Fine channel device and a chemically operating method for fluid using the device

• US 7,641,871 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
• Inventors: Kawai, Akira, Katayama, Koji, Futami, Toru, Ohkawa, Tomohiro, Oikawa, Tomoyuki, Nishizawa, Keiichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung; Jennifer A
• Application Number:
  US10/615,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20040028580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,371 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 422/199
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2025/9171 Parallel flow, i.e. every point of the flow moves in parallel layers where intermixing can occur by diffusion or which do not intermix; Focusing, i.e. compressing parallel layers without intermixing them
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2025/93 Arrangements, nature or configuration of flow guiding elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2215/0409 Relationships between different variables defining features or parameters of the apparatus or process
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2215/0427 Numerical distance values, e.g. separation, position
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3039 with mixing achieved by diffusion between layers
• 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 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00822 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00824 Ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00833 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0086 Dimensions of the flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00873 Heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00889 Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00905 Separation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0636 Focussing flows, e.g. to laminate flows
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/086 using baffles or other fixed flow obstructions

Abstract

A fine channel device including a fine channel provided with at least two inlet ports for feeding fluid, inlet channels communicated with the inlet ports, a confluent portion communicated with the inlet channels, a branch portion communicated with the fine channel, from which at least two outlet channels are branched to feed predetermined amounts of fluid, and outlet ports communicated with the outlet channels. The fine channel is provided with a plurality of partition walls arranged along a boundary formed by at least two kinds of fluid fed from the inlet ports so as not to cause mutual contamination of fluid. Furthermore, the plurality of partition walls are spaced apart at intervals in a flowing direction of fluid.

Claims

1. A fine channel device comprising:

a fine channel provided with first and second inlet ports configured to feed fluid;

a fluid containing a catalyst disposed in the fine channel device;

first and second inlet channels communicated with the first and second inlet ports, respectively, wherein the fluid containing a catalyst flows from the first inlet port to the first inlet channel;

a confluent portion communicated with the first and second inlet channels;

a branch portion communicated with the fine channel, from which first and second outlet channels are branched and configured to feed predetermined amounts of fluid;

first and second outlet ports communicated with the first and second outlet channels, respectively; and

a circulating channel configured to feed the fluid containing a catalyst discharged from the first outlet port to the first inlet port,

wherein the fine channel includes a plurality of partition walls disposed along a boundary formed by at least two kinds of fluid fed from the inlet ports configured to not cause mutual contamination of fluid,

wherein each partition wall of the plurality of partition walls includes an elongated upper edge that extends along a line parallel to a fluid flow path within the fine channel,

wherein the plurality of partition walls are disposed at intervals in a flowing direction of fluid, said intervals are longer than an elongated length of each partition wall,

wherein intervals between the partition walls are present along the entire length of the fine channel except in the vicinity of the confluent portion and the vicinity of the branch portion of the fine channel, and wherein the partition walls include continuous partition walls disposed in the vicinity of the confluent portion and in the vicinity of the branch portion of the fine channel, and

wherein a thermal barrier is disposed between the confluent portion and the branch portion.

2. The fine channel device according to claim 1, wherein in the plurality of partition walls, the partition wall located closest to the confluent portion of the fine channel is connected to the confluent portion, and wherein intervals between adjacent partition walls in the vicinity of the inlet channels are smaller than intervals between adjacent partition walls in a central portion of the fine channel.

3. The fine channel device according to claim 1, wherein the height of partition walls is substantially the same as the depth of the fine channel.

4. The fine channel device according to claim 1, wherein partition walls are disposed at positions apart from the confluent portion and the branch portion.

5. The fine channel device according to claim 1, wherein in the plurality of partition walls, the partition wall disposed closest to the branch portion of the fine channel is connected to the branch portion, and wherein intervals between adjacent partition walls in the vicinity of the outlet channels are smaller than intervals between adjacent partition walls in a central portion of the fine channel.

6. The fine channel device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the fine channel has a shape other than a straight shape, and said portion includes a wall disposed along the boundary that extends from the vicinity of a portion originating a non-straight portion of fine channel to the vicinity of a portion ending the non-straight portion of fine channel.

7. The fine channel device according to claim 1, wherein in the vicinity of at least one of the inlet channels or the outlet channels of the fine channel, at least two partition walls are connected continuously in a flowing direction of fluid.

8. The fine channel device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of projections are disposed at the inner wall of the fine channel partitioned by partition walls to such an extent capable of maintaining a flow of fluid.

9. The fine channel device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second inlet ports for feeding fluid, said first and second inlet channels communicated with said first and second inlet ports, said first and second outlet channels and said first and second outlet ports communicated with said first and second outlet channels are configured so that the flowing direction of either one of at least two kinds of fluid fed in the fine channel is opposite to the flowing direction of the other of said at least two kinds of fluid fed adjacently in the fine channel.

10. The fine channel device according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall at one side of the fine channel partitioned by partition walls has at least one of hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties.

11. The fine channel device according to claim 10, wherein the inner wall includes a material that is configured to have hydrophilic properties that are different from hydrophilic properties of a fluid to be fed into the fine channel.

12. The fine channel device according to claim 1, wherein a film is disposed between adjacent partition walls in a flowing direction of fluid, said film including pores with a diameter that is smaller than any distance between adjacent partition walls.

13. The fine channel device according to claim 12, wherein the film includes at least one of a polymeric material or an inorganic material.

14. The fine channel device according to claim 1, wherein a metallic film is disposed in the entire or a part of the inner surface of at least one of the fine channel or the wall surface of the partition walls.

