Flow element having an integrated capillary line for transferring fluids

Abstract

The invention relates to a flow element for transferring fluids comprising a capillary cartridge (1) having an integrated capillary line (3). The capillary cartridge according to the invention (1) has a ring-shaped channel (8) and securing grooves (6, 6), wherein the flow element is characterized in that the capillary line (3) is arranged in the ring-shaped channel (8). The ends of the capillary lines (3) are connected to connection elements (9) in which securing grooves (6, 6) are secured in a positive locking manner. The flow elements according to the invention contribute toward improved manageability and effectiveness of components. In a preferred embodiment, the flow elements are used as a distribution system in the form of a plurality of capillary cartridges (1-1, 1-2, . . . ). Such distribution systems are of technical importance in the field of catalyst testing apparatuses with reactors arranged in parallel.

Claims

1. A flow element comprising: a capillary cartridge and a coiled capillary line, wherein the capillary cartridge comprises a ring-shaped channel and a securing element, wherein said securing element is in the form of securing grooves, in the flow element, the coiled capillary line is arranged in the ring-shaped channel, each end of the capillary line is connected to a connection element by screw connections with a compression seal, respectively, and the connection element is fixed in place with two or more securing elements, wherein the securing grooves form a positive locking connection to the connection elements with an angularly configured anti-rotation device, or wherein the connection elements are connected to the capillary cartridge via the securing grooves in a non-positive locking manner, such as clamping with a spindle.

2. The flow element of claim 1, wherein the two or more securing elements are configured as securing grooves, which are an inlet-side securing groove and an outlet-side securing groove.

3. The flow element of claim 2, wherein each of the inlet-side and outlet-side securing grooves accommodates an anti-rotation device of the connection element, and the anti-rotation device has at least three corners, so that at least one edge of the anti-rotation device runs parallel to an edge of the inlet-side or outlet-side securing groove, so that a rotatability of the connection element about its longitudinal axis is characterized by an angle of rotation of 20.

4. The flow element of claim 2, wherein the connection element is also connected to the capillary cartridge in the securing grooves in the non-positive locking manner.

5. The flow element of claim 1, wherein a connection between an inner side of the connection element and the end of the capillary line is a screw connection.

6. The flow element of claim 1, wherein an outer side of the connection element is equipped with a screw thread, which t allows a non-positive locking and sealing connection with lines located outside the capillary cartridge.

7. The flow element of claim 1, wherein the connection element consists of two separable parts, such that a sealing system fluidically seals an inner channel of the connection element with respect to an environment.

8. The flow element of claim 1, wherein the capillary cartridge comprises a metal.

9. The flow element of claim 1, wherein the capillary cartridge comprises a device that controls the temperature of the capillary chamber and/or a space inside the capillary channel is filled with a heat-conducting casting material.

10. A distribution system, comprising at least two of the flow element of claim 1.

11. The distribution system of claim 10, wherein the distribution system is enclosed by a housing.

12. The distribution system of claim 10, wherein each of the flow element is thermally decoupled from one another.

13. The distribution system of claim 11, wherein the housing is surrounded by insulation.

14. A method for testing a catalyst, the method comprising: testing a catalyst in a reaction apparatus, wherein the reaction apparatus comprises a distribution system comprising the flow element of claim 1.

15. A method for transferring at least one fluid, the method comprising: transferring the at least one fluid in at least one reaction apparatus, wherein the at least one reaction apparatus comprises the flow element of claim 1 and two reactors arranged in parallel.

16. A method for transferring at least one fluid, the method comprising: transferring the at least one fluid in at least one reaction apparatus, wherein the at least one reaction apparatus comprises the distribution system of claim 10 and two reactors arranged in parallel.

Description

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE FLOW ELEMENT ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION

(1) FIGS. 1 through 5 show the flow elements according to the invention or individual aspects of the flow elements or the distribution system according to the invention. These figures are by no means to be interpreted as limiting the present invention in any way.

