JP2003210963A - Micromixer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently promote mixing or chemical reaction of solutions introduced into a mixing flow route through a plurality of liquid supply ports and control the mixing and chemical reaction at sufficiently high precision. <P>SOLUTION: Solutions L1 and L2 are introduced into a mixing flow route 26 through liquid supply ports 22 and 24 by supplying the respective solutions L1 and L2 to liquid supply routes 16 and 18 through liquid supply pipes 38 and 39. At that time, while the solutions L1 and L2 flowing in form of thin section like laminar flows with widths corresponding to the aperture widths W1 and W2 toward a liquid outlet 28 side, molecule diffusion occurs in the contact interface of the respective laminar flows along the normal direction and mixing of the solutions L1 and L2 is promoted. Simultaneously with that, since vibration is transmitted to the solutions L1, L2 and LM in the mixing flow route 26 by a vibration generating apparatus 32, the molecular movement of the solutions L1 and L2 flowing in the mixing flow route 26 is enhanced by the transmitted vibration and the mixing or chemical reaction of solutions L1 and L2 can be promoted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention introduces fluid from a plurality of fluid supply passages into a single mixing passage,
The present invention relates to a micromixer that mixes, or mixes and reacts with each other while allowing these fluids to flow in a mixing flow path as a flaky laminar flow.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in the field of the chemical industry for producing emulsions used in photographic light-sensitive materials and the pharmaceutical industry for producing pharmaceuticals, reagents, etc., new production using micro-vessels called micromixers or microreactors. Process development is underway. The micromixer and the microreactor are provided with a plurality of microchannels having an equivalent diameter of about several μm to several hundreds μm when their cross sections are converted into a circle, and a mixing space connected to these microchannels. In a micromixer and a microreactor, a plurality of solutions are introduced into a mixing space through a plurality of microchannels, thereby mixing the plurality of solutions or causing a chemical reaction with the mixing. It should be noted that the micromixer and the microreactor have a common basic structure, but in particular, a microreactor may be one that involves a chemical reaction when mixing a plurality of solutions. From this, the following description will be given assuming that the micromixer includes the microreactor. Examples of such a micro mixer include those disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-512742 and PCT International Publication WO 00/62913. Each of these micro mixers has 2
The two kinds of solutions are mixed and reacted in the mixing space by supplying the two kinds of solutions into the mixing space as laminar flows in the form of extremely thin flakes through fine liquid supply paths called microchannels. It is a thing.

Next, the difference in the mixing and reaction by the micro mixer as described above from the batch system using a tank will be described. That is, since the chemical reaction in the liquid phase generally occurs when the molecules meet each other at the interface of the reaction solution, when the reaction is carried out in a minute space, the area of the interface becomes relatively large and the reaction efficiency remarkably increases. . In addition, the diffusion time of a molecule itself is proportional to the square of the distance. This means that as the scale is reduced, even if the reaction liquid is not actively mixed, the diffusion of the molecules promotes the mixing, which facilitates the reaction. In a minute space, since the scale is small, the flow is dominated by laminar flow, and the solutions are in a laminar flow state and diffuse and mix with each other.

When the micromixer having the above-mentioned characteristics is used, for example, as compared with the conventional batch system in which a large-volume tank is used as a place for mixing and reaction, the reaction time and temperature of the solutions are more precise. Control becomes possible. Further, in the case of the batch system, the reaction progresses at the reaction contact surface in the initial stage of mixing, especially between the solution rings having a fast reaction rate, and the primary product produced by the reaction between the solutions is continuously reacted in the container. Therefore, there is a possibility that the product may be non-uniform or that aggregation or precipitation may occur in the mixing container. On the other hand, according to the micromixer, the solution continuously flows in the mixing container with almost no retention, and thus the primary product generated by the reaction between the solutions continues to be retained in the mixing container. It is possible to prevent the reaction from undergoing a reaction, it becomes possible to take out a pure primary product which has been difficult to take out in the past, and it becomes difficult to cause aggregation or precipitation in the mixing container.

Further, when a large amount of a small amount of chemical substances produced by an experimental production facility is produced (scaled up) by a large-scale production facility, conventionally, a batch method is used for the experimental production facility. It took a lot of labor and time to obtain reproducibility in a large-scale manufacturing facility, but by parallelizing the manufacturing line using a micro mixer according to the required manufacturing amount, The effort and time to obtain reproducibility may be significantly reduced.

However, in the above-described micromixer, the time until the solutions are uniformly mixed (mixing time) or the solution is supplied depending on the kind of the solution supplied to each of the plurality of liquid supply paths. With mixing, the time (reaction time) until the chemical reaction is substantially completed changes. That is,
When the viscosity of the solution is higher, the mixing time and reaction time are generally delayed, and when agglomeration, precipitation, etc. occur due to the chemical reaction between the solutions, the agglomerates, precipitates, etc. are factors that inhibit mixing. That is, the diffusing power for the solution is lowered, and the mixing time and the reaction time are changed.

On the other hand, in the micromixer, since the path length along the flow direction of the solution in the mixing space is constant, the time (passing time) for the solution to pass through the mixing space is constant when the flow velocity of the solution is constant. It will be constant. Therefore, when the mixing time or the reaction time of the solution in the mixing space is longer than the passage time, it is necessary to slow the flow rate of the solution in the mixing space, so that the processing speed of the solution by the micromixer decreases. At this time, it is conceivable to extend the path length of the mixing space in order to prevent the decrease in the processing speed of the solution, but if such a measure is taken, the micromixer becomes larger and the manufacturing cost increases. Cause
Further, when the path length of the mixing space is extended more than necessary, there is a problem that the aggregation and precipitation of the solution is rather promoted to cause clogging in the mixing space, which makes maintenance of the micromixer complicated.

In order to solve the above problems, in the micromixer disclosed in the above-mentioned WO 00/62913, a block-like structure in which liquid supply passages branched from a solution supply portion in a comb shape are formed respectively. An actuator is connected to the mixer element, and vibration is applied to the mixer element by this actuator, and mixing of a plurality of solutions is adjusted by this vibration.

