JP2007136253A - Micro-reactor system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a micro-reactor system for making the numbering-up of micro-reactors which is capable of uniformly sending liquid to a plurality of micro-reactors. <P>SOLUTION: The micro-reactors 10-1, 10-2, ..., 10-100 are connected in parallel with each other and the branched pipes 100A, 100B are connected at the entrance of a plurality of the micro-reactors. Further, a plurality of the branched pipes having a plurality of exits are connected in multi-stage to one entrance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a microreactor system including a reaction portion formed by a fine flow path, and more particularly to a microreactor system suitable for use in a plurality of reactors arranged in parallel.

  In recent years, two or more kinds of fluids that react with each other are introduced into a structure having a fine flow channel with a width and height of several μm to several hundreds of μm, and are brought into contact with each other in the fine flow channel. Attention has been focused on a reaction device called a microreactor that causes a reaction.

  The microreactor has a large surface area per volume of the reaction part, a small width and height of the flow path, and a small volume of the flow path. Therefore, in the microreactor, it is possible to expect an effect that the mixing time of the reagent is shortened, the heat exchange with respect to the reagent is accelerated, and the reaction efficiency between the reagents is increased. As for the microreactor, for example, those described in JP-A-2003-47839 are known.

JP 2003-47839 A

  Since such a chemical substance generated per microreactor is about several mL per minute, it is considered to be realized by a method of paralleling a plurality of microreactors in the case of industrial mass production. . Such a method is referred to as numbering up of the microreactor.

  Although research on microreactors has been actively conducted, there has not been much research on plant systems such as coordination with peripheral devices related to numbering up and control methods. In particular, it is desired to develop a method for uniformly feeding liquids to a plurality of numbered microreactors.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a microreactor system that can uniformly feed liquids to a plurality of microreactors in a microreactor system in which the number of microreactors is increased.

(1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a plurality of microreactors connected in parallel to each other and a branch pipe connected to the inlets of the plurality of microreactors. A plurality of branch pipes having a plurality of outlets are connected in multiple stages.
With this configuration, liquid can be uniformly fed to a plurality of microreactors.

  (2) In the above (1), preferably, among the plurality of branch pipes connected in multiple stages, a pressure guiding pipe is provided for connecting the branch flow paths of the branch pipes connected to the lower stage side to each other. is there.

  (3) In the above (1), preferably, in each of the plurality of branch pipes, a plurality of outlets are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the inlet.

  (4) In the above (1), preferably, a fine flow path adjusting flow path is provided between the outlet of the branch pipe and the inlets of the plurality of microreactors.

  According to the present invention, in a microreactor system in which microreactors are numbered up, liquid can be uniformly fed to a plurality of microreactors.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the microreactor system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
First, the overall configuration of the microreactor system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a microreactor system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  The microreactor system of this embodiment includes 100 microreactors 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-100, branch pipes 100A and 110B, flow meters 20A and 20B, and valves 30A and 30B. , Pumps 40A, 40B, raw material fluid storage tanks 50A, 50B, reaction fluid storage tank 60, inlet channels 70A-1, 70A-2,..., 70A-100, 70B-1, 70B-2,. 70B-100 and outlet channels 70C-1, 70C-2,..., 70C-100.

  The pumps 40A and 40B supply the raw material fluid stored in the raw material fluid storage tanks 50A and 50B to the branch pipes 100A and 110B and the inlet flow passages 70A-1, 70A-2, ..., 70A-100, 70B-1, 70B. ,..., 70B-100, and supplied to the microreactors 10-1, 10-2,. The flow rates of the pumps 40A and 40B are adjusted by the flow meters 20A and 20B and the valves 30A and 30B. In the microreactors 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-100, two kinds of raw fluids react, and the reaction products pass through the outlet channels 70C-1, 70C-2,. It is discharged to the reaction fluid storage tank 60.

Here, in the microreactor system, as shown in the following formula (1), consider a case where the chemical substance A and the chemical substance B react to generate a chemical substance C.

A + B → C (1)

A fluid containing chemical substance A is prepared in the raw material fluid storage tank 50A, and a fluid containing chemical substance B is prepared in the raw material fluid storage tank 50B at the same concentration. The respective fluids are supplied from the raw material fluid storage tanks 50A and 50B to the branch pipes 100A and 110B at the same flow rate. Each fluid is branched into 100 flows by branch piping, and then passes through the inlet channels 70A-1, 70A-2, ..., 70A-100, 70B-1, 70B-2, ..., 70B-100. Are supplied to the microreactors 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-100. In order to efficiently generate the chemical substance C, it is necessary to supply the fluid containing the chemical substance A and the fluid containing the chemical substance B at equal flow rates to the microreactor.

