JP2006289250A - Micro mixer and fluid mixing method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a micro mixer with a simple configuration and a fluid mixing method using the mixer. <P>SOLUTION: The micro mixer 100 comprises a fluid flow pipe 10 which forms a plurality of fluid channels 11 expended in parallel to each other in the inside along the longitudinal direction and a fluid mixing part 20 which is installed continuously in the fluid flow-out side of the fluid flow pipe 10, forms a fluid stagnation region 21 for stagnating a plurality of fluids flowing out of the fluid flow pipe 10 in a state the fluids are mixed, and has mixing fine pores for for passing, stratifying and mixing a plurality of the fluids. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a micromixer and a fluid mixing method using the micromixer.

  When a chemical reaction is caused by using plural kinds of raw materials, a mixing operation of these raw materials is indispensable. Various mixers are used for such a mixing operation.

  For example, a static in-pipe mixer has a fluid flow channel having a width of several mm to several tens of mm, and macro-mixes a plurality of kinds of raw material fluids flowing through the fluid flow channel by laminar flow and turbulent flow mixing.

  In addition, the micromixer has a fluid flow channel having a width of several μm to several hundreds μm, and the fluid flow channel is very narrow. Therefore, a plurality of kinds of raw material fluids flowing therethrough are micromixed by laminar flow mixing.

  Here, in the micromixing, molecular diffusion is dominant, but the mixing time by the molecular diffusion is proportional to the square of the diffusion distance. Therefore, a micromixer with an extremely narrow fluid flow path can perform mixing at high speed and high efficiency because the diffusion distance is very small, and can realize mixing that could not be performed by macro mixing such as a static in-tube mixer. It is expected and has attracted particular attention in recent years.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a pair of liquid supply passages are formed on the front surface portion of the base plate, and comb-shaped microchannel portions in the liquid supply passages extend in parallel with each other. A pair of liquid supply passages are formed, and comb-shaped microchannel portions in the liquid supply passages extend in parallel with each other. Further, the base plate has a bottom surface of the microchannel portion of the latter liquid supply passage. There is disclosed a micromixer in which a penetrating portion communicating from the portion to the mixing channel is formed, and the widths of all the microchannels are set in a range of 1 to 500 μm. According to this, even when there are three or more types of solutions to be mixed, the number of liquid supply passages equal to the type of the solution to be mixed is formed in the mixer body, and the solution is fed from the liquid supply passages into a laminar laminar flow. It can be supplied to the mixing channel.
JP 2003-210957 A

  An object of the present application is to provide a micro mixer having a simple structure and a fluid mixing method using the micro mixer.

The micromixer according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object is
A fluid circulation pipe in which a plurality of fluid flow paths extending in parallel with each other inside the pipe are configured along the length direction;
It is provided continuously on the fluid outflow side of the fluid circulation pipe, and forms a fluid reservoir region for collecting a plurality of types of fluid flowing out from the fluid circulation pipe in a mixed state, and distributes the plurality of types of fluid. A fluid mixing part having mixing pores for laminar mixing.
Is provided.

Further, the fluid mixing method according to the present invention includes:
A fluid circulation pipe having a plurality of fluid flow paths extending in parallel with each other inside the pipe along the length direction, and continuously provided on the fluid outflow side of the fluid circulation pipe and forming a fluid reservoir region Using a micromixer equipped with a fluid mixing section with pores for mixing,
A plurality of types of fluids flowing out from the fluid circulation pipe are stored in a mixed state in a fluid storage region formed by the fluid mixing unit, and the plurality of types of fluid stored in the fluid storage region are laminar mixed. It is made to distribute | circulate through the said pore for mixing of the mixing part.

  According to the present invention, the structure for performing the mixing operation by the structure provided in the piping path is simple, and thereby, high-speed mixing by laminar flow mixing unique to the micromixer can be performed. In addition, since the pressure loss occurs only at the mixing pores, the pressure loss can be suppressed as a whole, so that the flow rate per unit time can be increased as compared with the conventional micromixer.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a micromixer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The micromixer 100 includes a fluid circulation pipe 10 and a fluid mixing unit 20 provided continuously on the fluid outflow side.

  The fluid circulation pipe 10 includes a plurality of fluid flow paths 11 extending in parallel with each other inside the pipe along the length direction.