[0009]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
The micromixer of Japanese Patent No. 00/62913 gives vibration only to a mixer element in which a plurality of liquid supply paths are formed, and propagates this vibration to the solution in the mixing space via the solution in the liquid supply path. , To adjust the mixing of the solutions in the mixing space. Therefore, in such a micromixer, it is difficult to control the progress of the mixing of the solutions in the mixing space and the progress of the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing with high accuracy. When it is desired to proceed stepwise or to diffuse-mix a solution and a reaction product over the entire length of the mixing space, such progress of mixing or chemical reaction cannot be realized.

In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to effectively promote the mixing of fluids introduced into the mixing channel through a plurality of supply ports and the progress of chemical reaction, and with sufficiently high accuracy. It is to provide a controllable micromixer.

[0011]

A micromixer according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a plurality of fluid supply passages through which fluid supplied from the outside flows from one end to the other end, respectively. A plurality of supply ports, which are respectively opened at the other ends of the plurality of fluid supply paths and are arranged adjacent to each other along a predetermined diffusion direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the fluid in the fluid supply path, and one end A part is connected to the plurality of supply ports, and a mixing flow path for discharging the fluid introduced through the plurality of supply ports from the other end, and a vibration flowing in the fluid flowing in the mixing flow path along the diffusion direction. And a diffusion control means for transmitting the transmission, and the opening width of the plurality of supply ports along the diffusion direction is 1 μm or more and 500 μm or less.

According to the micromixer of the first aspect, the plurality of fluid supply passages are opened at the other ends thereof and are adjacent to each other along a predetermined diffusion direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the fluid in the fluid supply passages. Is provided with a plurality of supply ports, one end of the upstream side of the mixing flow path is connected to the plurality of supply ports, and the diffusion control means vibrates the fluid flowing in the mixing flow path. By transmitting along the diffusion direction, multiple types of fluid introduced into the mixing channel through the multiple supply ports become a flaky stratified flow corresponding to the opening width of the supply port, and flow in the mixing flow channel. At the interface between the adjacent stratified flows that flow, the movement of minute fluid mass in the diffusion direction is promoted, and the molecular motion of each fluid increases. By setting a small width (1 μm or more and 500 μm or less), it is possible to efficiently mix multiple types of fluids introduced into the mixing flow path through multiple supply ports by moving minute fluid masses. Since the molecular motion of the fluid flowing in the mixing channel can be increased mainly along the diffusion direction between the fluids by the vibration from the diffusion control means transmission, the diffusion direction of the molecules in the vicinity of the contact interface between the stratified flows formed by the fluid can be increased. The movement can be increased, and the mixing between the fluids in the mixing channel and the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing can be efficiently promoted.

As a result, the frequency, intensity (vibration energy), etc. of the vibration transmitted to the fluid by the diffusion control means are appropriately controlled according to the type, the liquid temperature, the viscosity, the flow velocity, etc. of the fluid introduced into the mixing channel. This makes it possible to precisely control the mixing of the fluids in the mixing channel and the progress of the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing. Here, controlling the progress of mixing and the progress of a chemical reaction mainly means controlling the mixing rate and the chemical reaction rate between fluids. Controlling properties such as the shape and size of the product, and promotion and suppression of coalescence or aggregation of the reaction products are also included.

The micro mixer according to a second aspect of the present invention is the micro mixer according to the first aspect, in which the diffusion control means for transmitting vibrations to the fluid flowing in the mixing channel along the diffusion direction is replaced. A diffusion control means for irradiating the fluid flowing in the mixing channel with microwaves along the diffusion direction is provided.

Also with the micromixer according to the second aspect, the molecular motion of the fluid flowing in the mixing channel can be increased mainly by the microwave radiated from the transmission of the diffusion control means along the diffusion direction between the fluids. Similar to the micromixer according to claim 1, the diffusion rate of molecules near the contact interface between laminar flows formed by fluids is increased, and mixing between fluids in a mixing channel and chemical reactions accompanying the mixing are efficiently performed. Can be promoted.

As a result, the frequency, intensity (electromagnetic wave energy), etc. of the microwave radiated to the fluid by the diffusion control means are appropriately controlled according to the type, the liquid temperature, the viscosity, the flow velocity, etc. of the fluid introduced into the mixing channel. By doing so, it becomes possible to precisely control the mixing of the fluids in the mixing channel and the progress of the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing.

Further, in the micromixer according to the second aspect, since the molecular motion of the fluid is increased by the microwave having a strong directivity, the molecular motion of the fluid existing in the specific region in the microchannel is intensively increased. It is also possible to control the mixing of the fluids in the mixing channel and the progress of the chemical reaction associated with the mixing with higher accuracy as compared with the micromixer according to the first aspect.

In the micromixer according to the first and second aspects, the fluid supplied from the outside to the plurality of fluid supply paths is, for example, a liquid, a gas, a solid in which metal fine particles are dispersed in the liquid. A liquid mixture, a solid-gas mixture in which fine metal particles are dispersed in a gas, a gas-liquid mixture in which a gas is not dissolved in a liquid, and the like are also applicable, and different fluid types mean different chemical compositions. Not only this, but also the case where the conditions such as temperature and solid-liquid ratio are different are included.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A micromixer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
An example of the micro mixer according to the embodiment is shown. This micro mixer 10 has two types of solutions L1,
It is for mixing L2 and supplying the solution LM in which these solutions L1 and L2 are uniformly mixed to the outside. Here, when the solutions L1 and L2 are mixed by the micromixer 10, there may be a case where a chemical reaction occurs between the solutions L1 and L2, and a case where no chemical reaction occurs. In any case, the micromixer according to the present embodiment is used. Can also be used for

