DE10322486A1 - Device for carrying out chemical synthesis processes with independent modularization with regard to the quantitative capacity and the number of possible process steps - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for chemical synthesis on a ton scale, which has a modular structure with regard to the type and number of basic procedural operations and with regard to production capacity. In this case, in each process module that has microstructuring, at least one of the basic procedural operations required for the overall process takes place, each process module itself being modular. The individual process modules or process steps are directly connected to one another without additional piping.

Description

The Invention relates to a device with respect to the type and number of basic procedural operations and modular in terms of production capacity is constructed. Here runs in each process module at least one of those required for the overall process procedural basic operations, with each process module is itself modular. The individual process modules or Process steps are direct and without additional pipelines connected.

Out In the prior art, modular microreactors are extensive and diverse described.

As in US 5,534,328 . EP 0 861 802 or US 2002/0106311, it is known, in a structural unit, to generate a microprocess for chemical gas or liquid phase reactions from various basic chemical operations by plate-by-line connection and thus to generate compact and multiplicable process sequences. By connecting such microstructured reactors in parallel, in principle any capacities can be represented without having to scale up the actual process. A disadvantage of this type of "numbering-up" is that the piping of the individual microreactors and the process control are very complex, in order to ensure the same boundary conditions for each individual reactor. A simple duplication of the plates to increase the capacity of, for example, in US 5,534,328 The reactor described is forbidden since there is no possibility of making the flow cross-sections of the feed lines available for greatly changed amounts of material without considerable structural effort.

As in DE 100 42 746 or EP 0903 174 shown, it is also known from the prior art that in plate-shaped and microstructured reactors, by multiplying the layers or plates, an increase in capacity in principle with respect to a single basic operation is possible in principle. This "numbering-up" for microstructured heat exchangers has been known for a long time and has been described in many publications. A disadvantage of these systems is that the microreactors each comprise only a single process step and after this process step the product or intermediate product is collected in a collection unit, transferred to one or more pipelines and fed to the next process stage, the collection units and the pipelines for one defined or at least limited substance volume are dimensioned. A change in capacity of the overall process is therefore associated with considerable outlay, since the geometries of the collecting and connecting elements have to be changed.

Out the aforementioned statements Describing the state of the art, the task arises Implementation device chemical gas or liquid phase reactions to provide a compact and largely deflection-free Combination of different procedural basic operations allows which is variable in terms of production quantity and suitable for production on a ton scale is.

This becomes with the present invention according to the main claim solved, that a device is provided which is related to the Type and number of basic procedural operations and with regard to production capacity is modular. Here runs in each process module at least one of the required process engineering Basic operations, with each process module itself being modular is constructed.

Of the invention further discloses that ideally the transitions between the individual process modules directly without additional piping are connected.

The procedural basic operations, which in the individual Process modules carried out are, among other things, mixing, reaction, material separation, phase transition or heat transfer, where appropriate, several basic operations in a process module can run simultaneously.

The Modular structure of the individual process modules is advantageously done in plate construction, so that the capacity of each or more process modules or the entire device by changing the number of plates can be varied. Thus, with an increase in the number of plates in the individual process modules also the required flow cross-section for disposal posed, or can the cross section of holes for material feed lines in the outer panels the changed one Requirements can be adjusted without the existing panels structurally change to have to.

The plates are connected to one another by means of systems known from the prior art, such as, for example, internal anchors or anchor plates screwed from the outside. The connections of the process modules to one another are also by means of known devices, such as frames in the manner of coupling flanges or by means of Ver provided on the plates screw connections, realized.

Farther The invention discloses connection systems for the plates, which are comparable to one Tongue and groove system compatible with at least one plate subsequent process module are designed so that the plates gas and liquid-tight at the inlet or outlet can be.

It it turned out that the individual process modules for one large-scale Use regarding of the main process stream advantageously all in parallel and largely flows in the same direction should be, ideally when transitioning from a process module No redirection to the subsequent process module.

Consequently are variations of basic operations and capacity at the device according to the invention independently from each other. With a change of the basic operations grows or the device decreases in length or in Height, and with the variation of the capacity grows or the device decreases in width or in the depth by adding or removing, for example, plate layers.

In the drawing is in 1 an embodiment variant shown. The process shown consists of four process modules 1 to 4 , The educt stream 5 enters the evaporator from below in the Z direction 1 one, which is made up of a number N plus X plates or layers. In the directly following process module 2 , a mixer, the gaseous educt 5 with one over the pipeline 6 supplied educt 7 mixed. After the mixer 2 the material flow enters the process module 3 one, which is a reactor for heterogeneous catalytic reactions and is made up of N plus Y plates. The following process module 4 is also a reaction module, being via the conduit 8th the educt 9 is fed into each of the N plus Y plates. The product 10 leaves the device in the Z direction.

How clearly recognizable, grows the device with a variation of the process steps in the Z direction and with a variation in of capacity in the Y direction.

Claims (4)

Device for carrying out chemical synthesis processes on a tonal scale / industrial scale, consisting of at least two different process modules, each process module being used for carrying out at least one basic procedural operation, the process stages for mixing, phase transition or heat exchange, and for reaction, material separation or for carrying out other basic process operations serve, and each of these process modules is at least partially formed from microstructured components with respect to their essential function, characterized in that the device has a modular structure in two spatial dimensions, wherein a) the first dimension consists in length or height and by the sequence the individual process modules are formed, which are connected directly to one another without pipelines, b) and the second dimension is essentially vertical to the first dimension nd is formed by the number of plates or layers of the individual process modules, the number of plates or layers being able to be reduced or increased as desired to vary the production capacity. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that Inlet and outlet of at least one plate of a process module compatible in the sense of tongue and groove connections for or outlet of at least one plate of another Process stage is. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the main product stream at the transition from a process module to a subsequent process module essentially no redirection of the main flow direction experiences. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that at least partially one or more part transition between two process stages or spacer elements are provided.