WO2006031058A1

WO2006031058A1 - Micro channel reactor

Info

Publication number: WO2006031058A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/003029
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sang-Hee Lee; Hwan-Pyo Hong; Min-Soo Choi; Taek-Jun Sohn; Sung-Bae Lee; Ki-Youn Song
Original assignee: Spec Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2004-09-13
Filing date: 2005-09-13
Publication date: 2006-03-23
Also published as: JP2008512237A

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a micro channel reactor comprising a fluid injector provided with injection tubes for injecting fluids to be mixed into the inside of the micro channel reactor therethrough, a fluid mixer for mixing the injected fluids, and a fluid discharger for discharging the mixed fluid. The fluid injector includes fluid-communicators for fluid-communicating the fluids injected through the injection tubes, and distribution plates having discharge ports formed at regular intervals for discharging fluids from the fluid-communicators to the fluid mixer. The fluid mixer includes pass-through holes penetrating into the discharge ports, a plurality of micro channels fluid-communicated with the pass-through holes, and branch ports formed at the outlet end portions of the micro channels, in which different kinds of fluids passing through neighboring micro channels collide with each other and are mixed. The fluid discharger includes a container for containing the fluids collided by the branch ports and mixed, and discharge ports for discharging the mixed fluids from the container. Accordingly, the micro channel reactor according to the invention can mix different kinds of fluids without using a big mixer, and thus be miniaturized. A container does not need to be replaced according to the determination of mixing amount. Different fluids injected through an injection port directly collide with each other, and thus the fluids can be mixed efficiently in a short period of time. In addition, the micro channel reactor is manufactured by blazingly bonding and stacking sheet metals having micro channels and branch ports through etching, thereby being precisely processed, easily manufactured, economical, and endurable.

Description

MICROCHANNELREACTOR

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a micro channel reactor. More specifically, the invention relates to a micro channel reactor, in which different kinds of fluids distributed by a distribution plate are injected by a branch port and collide with each other so as to be mixed, and the different fluids passing through a fluid-passageway formed to flow vertically collide with each other and react.

[2]

Background Art

[3] Generally, a micro channel reactor, in which channels of tens or hundreds of microns in size are processed, and thus micro fluid-passageways are formed, is an apparatus for mixing the fluids passing between the passageways, and discharging the mixed fluid.

[4] In the methods of mixing fluids using existing devices for mixing different kinds of fluids, a mechanical device is used in order to mix fluids through the rotational motion, upward motion, or downward motion of a blade attached to an axis. However, such devices are inconvenient in that it takes an extended period of time to mix fluids, and the size of a device is limited, so that the devices are inappropriate for mixing a large amount of fluids. Accordingly, when producing a large amount of a mixed fluid, an extended period of time is taken in mixing fluids, and the devices become larger in order to contain a large amount of a mixed fluid, and thus a large amount of equipment costs are required. In addition, most of such mixers use a method of mixing fluids using blades inside a container, and thus the container needs to be replaced according to a determined mixing amount.

[5] Korean Patent Application No. 2000-7004186 discloses a micro channel reactor for solving such problems, as shown in FIG. 1.

[6] As shown in FIG. 1, the bottom portion 1001 and the top portion 1002 of a housing support each other in a tightly sealed manner on each contacting surface 1003, 1004 facing each other. Inlet passageways 1005a, 1005b and an outlet port 1006 are opened to a separating surface formed by the contacting surfaces 1003, 1004, and passageway grooves 1008, 1009 are formed on at least one of the two contacting surfaces 1003, 1004.

[7] As another example of a micro channel reactor conventionally used, a micro channel reactor has been proposed, in which fluids are injected through hundreds of micro channels and mixed by diffusion. However, fluids are injected on different planes in different directions, which is no more than a mixture by diffusion, and thus mixing performance is limited. In addition, processing the passageway grooves 1008, 1009 is difficult, thereby requiring a large amount of production costs. Also, many portions of fluids are mixed with each other, and thus pressure losses occur ex¬ cessively, thereby decreasing mixing efficiency. Accordingly, in order to maintain a certain pressure when the mixed fluid is discharged through the outlet port 1006, fluids must be injected into the inlet passageways 1005a, 1005b at a high pressure, the micro channel reactor must be manufactured using a high pressure container.

[8] On the other hand, Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 437135 (title of the invention: micro heat exchanger and manufacturing method thereof) applied and registered by the inventor is shown in FIG. 2, which relates to a heat exchanger man¬ ufactured by blazingly bonding metal plates having a plurality of micro channels.

[9] As shown in FIG. 2, metal plates 1022 and bonding sheets are alternately stacked and blazingly bonded, and thus the heat exchanger is formed, the metal plate on which micro channels 1021 are processed. The heat exchanger configured as such maximizes thermal endurance and pressure endurance of each fluid-passageway formed of micro channels 102.