As shown in FIG. 1, the external shape of the micromixer 10 is formed into a substantially prismatic shape as a whole, and a thin-walled cylindrical mixer main body 1 constituting the outer shell of the apparatus.
Equipped with 2. Here, the straight line S in the figure indicates the axis connecting the center of the cross section of the mixer body 12. The mixer main body 12 has a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the axis, and in the mixer main body 12, a base end side along the axial direction (see FIG.
On the left side), a partition plate 14 that partitions the internal space of the mixer body 12 is arranged. The partition plate 14 divides the space inside the mixer main body 12 into two equal parts in the lateral direction of the cross section, whereby the first liquid supply passage 16 linearly extends inside the mixer main body 12 along the axial direction. And the second liquid supply passage 18 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 1 (A), the base end of the mixer body 12 is closed by a cover plate 20, and two liquid supply pipes 38, 39 are connected to the cover plate 20. There is. Through these liquid supply pipes 38, 39, the liquid supply passage 1
Solution L1 and solution L2 in a pressurized state are fed into the insides of 6 and 18 from two liquid supply sources ((not shown) installed on the upstream side of the micromixer 10, respectively. The liquid source includes, for example, another micromixer that produces the solutions L1 and L2, a storage tank that stores the solutions L1 and L2, and a pump.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the first liquid supply port 22 and the second liquid supply port, which are substantially rectangular, are formed on the tip surfaces of the two liquid supply passages 16 and 18 in the mixer body 12. 24 are opened, and these liquid supply ports 22 and 24 are adjacent to each other along the diffusion direction (direction of arrow D) of the solutions L1 and L2. Here, the diffusion direction is the liquid supply paths 16 and 18
It is a direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the solutions L1 and L2 in the inside (direction of arrow F), and in the present embodiment, the mixer main body 12
Coincides with the lateral direction of the cross section perpendicular to the axis of. Further, the liquid supply ports 22 and 24 are each formed into a slender rectangle in the interface direction (direction of arrow B) orthogonal to the diffusion direction.

As shown in FIG. 1A, in the mixer main body 12, there is formed a prismatic space where the liquid supply passages 16 and 18 join downstream of the liquid supply passages 16 and 18 along the flow direction. This space is formed and serves as a mixing flow path 26 in which the solutions L1 and L2 supplied from the liquid supply paths 16 and 18 are mixed or a chemical reaction associated with the mixing is performed. The upstream end of the mixing flow path 26 along the flow direction is connected to the liquid supply ports 22 and 24, and the downstream end thereof communicates with a liquid discharge port 28 that is open at the tip surface of the mixer body 12. ing. An annular flange portion 30 is provided at the tip of the mixer body 12 so as to extend to the outer peripheral side of the liquid outlet 28.

Here, the opening width W1 of the first liquid supply port 22 along the diffusion direction is in the range of 1 μm or more and 500 μm or less, depending on the supply amount and type of the solution L1 to the first liquid supply passage 16. Is set appropriately. Further, the opening width W2 of the second liquid supply port 24 along the diffusion direction is also appropriately set in the range of 1 μm or more and 500 μm or less according to the supply amount, type, etc. of the solution L2 to the second liquid supply passage 18. . In addition, the opening width WB along the interface direction of the liquid supply ports 22 and 24 is set to at least the opening widths W1 and W2. These opening widths W1, W2, W
B defines the opening areas of the liquid supply ports 22 and 24, respectively, and the inside of the mixing channel 26 passes through the liquid supply ports 22 and 24 according to the opening areas of the liquid supply ports 22 and 24 and the supply amounts of the solutions L1 and L2. The initial flow rates of the solutions L1 and L2 introduced into the are determined. Of these opening widths W1, W2, WB, the opening width W
For 1 and W2, for example, the flow rates of the solutions L1 and L2 supplied into the mixing flow path 26 through the liquid supply ports 22 and 24 are set to be equal to each other. However, in consideration of shortening the time until the solutions L1 and L2 are uniformly mixed (mixing time), naturally, the narrower the opening widths W1 and W2 are, the more advantageous it is. Further, along the diffusion direction of the partition plate 14. It is desirable to make the thickness as thin as possible.

In the micromixer 10, the solutions L1 and L2 are mixed in the mixing flow path 26, or the solution LM in which the chemical reaction has been performed together with the mixing is discharged from the liquid outlet 28. When the solution LM is generated only by mixing the solutions L1 and L2, it is necessary that the solutions L1 and L2 are substantially evenly mixed by the outlet of the mixing channel 26.
When the solution LM is produced by mixing and chemically reacting the solutions L1 and L2, the solutions L1 and L2 are mixed almost uniformly up to the outlet of the mixing channel 26, and the solution L
The chemical reaction between 1 and L2 also needs to be almost completely completed. Therefore, the path length PF along the flow direction of the mixing flow path 26 (see FIG. 1A) is set to such a length that the mixing of the solutions L1 and L2 is completed or the mixing and the chemical reaction are completed. There is a need. In addition, in the mixer body 12,
Always the solutions L1 and L2 and the mixed solution LM
Is filled without any gap, and the liquid outlet 2 is discharged from the inside of the liquid supply passages 16 and 18.
It is supposed to be distributed to the 8 side.

Here, at the tip of the mixer body 12,
A liquid outlet pipe (not shown) having a flange portion that is paired with the flange portion 30 is connected, and the liquid outlet 2 of the mixer body 12 is connected.
The solution LM discharged from 8 is sent to a storage container for temporary storage, another micromixer for performing the next process on the solution LM, etc. through the liquid discharge pipe. Here, the flange portion 30 of the mixer main body 12 and the flange portion of the liquid discharge pipe may be a threaded joint using bolts and nuts, a full-flare joint into which a ring-shaped connecting member is fitted from the outer peripheral side of the pair of flange portions, or the like. They can be connected by various joint structures, or may be connected by welding. In addition,
As the liquid discharge pipe, a general cylindrical metal pipe or the like may be used as long as the flange portion provided at the downstream end thereof matches the shape of the flange portion 30 of the micromixer 10. it can.