Next, the configuration of the branch pipe used in the microreactor system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Since the branch pipes 100A and 110B shown in FIG. 1 have the same configuration, the branch pipe 100 will be described here.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a branch pipe used in the microreactor system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same parts.

  The branch pipe 100 is composed of eleven branch pipes 110-0, 110-1, ..., 110-10 having the same configuration. The branch pipe 110-1 has ten outlets with respect to one inlet, and the other branch pipes 110-1, ..., 110-10 have the same configuration. For example, in the branch pipe 110-1, one inlet 0i and ten outlets 0o-1, 0o-2, ..., 0o-10 are connected by a branch flow path FS0. The ten outlets of the branch pipe 110-1 are connected to the inlets of ten other branch pipes 110-1, ..., 110-10 by flow pipes FP1, FP2, ..., FP10, respectively. . That is, a plurality of branch pipes are connected in two stages to a single branch pipe. Therefore, the branch pipe 100 is equivalent to one having 100 outlets for one outlet.

  Here, when one inlet is used and a plurality of outlets are used, there is a difference in the pressure loss of each flow path due to variations in the inner diameter and flow length of the branch flow path. Deviation occurs. For example, when one branch pipe with one inlet and 100 outlets is used, the flow rate deviation is about 30%.

  On the other hand, when one branch pipe with one inlet and ten outlets is used, the flow rate deviation is about 2-3%. When a branch pipe having one inlet and ten outlets is arranged in two stages as shown in FIG. 2, the flow rate deviation as a whole is about 5%. Therefore, the flow rate deviation can be greatly reduced as compared with the case of using one having one inlet and 100 outlets.

  Although the illustrated example has a two-stage arrangement, it can be arranged in three or more stages. For example, by arranging three stages of branch pipes with one inlet and five outlets, it is possible to obtain a corresponding branch pipe with one inlet and 125 outlets. Further, the number of outlets in the second stage can be changed with respect to the number of outlets in the first stage without being limited to the one having the same configuration in two stages. For example, the first stage has one inlet and the outlet has ten branch pipes, and the second stage has one inlet and the outlet has five branch pipes, thereby having one inlet. Thus, it is possible to provide a branch pipe with 50 outlets.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the microreactor system in which the microreactors are numbered up, liquid can be uniformly fed to a plurality of microreactors.

Next, the configuration of the microreactor system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The overall configuration of the microreactor system according to this embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a branch pipe used in the microreactor system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2 indicate the same parts.

  The branch pipe 100 ′ in the present embodiment is composed of eleven branch pipes 110-0, 110-1,..., 110-10 having the same configuration as the branch pipe 100 of FIG. The ten outlets of the branch pipe 110-1 are connected to the inlets of ten other branch pipes 110-1, ..., 110-10 by flow pipes FP1, FP2, ..., FP10, respectively. . That is, a plurality of branch pipes are connected in two stages to a single branch pipe. Therefore, the branch pipe 100 is equivalent to one having 100 outlets for one outlet.

  Further, in the present embodiment, in the ten branch pipes 110-1,..., 110-10 located in the second stage, the branch flow paths of the adjacent branch pipes are connected by the pressure guiding pipe PP. That is, taking the branch pipe 110-1 and the branch pipe 110-2 as an example, the branch flow path FS1 of the branch pipe 110-1 and the branch flow path FS2 of the branch pipe 110-2 are connected by the pressure guiding pipe PP1-2. Has been. Similarly, the pressure guiding pipe PP2-3 connected to the branch flow path FS2 of the branch pipe 110-2 is connected to the branch flow path of the adjacent branch pipe 110-3. Further, the pressure guiding pipe PP9-10 connected to the branch flow path of the branch pipe 110-9 is connected to the branch flow path FS10 of the adjacent branch pipe 110-10.

  As described with reference to FIG. 2, when one branch pipe has one inlet and ten outlets, the flow rate deviation is about 2 to 3%. As shown in FIG. 2, when this branch pipe is arranged in two stages as shown in FIG. 2, the flow rate deviation as a whole is about 5%. This is because the entire branch pipe 100 is caused by a difference in flow resistance between the flow pipes FP1,..., FP10 connecting the branch pipe 110-0 and the branch pipes 110-1,. This is due to the fact that the flow rate deviation becomes larger than that of the single case.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, in the ten branch pipes 110-1,..., 110-10 located in the second stage, the branch flow paths of the adjacent branch pipes are connected by the pressure guiding pipe PP. Accordingly, even if there is a difference in flow resistance between the flow pipes FP1,..., FP10, the branch flow paths FS1,. Therefore, the flow rate deviation can be reduced.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, in the microreactor system in which the number of microreactors is increased, the flow rate deviation can be further reduced and the liquid can be uniformly fed to a plurality of microreactors.

