US 2005/0087767 A1Published application

Manifold designs, and flow control in multichannel microchannel devices

AssigneeVelocys, Inc.

InventorsSean Fitzgerald, Anna Tonkovich, Ravi Arora, Dongming Qiu, Thomas Yuschak, Laura Silva, Wm. Rogers, Kai Jarosch, Matthew Schmidt

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

Novel manifolds and methods of flow through manifolds are described. Apparatus and techniques are described in which flow from a relatively large volume header is equally distributed to process channels. Methods of making laminated, microchannel devices are also described.

Claims35

Dependent claims

Microchannel apparatus, comprising:

a first channel extending in a first direction;
a second channel extending in a second direction;
and
a third channel extending in the second direction;
a fourth channel extending in the second direction;
and
a fifth channel extending in the second direction;
wherein the first and second directions are substantially coplanar;
wherein the second and third channels are adjacent and parallel;
wherein the first channel is not parallel to either the second or third channels;
wherein the first channel is connected to the second channel and the third channels via a first gate;
wherein the third channel is positioned farther in the first direction than the second channel;
wherein the third channel comprises a microchannel;
wherein the second channel comprises a microchannel;
wherein the second channel has an opening with a first cross-sectional area and the third channel has an opening with a second cross-sectional area;
wherein the first gate has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the sum of first and second cross-sectional areas and the wall cross-sectional area between them;
wherein the fourth and fifth channels are adjacent and parallel;
wherein the first channel is connected to the fourth channel and the fifth channels via a second gate;
wherein the fourth and fifth channels are positioned farther in
the first direction than the third channel;
wherein the fourth channel comprises a microchannel;
wherein the fifth channel comprises a microchannel;
wherein the fourth channel has an opening with a third cross-sectional area and the fifth channel has an opening with a fourth cross-sectional area;
wherein the second gate has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the sum of third and fourth cross-sectional areas and the wall cross-sectional area between them;
and
wherein the cross-sectional area of the first gate differs from that of the cross-sectional area of the second gate.

23 more elements

A method of distributing flow from a manifold through a connecting channel matrix, comprising:

passing a fluid into a manifold having the following characteristics:
the height of the manifold is 2 mm or less;
the length of an optional straightening channel portion (L2) divided by LM2M is less than 6;
with a FA value of less than 0.01
FA
=
[
0.058
+
0.0023
⁢
(
ln
⁢
⁢
Re
)
2
]
2
⁢
D
L
M2M
<
0.01
maintaining the DPR2 ratio at 2 or greater or maintaining a DPR3 ratio of 0.9 or less;
and
distributing the fluid from the manifold into at least 2 channels, which are connected to the manifold, with a quality index factor as a function of connecting channel areas of Q2 equal to or less than 85% of the Qc function of connecting channel area ratio Ra and DPR1 of
Qc(Ra,DPR1)=E1+E2+E4+E6+E8+E10+E12,
where
E1
=
⁢
112.9
+
1.261
⁢
DPR
1
1
+
0.3078
⁢
DPR
1
+
0.00353
⁢
DPR
1
2
⁢
[
(
Ra
-
2
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
4
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
6
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
8
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
10
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
12
)
(
1
-
2
)
⁢
(
1
-
4
)
⁢
(
1
-
6
)
⁢
(
1
-
8
)
⁢
(
1
-
10
)
⁢
(
1
-
12
)
]
E2
=
⁢
91.73
-
1.571
⁢
DPR
1
+
0.01701
⁢
DPR
1
2
1
+
0.2038
⁢
DPR
1
+
0.00193
⁢
DPR
1
2
⁢
[
(
Ra
-
1
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
4
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
6
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
8
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
10
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
12
)
(
2
-
1
)
⁢
(
2
-
4
)
⁢
(
2
-
6
)
⁢
(
2
-
8
)
⁢
(
2
-
10
)
⁢
(
2
-
12
)
]
E4
=
⁢
24.27
-
4.943
⁢
DPR
1
+
0.3982
⁢
DPR
1
2
1
-
0.2395
⁢
DPR
1
+
0.03442
⁢
DPR
1
2
-
0.000006657
⁢
DPR
1
3
⁢
[
(
Ra
-
1
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
2
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
6
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
8
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
10
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
12
)
(
4
-
1
)
⁢
(
4
-
2
)
⁢
(
4
-
6
)
⁢
(
4
-
8
)
⁢
(
4
-
10
)
⁢
(
4
-
12
)
]
E6
=
⁢
29.23
-
2.731
⁢
DPR
1
+
0.09734
⁢
DPR
1
2
1
-
0.1124
⁢
DPR
1
+
0.005045
⁢
DPR
1
2
⁢
[
(
Ra
-
1
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
2
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
4
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
8
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
10
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
12
)
(
6
-
1
)
⁢
(
6
-
2
)
⁢
(
6
-
4
)
⁢
(
6
-
8
)
⁢
(
6
-
10
)
⁢
(
6
-
12
)
]
E8
=
⁢
25.98
+
11.26
⁢
DPR
1
+
0.02201
⁢
DPR
1
2
+
0.5231
⁢
DPR
1
3
1
-
0.8557
⁢
DPR
1
+
0.00887
⁢
DPR
1
2
+
0.02049
⁢
DPR
1
3
-
0.000002866
⁢
DPR
1
4
×
⁢
[
(
Ra
-
1
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
2
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
4
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
6
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
10
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
12
)
(
8
-
1
)
⁢
(
8
-
2
)
⁢
(
8
-
4
)
⁢
(
8
-
6
)
⁢
(
8
-
10
)
⁢
(
8
-
12
)
]
E10
=
⁢
20.75
-
3.371
⁢
DPR
1
+
0.9026
⁢
DPR
1
2
+
0.01277
⁢
DPR
1
3
1
-
0.1514
⁢
DPR
1
+
0.03173
⁢
DPR
1
2
+
0.0003673
⁢
DPR
1
3
⁢
[
(
Ra
-
1
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
2
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
4
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
6
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
8
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
12
)
(
10
-
1
)
⁢
(
10
-
2
)
⁢
(
10
-
4
)
⁢
(
10
-
6
)
⁢
(
10
-
8
)
⁢
(
10
-
12
)
]
E12
=
⁢
51.67
+
18.94
⁢
DPR
1
+
21.57
⁢
DPR
1
2
+
21.57
⁢
DPR
1
3
1
+
1.183
⁢
DPR
1
+
0.5513
⁢
DPR
1
2
-
0.00004359
⁢
DPR
1
3
⁢
[
(
Ra
-
1
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
2
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
4
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
6
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
8
)
⁢
(
Ra
-
10
)
(
12
-
1
)
⁢
(
12
-
2
)
⁢
(
12
-
4
)
⁢
(
12
-
6
)
⁢
(
12
-
8
)
⁢
(
12
-
10
)
]
where Ra ranges from 1 to 12, and DPR1 is greater than 0 and less than 300.