[10]

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[11] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems occurring in the art, and it is an object of the invention to provide a micro channel reactor, in which different kinds of fluids can be mixed without using a large mixer, and a container can be used without being replaced according to the determined mixing amount, thereby mixing fluids effectively in a short period of time.

[12] Another object of invention is to provide a micro channel reactor, which is man¬ ufactured by blazingly stacking sheet metals having branch ports and micro channels formed thereon through etching, thereby being precisely processed, easily man¬ ufactured, economical, and endurable.

[13] Another object of invention is to provide a micro channel reactor, in which different kinds of fluids pass through three-dimensional fluid-passageways formed so as to allow the fluids repeatedly move upwardly and downwardly, directly collide with each other, thereby effectively mixing fluids in a short period of time.

[14] Another object of invention is to provide a micro channel reactor having lengthy but miniaturized fluid-passageways, and easily absorbs and radiates reaction heat when different kinds of fluids are mixed, thereby improving reaction efficiency.

[15] Technical Solution

[16] In order to accomplish the above object, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a micro channel reactor comprising a fluid injector provided with injection rubes for injecting fluids to be into the inside of the micro channel reactor therethrough, a fluid mixer for mixing the injected fluids, and a fluid discharger for discharging the mixed fluid. The fluid injector includes fluid-communicators for fluid- communicating the fluids injected through the injection tubes, and distribution plates having discharge ports formed thereon at regular intervals for discharging fluids from the fluid-communicators to the fluid mixer. The fluid mixer includes pass-through holes penetrating into the discharge ports, a plurality of micro channels fluid- communicated with the pass-through holes, and branch ports formed at the outlet end portions of the micro channels, in which different kinds of fluids passing through neighboring micro channels collide with each other and are mixed. The fluid discharger includes a container for containing the fluids collided by the branch ports and mixed, and discharge ports for discharging the mixed fluids from the container.

[17] In addition, the discharge ports of the distribution plate are offset from each other so that fluids injected into each injection tube alternately pass through micro channels, and the fluid mixer includes a plurality of stacked sheet metals each having micro channels and branch ports formed thereon.

[18] In addition, in the fluid mixer of the invention, sheet metals for a heat exchanger are inserted and stacked between the sheet metals having micro channels and branch ports, the sheet metals for a heat exchanger having pass-through holes for passing through fluids and a plurality of micro channels fluid-communicated with the pass-through holes.

[19] Also, the fluid mixer of the invention includes a lower plate and an upper plate formed in one body, the lower plate having a plurality of doughnut- shaped channels of a certain depth arranged in the axial direction on the top surface, fluid-communicators formed by concatenating the end portions of the doughnut- shaped channels each other in order to fluid-communicate the doughnut-shaped channels, and fluid passageway channels in the axial direction formed thereby, the upper plate having a plurality of doughnut- shaped channels of a certain depth arranged in the axial direction on the top and bottom surfaces, fluid-communicators formed by concatenating the end portions of the doughnut-shaped channels each other in order to fluid-communicate the doughnut- shaped channels, and three-dimensional fluid-passageways where injected fluids repeatedly move in the vertical and axial directions, and being stacked on the top of the lower plate, in which the doughnut-shaped channel formed on the bottom surface having the fluid-communicator placed at the center of the doughnut-shaped channel of the lower plate is fluid-communicated with the fluid-passageway channel of the lower plate, and the doughnut- shaped channel formed on the top surface is placed on the same axis line as the doughnut- shaped channel of the lower plate, and fluid- communicated with the doughnut-shaped channels formed on the bottom surface and the fluid-passageway channel of the lower plate.

[20] In addition, the doughnut- shaped channels of the lower plate of the invention are formed by etching, and the doughnut-shaped channels formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the middle plate are etched half as deep as the thickness of the middle plate so as to fluid-communicated upwardly and downwardly. Two or more of the lower plate and the middle plate of the fluid mixer are consecutively stacked, and fluid- communicated upwardly and downwardly through the end portions of the fluid- passageways.

[21] In addition, the fluid mixer of the invention is further provided with one or more heat insulation hole(s) passing through certain portions surrounding the micro channels in a certain shape. The fluid mixer has a plurality of the micro channels and the branch ports connected in series or parallel.