  The configuration of the fluid circulation pipe 10 is not particularly limited. As shown in FIG. 1A, the fluid circulation pipe 10 has a double-pipe structure constituted by a large-diameter pipe 12 and a small-diameter pipe 13 inserted therethrough. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1B, it may be configured by a tubular member in which a plurality of through holes are formed along the length direction.

  If the former is a double-tube structure composed of a large-diameter pipe 12 and a small-diameter pipe 13, it can be easily obtained without requiring special processing by using two existing pipes having different outer diameters. Here, in the double tube structure, not only a single small-diameter tube 13 is inserted into the large-diameter tube 12, but a plurality of small-diameters are provided in the large-diameter tube 12 as shown in FIG. The thing into which the pipe | tube 13 is penetrated is also included.

  In the case of a double tube structure, as shown in FIG. 1A, a portion inside the large diameter tube 12 and outside the small diameter tube 13 may be formed in the fluid flow path 11. With such a configuration, the inside of the pipe can be utilized to the maximum as the fluid flow path 11.

  The fluid mixing unit 20 forms a fluid reservoir region 21 for storing a plurality of types of fluids flowing out from the fluid circulation pipe 10 in a mixed state. Further, the fluid mixing unit 20 is provided with mixing pores 22 for circulating these plural types of fluids and mixing them in a laminar flow.

The mixing pores 22 perforated in the fluid mixing unit 20 are very small because the fluid is mixed in a laminar flow, and considering the laminar mixing property, the pore diameter D1 is 0.1 to 1.0 mm, or It is preferable that the pore area S1 is 0.008 to 0.8 mm ² . Here, when the hole diameter D1 is less than 0.1 mm or the hole area S1 is less than 0.008 mm ² , the pressure loss becomes large. From this viewpoint, it is more preferable that the hole diameter D1 is 0.2 mm or more and the hole area S1 is 0.030 mm ² or more. On the other hand, when the hole diameter D1 is larger than 1.0 mm or the hole area S1 is larger than 0.8 mm ² , the laminar mixing property becomes poor. From this viewpoint, the hole diameter D1 is more preferably 0.5 mm or less, and the hole area S1 is more preferably 0.200 mm ² or less. The pore diameter D1 is the diameter of the smallest circle that encloses the cross-sectional outline of the mixing pore 22.

  In the small mixing pores 22 as described above, the ratio of the pore length L1 to the pore diameter D1 is preferably 40 or less.

  In general, in order for the fluid flowing through the holes to reach a steady turbulent state, a certain amount of time is required, and in this case, a certain amount of hole length is required. In order to reach a turbulent flow state, it is said that the hole length / hole diameter must be about 40 (published by Sangyo Mizusana and Fumio Kanno, “Transport Phenomenon”, page 56). Therefore, if the ratio of the hole length L1 to the hole diameter D1 is 40 or less, that is, L1 / D1 ≦ 40, even if the Reynolds number Re is in the turbulent flow region (Re> 3000), the mixing pores In FIG. 22, high speed mixing can be performed by laminar flow mixing without developing turbulent flow. In consideration of the fact that if L1 / D1 is larger than necessary, the pressure loss increases and the load of the liquid feeding system increases, L1 / D1 ≦ 40 is preferable, and L1 / D1 ≦ 20. More preferably, it is more preferable that L1 / D1 ≦ 10. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of pressure strength, the hole length L1 is more preferably ½ or more of the hole diameter D1, that is, L1 / D1 ≧ 0.5, and more preferably L1 / D1 ≧ 1.

  A plurality of kinds of fluids flowing out from the fluid circulation pipe 10 and stored in the fluid reservoir region 21 are finally mixed in a laminar flow by the mixing pores 22. At this time, in order to obtain higher speed mixing performance, the mixed state of a plurality of types of fluids in the fluid reservoir region 21 only needs to be composed of minute segments of each fluid. Therefore, it is preferable that the number of fluid flow paths 11 is larger. Specifically, for example, in a double pipe structure, the first fluid is circulated through the fluid flow path 11 inside the large diameter pipe 12 and outside the small diameter pipe 13, and the second fluid is passed through the small diameter pipe 13. When the fluid is circulated, it is possible to obtain a faster mixing performance when there are a plurality of small-diameter pipes 13 than when there is one small-diameter pipe 13. In this case, the number of small-diameter pipes 13 is, for example, preferably 2 to 50, and more preferably 3 to 20.