A vibration generator 32 in the form of a thick plate is attached to the mixer main body 12 so that the upper surface and the lower surface of the mixer main body 12 are in close contact with each other. The length of the pair of vibration generators 32 along the flow direction is set to the mixing flow path 2
6, and the width along the interface is made substantially equal to the opening width of the mixing channel 26. here,
The vibration generator 32 is arranged so that its upstream end coincides with the upstream end of the mixing flow path 26. This allows
The pair of vibration generators 32 face the entire upper surface portion and the entire lower surface portion of the mixing flow passage 26, respectively. Further, the vibration generator 32 is provided with a vibrating portion 34 on the contact surface with the mixer body 12, and the vibrating portion 34 causes vibration of a predetermined frequency via the mixer body 12 when the vibration generator 32 is driven. Solutions L1, L2 in mixing channel 26
And transfer to solution LM. At this time, the vibration from the vibrating section 34 is transmitted to the solutions L1, L2 and the solution LM along the diffusion direction as shown by the arrow V in FIG. 1, and the molecules of the solutions L1, L2, LM are transmitted by this transmission vibration. Since the movement increases along the diffusion direction, the mixing between the solutions L1 and L2 or the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing is promoted.

The vibration generator 32 uses, for example, a piezo element as a vibration source, and by supplying an alternating current to the piezo element, a vibration corresponding to the current frequency is generated by the vibrating section 3.
Generate from 4. At this time, the vibration frequency generated from the vibrating section 34 is in the range of 1 KHz to 10 MHz,
That is, it is controlled in the high frequency and ultrasonic band. Specifically, when the solutions L1 and L2 flowing in the mixing flow path 26 are mixed or chemically react with each other, vibration is caused mainly in accordance with a desired mixing rate of the solutions L1 and L2 or a chemical reaction rate. The frequency is set appropriately. At this time, the mixer body 12 and the solutions L1, L2, to which the vibration is transmitted,
Unless the resonance effect in the LM is taken into consideration, the higher the vibration frequency, the larger the vibration energy (kinetic energy). Therefore, the solutions L1 and L in the mixing channel 26 are
The mixing of the two and the progress of the chemical reaction will be accelerated.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the micromixer 10 is provided with a drive controller 36 for controlling the drive of the pair of vibration generators 32. This drive control unit 3
When the solutions L1, L2, and LM flow through the mixing channel 26, the reference numeral 6 stores the ON / OFF state of the vibration generator 32, the duty ratio that is the ratio of the ON time and the OFF time, and the vibration frequency in the internal memory or the like. Control is performed so as to comply with preset control conditions. This control condition is basically the solution L1,
The type of L2, that is, the chemical components of the solutions L1 and L2, the liquid temperature, the viscosity, etc., and when a chemical reaction is involved in the mixing between the solutions L1 and L2, it varies depending on the properties of the reaction product, etc. Further, it also varies depending on the change in the supply amount of the solutions L1 and L2, that is, the flow rate of the solutions L1 and L2 in the mixing channel 26. Such control conditions are set, for example, by an operator of the manufacturing line in which the micromixer 10 is arranged, using an operation terminal or the like, or a high-order process computer that controls the entire manufacturing line automatically sets based on a production schedule or the like. Set to.

In the micro mixer 10 constructed as described above, the liquid supply passages 16, 1 are supplied through the liquid supply pipes 38, 39.
By supplying the solutions L1 and L2 in a pressurized state to the liquid supply path 8, the solutions L1 and L2 are supplied to the liquid supply path 1 respectively.
6 and 18, and is introduced into the mixing flow path 26 through the liquid supply ports 22 and 24 as a liquid flow having a predetermined flow velocity. At this time, the opening widths W1 and W2 of the liquid supply ports 22 and 24
Has a minute width of 1 μm to 500 μm, the solutions L1 and L2 introduced into the mixing flow passage 26 through the liquid supply ports 22 and 24 have opening widths W1 and W, respectively.
While becoming a flaky stratified flow having a width corresponding to 2, flowing toward the outlet port 28 side, at the contact interface of each stratified flow, molecular diffusion occurs along the normal line direction of the solutions L1 and L2. Mixing proceeds. At the same time, in the micromixer 10, the vibrations from the pair of vibration generators 32 are transmitted to the solutions L1, L2, LM in the mixing channel 26 along the diffusion direction, and thus flow in the mixing channel 26. Solution L
Since the movement of the minute fluid masses of L1 and L2 in the diffusion direction and the molecular motion can be increased by the transmission vibration, the movement speed of the molecules in the diffusion direction near the contact interface between the stratified flows formed by the solutions L1 and L2 is increased. The mixing between the solutions L1 and L2 in the mixing flow path 26 and the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing can be efficiently promoted.

Therefore, according to the micromixer 10 of this embodiment, the vibration generator 3 can be used depending on the types, the liquid temperature, the viscosity, etc. of the solutions L1 and L2 introduced into the mixing channel 26.
By appropriately controlling the frequency of the vibration transmitted to the solutions L1, L2, and LM by means of 2, it is possible to precisely control the mixing between the solutions L1 and L2 in the mixing channel 26 and the progress of the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing. become. As a result, the solution L
It becomes possible to precisely control the mixing rate between 1 and L2 and the chemical reaction rate to a desired rate.
When a chemical reaction is involved in the mixing between 1 and L2, the mixing rate and reaction rate are precisely controlled, or the solution L1, L2, L
By transmitting the vibration to the reaction product in M as well, it becomes possible to control the properties such as the shape and size of this reaction product, and the promotion and suppression of coalescence or aggregation of the reaction products.

Further, in the micromixer 10, since the mixing and the chemical reaction between the solutions L1 and L2 in the mixing channel 26 can be accelerated by the vibration from the vibration generator 32, the solution can be compared with the case without the vibration generator 32. L1, L
The apparatus can be downsized by shortening the path length PF of the mixing flow path 26 required to uniformly mix the two or to complete the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing.