[22] Also, a micro channel reactor of the invention comprises a fluid injector provided with injection tubes for injecting fluids to be mixed into the inside of the micro channel reactor therethrough, a fluid mixer for mixing the injected fluids, and a fluid discharger for discharging the mixed fluid, and the fluid mixer includes a lower plate, a middle plate, and an upper plate formed in one body, the lower plate having a plurality of doughnut- shaped channels of a certain depth arranged in the axial direction on the top surface, fluid-communicators formed by concatenating the end portions of the doughnut- shaped channels each other in order to fluid-communicate the doughnut- shaped channels, and fluid passageway channels in the axial direction formed thereof, the middle plate having a plurality of doughnut- shaped channels of a certain depth arranged in the axial direction on the top and bottom surfaces, fluid-communicators formed by concatenating the end portions of the doughnut- shaped channels each other in order to fluid-communicate the doughnut-shaped channels, and three-dimensional fluid-passageways where injected fluids repeatedly move in the vertical and axial directions, and being stacked on the top of the lower plate, in which the doughnut- shaped channel formed on the bottom surface having the fluid-communicator placed at the center of the doughnut-shaped channel of the lower plate is fluid-communicated with the fluid-passageway channel of the lower plate, and the doughnut-shaped channel formed on the top surface is placed on the same axis line as the doughnut- shaped channel of the lower plate, and fluid-communicated with the doughnut-shaped channels formed on the bottom surface and the fluid-passageway channels of the lower plate, the upper plate being stacked on the top of the middle plate. [23] In addition, the doughnut- shaped channels of the lower plate of the invention are formed by etching, and the doughnut-shaped channels formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the middle plate are etched half as deep as the thickness of the middle plate so as to fluid-communicated upwardly and downwardly. The depth of the doughnut- shaped d channels of the lower plate is the same as that of the doughnut-shaped channels formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the middle plate.

[24] In addition, the fluid mixer of the invention further includes a container for containing the fluids injected from the fluid injector, a branching unit having a plurality of micro channels branched from the container, and a joining section connected to the three-dimensional fluid-passageway channels of the fluid mixer for joining the fluid branched by the branching unit.

[25] Also, a plurality of neighboring fluid passageway channels of the fluid mixer of the invention is provided, and connectors for connecting the end portions of the fluid passageway channel are provided. The lower plate, middle plate, and upper plate of the fluid mixer are blazingly bonded.

[26] In addition, in the present invention, a micro heat exchanger coupled to the lower portion of the lower plate of the fluid mixer, the micro heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet of a coolant, and a plurality of micro channels on the top surface, is further provided. Two or more of the lower plate and the middle plate of the fluid mixer are consecutively stacked, and fluid-communicated upwardly and downwardly through the end portions of the fluid-passageways.

[27]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[28] Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[29] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional micro channel reactor;

[30] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional heat exchanger;

[31] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a micro channel reactor according to the present invention;

[32] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a major portion of the micro channel reactor according to the present invention;

[33] FIG. 5 is a plane and bottom views showing a distribution plate of the invention;

[34] FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing sheet metals according to the invention;

[35] FIGS. 8 and 9 are plan views showing schematic structures of fluid mixers connected in series; [36] FIGS. 10 and 11 are exploded perspective views showing a micro channel reactor according to an embodiment of the invention; [37] FIGS. 12 to 14, and 16 and 17 are exploded perspective views and perspective views showing diverse forms of the micro channel reactor according to the invention; [38] FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a micro channel reactor of another form according to the invention; [39] FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view showing a micro channel reactor of another form according to the invention;

[40] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 18;

[41] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 18;

[42] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 18;

[43] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of FIG. 18;

[44] FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a micro channel reactor of another form according to the invention;

[45] FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 24;

[46] FIG. 26 is a plan view showing the lower plate of FIG. 25;

[47] FIG. 27 is a plan view showing the middle plate of FIG. 25;

[48] FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view showing a micro channel reactor of another form according to the invention; [49] FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing a modified embodiment of the lower and middle plates of FIG. 25; and [50] FIG. 30 is an exploded perspective view showing a micro channel reactor of another form according to the invention. [51]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [52] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [53] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a micro channel reactor according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a major portion of the micro channel reactor according to the present invention. [54] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the micro channel reactor 100 according to the invention comprises a fluid injector 110 for injecting fluids to be mixed into the inside of the micro channel reactor therethrough, a fluid mixer 120 for mixing the injected fluids, and a fluid discharger 130 for discharging the mixed fluid. [55] The fluid injector 110 includes covers 112 each of which is provided with an injection tube 111 respectively through which a different kind of a fluid is injected, and distribution plates 114a, 114b for distributing the fluids injected through the injection tubes 111 to the fluid mixer 120.

[56] The covers 112 are installed at the upper portion and the lower portion respectively, and have injection holes 113 fluid-communicated with the injection tubes 111. The fluids that have passed the injection holes 113 move to the distribution plates 114a, 114b.

[57] The distribution plate 114a, 114b is placed at the inner side of the cover 112, and contains a fluid-communicator 115 for fluid-communicating the fluid injected through the injection tube 111 and the injection hole 113, and discharge ports 116a, 116b formed thereon at regular intervals for discharging the fluid from the fluid- communicator 115 to the fluid mixer 120. The fluid-communicator 115 is fluid- communicated with each discharge port 116a, 116b, so that the distribution plate 114 allows a constant amount of fluid to be distributed to each discharge port 116a, 116b when the fluid is discharged to the fluid mixer 120.

