Hydrodynamic Study of Single- and Two-Phase Flow in an Advanced-Flow Reactor

Abstract

The hydrodynamics of the G1 fluidic module of the Corning Advanced-Flow reactor (AFR) was characterized using particle image velocimetry (PIV). Two series of experiments, single phase flow with liquid flow rates of 10-40 ml/min and two phase flow with identical overall flow rate range, and gas volume transport fractions ranging from 0.125-0.50, were performed. From the instantaneous velocity vector maps the mean and the root-mean-square (RMS) velocities were computed, which allowed a systematic investigation of the single and two phase flow hydrodynamics and transport processes in the AFR. In single phase flow the velocity field is symmetric in the heart shaped cells, and their particular design results in a stagnation zone which limits momentum exchange in each cell. The addition of the gas phase greatly increased the momentum exchange in the heart cells, which leads to a more uniform distribution of velocity fluctuations and increased transport processes within the AFR.

Scalability of Continuous Flow Production of Metal–Organic Frameworks

“…Our scale‐up strategy is based on maximizing the increase in reactor throughput associated with an increase in the tube number and/or diameter while managing a reduction in surface area to volume ratio ( SA / V ) of the reactor vessel. Minimizing changes in the SA / V ratio of the reactor vessel in each size stage is desirable to maintain the thermal and mass transport properties of the reactor . The flow production rate of a given reactor can be increased by: (i) increasing the number of same‐sized tubes in parallel, and (ii) increasing the diameter of those tubes.…”

“…Minimizing changes in the SA/V ratio of the reactor vessel in each size stage is desirable to maintain the thermal and mass transport properties of the reactor. [26,27] The flow production rate of ag iven reactorc an be increased by:( i) increasing the number of same-sized tubes in parallel, and (ii)increasing the diameter of those tubes. The volumetric flow rate (F r )i ncreases with the square of the tube diameter (d t ); that is, F r / d t 2 .H owever,t he SA/V ratio of the reactort ube decreases as tube diameter increases( SA/V / 1/dt,F igure 2).…”

“…One way to measure process escalation is through the space-time-yield (STY) process parameter.T his term, commonly used in catalytic reactor engineering, is defined as the amount of product produced per quantity of catalyst per unit time. [26] Here this refers to the amounto fM OF produced (kg) per unit volume of reaction mixture (m 3 )p er day of synthesis.The larger the STY,t he more economically viable the synthesis and thus, in order to increase the STY in agiven MOF reaction, the amount of MOF produced per unit volume has to be maximized and the reactiont ime minimized (see Figure S2). To maximizet he STY in the synthesis of Al-Fum we used the highest concentrationo fp recursor solutionsa chievable at room temperature under normals tirring (0.35 m for the metal salt and 0.7 m of organic ligand) and ar eaction time of 1min.…”

Beyond Organometallic Flow Chemistry: The Principles Behind the Use of Continuous-Flow Reactors for Synthesis

“…203 Overall volumetric mass transfer coefficients (kLa) in this device range between 0.1-10 s -1 , which can be compared with those values obtained in a microreactor. 204 This concept has been used to scale oxidation reactions, such as ozonolysis 205 and alcohol oxidations with bleach.…”

Continuous Lipase B-Catalyzed Isoamyl Acetate Synthesis in a Two-Liquid Phase System Using Corning® AFR™ Module Coupled with a Membrane Separator Enabling Biocatalyst Recycle

“…Furthermore, the use of microfluidic devices prevents the formation of stable emulsions, usually present in batch processes with twoliquid phase systems and, hence, significantly reduces downstream costs and efforts [21]. Due to very efficient mass and heat transfer, leading to better process control and intensification, microreactors were successfully transferred to industrial production scale, mostly in chemical synthesis [22][23][24][25]. Recently, their potential for implementation in biocatalytic process development and production has been highlighted.…”