Modularization mixer/reactor

R 4] The micro structured mixer/reactor of the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (Figure 4.57) consists of a serial connection of five identical modules [68], Here modularity in the sense of using identical units stands more in the foreground than the supplier-specific assembly, which consists of different modules combined with a common base module as in the example above. 

The EM Modular Reaction System can also be used to perform multi-step syntheses [83], For the production of pharmaceuticals, in this case for the synthesis of vitamin A, an ylid is formed from a phosphonium salt and a base in the first stage at 2 °C. In a second stage, the ylid reacts with an aldehyde at 60 °C in a flow-through capillary reactor. In a third stage the crude product is hydrolyzed at 20 °C in an additional micro mixer to form the target product vitamin A acetate, as illustrated. For the claimed reaction, no further experimental details were given. 

A modular micro structured chemical reaction system (ICS) similar to [R 14] is claimed by Bard [84]. The system can use various replaceable and interchangeable cylindrical or rectangular reactors. Generally, the ICS system can include fluid flow handling and control components, mixers, reaction chip-type units, separator devices, process variable detectors and controllers and a computer interface for communicating with the master control center (see Figure 4.31) [84],... 

Figure 4.35 Example of a micrestructured reactor plant based upon the modular fluidic backbone 1, heat exchanger 2, mixer 3, valve 4, safety valve 5, pump ...

The modular backbone introduced here allows both commercial and demonstration-type micro structured devices to be coupled in all three dimensions in a flexible and easy manner. Micro structured heat exchangers, reactors and mixers of different manufacturers are surface mounted on this backbone. Owing to the standardized interfaces, devices can easily be exchanged, for example, to evaluate different types of mixers. The backbone itself consists of elements which can be combined individually and flexibly in all directions, according to the demands of the plant to be built. The backbone provides the flow paths for fluids and electrical conduits for power supply and signal transmission of sensors and actuators. 

R 18] A modular set of devices was developed within the pChemTec project introduced above. It consists of a base plate which is identical for all four devices. This base plate acts as the fluidic interface to the piping and is equipped with a micro structured mixer. The base plate can be combined with a heated tube to deliver a mixer-tube reactor. A combination with a porous tube delivers a degasser unit. A combination with a membrane unit (not shown) or a settler results in an extraction device (Figure 4.58). 

Desktop Chemical Factory, Fig. 5 United microreactor system. Example of a modular backbone 1 heat exchanger, 2 mixer, 3 valve, 4 safety valve, 5 pump, 6 heated residence time module, 7 mixer-settler extractor, 8 heated mixer tube reactor, 9 thermal decoupler [12]... 

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