[58] The fluid mixer 120 includes a plurality of micro channels 121 fluid-communicated with the discharge ports 116a, 116b for passing through fluids, branch ports 122 formed at the outlet end portions of the micro channels 121 for mixing the fluids, and pass-through holes 124 penetrating into the discharge ports 116a, 116b.

[59] When fluids pass through the micro channels 121 by way of the discharge ports

116a, 116b, as shown in FIG. 3, the discharge port 116a formed on the upper dis¬ tribution plate 114a and the discharge port 116b formed on the lower distribution plate 114b are alternately fluid-communicated with the micro channels 121 respectively, and thus a fluid A passes through a micro channel 121, and another fluid B passes through a neighboring micro channel 121.

[60] Also, the discharge port 116a formed on the upper distribution plate 114a and the discharge port 116b formed on the lower distribution plate 114b are not on the same vertical line, but offset from each other. That is, as shown in the plan view of the upper distribution plate 114a depicted at the upper portion of FIG. 5, the discharge port 116a is placed slightly leftward. In the bottom side view of the lower distribution plate 114b shown at the lower portion of FIG. 5, the discharge port 116b is placed slightly rightward. In this way, the discharge ports 116a, 116b formed on the upper and lower distribution plates 114a, 114b are offset from each other so that, when fluids pass through the micro channels 121, different kinds of fluids passing through neighboring micro channels 121 are injected from the branch ports 122 having a certain angle, and collide with each other, and thus the different kinds of fluids are mixed.

[61] Specifically, the most important point in the present invention is that different kinds of injected fluids directly collide and are mixed, the fluids having alternately passed through the micro channels 121 and the branch ports 122 by way of the discharge ports 116a, 116b formed on the distribution plates 113a, 114b. Accordingly, in the present invention, the injected fluids that have passed through the micro channels 121 and the branch ports 122 of the fluid mixer 120 directly collide and are mixed, thereby being mixed in a short period of time.

[62] In addition, the fluid mixer 120 is preferably formed by stacking a plurality of sheet metals 123 each having micro channels 121 and branch ports 122 formed thereon as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. At this point, the sheet metal 123 forms micro channels 121 and branch ports 122 through etching, and the fluid mixer 120 is fabricated by stacking and blazingly bonding the sheet metals 123. In this way, the micro channels 121 and the branch ports 122 can be easily processed by etching the sheet metals 123, and, by stacking and bonding a plurality of sheet metals 123 processed in this way, the process can be easier and more precise, and the fluid mixer can be manufactured economically.

[63] The fluid discharger 130 discharges a fluid that has passed through a micro channel

121, and is injected from a branch port 122, and collided and mixed with and another fluid that has passed through a neighboring micro channel 121, and is injected from a neighboring branch port 122. In the case of the sheet metal 123 shown in FIG. 6, the fluid discharger 130 is separately installed at the outlet of the branch port 122. In the case of the sheet metal 123 shown in FIG. 7, the fluid discharger is formed at the outlet of the branch port 122, and the mixed fluid is discharged through the container 131 where the mixed fluid is stored. The containers 131 can be fluid-communicated with each other so as to become one container, and modified in diverse forms as a matter of course.

[64] The manufacturing process of the micro channel reactor 100, according to the invention, having the structure described above is explained below. The manufacturing process is explained hereafter with reference to Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 437135 (title of the invention: micro heat exchanger and manufacturing method thereof) applied and registered by the same inventor of the present invention.

[65] First, a cover 112 is prepared by punching injection holes 113 on a metal plate, and injection tubes 111 are tack bonded so as to be fluid-communicated with the injection holes 113. Next, a fluid-communicator 115 is formed on another metal plate through a milling process so as to be fluid-communicated with the injection holes 113. Dis¬ tribution plates 114a, 114b are prepared by punching discharge ports 116a, 116b on the fluid-communicator 115 at regular intervals. Then, sheet metals are prepared, and the surfaces are rinsed. Next, highly corrosive synthetic resin or the like is spread over each sheet metal except the portions where a plurality of micro channels 121 and branch ports 122 are formed, etching is performed, and thus the micro channels 121 and the branch ports 122 are formed on the sheet metal. Next, the sheet metals are rinsed, and spread synthetic resin is removed. Then, pass-through holes 124 are formed on the sheet metal 123 so as to be fluid-communicated with the discharge ports 116a, 116b formed on the distribution plates 114a, 114b that is to be installed at the upper and lower portions. Then, a container 131 is formed on a sheet metal 123 through a milling process so as to be fluid-communicated with the branch ports 122, and a discharge port 132 is formed at the center of the container 121. A discharge tube 133 is tack bonded at the rear surface of the container 131 so as to be fluid-communicated with the discharge port 132, and thus the fluid discharger 130 is prepared. Next, the distribution plates 114a, 114b are placed between the covers 112, and sheet metals 123 are placed between the distribution plates 114a, 114b. Then, bonding sheets are al¬ ternately inserted and stacked between the covers 112, distribution plates 114a, 114b, and sheet metals 123, and a bonding sheet is inserted between the rear side of the stacked body and the fluid discharger 130. At this point, the bonding sheet is used as a bonding medium that is melt when bonding process is performed at a blazing furnace. In the case of using a metal plate of aluminum as a material, an alloy of aluminum and silicon is used. Silver or an alloy containing silver is used in the case of a copper alloy, and a nickel family alloy or a solid copper is used in the case of a stainless family alloy or a heat resisting alloy. In addition, in order to prevent the micro channels 121 from being choked when performing blazing bonding, a bonding sheet of 0. lmm thickness, preferably 0.025 -0.05 mm, is used. The whole stacked body is inserted into the blazing furnace, and bonding is performed. Then, the remaining melted material discharged on the surface is removed as a post-processing, and the micro channel reactor 100 according to the invention is produced.

