Method for delivering fine particle dispersion, and device for delivering fine particle dispersion

• US 7,182,553 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Takagi, Seiichi, Ohta, Tetsuo, Inami, Kazuki
• Primary Examiner(s): DILLON JR, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US11/067,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20060016498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 406/86, 406/191, 406/197
• US Class Current: 406/86
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0093 Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00752 Feeding
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00011 Laboratory-scale plants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00247 Fouling of the reactor or the process equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00891 Feeding or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/0015 Feeding of the particles in the reactor; Evacuation of the particles out of the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87652 With means to promote mixing or combining of plural fluids

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of delivering a fine particle dispersion in the state of laminar flow from an inlet port to an outlet port of a microflow channel having the inlet port and the outlet port, the fine particle dispersion containing fine particles having a volume average particle size of from about 1.5 μm to about 1000 μm dispersed in its liquid medium, the specific gravity of the fine particles being from approximately 0.10 to 0.99 times that of the liquid medium, wherein the microflow channel is disposed such that the outlet port is disposed above the inlet port in the buoyant force direction, and the angle of the flow channel from the inlet port to the outlet port is set to from approximately 0 to 45° relative to the buoyant force direction, and wherein the fine particle dispersion is introduced into the inlet port and the introduced fine particle dispersion is delivered to the outlet port. Also disclosed is a device for delivering the fine particle dispersion.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a fine particle dispersion, to minimize stagnation, depositon or clogging in which the fine particles are dispersed in a liquid medium, in a state of laminar flow from an inlet port to an outlet port of a microflow channel having the inlet port and the outlet port, the method comprising;

arranging the microflow channel such that an outlet port is disposed above an inlet port in a buoyant force direction,

setting an angle of the microflow channel extending from the inlet port to the outlet port within a range of 0°

to 45°

relative to the buoyant force direction, and

introducing the fine particle dispersion into the inlet and delivering, by the liquid medium the fine particle dispersion to the outlet port,

wherein fine particles of the particle dispersion have a volume average particle size within range of 1.5 μ

m to 1000 μ

m, and a specific gravity of the fine particles is within a range of 0.10 to 0.99 times that of the liquid medium such that stagnation, deposition or clogging is minimized.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fine particles are at least one of fine particles selected from a group consisting of resin particles, inorganic particles, metal particles and ceramic particles.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume average particle size is within a range of 1.5 μ

m to 500 μ

m.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a long axis length of the fine particles to a short axis length of the fine particles is within a range of 1:

1 to 50;

1.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific gravity of the fine particles is within a the range of 0.40 to 0.99 times that of the liquid medium.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the content of the fine particles in the fine particle dispersion is within a range of 0.1% to 60% by volume.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an angle of the microflow channel extending from the inlet port to the outlet port is set within a range of 0°

to 30°

relative to the buoyant force direction.

8. The method of claim 1, an angle of the microflow channel extending from the inlet port to the outlet port is set within a range of 0°

to 15°

relative to the buoyant force direction.

9. A method of delivering a fine particle dispersion, to minimize stagnation, depositon or clogging in which fine particles are dispersed in a liquid medium, in a state of laminar flow from an inlet port to an outlet port of a microflow channel which has the inlet port and the outlet port and which has a portion where a cross-sectional area of the microflow channel changes, the method comprising:

arranging the microflow channel which has a portion where a cross-sectional area of the microflow channel changes such that an outlet port is disposed above an inlet port in a buoyant force direction,

setting an angle of wall surfaces of the microflow channel extending from the inlet port to the outlet port within a range of 0°

to 45°

relative to the buoyant force direction,

introducing the fine particle dispersion into the inlet port and delivering, by the liquid medium the introduced fine particle dispersion to the outlet port, and

wherein fine particles of the fine particle dispersion have a volume average particle size within a range of 1.5 μ

m to 1000 μ

m and a specific gravity of the fine particles is within a range of 0.10 to 0.99 times that of the liquid medium such that stagnation, depositon or clogging is minimized.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the fine particles are at least one of fine particles selected from a group consisting of resin particles, inorganic particles, metal particles and ceramic particles.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein, the specific gravity of the fine particles is within a range of 0.40 to 0.99 times that of the liquid medium.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein an angle of the wall surfaces of the microflow channel extending from the inlet port to the outlet port at a portion where the cross-sectional area of the microflow channel changes is set within a range of 0°

to 30°

relative to the buoyant force direction.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the angle of the wall surfaces of the microflow channel extending from the inlet port to the outlet port at a portion where the cross-sectional area of the microflow channel changes is set within a range of 0°

to 15°

relative to the buoyant force direction.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the volume average particle size is within a range of 1.5 μ

m to 500 μ

m.

15. A device for delivering a fine particle dispersion, which minimize stagnation, depositon or clogging in which fine particles are dispersed in a liquid medium, in a state of laminar flow from an inlet port to an outlet port of a microflow channel having the inlet port and the outlet port, comprising:

a microflow channel disposed such that an outlet port is disposed above an inlet port in a buoyant force direction, and an angle of the microflow channel from the inlet port to the outlet port is set within a range of 0°

to 45°

relative to the buoyant force direction,

wherein fine particles in a fine particle dispersion within a range of have a volume average particle size of from 1.5 μ

m to 1000 μ

m and a specific gravity of the fine particles is within a range of 0.10 to 0.99 times that of the liquid medium, and the fine particle dispersion is delivered from the inlet port to the outlet port by the liquid medium flowing a laminar flow state such that stagnation, depositon or clogging is minimized.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein an angle of the microflow channel is set within a range of 0°

to 30°

relative to the buoyant force direction.

17. The device for according to claim 15, wherein an angle of the microflow channel is set within a range of 0°

to 15°

relative to the buoyant force direction.

18. A device for delivering a fine particle dispersion, which minimize stagnation, depositon or clogging in which fine particles are dispersed in a liquid medium, in a state of laminar flow from an inlet port to an outlet port of a microflow channel which has the inlet port and the outlet port and which has a portion where the diameter of the microflow channel changes, comprising:

a microflow channel which has a portion where a diameter of the microflow channel changes disposed such that an outlet port is disposed above an inlet port in a buoyant force direction, and an angle of wall surfaces of the microflow channel extending from the inlet port to the outlet port is set within a range of 0°

to 45°

relative to the buoyant force direction,

wherein fine particles of a fine particle dispersion have a volume average particle size within a range of 1.5 μ

m to 1000 μ

m and a specific gravity of the fine particles is within a range of 0.10 to 0.99 times that of the liquid medium, and the fine particle dispersion is delivered from the inlet port to the outlet port by the liquid medium flowing in laminar flow state such that stagnation, depositon or clogging is minimized.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein an angle of wall surfaces of the microflow channel extending from the inlet port to the outlet port at a portion where the diameter of the microflow channel changes is set within a range of 0°

to 30°

relative to the buoyant force direction.

20. The device for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 18, wherein an angle of wall surfaces of the microflow channel extending from the inlet port to the outlet port at a portion where the diameter of the flow channel changes is set within the range of 0°

to 15°

relative to the buoyant force direction.