(8b) Modular Microchemical Engineering - a Tool for Process Intensification
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
2007
2007 Spring Meeting & 3rd Global Congress on Process Safety
Applications of Micro-reactor Engineering
Fine Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Production in Micro-Systems - Part I
Monday, April 23, 2007 - 8:35am to 9:00am
Microchemical engineering opens new pathways for the development of economical and innovative processes and intensified processes. In the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, this technology plays an increasingly important role in research, development and production because of its decisive advantages over conventional technology.
With the Modular Microreaction System, a powerful development and production tool combining the advantages of microprocess technology with great flexibility and a wide scope of application for process development and intensification will be shown. The system comprises individual microstructure-equipped modules that can be freely combined. These modules perform basic process operations such as mixing, dispersing, heat transfer, etc. The individual microreaction modules can be freely arranged on a solid base plate, enabling the fast and flexible setup of a wide variety of microreaction plants.
The Modular Microreaction System can be used for liquid phase, gas phase and multiphase reactions in heterogeneous gas-liquid systems. Operating parameters include a temperature range of ?20 to 200 °C; operating pressures up to 100 bar (at room temperature); and rated throughputs of up to 25 L/h for low-viscosity media. Special modules available significantly extend this process range. Among the items available are special reactors for reaction temperatures from ?100 °C to 500 °C and stand-alone, high-performance production modules with rated throughputs of several thousand liter per hour.
The Modular Microreaction System provides the user with a flexible, safe and cost-effective platform for the development of new synthesis methods for the production of chemical compounds and improving existing processes through intensification. Continuous operation and the more efficient process control made possible by microprocess technology often result in significantly shorter development times and thus reduced costs.
Examples for applications in lab scale as well as in pilot scale will be shown for different reaction systems. In addition new microreaction modules will be presented and authors will discuss the advantages of modular plant concepts for process intensification.