15. The fine channel device according to claim 14, which further comprises at least one of a current supply means or a voltage supply means for the metallic film.

16. The fine channel device according to claim 1, which further comprises a reservoir tank communicated with the circulating channel and a pump configured to store the supplied fluid temporally.

17. The fine channel device according to claim 1, which further comprises means for supplying energy to fluid flowing the fine channel.

18. The fine channel device according to claim 17, wherein said means for supplying energy to fluid is a heating device.

19. The fine device according to claim 18, wherein the heating device is disposed at an upstream side of the fine channel.

20. The fine channel device according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst is a phase transfer catalyst.

21. The fine channel device according to claim 20, wherein the catalyst is an energy dependence phase transfer catalyst.

22. The fine channel device according to claim 21, wherein the catalyst is a temperature dependence phase transfer catalyst.

23. A fine channel device comprising a plurality of fine channels each as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, 6 and 7 to 14 formed two-dimensionally or three dimensionally.

24. A fine channel device comprising;

a fine channel provided with first and second inlet ports configured to feed fluid;

a fluid containing a catalyst disposed in the fine channel device;

first and second inlet channels communicated with the first and second inlet ports, respectively, wherein the fluid containing a catalyst flows from the first inlet port to the first inlet channel;

a confluent portion communicated with the first and second inlet channels;

a branch portion communicated with the fine channel, from which first and second outlet channels are branched and configured to feed predetermined amounts of fluid;

first and second outlet ports communicated with the first and second outlet channels, respectively; and

a circulating channel configured to feed a fluid containing a catalyst discharged from the first outlet port to the first inlet port,

wherein the fine channel includes a plurality of partition walls, each partition wall with a height substantially the same as the depth of the fine channel, disposed along a boundary formed by at least two kinds of fluid fed from the inlet ports configured to not cause mutual contamination of fluid,

wherein each partition wall of the plurality of partition walls includes an elongated upper edge that extends along a line parallel to a fluid flow path within the fine channel,

wherein the plurality of partition walls are disposed at a distance that is greater than an elongated length of each partition wall,

wherein intervals between the partition walls are present along the entire length of the fine channel except in the vicinity of the confluent portion and the vicinity of the branch portion of the fine channel, and wherein the partition walls include continuous partition walls disposed in the vicinity of the confluent portion and in the vicinity of the branch portion of the fine channel, and

wherein a thermal barrier is disposed between the confluent portion and the branch portion.

25. A fine channel device comprising:

a fine channel provided with first and second inlet ports configured to feed fluid;

a fluid containing a catalyst disposed in the fine channel device;

first and second inlet channels communicated with the first and second inlet ports, respectively, wherein the fluid containing a catalyst flows from the first inlet port to the first inlet channel;

a confluent portion communicated with the first and second inlet channels;

a branch portion communicated with the fine channel, from which first and second outlet channels are branched and configured to feed predetermined amounts of fluid;

first and second outlet ports communicated with the first and second outlet channels, respectively;

a circulating channel configured to feed the fluid containing a catalyst discharged from the first outlet port to the first inlet port;

means for supplying energy to fluid flowing the fine channel; and

a mask;

wherein the fine channel includes a plurality of partition walls disposed along a boundary formed by at least two kinds of fluid fed from the inlet ports configured to not cause mutual contamination of fluid,

wherein each partition wall of the plurality of partition walls includes an elongated upper edge that extends along a line parallel to a fluid flow path within the fine channel,

wherein the plurality of partition walls are disposed at intervals in a flowing direction of fluid, said intervals are longer than an elongated length of each partition wall, wherein intervals between the partition walls are present along the entire length of the fine channel except in the vicinity of the confluent portion and the vicinity of the branch portion of the fine channel, and wherein the partition walls include continuous partition walls disposed in the vicinity of the confluent portion and in the vicinity of the branch portion of the fine channel,

wherein said means for supplying energy is a light irradiation device configured to irradiate light on a portion of the fine channel through the mask.

26. A fine channel device comprising:

a fine channel provided with first and second inlet ports configured to feed fluid;

a fluid containing a catalyst disposed in the fine channel device;

first and second inlet channels communicated with the first and second inlet ports, respectively, wherein the fluid containing a catalyst flows from the first inlet port to the first inlet channel;

a confluent portion communicated with the first and second inlet channels;

a branch portion communicated with the fine channel, from which first and second outlet channels are branched and configured to feed predetermined amounts of fluid;

first and second outlet ports communicated with the first and second outlet channels, respectively;

a circulating channel configured to feed the fluid containing a catalyst discharged from the first outlet port to the first inlet port; and

means for supplying energy to fluid flowing the fine channel,

wherein the fine channel includes a plurality of partition walls disposed along a boundary formed by at least two kinds of fluid fed from the inlet ports configured to not cause mutual contamination of fluid,

wherein each partition wall of the plurality of partition walls includes an elongated upper edge that extends along a line parallel to a fluid flow path within the fine channel,

wherein the plurality of partition walls are disposed at intervals in a flowing direction of fluid, said intervals are longer than an elongated length of each partition wall,

wherein intervals between the partition walls are present along the entire length of the fine channel except in the vicinity of the confluent portion and the vicinity of the branch portion of the fine channel, and wherein the partition walls include continuous partition walls disposed in the vicinity of the confluent portion and in the vicinity of the branch portion of the fine channel,

wherein said means for supplying energy to fluid is a heating device,

wherein the heating device is disposed at an upstream side of the fine channel, and

wherein a heat insulation material is embedded in the fine channel device at a downstream side of the fine channel.