Levitation microreactor

A levitation microreactor adapted to facilitate a chemical reaction between a first reactant droplet and a second reactant droplet to produce a product, the levitation microreactor comprising:

• a first levitation zone wherein the first levitation zone includes a first levitator effective to levitate the first reactant droplet;
• a second levitation zone arranged in spatial communication with the first levitation zone, the second levitation zone including a second levitator effective to levitate the second reactant droplet, the second reactant droplet being distinct from the first reactant droplet;
• a third levitation zone, wherein the third levitation zone is arranged in spatial communication with the first and second levitation zones, wherein the third levitation zone is effective to facilitate the chemical reaction on the first and second reactant droplets while the first and second droplets are levitated such that the product of the chemical reaction is produced in the third levitation zone;
• a droplet position detector in the first levitation zone, the droplet position detector effective to generate a first signal that identifies a position of the first droplet in the first levitation zone;
• and
• a processor arranged in communication with the droplet position detector, the processor adapted to receive the first signal and to generate a second signal in response to the first signal, the second signal effective to control the first levitator to move the first droplet.

A levitation microreactor adapted to facilitate a chemical reaction between a first reactant droplet and a second reactant droplet to produce a product, the levitation microreactor comprising:

• a first levitation zone wherein the first levitation zone includes a first levitator effective to levitate the first reactant droplet;
• a second levitation zone arranged in spatial communication with the first levitation zone, the second levitation zone including a second levitator effective to levitate the second reactant droplet, the second reactant droplet being distinct from the first reactant droplet;
• a third levitation zone, wherein the third levitation zone is arranged in spatial communication with the first and second levitation zones, wherein the third levitation zone is effective to facilitate the chemical reaction on the first and second reactant droplets while the first and second droplets are levitated such that the product of the chemical reaction is produced in the third levitation zone;
• wherein at least the first levitator is an electrostatic levitator and wherein the electrostatic levitator comprises:
• at least one electrode bar;
• and
• an electrode plate configured in spatial arrangement with the electrode bar;
• wherein the electrode bar and the electrode plate are effective to generate a levitation field in a levitation area when a potential difference is applied between the electrode bar and the electrode plate;
• a power supply arranged in communication with the electrode bar and the electrode plate, wherein the power supply is effective to generate the potential difference;
• a droplet position detector in the first levitation area, the droplet position detector effective to generate a first signal that identifies a position of the first droplet in the first levitation area;
• and
• a processor arranged in communication with the droplet position detector, the processor adapted to receive the first signal and to generate a second signal in response to the first signal, the second signal effective to control the power supply.

A method for a levitation microreactor to facilitate a chemical reaction between a first reactant droplet and a second reactant droplet to produce a product, the method comprising:

• injecting the first reactant droplet into a first levitation zone of the levitation microreactor;
• levitating the first reactant droplet in the first levitation zone with a first levitator;
• injecting the second reactant droplet into a second levitation zone that is distinct from and in spatial communication with the first levitation zone;
• levitating the second reactant droplet in the second levitation zone with a second levitator, the second reactant droplet being distinct from the first reactant droplet;
• moving the first reactant droplet from the first levitation zone into a third zone;
• moving the second reactant droplet from the second levitation zone into the third zone;
• levitating the first and second reactant droplets in the third zone;
• while the first and second reactant droplets are levitated in the third zone, facilitating the chemical reaction between the first reactant droplet and the second reactant droplet to produce the product;
• and
• moving the product from the third zone.

A method for a levitation microreactor to facilitate a chemical reaction between a first reactant droplet and a second reactant droplet to produce a product, the method comprising:

• injecting the first reactant droplet into a first levitation zone of the levitation microreactor;
• levitating the first reactant droplet in the first levitation zone with a first levitator;
• injecting the second reactant droplet into a second levitation zone that is in spatial communication with the first levitation zone;
• levitating the second reactant droplet in the second levitation zone with a second levitator, the second reactant droplet being distinct from the first reactant droplet;
• moving the first reactant droplet from the first levitation zone into a third zone;
• moving the second reactant droplet from the second levitation zone into the third zone;
• levitating the first and second reactant droplets in the third zone;
• and
• while the first and second reactant droplets are levitated in the third zone, facilitating the chemical reaction between the first reactant droplet and the second reactant droplet to produce the product;
• moving the product from the third zone;
• wherein while carrying out the chemical reaction, the method further comprises:
• injecting another first reactant droplet into the first levitation zone;
• and
• injecting another second reactant droplet into the second levitation zone.

A method for a levitation microreactor to facilitate a chemical reaction between a first reactant droplet and a second reactant droplet to produce a product, the method comprising:

• injecting the first reactant droplet into a first levitation zone of the levitation microreactor;
• levitating the first reactant droplet in the first levitation zone with a first levitator;
• injecting the second reactant droplet into a second levitation zone that is in spatial communication with the first levitation zone;
• levitating the second reactant droplet in the second levitation zone with a second levitator, the second reactant droplet being distinct from the first reactant droplet;
• moving the first reactant droplet from the first levitation zone into a third zone;
• moving the second reactant droplet from the second levitation zone into the third zone;
• levitating the first and second reactant droplets in the third zone;
• while the first and second reactant droplets are levitated in the third zone, facilitating the chemical reaction between the first reactant droplet and the second reactant droplet to produce the product;
• and
• moving the product from the third zone;
• wherein facilitating the chemical reaction further comprises introducing a gaseous reactant into the third zone.

A method for a levitation microreactor to facilitate a chemical reaction between a first reactant droplet and a second reactant droplet to produce a product, the method comprising:

• injecting the first reactant droplet into a first levitation zone of the levitation microreactor;
• levitating the first reactant droplet in the first levitation zone with a first levitator;
• injecting the second reactant droplet into a second levitation zone that is in spatial communication with the first levitation zone;
• levitating the second reactant droplet in the second levitation zone with a second levitator, the second reactant droplet being distinct from the first reactant droplet;
• moving the first reactant droplet from the first levitation zone into a third zone;
• moving the second reactant droplet from the second levitation zone into the third zone;
• levitating the first and second reactant droplets in the third zone;
• while the first and second reactant droplets are levitated in the third zone, facilitating the chemical reaction between the first reactant droplet and the second reactant droplet to produce the product;
• moving the product from the third zone;
• detecting, by a droplet position detector in the first levitation zone, a position of the first droplet in the first levitation zone;
• generating, by the droplet position detector, a first signal that identifies the position of the first droplet in the first levitation zone;
• receiving, by a processor arranged in communication with the droplet position detector, the first signal;
• and
• generating, by the processor, a second signal effective to control the first levitator to move the first droplet in response to the first signal.

A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computing device, adapt the computing device to perform a method for a levitated microreactor to facilitate a chemical reaction between a first reactant droplet and a second reactant droplet to produce a product, the method comprising:

• injecting the first reactant droplet into a first levitation zone of the levitation microreactor;
• levitating the first reactant droplet in the first levitation zone with a first levitator;
• injecting the second reactant droplet into a second levitation zone that is distinct from and in spatial communication with the first levitation zone;
• levitating the second reactant droplet in the second levitation zone with a second levitator, the second reactant droplet being distinct from the first reactant droplet;
• moving the first reactant droplet from the first levitation zone into a third zone;
• moving the second reactant droplet from the second levitation zone into the third zone;
• levitating the first and second reactant droplets in the third zone;
• while the first and second reactant droplets are levitated in the third zone, facilitating the chemical reaction between the first reactant droplet and the second reactant droplet to produce the product;
• and
• moving the product from the third zone.