  According to the micromixer 100 configured as described above, a plurality of types of fluids flowing out from the fluid circulation pipe 10 are stored in a mixed state in the fluid storage region 21 formed by the fluid mixing unit 20 and stored in the fluid storage region 21. By flowing a plurality of types of fluids through the mixing pores 22 of the fluid mixing unit 20, they can be mixed in a laminar flow. In other words, although the configuration is such that the mixing operation is performed by the structure provided in the piping path, it is possible to perform high-speed mixing by laminar mixing unique to the micromixer. In addition, since the pressure loss occurs only at the mixing pores 22, the pressure loss can be suppressed as a whole, so that the flow rate per unit time can be increased as compared with the conventional micromixer. .

  Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the micromixer according to the present invention will be described in detail.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 2 shows a fluid mixing system A according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 3 and 4 show a longitudinal section of the micromixer 100. 5 and 6 show the cross section.

  The fluid mixing system A is used for mixing two kinds of fluids, and includes a micromixer 100 and an accompanying part such as a fluid supply system.

  The micromixer 100 includes a fluid circulation pipe 10 provided in a piping path and a fluid mixing unit 20 provided continuously on the fluid outflow side.

  The fluid flow pipe 10 is configured in a double pipe structure by a large diameter pipe 12 and a single small diameter pipe 13 introduced and inserted therethrough. As a result, the fluid flow pipe 10 has two fluid flows, the first fluid flow path 11 a inside the large diameter pipe 12 and the outside of the small diameter pipe 13, and the second fluid flow path 11 b inside the small diameter pipe 13. The passages extend in parallel to each other inside the pipe and are configured along the length direction. Thus, the inside of the large-diameter pipe 12 and the outside of the small-diameter pipe 13 are configured as the first fluid flow path 11a, so that the inside of the pipe can be utilized to the maximum as a fluid flow path.

  The fluid flow pipe 10 may be obtained easily without requiring special processing, as long pipe 12 and small pipe 13 may be existing two types of pipes having different outer diameters.

  The material of the large diameter pipe 12 and the small diameter pipe 13 is not particularly limited, and is formed of, for example, metal or resin.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the large-diameter tube 12 and the small-diameter tube 13 are formed in a circular shape in both the outer shape and the cross-sectional shape of the hole. Moreover, the large diameter tube 12 and the small diameter tube 13 are formed in the same shape along the length direction, as shown in FIG. However, neither the outer shape of the large-diameter pipe 12 and the small-diameter pipe 13 nor the cross-sectional shape of the hole is particularly limited to this. It may be formed in a parallelogram, star shape, indefinite shape, or the like, and may not necessarily be formed in the same shape along the length direction.

  The large diameter tube 12 has, for example, an outer diameter of 4 to 32 mm, preferably 5 to 15 mm, and a hole diameter (inner diameter) of 3 to 30 mm, preferably 4 to 12 mm. The small diameter tube 13 has, for example, an outer diameter of 0.5 to 5 mm, preferably 1 to 3.5 mm, and a hole diameter (inner diameter) of 0.2 to 3 mm, preferably 0.5 to 2 mm.

  The fluid mixing unit 20 includes a flow pipe mounting member 24 formed in a cylindrical shape and a mixing unit main body member 25 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. One end of the flow pipe mounting member 24 is configured as a flow pipe insertion portion 24a, and a female screw is formed on the inner periphery of the other end. The mixing unit body member 25 has a male screw formed on the outer periphery of the opening end, and has a mixing pore 22 for laminating fluid on the bottom surface of the closed end and a collection pipe connecting hole 23 continuous therewith. It is formed through. The fluid mixing unit 20 is integrally formed by screwing the male screw of the mixing unit main body member 25 into the female screw of the flow pipe mounting member 24. Thus, since the mixing unit main body member 25 can be attached to and detached from the flow tube mounting member 24 fixed to the fluid flow tube 10, the micromixer 100 can be easily disassembled for maintenance.

  The fluid mixing unit 20 is externally fitted and fixed to the end of the fluid flow tube 10 inserted from the flow tube insertion part 24 a of the flow tube mounting member 24 by the flow tube mounting member 24, and is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the mixing unit main body member 25. An inner region of the cylindrical hole is formed by abutting the outer periphery of the pipe end of the fluid circulation pipe 10. This internal region constitutes a fluid reservoir region 21 in which the fluid flowing out from the fluid circulation pipe 10 is accumulated.