[66] In FIG. 8, a plurality of micro channels 121 and branch ports 122 is installed in series, and a container 131 is installed at the outlet of the branch port 122, and thus fluids are mixed more completely. In this case, pressure is reduced and discharging speed is decreased, so that an additional means for increasing pressure is used.

[67] The fluid mixer in FIG. 9 has the same structure as that in FIG. 8, and mixes four different kinds of fluids. That is, the fluid mixer mixes two different kinds of fluids C, D with a mixed fluid A+B, which is a mixture of two different kinds of fluids A, B, and discharges a mixed fluid of four different kinds of fluids A+B+C+D. In this case, when the mixed fluid A+B passes through the micro channels 121 where the two different kinds of fluids C, D are injected, if the fluid pressure of C and D is higher than that of the mixed fluid A+B, a reverse flow occurs, so that a means for preventing the reverse flow is used.

[68] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a micro channel reactor according to an embodiment of the invention.

[69] As shown in FIG. 10, sheet metals for a heat exchanger 140 are inserted and stacked between the sheet metals 123 of the micro channel reactor according to the invention shown in FIG. 3. The sheet metal for a heat exchanger 140 includes pass-through holes 141 for passing through fluids, and a plurality of micro channels 142 fluid- communicated with the pass-through holes 141. A cooling material circulates the pass- through holes 141 and the micro channels 142 of the sheet metals for a heat exchanger 140, and thus the sheet metal for a heat exchanger functions as a heat exchanger.

[70] In this way, sheet metals for a heat exchanger 140, each of which has pass-through holes 141 for passing through fluids, and a plurality of micro channels 142 fluid- communicated with the pass-through holes 141, are inserted and stacked between sheet metals 123, and thus the micro channel reactor of the present invention functions a heat exchanger as well.

[71] In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, one or more heat insulation hole(s) 125 is(are) preferably provided to the distribution plates 114a, 114b and the sheet metals 123 of the micro channel reactor according to the invention shown in FIG. 3, the heat insulation hole(s) passing through certain portions surrounding the micro channels 121 in a certain shape. In order to increase a heat insulation effect, the blazing bonding is performed while a vacuumed state is maintained. In this way, in the present invention, the heat insulation holes 125 are provided to the sheet metals 123, so that the micro channel reactor has an excellent effect on heat insulation, and the weight of the micro channel reactor can be reduced. In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, in the case where the sheet metals for a heat exchanger 140 are inserted, the heat insulation holes 125 are formed so as to penetrate all the sheet metals 123 and the sheet metals for a heat exchanger 140.

[72] FIGS. 12 and 13 are exploded perspective views showing diverse forms of a micro channel reactor according to the invention.

[73] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, two to eight kinds of fluids can be mixed according to the selection of the fluid.

[74] FIG. 12 shows a micro channel reactor that can mix two or more different kinds of fluids, in which neighboring two different kinds of fluids are mixed, and discharged to four discharge tubes 133 respectively.

[75] FIG. 13 shows a micro channel reactor that can mix four or more different kinds of fluids, in which neighboring four different kinds of fluids are mixed, and discharged to discharge tubes 133 respectively.

[76] FIGS. 14 to 16 show diverse forms of a micro channel reactor according to the invention.

[77] As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, by changing the locations of the injection tubes 111 of the micro channel reactor 100, the reactor can be modified in diverse forms according to the location where the reactor 100 is installed.

[78] FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing another example of a micro channel reactor according to the invention. [79] As shown in FIG. 17, the fluid mixer 120 placed between the distribution plates

114a, 114b is bonded in one piece by stacking a lower plate 150 and an upper plate 160, the lower plate being etched so that fluid passageway channels where doughnut- shaped channels 151 are fluid-communicated each other in the axial direction are provided on the upper surface, the upper plate being etched so that fluid passageway channels where doughnut- shaped channels 161 are fluid-communicated each other in the axial and vertical directions are provided on both surfaces. At this point, pass through holes 152, 162 penetrating into the discharge ports 116a, 116b are provided at one side ends of the lower plate 150 and the upper plate 160.