The solution L1 to the mixing channel 26 is
When supplying L2, it is not necessary to constantly drive the vibration generator 32, and when it is desired to slowly perform the chemical reaction between the solutions L1 and L2, the vibration generator 32 may be stopped. The mixer body 12 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel, which has high chemical stability and low vibration damping, and copper, titanium alloy, aluminum alloy, gold, platinum, and the like, and also has corrosion resistance. Considering solution L1, L2, L
The contact portion with M may be coated or plated with another substance such as glass or ceramics. If the mixer main body 12 cannot be made sufficiently thin, or if it is necessary to form the mixer main body 12 from a material having large vibration damping, an opening is formed in the mixer main body 12 so as to face the mixing flow path 26, and the opening is formed. The vibration generator 32 may be arranged so that the vibrating section 34 is inserted into the mixing flow path 26 from the section.

Next, a modification of the micromixer according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 shows a modification of the micromixer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is different from the micromixer 10 shown in FIG. 1 in structure, the three vibration generators 42, 44,
46 is attached to the mixer main body 12, and the number of vibration generators is increasing only. In other respects, the structures of the micromixers 10 and 40 are common.
The structure itself of the vibration generators 42, 44 and 46 is also shared with the vibration generator 32.

As described above, the mixer body 12 has
Three vibration generators 42, 44, and 46 are attached so that they are in close contact with the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion, respectively. These vibration generators 42, 44, 46 are adjacent to each other along the flow direction, and the length along the flow direction is approximately 1/3 of the length of the mixing flow path 26.
The width along the interface direction is made substantially equal to the opening width of the mixing channel 26. Here, the upstream end of the vibration generator 42 arranged on the most upstream side is arranged so as to coincide with the upstream end of the mixing flow path 26, and the downstream end of the vibration generator 46 arranged on the most downstream side is mixed flow. It is arranged so as to substantially coincide with the downstream end of the passage 26. As a result, the vibration generators 42, 44, and 46, which are three in each of the upper and lower parts, are arranged in the mixing flow path 26.
The entire upper surface portion and the entire lower surface portion in are directly opposed.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the micromixer 40 is provided with a drive controller 48 for controlling the drive of the vibration generators 42, 44 and 46. The drive control unit 48 causes the solutions L1, L2, and
When the LM flows, the vibration generators 42, 44, and 46 are controlled so that the ON and OFF states, the duty ratio, which is the ratio of the ON time and the OFF time, and the vibration frequency follow the control conditions preset in the internal memory or the like. To do. At this time, the drive control unit 48 can control the vibration generators 42, 44, and 46 at different positions along the flow direction according to different control conditions.

The control conditions set in the drive control unit 36 are
Basically, similar to the micromixer 10 shown in FIG. 1, the types of the solutions L1 and L2, that is, the chemical components of the solutions L1 and L2, the liquid temperature, the viscosity, etc., and the chemical reaction for mixing between the solutions L1 and L2 In the case of accompanying, it will be different depending on the nature of the reaction organism and the change in the supply amount of the solutions L1 and L2,
That is, the solutions L1 and L2 in the mixing channel 26
It also depends on the flow velocity of. Such control conditions are set, for example, by an operator of a manufacturing line in which the micro mixer 10 is arranged, using an operation terminal,
A high-level process computer that controls the entire manufacturing line automatically sets the production line based on the production schedule.

In the micro mixer 40 constructed as described above, the liquid supply passages 16, 1 are supplied through the liquid supply pipes 38, 39.
By supplying the solutions L1 and L2 in a pressurized state to the respective solutions 8, the solutions L1 and L2 introduced into the mixing flow passage 26 through the liquid supply ports 22 and 24 are provided as in the micromixer 10 shown in FIG. Are opening widths W1 and W, respectively
A thin flaky stratified flow having a width corresponding to 2 flows toward the outlet 28 side, and at the contact interface of each stratified flow, movement of a minute fluid mass is promoted along the normal direction, In addition, the molecular motion increases and the mixing of the solutions L1 and L2 progresses, and at the same time, the vibrations from the vibration generators 42, 44 and 46 are applied to the solutions L1, L2 and LM in the mixing channel 26 along the diffusion direction. Since it is transmitted, the moving speed of the molecules of the solutions L1 and L2 in the diffusion direction in the mixing channel 26 can be increased to efficiently promote the mixing and the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing.

Further, in the micromixer 40, the vibration generators 42, 44, 46 arranged at different positions along the flow direction can be driven under different control conditions, so that the solution L1 flowing in the mixing flow path 26 can be driven. ，
The vibration transmitted to L2 and the solution LM can be changed stepwise along the flow direction. As a result, the mixing of the solutions L1 and L2 in the mixing channel 26 or the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing can be promoted under different vibration conditions corresponding to the three vibration generators 42, 44 and 46, respectively.
As compared with the micromixer 10 shown in FIG. 1, it becomes possible to control the mixing between the solutions L1 and L2 in the mixing flow path 26 and the progress of the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing more precisely.

