REACTOR SYSTEM FOR CONTINUOUS FLOW REACTIONS

Abstract

The invention relates to a reactor system for continuous flow reactions that comprises at least two blocks (1, 2), two interlayers (8, 9) and a contact pressure device, and at least one inlet (10) and one outlet (11), wherein the first block (1), the interlayers (8, 9) and the second block (2) form a stacked arrangement fixed by the contact pressure device and, in the reactor system, at least one interlayer comprises a sealing layer (8) and one interlayer comprises channel structure element (9) comprising a reaction channel, wherein the inlet (10) is functionally connected to the inlet side of the reaction channel and the outlet (11) to the outlet side of the reaction channel, and the stacked arrangement is detachable.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A reactor system for continuous flow reactions that comprises at least two blocks, two interlayers and a contact pressure device, and at least one inlet and one outlet, wherein the first block, the interlayers and the second block form a stacked arrangement fixed by the contact pressure device and, in the reactor system, at least one interlayer comprises a sealing layer and one interlayer comprises channel structure element comprising a reaction channel, wherein the reaction channel of the channel structure element takes a meandering course and the diameter of the reaction channel is in the range of 50-2500 m and the depth of the reaction channel in the range of 10-1500 m, and wherein the inlet is functionally connected to the inlet side of the reaction channel and the outlet to the outlet side of the reaction channel, and the stacked arrangement is detachable.

17. The reactor system for continuous flow reactions according to claim 16, wherein a catalyst foil is disposed between the sealing layer and the channel structure element.

18. The reactor system for continuous flow reactions according to claim 16, wherein one of the blocks, on the contact side with the opposing block, has an elevation or the shape of a die with a flat end face and one of the blocks, on the contact side with the opposing block, has a depression with a flat base and, in the presence of the stacked arrangement, the elevation or die is positioned in the depression and the interlayers are disposed in the region between the end face of the die and the base of the depression.

19. The reactor system for continuous flow reactions according to claim 16, wherein the interlayers have a diameter in the range of 0.5-200 cm.

20. The reactor system for continuous flow reactions according to claim 16, wherein at least one interlayer that comprises a channel structure element forms an integral constituent of the contact surface of one of the blocks, or the respective interlayer that takes the form of a channel structure element form integral constituents of the contact sides of the respective blocks.

21. The reactor system for continuous flow reactions according to claim 16, wherein each reaction channel of a channel structure element has at least two inlets.

22. The reactor system for continuous flow reactions according to claim 16, wherein each reaction channel of a channel structure element has at least three inlets.

23. The reactor system for continuous flow reactions according to claim 16, wherein at least one sealing layer has a thickness in the range of 0.1-10 mm.

24. The reactor system for continuous flow reactions according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the interlayers comprises a compressible, viscoelastic or plastic material, the compressible, viscoelastic or plastic material.

25. The reactor system for continuous flow reactions according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the interlayers comprises a compressible, viscoelastic or plastic material, the compressible, viscoelastic or plastic material selected from the group consisting of Teflon, Polyoxymethylene (POM), and inorganic materials.

26. The reactor system for continuous flow reactions according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the interlayers comprises a compressible, viscoelastic or plastic material, the compressible, viscoelastic or plastic material selected from the group consisting of Teflon, polyoxymethylene (POM), and inorganic materials selected from the group consisting of a carbonaceous material and a metal-containing material.

27. The reactor system for continuous flow reactions according to claim 16, wherein the blocks comprise a metallic material selected from the group of copper, brass, aluminum, iron, iron-containing steel, stainless steel, nickel-chromium stainless steel, high-alloy corrosion-resistant stainless steels.

28. The reactor system for continuous flow reactions according to claim 16, wherein the reaction channel of the channel structure element has been filled with catalyst or is in coated form.

29. The reactor system for continuous flow reactions according to claim 16, integrated into an apparatus for performance of catalytic test reactions, wherein the apparatus comprises a reactant feed for supply of liquids and/or gases, including carrier fluid in the form of liquids and gases, the reactant feed comprises elements from the group of mass flow controller, high-pressure pump, gas saturator, the apparatus further comprising means of analysis of the product streams, and the apparatus further having been equipped with a control and/or monitoring device.

30. A method of performing catalytic reactions by means of a reactor system according to claim 16, wherein the method is performed with supply of liquid and/or gaseous reactants in the presence of a solid-state catalyst disposed in channel structure element or the microscale channel structure element; in an alternative execution of the method, the method is performed with supply of liquid reactants and/or carrier fluid comprising a homogeneous catalyst in dissolved form.

31. A method of performing catalytic reactions by means of a reactor system according to claim 16, wherein the method is performed with supply of liquid and/or gaseous reactants in the presence of a solid-state catalyst disposed in channel structure element or the microscale channel structure element, the solid-state catalyst further being disposed in the form of a film between the sealing element and the channel structure element or the microscale channel structure elements; in an alternative execution of the method, the method is performed with supply of liquid reactants and/or carrier fluid comprising a homogeneous catalyst in dissolved form.

