Capillary reactor distribution device and method
AssigneeProtensive Limited
InventorJohn Robert Burns
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A capillary reactor distribution device comprising first and second capillary pathways (2, 3) which meet at a junction (5) and a third capillary pathway (4) which leads away from the junction (5), the capillary pathways (2, 3, 4) being dimensioned such that, when first and second immiscible fluids (14, 15) are fed along respectively the first and second capillary pathways (2, 3) under predetermined laminar flow conditions, the first and second fluids (14, 15) chop each other into discrete slugs (16, 17) which pass along the third capillary pathway (4). Molecular mixing between the fluids (14, 15) takes place by way of axial diffusion between adjacent slugs (16, 17) and by way of internal circulation within each slug (16, 17) as the slugs (16, 17) progress along the third capillary pathway (4).
Claims41
A method for contacting two immiscible fluids, wherein a first fluid is fed under laminar flow conditions along a first capillary pathway and a second fluid is fed under laminar flow conditions along a second capillary pathway, the first and second capillary pathways meeting at a junction having a third capillary pathway leading away therefrom, and wherein the flow conditions in each of the first and second capillary pathways are selected such that the first and second fluids are fed continuously and simultaneously alone the first and second capillary pathways, the first and second fluids chop each other into discrete slugs which pass along the third capillary pathway.
A capillary reactor distribution device comprising first and second capillary pathways which meet at a junction and a third capillary pathway which leads away from the junction, an aqueous phase pump operatively connected to the first capillary pathway, an organic chase pump operatively connected to the second capillary pathway, the capillary pathways being dimensioned such that, when first and second immiscible fluids are fed along respectively the first and second capillary pathways by the respective pumps at flowrates between about 10 nl/s to 100 μl/s, the first and second fluids chop each other into discrete slugs which pass along the third capillary pathway.
A device as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a solid block into which the capillary pathways have been bored or otherwise formed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.