  The material of the fluid mixing unit 20 is not particularly limited, and is made of, for example, metal or resin.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fluid reservoir region 21 formed by the fluid mixing unit 20 is partitioned by a vertical wall 25 a facing the pipe end of the fluid circulation pipe 10 and having a mixing pore 22 drilled. It is formed in a cylindrical hole shape. However, the shape of the fluid reservoir region 21 is not particularly limited to this, and for example, a conical taper confronting the tube end of the fluid circulation tube 10 and continuing to the mixing pore 22 at the tip. It may be formed in a hole shape.

  The fluid reservoir region 21 has an inner diameter D2 of, for example, 3 to 30 mm, preferably 4 to 12 mm. Moreover, the distance L2 from the pipe end (fluid outflow end) of the fluid circulation pipe 10 to the mixing pore 22 is, for example, 0.3 to 20 mm, and preferably 1.0 to 5.0 mm.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the mixing pores 22 are formed so that the perforation direction extends in the direction along the fluid outflow direction from the fluid circulation pipe 10. Further, the mixing pores 22 are formed corresponding to the fluid center position (the axial position of the fluid flow pipe 10), as shown in FIGS. However, the mixing pores 22 are not particularly limited to these, and may be formed in the side wall so that the perforation direction extends in a direction perpendicular to the fluid outflow direction from the fluid circulation pipe 10, Moreover, you may form corresponding to the position eccentric from the fluid center.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the mixing pores 22 have a circular outer cross-sectional shape. Moreover, the mixing pores 22 are formed in the same shape along the length direction, as shown in FIG. However, the mixing pores 22 are not particularly limited to these, and the outer shape of the cross section is, for example, semicircular, elliptical, semielliptical, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, parallelogram, star, It may be formed in an indefinite shape or the like, and may not necessarily be formed in the same shape along the length direction.

The mixing pores 22 preferably have a pore diameter D1 of 0.1 to 1.0 mm or a pore area S1 of 0.008 to 0.8 mm ² in order to obtain good laminar mixing properties. . Further, the hole diameter D1 is more preferably 0.2 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less, and the hole area S1 is more preferably 0.030 mm ² or more and 0.200 mm ² or less.

  The mixing pores 22 preferably have a ratio of the hole length L1 to the hole diameter D1 of 40 or less, that is, L1 / D1 ≦ 40. Further, L1 / D1 ≦ 20 is more preferable, and L1 / D1 ≦ 10 is even more preferable. Further, L1 / D1 ≧ 0.5 is more preferable, and L1 / D1 ≧ 1 is further preferable.

  A first raw material supply pipe 32 a extending from the first raw material storage tank 31 a is connected to the large diameter pipe 12 of the fluid circulation pipe 10. The first raw material supply pipe 32a has a first pump 33a for circulating the first raw material fluid, a first flow meter 34a for detecting the flow rate of the first raw material fluid, and a first filter 35a for removing contaminants of the first fluid raw material. Are interposed in order from the upstream side, and a first pressure gauge 36a for detecting the pressure of the first raw material fluid is attached to a portion between the first flow meter 34a and the first filter 35a. Each of the first pump 33a, the first flow meter 34a, and the first pressure gauge 36a is electrically connected to the flow controller 37.

  A second raw material supply pipe 32b extending from the second raw material storage tank 31b is connected to the small diameter pipe 13 of the fluid circulation pipe 10. In the second raw material supply pipe 32b, a second pump 33b for circulating the second raw material fluid, a second flow meter 34b for detecting the flow rate of the second raw material fluid, and a second filter 35b for removing contaminants of the second fluid raw material. Are installed in order from the upstream side, and a second pressure gauge 36b for detecting the pressure of the second raw material fluid is attached to a portion between the second flow meter 34b and the second filter 35b. Each of the second pump 33b, the second flow meter 34b, and the second pressure gauge 36b is electrically connected to the flow controller 37.

