3D-printed apparatus for efficient fluid-solid contact

A device for containing and directing flows of fluids, comprising:

• a plurality of tiled unit cells, wherein each of the unit cells comprises a three-dimensional cross, the three-dimensional cross comprising:
• a solid cubic shell having a hollow interior portion, and
• six struts, each of the six struts extending from a respective face of the cubic shell, each of the six struts having a respective face, and wherein the faces of each of the six struts have respective openings formed therein, wherein an opening of a strut in the six struts extends through the strut to the hollow interior portion of the cubic shell, the unit cells arranged to define:
• a first interior region of fluid flow;
• and
• a second interior region of fluid flow, the second interior region separate from the first interior region such that a first fluid in the first region does not mix with a second fluid in the second region, wherein the unit cells are tiled so that the first fluid flows through the unit cells at a first angle to an average direction of flow of the first fluid through the device and the second fluid flows through the unit cells at a second angle to the average direction of flow of the second fluid through the device, the first and second angles between zero and 90 degrees.

A method, comprising:

• additively manufacturing a monolithic structure for containing and directing flows of first and second fluids, wherein the structure is formed of a plurality of tiled unit cells wherein each of the unit cells comprises a three-dimensional cross, the three-dimensional cross comprising:
• a solid cubic shell having a hollow interior portion;
• and six struts, each of the struts extending from a respective face of the cubic shell, each of the struts having a respective face, and wherein the faces of each of the struts have respective openings formed therein, wherein the openings extend through the struts to the hollow interior portion of the cubic shell, the unit cells arranged to define a first interior region of fluid flow, a first inlet to the first interior region of fluid flow, a first outlet from the first interior region of fluid flow, a second interior region of fluid flow, a second inlet to the second interior region of fluid flow, and a second outlet from the second interior region of fluid flow, wherein the unit cells are tiled so that the first fluid flows in the first interior region of fluid flow at an angle between zero and 90 degrees relative to a first direction extending from the first inlet to the first outlet, and the second fluid flows through the second interior region of fluid flow at an angle between zero and 90 degrees relative to a second direction extending from the second inlet to the second outlet.