[80] The detailed configurations of the lower plate 150 and the upper plate 160 are explained in another form of the micro channel reactor that will be described below.

[81] FIGS. 18 to 30 show other forms of the micro channel reactor according to the invention. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a micro channel reactor of another form according to the invention, and FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view showing a micro channel reactor of another form according to the invention. FIG. 20 is a cross- sectional view of FIG. 18 taken along the line A-A, FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 18 taken along the line B-B, FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 18 taken along the line C-C, and FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 18 taken along the line D-D.

[82] As shown in the figures, another form of the micro channel reactor 200 according to the invention comprises a fluid injector 210 for injecting fluids to be mixed into the inside of the micro channel reactor therethrough, a fluid mixer 220 for mixing the injected fluids, and a fluid discharger 230 for discharging the mixed fluid.

[83] The fluid injector 210 are provided with injection tubes where different kinds of fluids are injected respectively, and the different kinds of fluids injected through the injection tubes are moved to the fluid mixer 220 and mixed.

[84] The fluid mixer 220 is combined and fluid-communicated with the fluid injector

210 and the fluid discharger 230, which is a stack of a lower plate 221, a middle plate 222, and an upper plate 223 formed of thin plates. At this point, preferably, these plates 221, 222, 223 are blazingly bonded.

[85] The lower plate 221 has the same configuration as that of the lower plate 150 shown in FIG. 17 described above. The lower plate 221 has a plurality of doughnut- shaped channels 221a formed on the top surface, the doughnut-shaped channels having a certain depth and being arranged in the axial direction. Fluid-communicators 221b are provided such that the end portions of the doughnut-shaped channels 221a are con¬ catenated each other so as to fluid-communicate the doughnut- shaped channels 221a, and thus a fluid passageway channel is formed in the axial direction. Different kinds of fluids are injected into the fluid injector 210, branched by way of the doughnut- shaped channels 221a, moved to and joined at the fluid-communicator 221b, and then react. Such doughnut-shaped channels 221a and the fluid-communicators 221b that com¬ municates these channels 221a are consecutively provided, so that the different kinds of fluids pass through the doughnut- shaped channels 221a and the fluid- communicators 221b, and the reaction of the fluids is accelerated. At this point, the end portions of the doughnut- shaped channels 221a are preferably overlapped at the fluid- communicator 221b so as to form a V-shape protrusion 221c in order to join and branch the different kinds of fluids at the fluid-communicator 221b. The doughnut- shaped channels 221a of the lower plate 221 are preferably formed by etching.

[86] The middle plate 222 has the same configuration as that of the upper plate 160 shown in FIG. 17 described above. The middle plate 222 is stacked on the lower plate 221, and has a plurality of doughnut- shaped channels 222a', 222a" formed on the top and bottom surfaces in the same manner as the lower plate 221, the channels having a certain depth and being arranged in the axial direction. Fluid-communicators 222b', 222b" are provided such that the end portions of the doughnut- shaped channels 222a' and 222a" are concatenated each other so as to fluid-communicate the doughnut- shaped channels 222a', 222a". At this point, the end portions of the doughnut-shaped channels 222a' and 222a" are preferably overlapped at the fluid-communicators 222b' and 222b" so as to form a V-shape protrusion 222c' and 222c" in order to join and branch different kinds of fluids at the fluid-communicator 222b', 222b".

[87] At this point, the doughnut- shaped channel 222a" formed on the bottom surface is placed at the center of the doughnut- shaped channel 221a of the lower plate 221, and fluid-communicated with the fluid passageway channel of the lower plate 221. The doughnut- shaped channel 222a' formed on the top surface is placed on the same axis line as the doughnut- shaped channel 221a of the lower plate 221, and fluid- communicated with the doughnut-shaped channel 222a" formed on the bottom surface and the fluid passageway channel of the lower plate 221. Accordingly, the doughnut- shaped channel 222a' formed on the top surface of the middle plate 222 is fluid- communicated with the fluid passageway channel of the lower plate 221, and thus fluids are allowed to move upwardly and downwardly. As a result, the doughnut- shaped channels 221a, 222a', 222a" are fluid-communicated each other in the axial and vertical directions, and thus a three-dimensional fluid passageway is formed, through which different kinds of fluids can repeatedly move upwardly and downwardly.

