Fractal device for mixing and reactor applications

• US RE42,882 E1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amalgamated Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Amalgamated Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Kearney, Michael M
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooley; Charles E
• Application Number:
  US11/444,519
• Time in Patent Office: 1,980 Days
• Field of Search: 366144-149, 366/173.1, 366/173.2, 366/174.1, 366336-341, 366/349, 165/109.1, 138/37, 138/40, 138/42, 137/325.8, 137/599
• US Class Current: 366/336
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 15/0264 With means for feeding the material with a fractal or tree-type distribution in a surface
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 5/06 Mixers in which the components are pressed together through slits, orifices, or screens; Static mixers; Mixers of the fractal typeB01F7/164, B01F7/225 take precedence; turbo-mixers B01F5/16; colloid-mills B02C; mixing valves F16K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 5/0601 Fractal mixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0053 Details of the reactor
• 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 19/24 Stationary reactors without moving elements inside B01J19/08, B01J19/26 take precedence; with stationary particles B01J8/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00015 Scale-up
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00889 Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0052 for mixers
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0275 with multiple branch pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0278 in the form of stacked distribution plates or perforated plates arranged over end plates

Abstract

Two or more independent and offset fluid transporting fractals allow the scaling and intermingling of two or more fluids separately and simultaneously prior to contacting the fluids with one another. The device provides rapid and homogeneous mixing and/or reaction.

Claims

1. A structure for mixing at least two fluids, said structure comprising:

at least two fluid transporting fractals, namely a first fluid transporting fractal and a second fluid transporting fractal, each said fluid transporting fractal having a respective fluid input which bifurcates to a plurality of fluid outputs, said fluid transporting fractals being positioned offset from one another, each said fluid transporting fractal being configured to facilitate a flow therethrough independent from a flow in said other fluid transporting fractal, a first said output of said first fluid transporting fractal being interconnected to a respective second output of said second fluid transporting fractal by a merging channel, said merging channel providing a zone, isolated from fluid flows from outputs other than from said first and second outputs, wherein fluid exiting said first output of said first fluid transporting fractal may mix with fluid exiting said second output of said second fluid transporting fractal in an environment isolated from fluids exiting said outputs other than said first and second outputs.

2. The structure of claim 1 further including a plurality of merging channels, wherein each merging channel interconnects with a respective said output of said first fluid transporting fractal and a respective said output of said second fluid transporting fractal.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the said plurality of merging channels are interconnected one to another to define a single exit flow channel.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the said interconnection to form a single flow is accomplished by using a fractal arrangement wherein the direction of flow is from the small scale end of the fractal arrangement to the large scale end of the fractal arrangement.

5. The structure of claim 1 further including an enclosure, wherein at least some portion of one or more of said fluid transporting fractals is disposed within said enclosure such that a heat exchange fluid resident within said enclosure can pass over the outside surface of the enclosed fluid transporting fractals.

6. The structure of claim 1 further including an enclosure wherein at least some portion of one or more of said fluid transporting fractals is disposed within said enclosure such that the enclosure can be used for attaching the structure to a support structure.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein each said merging channel is associated with a contact channel for directing fluid from said merging channel to a single exit outlet of said structure.

8. A structure comprising:

at least two fluid transporting fractals, namely a first fluid transporting fractal and a second fluid transporting fractal, each said fluid transporting fractal having a respective inlet, said respective inlets being physically isolated from one another to permit physically distinct fluid flows in each of said fluid transporting fractals, each said fluid transporting fractal bifurcating from said respective inlet thereof into a plurality of fluid passageways and thereafter to a plurality of respective outlets, said at least two fluid transporting fractals being positioned offset from one another, said outlets of said first fluid transporting fractal being positioned in an alternating arrangement with said outlets of said second fluid transporting fractal proximate an exit surface, with at least one of said outlets of said first fluid transporting fractal being positioned proximate a respective said outlet of said second fluid transporting fractal, wherein fluid exiting said at least one outlet of said first fluid transporting fractal may intermingle with fluid exiting said respective outlet of said second fluid transporting fractal.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein each said outlet of said first fluid transporting fractal is positioned physically proximate a counterpart said outlet of said second fluid transporting fractal to permit a mixing of a first fluid exiting each said outlet of said first fluid transporting fractal with a second fluid exiting from said counterpart outlet of said second fluid transporting fractal.

10. The structure of claim 8 wherein said passageways of each said fluid transporting fractal are physically isolated from said passageways of said other fluid transporting fractal.

11. The structure of claim 8 further including an enclosure wherein at least some portion of at least one fluid transporting fractal is positioned within said enclosure.

12. The structure of claim 11 wherein said enclosure in constructed to facilitate the passage over said portion of at least one fluid transporting fractal of a heat exchange fluid.

13. The structure of claim 12 wherein said heat exchange fluid is resident in said enclosure.

14. The structure of claim 8 wherein a geometry of said first fluid transporting fractal is identical to a geometry of said second fluid transporting fractal.

15. The structure of claim 8 wherein a geometry of said first fluid transporting fractal is different from a geometry of said second fluid transporting fractal.

16. The structure of claim 8 further including an exit surface positioned proximate said outlets.

17. The structure of claim 16 wherein said exit surface is planar.

18. The structure of claim 16 wherein said exit surface is nonplanar.

19. The structure of claim 18 wherein said exit surface is a curved surface.

20. The structure of claim 18 wherein said exit surface is of irregular shape.

21. The structure of claim 8 wherein at least one of said fluid transporting fractals is bifurcated perpendicular to a direction of flow of a respective inlet thereof.

22. The structure of claim 21 wherein at least one of said fluid transporting fractals is bifurcated perpendicular to a direction of flow of both said respective inlet and at least one outlet thereof.

23. The structure of claim 8 wherein at least one of said fluid transporting fractals is bifurcated at an angle between perpendicular and parallel to a flow direction of said inlet of said at least one of said fluid transporting fractals.

24. The structure of claim 8 wherein said at least one of said fluid transporting fractals is bifurcated at an angle between perpendicular and parallel to a flow direction of said inlet and at least one outlet of said at least one of said fluid transporting fractals.

25. The structure of claim 8 wherein said second fluid transporting fractal is positioned within said first fluid transporting fractal.