  The flow rate controller 37 is configured to be capable of inputting the set flow rate and set pressure of the first raw material fluid and incorporates an arithmetic element, and is detected by the set flow rate information of the first raw material fluid and the first flow meter 34a. The first pump 33a is controlled based on the flow rate information and the pressure information detected by the first pressure gauge 36a. Similarly, the flow rate controller 37 is configured to be able to input the set flow rate and set pressure of the second raw material fluid, and the set flow rate information of the second raw material fluid, the flow rate information detected by the second flow meter 34b and the first flow rate information. The operation of the second pump 33b is controlled based on the pressure information detected by the two pressure gauges 36b.

  A mixed fluid recovery pipe 38 extends from the fluid mixing unit 20 and is connected to a recovery tank 39.

  The mixed fluid recovery pipe 38 has, for example, an outer diameter of 1 to 20 mm, preferably 1.5 to 15 mm, and a hole diameter (inner diameter) of 0.3 to 15 mm, preferably 0.5 to 10 mm. Further, the mixed fluid recovery pipe 38 desirably has a hole diameter (inner diameter) of D2 or more.

  Next, the operation of the fluid mixing system A will be described.

  When the fluid mixing system A is operated, the first pump 33a passes the first raw material fluid from the first raw material storage tank 31a through the first raw material supply pipe 32a, through the first flow meter 34a and the first filter 35a in this order. The fluid flow pipe 10 is continuously supplied to the first fluid flow path 11a of the large diameter pipe 12. The first flow meter 34 a sends the detected flow rate information of the first raw material fluid to the flow rate controller 37. Further, the first pressure gauge 36 a sends the detected pressure information of the first pressure gauge 36 a to the flow rate controller 37. Here, the first raw material fluid is not particularly limited, and has properties such as a gas phase, a liquid phase, a gas-liquid mixed phase, an emulsified phase, and a solid-liquid mixed phase (slurry) that maintain fluidity other than the solid phase. If it is a thing.

  The second pump 33b passes the second raw material fluid from the second raw material storage tank 31b through the second raw material supply pipe 32b, and then sequentially passes through the second flow meter 34b and the second filter 35b, so that the small diameter pipe 13 of the fluid circulation pipe 10 is obtained. The second fluid flow path 11b is continuously supplied. The second flow meter 34 b sends the detected flow rate information of the second raw material fluid to the flow rate controller 37. Further, the second pressure gauge 36 b sends the detected pressure information of the second pressure gauge 36 b to the flow rate controller 37. Here, the second raw material fluid is not particularly limited, and has properties such as a gas phase, a liquid phase, a gas-liquid mixed phase, an emulsified phase, and a solid-liquid mixed phase (slurry) that maintain fluidity other than the solid phase. If it is a thing.

  Based on the set flow rate information and set pressure information of the first raw material fluid, the flow rate information detected by the first flow meter 34a and the pressure information detected by the first pressure meter 36a, the flow rate controller 37 The first pump 33a is operated and controlled such that the set flow rate and set pressure of the fluid are maintained. At the same time, the flow rate controller 37 is based on the set flow rate information and set pressure information of the second raw material fluid, and the flow rate information detected by the second flow meter 34b and the pressure information detected by the second pressure meter 36b. The second pump 33b is operated and controlled such that the set flow rate and set pressure of the second raw material fluid are maintained.

  In the fluid circulation pipe 10, the first raw material fluid flows through the first fluid channel 11a, and the second raw material fluid flows through the second fluid channel 11b.

  In the fluid mixing unit 20, two types of fluids flowing out from the fluid circulation pipe 10, that is, the first and second raw material fluids are accumulated in the fluid reservoir region 21 in a mixed state, and the mixed first and second raw material fluids are collected. Circulates through the mixing pores 22 and laminar mixing is performed in a mixing time of, for example, 0.001 to 0.01 seconds. At this time, in the fluid reservoir region 21, the first and second raw material fluids are disturbed at the time of merging, and then in the mixing pores 22, they are contracted into the mixing pores 22 and in the mixing pores 22. The mixture is stretched by shearing into a fine fluid segment, and the mixing speed by molecular diffusion is increased at once, and the mixing is completed instantaneously. The mixed fluid after flowing through the mixing pores 22 is recovered in the recovery tank 39 through the mixed fluid recovery pipe 38 at a flow rate of 2 to 40 L / h, for example. In addition, a catalytic reaction, an ion exchange reaction, an electrochemical reaction, a radical reaction, a supercritical reaction, etc. may occur with the mixing of the first and second raw material fluids.