[88] In this way, in the present invention, doughnut-shaped channels 221a, 222a' and

222a" forms three-dimensional fluid passageways, and thus different kinds of fluids are branched and joined in the axial direction, and branched and joined in the vertical direction at the same time, thereby accelerating the mixing reaction of the different kinds of fluids [89] In addition, the doughnut- shaped channels 222a' and 222a" formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the middle plate 222 are preferably etched half as deep as the thickness of the middle plate 222 so as to fluid-communicated upwardly and downwardly. The depth of the doughnut- shaped channels 222a' and 222a" formed on the top and bottom surfaces is preferably the same as that of the doughnut-shaped channel 221a of the lower plate 221. That is, preferably, the doughnut-shaped channels formed on the top surface and the doughnut- shaped channel formed on the lower plate are vertically symmetrical with respect to the doughnut-shaped channels 222a" formed on the bottom surface of the middle plate 222.

[90] In the micro channel reactor shown in FIGS. 18 to 23, a three-dimensional fluid passageway channel is formed in a row. In the micro channel reactor shown in FIGS. 24 to 30, a plurality of neighboring three-dimensional fluid passageway channels are provided, and the end portions of the fluid passageways are connected each other.

[91] The cross-sectional views in FIGS. 20 to 23 show that the doughnut-shaped channel

221a of the lower plate 221 and the doughnut-shaped channel 222a' formed on the top surface of the middle plate 222 are on the same axis line.

[92] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 18 taken along the line A-A. At the A-A cross-section point of FIG. 18, the fluid-communicator 222b" of the middle plate 222, the doughnut-shaped channels 222a' formed on the top surface of the middle plate 222, and the doughnut- shaped channel 221a of the lower plate 221 are branched re¬ spectively, and different kinds of fluids are branched respectively according to this.

[93] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 18 taken along the line B-B. If different kinds of fluids are branched at the cross-section point shown in FIG. 20, and arrived at the cross-section point shown in FIG. 21, the fluid-communicator 222b" of the middle plate 222, the doughnut- shaped channel 221a of the lower plate 221, and the doughnut- shaped channel 222a' formed on the top surface of the middle plate 222 are fluid- communicated each other, and thus the fluids are joined. If the fluids arrive at the B-B cross-section point of FIG. 18, i.e. the point next to the center of the V-shape protrusion 222c" provided at the fluid-communicator 222b" of the middle plate 222, the fluids are branched into the doughnut-shaped channel 222a' formed on the top surface of the middle plate 222, the channel being widened by the V-shape protrusion 222c" provided at the fluid-communicator 222b" of the middle plate 222, and the doughnut- shaped channel 221a formed on the lower plate 221.

[94] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 18 taken along the line C-C. If different kinds of fluids arrive at the cross-section point of FIG. 22 from the cross-section point of FIG. 21, the different kinds of fluids joined at the fluid-communicator 222b" of the middle plate 222 are moved to the doughnut- shaped channel 221a of the lower plate 221, the doughnut-shaped channel 222a' formed on the top surface of the middle plate 222, and the doughnut- shaped channel 222a" formed on the bottom surface of the middle plate 222, and then joined. In this state, all the doughnut-shaped channel 221a of the lower plate 221, the doughnut- shaped channel 222a' formed on the top surface of the middle plate 222, and the doughnut-shaped channel 222a" formed on the bottom surface of the middle plate 222 are fluid-communicated.

[95] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 18 taken along the line D-D. If different kinds of fluids arrive at the cross-section point of FIG. 23 from the cross-section point of FIG. 22, the different kinds of fluids, which are joined after being moved to the doughnut- shaped channel 221a of the lower plate 221, the doughnut- shaped channel 222a' formed on the top surface of the middle plate 222, and the doughnut-shaped channel 222a" formed on the bottom surface of the middle plate 222, are branched to the doughnut-shaped channel 222a" of the middle plate 222 in the axial direction, and branched to the fluid-communicator 222b' formed on the top surface of the middle plate 222 and the fluid-communicator 221b of the lower plate 221 in the vertical direction. In this way, in the present invention, three-dimensional fluid-passageway channels are formed so as to branch fluids in the axial and vertical directions, thereby enhancing mixing reaction efficiency of different kinds of fluids.

[96] FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a micro channel reactor of another form according to the invention, FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 24, FIG. 26 is a plan view FIG. 26 is the lower plate of FIG. 25, and FIG. 27 is a plan view showing the middle plate of FIG. 25.

[97] As shown in the figures, the fluid mixer 220 further includes a container 224 for containing the fluids injected from the fluid injector 210, a branching unit 225 having a plurality of micro channels 225a branched from the container 224, and a joining section 226 connected to the three-dimensional fluid-passageway channels of the fluid mixer 220 for joining the fluid branched by the branching unit 225. At this point, the branching unit 225 and the joining section 226 can be alternately provided in plural. Also, a plurality of neighboring three-dimensional fluid passageway channels is provided, and connectors 227 for connecting the end portions of the fluid passageway channel are provided.