The solution L1 to the mixing channel 26 is
It is not necessary to drive all the three vibration generators 42, 44, 46 at the same time when supplying L2, and the three vibration generators 4
Any one of 2, 44 and 46 may be selectively driven or stopped. Moreover, in the micromixers 10 and 40 of the present embodiment, the vibration generators 32, 42, 44, and 46 having the piezoelectric element as the vibration source are used.
If it is possible to generate vibration of about 10 Hz to 10 MHz,
Any vibration source may be used, for example,
An eccentric cam driven by a motor, an electromagnetic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or the like may be used as the vibration source. Further, the micro mixer 1 according to the present embodiment
At 0 and 40, the solution L1 and L
2, the frequency of the vibration generated by the vibration generators 32, 42, 44, 46 was changed in order to change the intensity (vibration energy) of the vibration transmitted to the LM, but by changing the amplitude of the vibration The vibration energy may be changed.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 shows a micromixer according to the embodiment. This micromixer 110, like the micromixers 10 and 40 according to the first embodiment, has two types of solutions L.
Solution LM in which 1 and L2 are mixed at the same time and these solutions L1 and L2 are uniformly mixed or the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing is completed.
Is to be supplied to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 3, the micromixer 110 is formed in a substantially columnar shape as a whole, and is provided with a cylindrical mixer body 112 that constitutes the outer shell of the apparatus. Here, the straight line S in the drawing indicates the axis of the device, and the following description will be given with the direction along the axis S as the axial direction of the device. The mixer main body 112 has a large-diameter portion 114 whose base end portion along the axial direction has a larger diameter with respect to the tip end side portion. Inside the large-diameter portion 114, the solution L1 and A pair of a first header portion 116 and a second header portion 118 that receives the supply of L2 is provided.
The mixer main body 112 has a circular tube portion 120 having a constant inner diameter on the tip side with respect to the large diameter portion.
A liquid discharge port 122 for the solution LM is opened at the front end surface of 0, and a ring-shaped flange portion 124 is provided at the front end portion of the circular pipe portion 120 so as to extend to the outer peripheral side of the liquid discharge port 122. There is.

Here, a liquid discharge pipe (not shown) having a flange portion paired with the flange portion 124 is connected to the tip of the mixer main body 112, and the solution discharged from the liquid outlet 122 of the mixer main body 112. The LM is sent to a storage container for temporary storage, another micromixer for performing the next process on the solution LM, and the like through the liquid discharge pipe. Here, the flange portion 124 of the mixer main body 112 and the flange portion of the liquid discharge pipe are, for example, a threaded joint using bolts and nuts, a full-flare joint into which a ring-shaped connecting member is inserted from the outer peripheral side of the pair of flange portions, They can be connected by various joint structures, or may be connected by welding.

Large diameter portion 114 of mixer body 112
The base end surface of is closed by a disc-shaped lid plate 126,
A circular fitting hole 128 is formed in the center of the lid plate 126. The mixer body 112 has a large diameter portion 11
A round bar-shaped rectifying member 130 is coaxially arranged so as to project from the inside into the circular pipe portion 120. Rectifying member 130
The base end portion of is fitted and supported in the fitting hole 128 of the cover plate 126. Further, a conical portion 132 whose diameter is reduced toward the tip side is formed at the tip of the flow regulating member 130. Here, the outer diameter of the rectifying member 130 is smaller than the inner diameter of the circular pipe portion 120, and the dimensional difference from the inner diameter of the circular pipe portion 120 is based on the flow rates of the solutions L1 and L2 in the circular pipe portion 120. Is set.

Inside the large diameter portion 114 of the mixer main body 112, there is arranged a disk-shaped partition plate 134 which divides the space inside the large diameter portion 114 into approximately two equal parts along the axial direction. The space on the base end side and the space on the tip end side divided by the partition plate 134 are respectively the first header portion 116 and the second header portion 116.
It is a header section 118. These header parts 11
Liquid supply pipes 136 and 138 are connected to 6 and 118, respectively. Through the liquid supply pipes 136 and 138, the headers 116 and 118 are connected to the micro mixer 1
Solution L1 and solution L2 in a pressurized state are supplied from two liquid supply sources (not shown) installed on the upstream side of 10. These liquid supply sources are, for example, other micromixers that generate the solutions L1 and L2, a storage tank that stores the solutions L1 and L2, and a partition plate 134 that includes a pump and the like. A circular opening having a middle size between the inner diameter of the portion 120 and the outer diameter of the rectifying member 130 is bored, and the partition plate 134 has a pipe protruding from the peripheral edge of the opening into the circular pipe portion 120. Shaped partition member 140 is integrally formed. This partition member 14
0 is arranged coaxially with the circular pipe portion 120 and the rectifying member 130, and divides the space between the circular pipe portion 120 and the rectifying member 130 into an inner peripheral side and an outer peripheral side. Here, the space on the outer peripheral side and the space on the inner peripheral side divided by the partition member 140 are respectively the first liquid supply passage 142 and the second liquid supply passage 14.
4 and these first and second liquid supply paths 142, 144
Are the first and second header portions 116, 116 on the base end side, respectively.
It communicates with 118. Further, in the circular pipe portion 120 of the mixer main body 112, the liquid supply passage 1 is provided on the tip side of the partition wall member 140 and on the base end side of the conical portion 132 of the flow regulating member 130.
42 and 144, a thick cylindrical space is formed, and this cylindrical space mixes or mixes and chemically reacts the solution L1 and the solution L2 supplied from the liquid supply paths 142 and 144, respectively. Is used as the mixing flow path 146.

Inside the mixer main body 112, a circular pipe portion 120 is provided.
A plurality of (four in the present embodiment) spacers 148 are interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the partition member 140 and the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 140, and the inner peripheral surface of the partition member 140 and the outer peripheral surface of the rectifying member 130. A plurality of (four in the present embodiment) spacers 1 are also provided between the spacers 1.
50 is installed. These plural spacers 14
8 and 150 are each formed in a rectangular plate shape, and are supported so that the front and back surfaces thereof are parallel to the circulation direction (direction of arrow F) of the solutions L1 and L2 in the circular tube portion 120. Further, the plurality of spacers 148 and 150 are arranged at intervals of 90 ° along the circumferential direction with the axis S as the center, and the positions in the circumferential direction coincide with each other. Here, the spacer 148 on the outer peripheral side connects the partition member 140 to the circular tube portion 120, and the spacer 150 on the inner peripheral side is the rectifying member 1.
30 is connected to the partition member 140, and the liquid supply passage 14
2, 144 radial opening widths W1, W2 (see FIG.
(See (A)) is set. Thereby, the partition member 1
40 and the rectifying member 130 are connected and fixed to the circular tube portion 120 with sufficient strength, respectively, and are prevented from being displaced or deformed from a predetermined position due to the influence of the liquid pressure or gravity of the solutions L1 and L2, and the opening. The widths W1 and W2 are reliably maintained at the preset dimensions.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the first liquid supply passages 142 and the first liquid supply passages 142 and the first liquid supply passages 152 opening into the mixing flow passage 146 are provided at the tips of the first liquid supply passage 142 and the second liquid supply passage 144, respectively. Two liquid supply ports 154 are formed. These liquid supply ports 1
52 and 154 are arranged so as to be concentric with each other, each opening along a circular locus about the axis S. Here, the opening width W1 along the radial direction of the first liquid supply port 152 is appropriately set in the range of 1 μm or more and 500 μm or less according to the supply amount, type, etc. of the solution L1 to the first header portion 116. It Further, the opening width W2 along the radial direction of the second liquid supply port 154 is also in the range of 1 μm or more and 500 μm or less,
It is appropriately set according to the supply amount, type, etc. of the solution L2 to the second header portion 118.