  The micromixer 100 having the above-described configuration is a simple configuration in which the mixing operation is performed by the structure provided in the piping path, and thereby, high-speed mixing by laminar flow mixing specific to the micromixer can be performed. In addition, since pressure loss occurs only at the mixing pores 22, the pressure loss as a whole can be suppressed to a low level. Therefore, compared with a conventional micromixer (flow rate 0.01 to 1.00 L / h). The flow rate per unit time can be increased.

  Further, if the distance L2 from the pipe end of the fluid circulation pipe 10 to the mixing pore 22 is sufficiently small, a sudden contraction flow occurs in the fluid reservoir region 21, so that the first and second raw material fluids can be produced in a shorter time. Mixing can be performed. Therefore, the micromixer 100 is particularly preferably used for fine particle synthesis because the blockage of the flow path due to the generation of particles having a large particle diameter is suppressed.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7 shows a fluid mixing system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal section of the micromixer 100. FIG. 9 shows the cross section. In addition, the part of the same name as the thing of Embodiment 1 is shown with the same code | symbol.

  This fluid mixing system A is used for mixing a maximum of eight kinds of fluids, and includes a micromixer 100 and an incidental part such as a fluid supply system.

  In this micromixer 100, the fluid circulation pipe 10 is configured in a double pipe structure by a large diameter pipe 12 and seven small diameter pipes 13 introduced and inserted therethrough. Thereby, the fluid circulation pipe 10 includes the first fluid flow path 11a inside the large diameter pipe 12 and the outside of the small diameter pipe 13, and the seven second to eighth fluid flow paths 11b inside the small diameter pipe 13. A total of eight fluid flow paths of ˜11h extend in parallel to each other inside the pipe and are configured along the length direction.

  As shown in FIG. 8, there are seven small-diameter pipes 13 of the fluid circulation pipe 10. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, all the small diameter pipes 13 have the same dimensions. However, the small-diameter pipe 13 is not particularly limited to this. Even if the number of the small-diameter pipes 13 is, for example, 2 to 50 (more preferably 3 to 20), the fluid mixing ratio and the like are taken into consideration. The thing of a different dimension may be mixed.

  A first raw material supply pipe 32 a extending from the first raw material storage tank 31 a is connected to the large diameter pipe 12 of the fluid circulation pipe 10. The first raw material supply pipe 32a has a first pump 33a for circulating the first raw material fluid, a first flow meter 34a for detecting the flow rate of the first raw material fluid, and a first filter 35a for removing contaminants of the first fluid raw material. Are interposed in order from the upstream side, and a first pressure gauge 36a for detecting the pressure of the first raw material fluid is attached to a portion between the first flow meter 34a and the first filter 35a. Each of the first pump 33a, the first flow meter 34a, and the first pressure gauge 36a is electrically connected to the flow controller 37.

  Second to eighth raw material supply pipes 32b to 32h extending from the second to eighth raw material storage tanks 31b to 31h are connected to the seven small diameter pipes 13 of the fluid circulation pipe 10 so that the numbers correspond to each other. Yes. In the second to eighth raw material supply pipes 32b to 32h, the second to eighth pumps 33b to 33h for circulating the second to eighth raw material fluids, the second to eighth raw material fluids for detecting the flow rates of the second to eighth raw material fluids. Eight flow meters 34b to 34h and second to eighth filters 35b to 35h for removing contaminants of the second to eighth fluid raw materials are provided in order from the upstream side, and the second to eighth flow meters 34b to 34h. The second to eighth pressure gauges 36b to 36h for detecting the pressure of the second to eighth raw material fluids are attached to a portion between the second and eighth filters 35b to 35h. Each of the second to eighth pumps 33b to 33h, the second to eighth flow meters 34b to 34h, and the second to eighth pressure gauges 36b to 36h are electrically connected to the flow rate controller 37 (not shown). ).

  The flow rate controller 37 is configured to be capable of inputting the set flow rate and set pressure of the first raw material fluid and incorporates an arithmetic element, and is detected by the set flow rate information of the first raw material fluid and the first flow meter 34a. The first pump 33a is controlled based on the flow rate information and the pressure information detected by the first pressure gauge 36a. Similarly, the flow rate controller 37 is configured to be capable of inputting the set flow rate and set pressure of the second to eighth raw material fluids so that the numbers correspond to each other, and the set flow rate information of the second to eighth raw material fluids. The second to eighth pumps 33b to 33h are controlled based on the flow information detected by the second to eighth flow meters 34b to 34h and the pressure information detected by the second to eighth pressure meters 36b to 36h. .