(2) In an example embodiment, which is preferred, the capillary cartridge (1) comprises a metal block for accommodating the capillary line (1). The dimensions of the capillary cartridge (1) in this example are 101020 cm. By way of example, this is a cartridge (1) with a square bottom surface. The bottom surface is passed through by a ring-shaped channel (8), wherein the channel (8) is configured to be suitable for accommodating a capillary line (3). Moreover, the capillary cartridge also has securing grooves (6,6) that serve to accommodate connection elements (9). In a special configuration, the connection elements (9) can be designed as so-called bulkhead screw connections. A bulkhead screw connection is a tube-shaped connection element, wherein a screw thread is disposed on the outer side of the tube-shaped base element and measures are implemented in the interior that allow a fluidic connection. At the respective ends of the tube-shaped base element, respective compression screws are arranged by means of which the supply or discharge lines are secured and fluidically connected to the base element and thus to one another. Moreover, an anti-rotation device is located approximately in the middle of the base element. This is typically configured in a square or hexagonal shape, wherein the cylindrical base element is located in the center of the anti-rotation device and undetachably connected thereto. After removal of one of the compression screws, moreover, a nut can be tightened so that the anti-rotation device is pressed against the edge of a bore hole. In this manner, the positive locking action of the anti-rotation device is supported by a non-positive locking action.

(3) In particular, cartridges (1) with a separable and non-separable connection element (9) are preferred.

(4) These receiving elements for the connection elements (9) can be arranged on opposite sides, as shown in FIG. 1 or 2. In a further preferred embodiment, the connection elements (9) are disposed on one side, and it is also preferable if the transition elements are disposed on adjacent sides. In either case, the transition elements are arranged such that they are secured against rotation. Secured against rotation means that the plug-in part (18) or the coupling body (19) is connected to the body by means of positive locking means, preferably an anti-rotation device (21), such that the base element can rotate a maximum of 30/20/10 with respect to the capillary cartridge (1). This measure for positive locking ensures both that the external supply lines cannot be rotated due to mounting of the internal capillaries (3) and that the internal capillaries (3) cannot be rotated due to mounting of the external supply lines.

(5) The term securing means within the meaning of the present invention refers to means with which a) the capillary cartridge (1) is locked, e.g. the covering is fixed in place with a securing means, and b) the positive locking e.g. of the connection element (9) in the groove is supported.

(6) In cases in which the invention is used in the form of an individual flow element, the capillary cartridge (1) is provided with a control or a covering. The control can be secured e.g. with screws, springs, or clamps. The covering is partially visible in FIG. 1. Among other effects, the covering also causes the capillary line (3) to be maintained inside the ring-shaped channel (8) of the capillary cartridge. The covering further has the object of keeping tensile phenomena, and thus disturbing thermal influences, away from the capillary (3).

(7) Housing

(8) If the invention is implemented in a preferred embodiment of a distribution system with a plurality of flow elements, it is advantageous to arrange the individual flow elements in stack form, as flow elements arranged in stack form can be particularly advantageously placed in a housing, or the housing can be advantageously arranged around the flow elements.

(9) An exploded view of this arrangement is shown in FIG. 4. The flat bottom surfaces are advantageous in that the one bottom surface can be used as a covering or control for the adjacent capillary cartridge.

(10) The capillary cartridges advantageously comprise a material having favorable heat conducting properties. Examples include materials from the group of copper, aluminum or brass. Preferred are materials whose thermal conductivity is greater than or equal to 100 W m.sup.1 K.sup.1, and more preferably greater than or equal to 400 W m.sup.1 K.sup.1.

(11) With respect to the material thickness of the housing, it should preferably have a material thickness of 5 mm, more preferably 10 mm, and even more preferably >20 mm.

(12) An advantage of the preferred material thickness is that it allows the improvement of making the temperature field more homogeneous. A highly homogeneous temperature field allows uniform temperature control of the internal space.

(13) In a further embodiment, which is also preferred, the distribution system enclosed by a housing is arranged in an oven. For example, this can be a convection oven. Selective temperature control of the flow elements makes it possible to adjust the viscosity of the fluid guided in the capillaries (3) such that the pressure drop required for the experiment is generated over the capillary (3). It should be borne in mind that the viscosity of gases increases with temperature, while the viscosity of liquids decreases.

(14) Heating/Cooling

(15) In a further embodiment, the housing enclosing the distribution system is equipped with its own heating. This heating can take place e.g. by means of surface heating elements, heating films, or channels through which a heat transfer liquid flows.

(16) Cooling means can be arranged on the external surface of the surrounding housing. Preferred are heat exchangers through which fluid can flow, but fluid flowthrough can also be achieved in that the housing components contain direct bore holes for fluids. It is further preferred to incorporate channels into the housing into which tubes for fluids are pressed. Moreover, cooling elements based on the Seebeck effect (Peltier cooling elements) are preferred.

(17) Selective cooling is also a means for adapting the viscosity of the fluids guided through the capillary lines to the experimental requirements.