772 more elements

A method of passing a fluid through a manifold of a microchannel device, comprising:

flowing a first fluid stream into a manifold and then through a first channel in a first direction;
flowing a portion of the first fluid stream to a second channel;
and
flowing a portion of the first fluid stream through the second channel;
wherein the second channel extends at a nonzero angle relative to the first direction;
wherein the second channel comprises a microchannel and comprises at least one dividing wall that separates the second channel into at least a first and a second subchannel;
wherein the first layer and the manifold are each substantially planar;
wherein the manifold is substantially contained within the first layer, and wherein the first layer and the manifold are substantially coplanar, and wherein the first channel is disposed in the first layer and flow through the first channel is substantially parallel to the plane of the first layer;
wherein the first channel and the manifold are about the same height;
wherein the second layer is substantially planar, and wherein the second channel is disposed in the second layer and flow through the second channel is substantially parallel to the plane of the second layer;
and
wherein the first layer and the second layer are substantially parallel and the nonzero angle refers to an angle within the second layer.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/695,400Filed 27 Oct 2003
Published: 28 Apr 2005
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification24 codes

B01J 19/0093
Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus: microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors
C01B 3/384
Using catalysts: with external heating of the catalyst
F15D 1/001
Influencing flow of fluids: flow of fluid from conduits such as pipes, sleeves, tubes, with equal distribution of fluid flow over the evacuation…
F15D 1/04
In pipes or conduits: arrangements of guide vanes in pipe elbows or duct bends; Construction of pipe conduit elements for elbows with respect to…

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US 7,422,910 B2Related patent
US 2005/0087767 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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Abstract

Microchannel apparatus, comprising:

a first channel extending in a first direction;
a second channel extending in a second direction;
and
a third channel extending in the second direction;
a fourth channel extending in the second direction;
and
a fifth channel extending in the second direction;
wherein the first and second directions are substantially coplanar;
wherein the second and third channels are adjacent and parallel;
wherein the first channel is not parallel to either the second or third channels;
wherein the first channel is connected to the second channel and the third channels via a first gate;
wherein the third channel is positioned farther in the first direction than the second channel;
wherein the third channel comprises a microchannel;
wherein the second channel comprises a microchannel;
wherein the second channel has an opening with a first cross-sectional area and the third channel has an opening with a second cross-sectional area;
wherein the first gate has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the sum of first and second cross-sectional areas and the wall cross-sectional area between them;
wherein the fourth and fifth channels are adjacent and parallel;
wherein the first channel is connected to the fourth channel and the fifth channels via a second gate;
wherein the fourth and fifth channels are positioned farther in
the first direction than the third channel;
wherein the fourth channel comprises a microchannel;
wherein the fifth channel comprises a microchannel;
wherein the fourth channel has an opening with a third cross-sectional area and the fifth channel has an opening with a fourth cross-sectional area;
wherein the second gate has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the sum of third and fourth cross-sectional areas and the wall cross-sectional area between them;
and
wherein the cross-sectional area of the first gate differs from that of the cross-sectional area of the second gate.

23 more elements

Facts

Application

10/695,400Filed 27 Oct 2003

Published

28 Apr 2005

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification24 codes

B01J 19/0093
Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus: microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors
C01B 3/384
Using catalysts: with external heating of the catalyst
F15D 1/001
Influencing flow of fluids: flow of fluid from conduits such as pipes, sleeves, tubes, with equal distribution of fluid flow over the evacuation…
F15D 1/04
In pipes or conduits: arrangements of guide vanes in pipe elbows or duct bends; Construction of pipe conduit elements for elbows with respect to…