Next, the configuration of the microreactor system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The overall configuration of the microreactor system according to this embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG.
FIG. 4A is a plan view showing a configuration of a single branch pipe used in the microreactor system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a front view showing the configuration of a single branch pipe used in the microreactor system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2 indicate the same parts.

  In this embodiment, the configuration of the branch pipe 100 is the configuration shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, but the configuration of the branch pipes 110-1,..., 110-11 used in the branch pipe 100 is shown in FIG. The branch pipe 110 ′ is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the branch pipe 110 ′ is provided with an inlet i in the center of the upper part of the cylindrical branch pipe main body, and ten outlets o-1,. −10 is provided. That is, the outlets o-1, ..., o-10 are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the inlet i. The inlet i and the outlets o-1, ..., o-10 are connected by a branch flow path FS. The inner diameters of the branch flow paths FS are all equal. Further, the lengths of the branch flow paths FS connecting the inlet i and the outlets o-1, ..., o-10 are equal to each other. As a result, the channel resistance of the branch channel FS connecting the inlet i and the outlets o-1, ..., o-10 can be made equal, and the pressure loss can be made equal.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when one branch pipe with one inlet and ten outlets is used, the flow rate deviation is about 2 to 3%. As described above, since the flow path resistance of the branch pipe can be made equal, the flow rate deviation in the branch pipe 110 ′ can be further reduced. Therefore, the flow rate deviation as a whole when the branch pipes 110 ′ shown in FIG. 4 are connected in two stages can also be reduced.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, in the microreactor system in which the number of microreactors is increased, the flow rate deviation can be further reduced and the liquid can be uniformly fed to a plurality of microreactors.

Next, the configuration of the microreactor system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a microreactor system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same parts.

  In the present embodiment, adjustment micro flow paths 80A and 80B are provided between the branch pipes 100A and 110B and the microreactors 10-1, 10-2,. Has been placed.

  In the microreactor system, microreactors 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-100, inlet channels 70A-1, 70A-2,..., 70A-100, 70B-1, 70B-2,. The outlet channels 70C-1, 70C-2,..., 70C-100 are rarely manufactured with exactly the same dimensions. For microreactors, there are dimensional tolerances for the height, width, and length of fine channels (when the channel cross section is rectangular), and for the inlet and outlet channels, the channel diameter and length (when the channel cross section is circular). appear. Therefore, a difference occurs in the pressure loss from each inlet channel to the outlet channel, so that the two liquids do not flow at the same flow rate in the microreactor, and the reaction efficiency may be lowered.

  Therefore, at the time of trial operation of the microreactor system, the flow rate is verified, and the pressure loss is adjusted by the adjusting micro flow paths 80A and 80B so that the flow rate becomes equal. In FIG. 5, the length is adjusted using microchannels having the same channel diameter.

  In addition to the adjustment method of the adjustment microchannel, there is also a method of adjusting the diameter using microchannels having the same channel length.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, in the microreactor system in which the number of microreactors is increased, the flow rate deviation can be further reduced and the liquid can be uniformly fed to a plurality of microreactors.

As described above, according to each embodiment of the present invention, in a microreactor system in which the number of microreactors is increased, a plurality of inexpensive and simple piping structures can be used without installing a flow meter or a valve at the inlet of each microreactor. Can be uniformly fed to the microreactor.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a microreactor system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the branch piping used for the micro reactor system by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the branch piping used for the micro reactor system by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a top view which shows the structure of the single branch piping used for the micro reactor system by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (B) is a front view showing a configuration of a single branch pipe used in the microreactor system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the micro reactor system by the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10-1, 10-2, ..., 10-100 ... Microreactors 20A, 20B ... Flowmeters 30A, 30B ... Valves 40A, 40B ... Pumps 50A, 50B ... Raw material fluid storage tank 60 ... Reaction fluid storage tanks 70A-1, 70A -2, ..., 70A-100, 70B-1, 70B-2, ..., 70B-100 ... Inlet channel 70C-1, 70C-2, ..., 70C-100 ... Outlet channel 80A, 80B ... Micro for adjustment Flow path 100, 100 ', 100A, 110B, 110-0, 110-10 ... Branch pipe PP ... Impulse pipe

Claims (4)

A plurality of microreactors connected in parallel to each other;
A branch pipe connected to the inlets of the plurality of microreactors,
The microreactor system is characterized in that the branch pipe has a plurality of branch pipes having a plurality of outlets with respect to one inlet. The microreactor system according to claim 1,
A microreactor system comprising a pressure guiding pipe for connecting branching channels of a branching pipe connected to a lower stage among a plurality of branching pipes connected in multiple stages. The microreactor system according to claim 1,
Each of the plurality of branch pipes has a plurality of outlets arranged in point symmetry with respect to the inlet. The microreactor system according to claim 1,
A microreactor system comprising a fine flow rate adjusting channel between an outlet of the branch pipe and an inlet of the plurality of microreactors.

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