Here, the opening widths W1 and W2 define the opening areas of the liquid supply ports 152 and 154, respectively.
Depending on the opening areas of 52 and 154 and the supply amounts of the solutions L1 and L2, the mixing flow path 1 is passed through the liquid supply ports 152 and 154.
The initial flow rates of the solutions L1 and L2 introduced into 46 are determined. These opening widths W1 and W2 are, for example, the liquid supply port 15
The flow rates of the solutions L1 and L2 supplied into the mixing flow path 146 through Nos. 2 and 154 are set to be equal to each other. However, in consideration of shortening the time until the solutions L1 and L2 are uniformly mixed (mixing time), naturally, the narrower the opening widths W1 and W2 are, the more advantageous, and the partition member 14 is.
The thickness along the radial direction of 0 is also desired to be as thin as possible.

Mixing channel 1 in the circular pipe section 120
In the space closer to the tip than 46, the solutions L1 and L2 are mixed in the mixing channel 146, or the solution LM in which the mixing and the chemical reaction have been performed flows toward the solution outlet 122 and a discharge channel 156. Has been done. Here, the solution LM is the solution L1,
In the case where it is generated only by mixing L2, the solutions L1 and L2 need to be substantially uniformly mixed at the outlet of the mixing channel 146, and the solution LM is mixed by the chemical reaction of the solutions L1 and L2. When it is generated, it is necessary that the solutions L1 and L2 are mixed substantially uniformly at the outlet of the mixing flow path 146, and the chemical reaction between the solutions L1 and L2 is almost completely completed. Therefore, the mixing channel 146
Path length PF along the flow direction of the solutions L1 and L2 of FIG.
(See (A)) needs to be set to a length such that the mixing of the solutions L1 and L2 is completed, or the mixing and the chemical reaction are substantially completed. It should be noted that the mixer main body 112 is always filled with the solutions L1 and L2 and the solution LM in which these are mixed without any gaps, and the header portions 116 and 118 are provided with a liquid outlet 122.
It is supposed to be distributed to the side.

As shown in FIG. 3A, a plurality of openings 158 are formed in the circular tube portion 120 of the mixer body 112 so as to face the mixing flow passage 146. These openings 158 are provided in the mixing channel 1 in the flow direction.
The holes are formed at the portions corresponding to the upstream portion, the intermediate portion, and the downstream portion of 46, respectively, and 90 in the circumferential direction around the axis S.
° Spaced. Therefore, in the circular tube portion 120,
Four openings 158 are bored in the regions corresponding to the upstream portion, the intermediate portion, and the downstream portion of the mixing channel 146, and a total of 12 openings 158 are provided. A plurality of microwave generators 160 are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the circular tube portion 120 so as to correspond to the openings 158, respectively. The microwave generator 160 is provided with a cylindrical projection-like fitting insertion portion 162 on the inner peripheral side thereof, and the microwave generator 160 fits the fitting insertion portion 162 into the opening 158 to fit it. The tip surface of the insertion portion 162 is exposed inside the mixing flow path 146.

The microwave generator 160 mixes microwaves from the tip surface of the fitting portion 162 during driving.
The solutions L1, L2 and LM in 6 are irradiated. At this time, the microwaves from the microwave generator 160 are applied to the solutions L1, L2 and the solution LM along the radial direction that coincides with the diffusion direction of the solutions L1, L2, as shown by the broken line in FIG. . This microwave increases the molecular motion of the solutions L1, L2, LM along the diffusion direction, so that the solutions L1, L2
The mixing or the chemical reaction associated with the mixing is promoted.

The microwave generator 160 uses, for example, a magnetron as a microwave generation source, and supplies a drive current to the magnetron to generate a microwave having an intensity corresponding to the current value. At this time, a microwave having a frequency of 10 MHz or higher is selected as the microwave generated by the microwave generator 160. Specifically, the microwave frequency effectively increases the molecular motion of the solutions L1, L2, LM without causing an excessive heat generation phenomenon in the solutions L1, L2, LM flowing in the mixing channel 146. Frequency is selected.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the micromixer 110 is provided with a drive controller 164 for controlling the drive of the microwave generator 160. The drive control unit 164 allows the solutions L1 and L to flow through the mixing channel 146.
2. When the LM flows, the on / off state of the microwave generator 160 and the microwave intensity are controlled so as to comply with the control conditions preset in the internal memory or the like. The control conditions are basically the types of the solutions L1 and L2, that is, the chemical components of the solutions L1 and L2, the liquid temperature, the viscosity, the solution L1, and the like.
When a chemical reaction is involved in the mixing between L2, it varies depending on the properties of the reaction product, and the solution L1, L2
Of the solution L1, that is, the flow rate of the solutions L1 and L2 in the mixing channel 146. Such control conditions are set, for example, by an operator of the manufacturing line in which the micro mixer 110 is arranged, using an operation terminal or the like, or a higher-level process computer that controls the entire manufacturing line automatically sets based on a production schedule or the like. Set to. Further, the drive control unit 164 can control the microwave generators 160 at different positions along the flow direction according to different control conditions.

