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US 8,869,830 B2Granted
Flow distribution channels to control flow in process channels
AssigneeVelocys, Inc.
InventorsAnna Lee Tonkovich, Ravi Arora, David Kilanowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention describes features that can be used to control flow to an array of microchannels. The invention also describes methods in which a process stream is distributed to plural microchannels.
Claims19
A method of fluid processing, comprising:
- passing a process stream into a manifold;
- wherein the manifold is connected to at least a first flow distribution channel (FDC) and a second FDC;
- wherein each FDC comprises a series of turns, comprising at least four turns that are 90° or less, or comprising at least two turns that are greater than 90°;
- and
- wherein the first FDC channel connects the manifold to a first process channel;
- wherein the second FDC channel connects the manifold to a second process channel;
- and wherein the portion of the process stream that flows through the first FDC connects with only one process channel and does not connect with any other FDC so that all of the portion of the process stream that enters the first FDC flows into the first process channel;
- wherein the pressure drop through the first FDC is at least 2 times greater than the pressure drop through the first process channel that is connected to the first FDC;
- and
- conducting a unit operation in the first and second process channels;
- and wherein the unit operation in the first process channel comprises partially boiling a liquid as it passes through the first process channel;
- and wherein the first and second process channels have at least one internal dimension of 1 cm or less;
- and
- wherein the first process channel is one of at least 10 parallel process channels connected to the manifold;
- and
- wherein flow through the at least 10 parallel process channels is characterized by a flow distribution that varies by 10% or less in the absolute overall quality index factor when the flow is turned down by 50%, wherein overall quality index factor=Q=(Mmax−Mmin)/Mmax*100, wherein Mmax is maximum mass flow rate in a parallel process channel connected to the manifold and Mmin is minimum mass flow rate in a parallel process channel connected to the manifold.
13 more elements
A method of fluid processing, comprising:
- passing a process stream into a manifold;
- wherein the manifold is connected to at least a first flow distribution channel (FDC) and a second FDC;
- wherein each FDC comprises a series of turns, comprising at least four turns that are 90° or less, or comprising at least two turns that are greater than 90°;
- and
- wherein the first FDC channel connects the manifold to a first process channel;
- wherein the second FDC channel connects the manifold to a second process channel;
- and wherein the portion of the process stream that flows through the first FDC connects with only one process channel and does not connect with any other FDC so that all of the portion of the process stream that enters the first FDC flows into the first process channel;
- wherein the pressure drop through the first FDC is at least 2 times greater than the pressure drop through the first process channel that is connected to the first FDC;
- and
- conducting a unit operation in the first and second process channels;
- and
- wherein the unit operation in the first process channel comprises partially boiling a liquid as it passes through the first process channel;
- and wherein the first and second process channels have at least one internal dimension of 1 cm or less;
- and wherein the first process channel is one of at least 10 parallel process channels connected to the manifold;
- and
- wherein flow through the at least 10 parallel process channels is characterized by a flow distribution that varies by 10% or less in the absolute overall quality index factor when the flow is turned up by 20%, wherein overall quality index factor=Q=(Mmax−Mmin)/Mmax*100, wherein Mmax is maximum mass flow rate in a parallel process channel connected to the manifold and Mmin is minimum mass flow rate in a parallel process channel connected to the manifold.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.