Process intensification through miniaturization

Wegeng, R. S., Drost, M. K., Brenchley, D. L., Process intensification through miniaturization of chemical and thermal systems in the 21. century, in Ehreeld, W. (Ed.), Microreaction Technology 3rd International Conference on Microreaction Technology, Proc. of IMRET 3, pp. 2-13, Springer-Verlag, Berlin (2000). 

For all of these reasons, the structured multi-scale chemical devices envisioned here offer the perspective of significant innovation through the use of microfabrication in the chemical process industries. To illustrate these possibilities, the following sections demonstrate how multi-scale structuring can provide a new degree of freedom for process intensification/miniaturization and contribute to the satisfaction of criteria for sustainability. In conclusion, a critical comparison of scale-up, numbering-up and multi-scale design is proposed. 

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