(18) In cases where precise adjustment of the viscosity to a specified value and thus maintenance of a particular temperature does not play a decisive role, but the highest possible uniformity of the flow resistances among one another is the sole important factor, heating or cooling is not necessary. In this case, it is sufficient to provide the surrounding housing on the outer side with thermal insulation.

(19) In this case, the heat transfer coefficient of the thermal insulation should preferably be less than 1 W m.sup.1 K.sup.1.

(20) Heat Conducting, Hardening Material

(21) In precise measurements of the conductance of the coiled capillary lines (3), it has been found that both the spatial position of the capillaries, i.e. the winding radius, and constant heat flow in the capillaries (3) are important for constancy of the flow resistances. The spatial position of the coils, the coiled capillary lines (3), can be fixed by filling the circumferential channel with a heat conducting, hardening material. The use of silicone casting materials has been found to be particularly effective in this connection, especially silicone casting materials with significant thermal conductivity. In any case, the thermal conductivity of these materials is greater by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude than the conductivity of air or the conductivity generated by contact between the capillary lines (3) and the capillary cartridge (1).

(22) An embodiment is preferred in which the capillary cartridges (1) are individually temperature-controlled and thermally decoupled from one another. Temperature control is to include both measures for increasing the temperature above the ambient temperature and measures for reducing it below the ambient temperature. The individual temperature control devices are advantageously equipped with means or elements for keeping the temperature constant, i.e. temperature controllers.

(23) Moreover, it is preferable for the capillary lines (3) to be replaceable inside the flow elements after they wear out, so that it is possible to equip the cartridges (1) with new capillary lines (3) and then reuse them.

(24) Moreover, the connecting lines can also be equipped in the outer area with bayonet connections, thus allowing rapid connection and removal of the supply lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(25) FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of the flow element according to the invention fitted without a capillary line (3); in the embodiment shown, the two connection elements (9) lie on opposite sides in one axis. Bulkhead screw connections according to FIG. 3.c are shown as connection elements (9).

(26) FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view of a flow element. The embodiment according FIG. 2 shows the flow-element equipped with coupling elements which are shown in FIG. 3c. In this particular embodiment the connecting element (9) is held in the notch (50) by help of the nut (25). The anti-rotation device (21) which is given by a triangular, preferably tetragonal, further preferably hexagonal element is part of the tubular connection element (9). Therefore the at least triangular element (21) prevents element (9) from twisting along its rotational axis which is perpendicular to the channel direction of connection element (9).

(27) FIG. 3.a shows a view of the connection element (9) in the embodiment of a separable plug-in connector. The plug-in part (18) and the coupling body (19) of the coupling are shown in an opened state.

(28) FIG. 3.b like FIG. 3.a, however, is shown in a closed state.

(29) FIG. 3.c shows a view of the connection element (9) as a bulkhead screw connection. This refers to a connection with an e.g. compression screw (20 or 24) on either side. This connection element is not separable.

(30) FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic view of a distribution system composed of a stack-type arrangement of four flow elements in which all of the connection elements (9) are arranged on the same side. The coupling body (19) is located in the front wall (17) in the extension of the connection elements (9). Here, the emphasis is on the arrangement of the plug-in connectors.

(31) FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic view of a distribution system with eight flow elements arranged in a stack with eight capillary cartridges (1-1 to 1-8) surrounded by the plates of the housing wall. Here, the variant is shown with couplings that are individually screwed into place. This arrangement is also suitable for the use of self-locking plug-in connectors.

(32) FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of how the coupling units in FIG. 3c are affixed to the flow element of the present invention by way of the securing groove (6).

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(33) 1Capillary cassette 2Base element 3Capillary line or capillary 4End piece of the capillary line on inlet side 5End piece of the capillary line on outlet side 6,6Securing element in the form of securing groove for accommodating the connection element (9) 8Channel 9Connection element 10Center of the base element 11,11Outer connection element of the connection element 12Upper part 13Removable rear wall 14Side part 15Closure of the rear wall, shown as a countersunk screw 16Lower part 17Front wall 18Plug-in part of the coupling 19Coupling body 20Outer connection element 20Outer connection element, embodiment Compression screw 21Anti-rotation device 22Sealing element 23Section of front wall 17 24Inner connection element 24Inner connection element, embodiment Compression screw 25Groove for securing the connection element 1-1, 1-2, . . . , 1-8Various capillary cartridges