Battelle Memorial Institute

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Energy

Ward E TeGrotenhuis

Robert S Wegeng

Victoria S Stenkamp

Greg A Whyatt

Paul H Humble

Scot D Rassat

Richard F Zheng

Timothy G Veldman

Christopher K Clayton

Dean W Matson

Dustin D Caldwell

M Kevin Drost

David L King

Vilayanur Venkataraman Viswanathan

Kriston P Brooks

Yong Wang

Richard B Diver

Christopher M Fischer

Kevin Drost

Phillip A Gauglitz

Vilayanur V Vishwanathan

Karim M Ayman

Reactors are provided that can include a first set of fluid channels and a second set of fluid channels oriented in thermal contact with the first set of fluid channels. The reactor assemblies can also provide where the channels of either one or both of the first of the set of fluid channels are non-linear. Other implementations provide for at least one of the first set of fluid channels being in thermal contact with a plurality of other channels of the second set of fluid channels. Reactor assemblies are also provided that can include a first set of fluid channels defining at least one non-linear channel having a positive function, and a second set of fluid channels defining at least another non-linear channel having a negative function in relation to the positive function of the one non-linear channel of the first set of fluid channels. Processes for distributing energy across a reactor are provided. The processes can include transporting reactants via a first set of fluid channels to a second set of fluid channels, and thermally engaging at least one of the first set of fluid channels with at least two of the second set of fluid channels.

Reactor assemblies and methods of performing reactions

Chemical processors are configured to reduce mass, work in conjunction with solar concentrators, and/or house porous inserts in microchannel or mesochannel devices made by additive manufacturing. Methods of making chemical processors containing porous inserts by additive manufacturing are also disclosed.

Enhanced microchannel or mesochannel devices and methods of additively manufacturing the same

An apparatus for generating a large volume of gas from a liquid stream is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first channel through which the liquid stream passes. The apparatus also includes a layer of catalyst particles suspended in a solid slurry for generating gas from the liquid stream. The apparatus further includes a second channel through which a mixture of converted liquid and generated gas passes. A heat exchange channel heats the liquid stream. A wicking structure located in the second channel separates the gas generated from the converted liquid.

Suspended-slurry reactor

Methods and apparatus for separating fluids are disclosed. We have discovered that, surprisingly, providing an open pore structure between a wick and an open flow channel resulted in superior separation performance. A novel and compact integrated device components for conducting separations are also described.

Methods for separating a fluid, and devices capable of separating a fluid

Advanced wicking structures and methods utilizing these structures are described. The use of advanced wicking structures can promote rapid mass transfer while maintaining high capillary pressure through the use of small pores. Particularly improved results in fluid contacting processes can be achieved by enhanced mixing within a wicking layer within a microchannel.

Mixing in wicking structures and the use of enhanced mixing within wicks in microchannel devices

Various aspects and applications or microsystem process networks are described. The design of many types of microsystems can be improved by ortho-cascading mass, heat, or other unit process operations. Microsystems having energetically efficient microchannel heat exchangers are also described. Detailed descriptions of numerous design features in microcomponent systems are also provided.

Microsystem process networks

A microchannel device includes several mass transfer microchannels to receive a fluid media for processing at least one heat transfer microchannel in fluid communication with a heat transfer fluid defined by a thermally conductive wall, and at several thermally conductive fins each connected to the wall and extending therefrom to separate the mass transfer microchannels from one another. In one form, the device may optionally include another heat transfer microchannel and corresponding wall that is positioned opposite the first wall and has the fins and the mass transfer microchannels extending therebetween.

Devices with extended area structures for mass transfer processing of fluids

Microchannel apparatus comprising a header and plural flow microchannels is described in which orifices connect the header and the flow microchannels. The orifices constrict flow. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of each of the orifices to the cross-sectional area of the flow microchannels connected to the orifices is between 0.0005 and 0.1. Also described is microchannel apparatus for conducting unit operations in which a device comprises two arrays of microchannels, and a unit operation is conducted on a fluid as it passes through the first set of microchannels and into a header where a second unit operation is performed, and then the fluid stream passes into the second array of microchannels where the first unit operation is again performed. Methods of conducting unit operations in the apparatuses are also described.

Microchannel apparatus comprising plural microchannels and methods of conducting unit operations

Methods of separating fluids using capillary forces and/or improved conditions for are disclosed. The improved methods may include control of the ratio of gas and liquid Reynolds numbers relative to the Suratman number. Also disclosed are wick-containing, laminated devices that are capable of separating fluids.

Conditions for fluid separations in microchannels, capillary-driven fluid separations, and laminated devices capable of separating fluids

Microchannel devices and method of use are disclosed wherein a reaction microchamberis in thermal contact with a heat exchange channel. An equilibrium limited exothermic chemical process occurs in the reaction microchamber. Sufficient heat is transferred to the heat exchange channels to substantially lower the temperature in the reaction microchamberdown its length to substantially increase at least one performance parameter of the exothermic chemical process relative to isothermal operation. Optionally, an endothermic reaction occurs in the heat exchange channelwhich is sustained by the exothermic chemical process occurring the exothermic reaction chamber. Both the reaction chamberand the heat exchange channelcan be of micro dimension. Catalystcan be provided in the microchamberin sheet form such that reactants flow by the catalyst sheet. A microchannel reactorcan be formed by integrally bonding an alternating stack of thin recessed sheets wherein the recesses in the sheets define the flow paths.

Microchannel reactors with temperature control

Wick-Containing apparatus capable of separating fluids and methods of separating fluids using wicks are disclosed.

Methods for fluid separations, and devices capable of separating fluids

Various aspects and applications of microsystem process networks are described. The design of many types of Microsystems can be improved by ortho-cascading mass, heat, or other unit process operations. Microsystems having energetically efficient microchannel heat exchangers are also described. Detailed descriptions of numerous design features in microcomponent systems are also provided.

Various aspects and applications of microsystem process networks are described. The design of many types of microsystems can be improved by ortho-cascading mass, heat, or other unit process operations. Microsystems having exergetically efficient microchannel heat exchangers are also described. Detailed descriptions of numerous design features in microcomponent systems are also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Kennewick, WA, United States of America

Ward E TeGrotenhuis