  Other configurations are the same as those of the micromixer 100 according to the first embodiment.

  Next, the operation of the fluid mixing system A will be described.

  When the fluid mixing system A is operated, the first pump 33a passes the first raw material fluid from the first raw material storage tank 31a through the first raw material supply pipe 32a, through the first flow meter 34a and the first filter 35a in this order. The fluid flow pipe 10 is continuously supplied to the first fluid flow path 11a of the large diameter pipe 12. The first flow meter 34 a sends the detected flow rate information of the first raw material fluid to the flow rate controller 37. Further, the first pressure gauge 36 a sends the detected pressure information of the first pressure gauge 36 a to the flow rate controller 37.

  The second to eighth pumps 33b to 33h send the second to eighth raw material fluids from the second to eighth raw material storage tanks 31b to 31h to the second to eighth raw material supply pipes 32b to 32h so that the numbers correspond to each other. Through the second to eighth flow meters 34b to 34h and the second to eighth filters 35b to 35h in order to continue to the second to eighth fluid flow paths 11b to 11h of the small diameter pipe 13 of the fluid circulation pipe 10. To supply. The second to eighth flow meters 34 b to 34 h send the detected flow rate information of the second to eighth raw material fluids to the flow controller 37. The second to eighth pressure gauges 36 b to 36 h send the detected pressure information of the second to eighth pressure gauges 36 b to 36 h to the flow rate controller 37.

  Based on the set flow rate information and set pressure information of the first raw material fluid, the flow rate information detected by the first flow meter 34a and the pressure information detected by the first pressure meter 36a, the flow rate controller 37 The first pump 33a is operated and controlled such that the set flow rate and set pressure of the fluid are maintained. At the same time, the flow rate controller 37 sets the flow rate information detected by the second to eighth flow meters 34b to 34h, and the flow rate information detected by the second to eighth flow meters 34b to 34h. Based on the pressure information detected by the second to eighth pressure gauges 36b to 36h, the second to eighth pumps 33b to 33h are maintained so that the set flow rate and the set pressure of the second to eighth raw material fluids are maintained, respectively. To control the operation.

  In the fluid circulation pipe 10, the first to eighth raw material fluids circulate through the first to eighth fluid flow paths 11a to 11h corresponding to the numbers, respectively.

  In the fluid mixing unit 20, eight types of fluids flowing out from the fluid circulation pipe 10, that is, the first to eighth raw material fluids are accumulated in the fluid reservoir region 21 in a mixed state, and the mixed first to eighth raw material fluids are collected. Circulates through the mixing pores 22 and laminar mixing is performed in a mixing time of, for example, 0.001 to 0.01 seconds. At this time, in the fluid reservoir region 21, the first to eighth raw material fluids are disturbed at the time of merging, and then in the mixing pores 22, they are contracted into the mixing pores 22 and inside the mixing pores 22. The mixture is stretched by shearing into a fine fluid segment, and the mixing speed by molecular diffusion is increased at once, and the mixing is completed instantaneously. Here, when the second to eighth raw material fluids are the same kind of fluid, the two kinds of raw material fluids are mixed as in the first embodiment, but in this embodiment, the number of small-diameter tubes 13 is smaller than that in the first embodiment. Therefore, the mixed state of the two types of fluids in the fluid reservoir region 21 is composed of smaller segments than in the case of the first embodiment, and higher speed mixing performance can be obtained.

  The micromixer 100 having the above configuration can laminate up to eight kinds of raw material fluids. Therefore, the micromixer 100 is particularly preferably used for multiphase mixing and emulsification.

  Other functions and effects are the same as those of the micromixer 100 according to the first embodiment.

(Other embodiments)
In the first and second embodiments, the single micromixer 100 is provided. However, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and as illustrated in FIG. Even when the mixed fluids flowing out from them are combined, as shown in FIG. 10B, it is also possible to have more micromixers 100 and combine the mixed fluids flowing out from them.