In the micromixer 110 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, as in the case of the micromixers 10 and 40 according to the first embodiment, the liquid supply ports 152, 1 are provided.
The two kinds of solutions L1 and L2 introduced into the mixing flow passage 146 through 54 respectively form a flaky laminar flow corresponding to the opening widths W1 and W2 of the liquid supply ports 152 and 154, respectively. As the molecules of the solutions L1 and L2 are diffused at the interface between the laminar flows that are adjacent to each other while flowing, the two types of solutions L1 and L2 introduced into the mixing channel 146 are uniformly mixed in a short time. Or complete the chemical reaction associated with mixing and supply the solution LM to the outside. At this time, the microwaves from the microwave generator 160 generate the solutions L1, L2, L in the mixing channel 146.
Since M is irradiated, the diffusion rate of the molecules of the solutions L1 and L2 in the mixing channel 146 can be increased to efficiently promote the mixing and the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing.

Further, in the micromixer 110, the microwave generators 160 arranged at different positions along the flow direction can be driven under different control conditions, so that the solution L1 flowing in the mixing flow channel 146 can be driven.
The microwaves applied to L2 and the solution LM can be changed stepwise along the flow direction. As a result, the mixing of the solutions L1 and L2 in the mixing channel 146 or the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing can be promoted under different vibration conditions corresponding to the microwave generators 160 at different positions. It becomes possible to precisely control the mixing of the solutions L1 and L2 and the progress of the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing. At this time, since the microwave has a stronger directivity than the vibration, the solutions L1, L2, and LM existing in the region corresponding to the microwave generator 160 at a certain position along the flow direction are located at other positions. It is possible to suppress the influence of the microwave from the microwave generator 160 in the above. As a result, as compared with the micromixers 10 and 40 according to the first embodiment, the mixing of the solutions L1, L2, and LM in the mixing channel 146 and the progress of the chemical reaction accompanying the mixing can be controlled more precisely. Become.

The micromixers 10, 40, 110 according to the embodiments of the present invention described above are for mixing two types of solutions L1, L2 in the mixing channels 26, 146, or for chemically reacting with the mixing. However, even in a micromixer in which three or more kinds of solutions are mixed in a mixing channel or chemically reacted with mixing, by applying vibration or microwave to three or more kinds of solutions flowing in the mixing channel. The solution mixing and the chemical reaction can be promoted, and the mixing of the solution or the progress of the chemical reaction in the mixing channel can be precisely controlled by appropriately controlling the vibration generator or the microwave generator.

[0058]

As described above, according to the micromixer of the present invention, it is possible to effectively promote the mixing and chemical reaction of the fluids introduced into the mixing channel through the plurality of supply ports, and the mixing channel. It is possible to control the mixing of fluids and the progress of chemical reaction in the interior with sufficiently high accuracy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along an axial direction and an axis-perpendicular direction showing a configuration of an example of a micromixer according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the axial direction and the direction perpendicular to the axis, showing the configuration of a modified example of the micromixer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a micromixer according to a second embodiment of the present invention, taken along the axial direction and the direction perpendicular to the axis.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Micro mixer 12 Mixer body 16 First liquid supply path (fluid supply path) 18 Second liquid supply path (fluid supply path) 22 1st liquid supply port (supply port) 24 Second liquid supply port (supply port) 26 mixing channels 32 Vibration generator (diffusion control means) 36 Drive control unit (diffusion control means) 40 micro mixer 42 Vibration generator (diffusion control means) 44 Vibration generator (diffusion control means) 46 Vibration generator (diffusion control means) 48 Drive control unit (diffusion control means) 110 micro mixer 142 First liquid supply path (fluid supply path) 144 Second liquid supply path (fluid supply path) 146 mixing channel 152 First liquid supply port (supply port) 154 Second liquid supply port (supply port) 160 Microwave generator (diffusion control means) 164 Drive control unit (diffusion control means)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Fumiko Shiraishi             Fuji Photo, 210 Nakanuma, Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture             Within Film Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 4G035 AB36 AE02 AE19                 4G036 AB23                 4G075 AA02 AA39 BA10 BB05 BB10                       BD01 CA26 DA02 DA18 EB21                       EB27 EE01 EE04

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A fluid is supplied through a plurality of supply ports, one for each.
It is a micromixer that is introduced into the mixing flow path of a book and diffuses the fluids in the normal direction of the contact interface and mixes them while circulating these fluids as a flaky laminar flow. A plurality of fluid supply passages through which the fluid flows from one end to the other end, respectively, and openings at the other end portions of the plurality of fluid supply passages, respectively, and are orthogonal to the flow direction of the fluid in the fluid supply passage. A plurality of supply ports arranged so as to be adjacent to each other along a predetermined diffusion direction, one end of which is connected to the plurality of supply ports, and the fluid introduced through the plurality of supply ports is discharged from the other end And a diffusion control means for transmitting vibration to the fluid flowing in the mixing channel along the diffusion direction, and the opening width of the plurality of supply ports along the diffusion direction is 1 μm.
A micromixer characterized in that it is not less than m and not more than 500 μm. 2. A fluid is supplied through a plurality of supply ports, one for each.
It is a micromixer that is introduced into the mixing flow path of a book and diffuses the fluids in the normal direction of the contact interface and mixes them while circulating these fluids as a flaky laminar flow. A plurality of fluid supply passages through which the fluid flows from one end to the other end, respectively, and openings at the other end portions of the plurality of fluid supply passages, respectively, and are orthogonal to the flow direction of the fluid in the fluid supply passage. A plurality of supply ports arranged so as to be adjacent to each other along a predetermined diffusion direction, one end of which is connected to the plurality of supply ports, and the fluid introduced through the plurality of supply ports is discharged from the other end And a diffusion control means for irradiating the fluid flowing in the mixing channel with microwaves along the diffusion direction, and the opening width of the plurality of supply ports along the diffusion direction. 1μ
A micromixer characterized in that it is not less than m and not more than 500 μm. 3. The micro according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the diffusion control means are provided along the flow direction, and the plurality of diffusion control means can be independently driven and controlled. mixer.