32. The method of performing catalytic reactions by means of a reactor system according to claim 30, wherein the reactor system is stored at a temperature in the range of 20-200 C.

33. The method of analyzing catalysts according to claim 30, wherein the method is performed at a pressure in the range of 0.05-300 barg.

34. The method of analyzing catalysts according to claim 30, wherein the method is performed at a pressure in the form of a high-pressure method at a pressure in the range of 10-300 bar.

35. The method of analyzing catalysts according to claim 30, wherein the method is performed at a flow rate in the range of 0.05-100 mL/min.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0064] FIG. 1 shows the schematic diagram of a reaction system in cross section. The two blocks (1, 2) are not connected and the reaction system is in the open state, with the channel structure element (9) integrated into the connecting surface (5) of the first block (1).

[0065] FIG. 2.a shows the schematic diagram of the reaction system shown in FIG. 1, with the channel structure element (9) integrated into the connecting surface (4) of the second block (2).

[0066] FIG. 2.b shows a schematic diagram of a reaction system in which both the connecting surface (5) of the first block is equipped with a channel structure element (9) and the connecting surface (4) of the second block (2) is equipped with a channel structure element (9). The figure does not show the passages in the sealing element (8).

[0067] FIG. 2.c shows a schematic diagram of a reaction system in which the channel structure element (9) is in separate form and hence is not integrated into the connecting surfaces of the blocks (1, 2). The channel structure element (9) is surrounded by the sealing elements (8) and (8). The channel structure element (9) is in the form of a stacked element which is formed from two different channel structure elements (9), with the superposed elements having offset channels.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a reaction system in which, in the stacked arrangement, a catalyst film (15) is disposed between the channel structure element (9) and the sealing element (8). The catalyst film (15) is sealed by the lateral seal (16). In the channel structure element (9), there is a conduit passage that enables the supply of fluid through the conduit (10) into the channel.

[0069] FIG. 4.a shows a schematic diagram of a reaction system in the open state in which the channel structure element (9) is integrated into the connecting surface (5) of the first block. In this case, block (1) is equipped without a flat die tip and block (2) without a depression.

[0070] FIG. 4.b shows a schematic diagram of a reaction system in the closed state, with the two blocks (1, 2) connected by means of the securing elements (3), with the sealing element (8) pressed against the channel structure element (9).

[0071] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a block (i.e. block (1) or block (2) in top view, showing a circular connection surface). This may be a connection surface (4) or a connection surface (5) into which a channel structure element (9) is integrated, characterized by channels in the form of loops. A land (19) is apparent between the adjacent channels. Passages (17) are shown in the edge region (6) of the block, through which the securing elements (3) are conducted.

[0072] FIG. 6.a shows a schematic diagram of a channel section with six circular curves comprising three channel segments.

[0073] FIG. 6.b shows a schematic diagram of a channel section with right-angled curves. The six right-angled curves comprise three channel segments.

[0074] FIG. 7.a shows a schematic diagram of a channel section with its entry region connected to the mixing element (21), where the element (23) represents the connection of the inlet (10) to the mixing element (21). Baffles (22) are disposed within the mixing element.

[0075] FIG. 7.b shows a schematic diagram of a channel section with its entry region attached to the mixing element (21), with the mixing element having two connecting elements (23, 24) to the inlets (10, 10).

[0076] FIG. 8.a shows a schematic diagram of a cross section through the middle region of a reaction system with the elements in a stacked arrangement in the open state, with a catalyst foil (15) coated with catalyst particles on its surface disposed in the region between the channel structure element (9) and the sealing element (8).

[0077] FIG. 8.b shows a schematic diagram of a cross section through the middle region of a reaction system with the elements in a stacked arrangement, corresponding to the diagram in FIG. 8.a, except that the reaction system is closed. The catalyst film is pressed against the lands of the channel structure elements.

[0078] FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of details from reaction channels through which biphasic fluid streams flow in Taylor flow, showing a gaseous fluid and a liquid fluid in the case of channel section (25) and channel section (25). Channel section (25) shows a flow of two liquid, immiscible fluids.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0079]

TABLE-US-00007 1 first block or first plate 2 second block or second plate 3 securing elements 4 connecting surface 5 connecting surface 6 edge region 8 sealing element 9, 9 channel structure element, microchannel structure element 10, 10, 10 inlets 11 outlet 14 conduit passage within the channel structure element, or the micro-channel structure element 15 catalyst film 16 lateral seal (seal of the catalyst film) 17 passage for securing element 19 land between adjacent channels 21 mixing element within the channel structure element 22 baffle within the mixing element 23 end piece of the inlet (10) 24 end piece of the inlet (10) 25, 25, 25 details from a channel section with different Taylor flow packages