(Test equipment)
A micromixer of the same type as that of the second embodiment in which the number of small diameter tubes is five was used.

  The large diameter tube had a hole diameter (inner diameter) of 4.4 mm, and the small diameter tube had an outer diameter of 1.6 mm and a hole diameter (inner diameter) of 0.8 mm. In the fluid mixing part, the pore diameter of the mixing pores (circular holes) was 0.3 mm and the hole length was 0.8 mm. The mixed fluid recovery tube had a hole diameter (inner diameter) of 0.8 mm.

(Test method)
The aqueous solution of the surfactant was circulated through the large-diameter pipe at a flow rate of 4.6 L / h and a delivery pressure of 0.5 MPa, and at a flow rate of 1.6 L / h as a whole in five small-diameter pipes. A 5 mass% ethanol solution of stearyl alcohol (aliphatic alcohol of carbon chain 18) was uniformly circulated at a liquid feeding pressure of 0.5 MPa.

  And the fluid of the slurry which consists of microparticles | fine-particles which were mixed and deposited in the fluid mixing part was collect | recovered.

  The recovered slurry-like fluid was subjected to particle size measurement using a laser diffraction / scattering particle size distribution analyzer (LA-910, manufactured by Horiba, Ltd.).

  As a comparative example, particle size measurement was also performed on a slurry-like fluid deposited by stirring and mixing solutions having the same composition in a test tube (mixing time: approximately 1 second).

(Test results)
The slurry-like fluid obtained by mixing with a micromixer had a volume-based average diameter of 0.6 μm and a sharp distribution. On the other hand, the slurry-like fluid obtained by mixing in the test tube had a volume-based average diameter of 62 μm and a broad distribution. This is because in a microreactor, very many nuclei are generated by dividing into small segments from the beginning of mixing, whereas in a test tube, mixing is performed uniformly in order to reduce the fluid mass in stages. This is thought to be due to the fact that the number of nuclei generated is limited and the number of nuclei generated is limited.

  The present invention is useful for a micromixer and a fluid mixing method using the micromixer.

It is a typical longitudinal section of a micromixer concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the fluid mixing system of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the micromixer which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a typical longitudinal section of the micromixer concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is VV sectional drawing in FIG. It is VI-VI sectional drawing in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the fluid mixing system of Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view of the micromixer which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is IX-IX sectional drawing in FIG. It is a figure which shows the principal part structure of the fluid mixing system of other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Micromixer 10 Fluid distribution pipe 11 Fluid flow path 12 Large diameter pipe 13 Small diameter pipe 20 Fluid mixing part 21 Fluid reservoir area 22 Fine pore for mixing

Claims (7)

A fluid circulation pipe in which a plurality of fluid flow paths extending in parallel with each other inside the pipe are configured along the length direction;
It is provided continuously on the fluid outflow side of the fluid circulation pipe, and forms a fluid reservoir region for collecting a plurality of types of fluid flowing out from the fluid circulation pipe in a mixed state, and distributes the plurality of types of fluid. A fluid mixing part having mixing pores for laminar mixing.
A micromixer equipped with.   The micromixer according to claim 1, wherein the mixing pore has a pore diameter of 0.1 to 1.0 mm. The micromixer according to claim 1, wherein the pores for mixing have a pore area of 0.008 to 0.8 mm ² .   The micromixer according to claim 1, wherein the mixing pore has a ratio of a pore length to a pore diameter of 40 or less.   2. The micromixer according to claim 1, wherein the fluid circulation pipe is configured in a double pipe structure including a large-diameter pipe and a small-diameter pipe inserted through the large-diameter pipe.   The micromixer according to claim 5, wherein the fluid circulation pipe is configured such that a portion inside the large-diameter pipe and outside the small-diameter pipe is a fluid flow path. A fluid circulation pipe having a plurality of fluid flow paths extending in parallel with each other inside the pipe along the length direction, and continuously provided on the fluid outflow side of the fluid circulation pipe and forming a fluid reservoir region A fluid mixing method using a micromixer provided with a fluid mixing portion having pores for mixing,
A plurality of types of fluids flowing out from the fluid circulation pipe are stored in a mixed state in a fluid storage region formed by the fluid mixing unit, and the plurality of types of fluid stored in the fluid storage region are laminar mixed. A fluid mixing method for flowing through the mixing pores in the mixing section.

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