may be provided with non-disclosed means for enhancing the fluidic shear stress in any of two rotary directions. The means for enhancing the fluidic shear stress may either be formed as a removable insert or be integral with the inner wall 4 of the vessel.

[0078] The flow distributor 100 is arranged to be operated by an electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically driven motor 11 which is connected to the shaft 10 of the flow distributor 100.

[0079] In the following the operation of the flow distributor 100 will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 7, 5A, 5B and 6A, 6B. The fluid flow to be described below is illustrated with arrows. As given above, the flow distributor 100 comprises a confinement 7 which is defined by the top wall 1, the bottom wall 2, the outer wall 3 and the optional inner wall 4. Before use of the flow distributor 100, the confinement 7 is loaded with loosely arranged solid reaction members (not disclosed), or one or more rigid bodies of a reaction member material (monolithic) or one or more cartridges (not disclosed) holding such reaction members. The thus loaded flow distributor 100 is immersed in a fluid F contained in the vessel 200 and connected to the motor 11 via its shaft 10. The motor 11 is activated whereby the flow distributor 100 is subjected to a high-speed rotation around its own longitudinal centerline CL. As a result of the rotation, a vortex is generated in the bottom of the vessel 200 which causes the fluid F to be sucked into the confinement 7 via the central through going opening 13 in the bottom wall 2 and then forced in the radial direction by a centrifugal action, past the solid reaction members, before leaving the confinement 7 via the gaps 21 that are formed between the first plurality of longitudinally extending ribs 20 in the outer wall 3. The width W.sub.A of the gaps 21 is adapted to the size of the solid reaction members to prevent the members from escaping there through. In the event the flow distributor 100 also comprises an inner wall 4, the fluid will pass the gaps 35; 33 between the turns of the second wire 31 making up the inner wall 4 on its way into the confinement 7.

[0080] The rotation is maintained until the reaction has reached a target level. Then the rotation is stopped and the flow distributor 100 is removed from the vessel 200. The top wall 1 is removed and the reaction members are removed. Further, the flow distributor 100 is cleaned. The cleaning may be made by arranging the flow distributor in a vessel 200 comprising one or more nozzles configured to direct a cleaning fluid towards the exterior walls of the flow distributor while rotating the same. Alternatively, or supplementary, the cleaning may be made by using a brush.

[0081] Now turning to FIG. 8 a comparison between the use of a flow distributor according to the invention and a prior art flow distributor comprising a confinement defined by finely meshed walls is disclosed. The dimensions of the two flow distributors are in all other aspects the same. As can be seen in the diagram, the efficiency, measured as normalized absorption, is about 30% better than the prior art tested flow distributor. The provision of longitudinally extending gaps 21; 33; 35 is considered to present a reduced flow resistance for the fluidic flow during high speed rotation as compared to a fine mesh structure in which the boundaries of each hole in the mesh presents a flow restriction.

[0082] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

[0083] As given above, in its easiest form, the flow distributor 100 may be arranged without the inner wall 4. In such embodiment, the confinement 7 will instead be defined by the top wall 1, the bottom wall 2 and the inner envelope surface 5 of the outer wall 3. In such embodiment, it is preferred that the solid reaction members are provided in cartridges to be received in the confinement 7 to thereby prevent them from accidentally falling out.

[0084] The first scaffold 22 has been described as a first wire 26 that is spiral wound around the peripheral outer surface 29 of said first plurality of longitudinally extending ribs 20. The wire 26 may by way of example be replaced by two or more rings encircling the ribs and which rings are distributed along the axial extension of the flow distributor.

[0085] Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the figures, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.