[98] FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view showing a micro channel reactor of another form according to the invention. As shown in FIG. 28, two or more lower plates 221 shown in FIG. 26 and the middle plates 222 are alternately and con¬ secutively stacked. In this case, the outlet of the fluid-passageway of the lower plate 221' and the middle plate 222' placed at the uppermost portion are connected to the inlets of the lower plate 221" and the middle plate 222" placed in the middle. In addition, the outlet of lower plate 221" and the middle plate 222" placed in the middle are connected to the inlets of the lower plate 221'" and the middle plate 222'" placed at the lowermost portion. In this way, in the present invention, two or more lower plates 221 and middle plates 222 are alternately and consecutively stacked, and thus the length of the three-dimensional fluid-passageway can be maximized, thereby enhancing mixing reaction efficiency.

[99] FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing a modified embodiment of the lower and middle plates of FIG. 25. As shown in FIG. 29, containers 224 are separately provided so as to separately inject and contain different kinds of fluids. The branching unit 225 for branching separately injected and contained different kinds of fluids is formed, in which micro channels 225a are arranged in two rows and facing each other. Ac¬ cordingly, different kinds of fluids collide and join from the point where they are branched at the branching unit 225 to the point where they are joined at the joining section 226.

[100] FIG. 30 is an exploded perspective view showing a micro channel reactor of another form according to the invention.

[101] As shown in FIG. 30, the micro channel reactor of the invention preferably further stacks a micro heat exchanger 240 at the lower portion of the lower plate 221. The micro heat exchanger 240 is coupled to the lower portion of the lower plate 221 of the fluid mixer 220, the micro channel reactor having an inlet and an outlet of a coolant, and a plurality of micro channels 241 formed on the top surface.

[102] Here, the heat exchanger contains consecutive V-shape micro channels 241.

However, other types of heat exchangers can be used. In this way, if a heat exchanger 240 is used, the reaction heat required for the reaction of different kinds of fluids can be absorbed and radiated, thereby enhancing reaction efficiency.

[103]

Industrial Applicability

[104] As described above, the micro channel reactor according to the invention can mix different kinds of fluids without using a big mixer, and thus be miniaturized, in which a container does not need to be replaced according to the determination of mixing amount, and different fluids injected through an injection port directly collide with each other, and thus the fluids can be mixed efficiently in a short period of time. In addition, the micro channel reactor is manufactured by blazingly bonding and stacking sheet metals having micro channels and branch ports formed thereon through etching, thereby being precisely processed, easily manufactured, economical, and endurable.

[105] In addition, different kinds of fluids pass through three-dimensional fluid- passageway channels, and directly collide with each other, the three-dimensional fluid- passageway channels being formed to repeatedly move fluids in the axial and vertical directions so as to be branched and joined, thereby mixing the fluids in a short period of time. The length of the fluid-passageway in a unit volume is maximized so as to evenly mix the fluids, thereby enhancing reaction efficiency, controlling the charac¬ teristics and regulation of chemical reaction at the same time, and miniaturizing the reactor. Furthermore, reaction heat can be absorbed and radiated when different fluids are mixed, thereby improving reaction efficiency.

[106] While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular il¬ lustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

[107]

Claims

[1] A micro channel reactor comprising: a fluid injector provided with injection tubes for injecting fluids to be mixed into the inside of the micro channel reactor therethrough; a fluid mixer for mixing the injected fluids; and a fluid discharger for discharging the mixed fluid, wherein the fluid injector includes fluid-communicators for fluid-communicating fluids injected through the injection tubes; and distribution plates having discharge ports formed thereon at regular intervals for discharging fluids from the fluid-communicators to the fluid mixer, the fluid mixer includes pass-through holes penetrating into the discharge ports; a plurality of micro channels fluid-communicated with the pass-through holes, and branch ports formed at outlet end portions of the micro channels, wherein different kinds of fluids passing through neighboring micro channels collide with each other and are mixed, and the fluid discharger includes a container for containing fluids collided by the branch ports and mixed, and discharge ports for discharging the mixed fluids from the container.

[2] The micro channel reactor according to claim 1, wherein the discharge ports of the distribution plate are offset from each other so that fluids injected into each injection tube alternately pass through the micro channels.

[3] The micro channel reactor according to claim 1, wherein the fluid mixer includes a plurality of stacked sheet metals each having micro channels and branch ports formed thereon.

[4] The micro channel reactor according to claim 3, wherein, in the fluid mixer, sheet metals for a heat exchanger are inserted and stacked between the sheet metals having micro channels and branch ports, the sheet metals for a heat exchanger having pass-through holes for passing through fluids and a plurality of micro channels fluid-communicated with the pass-through holes.

[5] The micro channel reactor according to claim 1, wherein the fluid mixer includes: a lower plate and an upper plate formed in one body, the lower plate having a plurality of doughnut- shaped channels of a certain depth arranged in an axial direction on a top surface, fluid-communicators formed by concatenating end portions of the doughnut-shaped channels each other in order to fluid-communicate the doughnut-shaped channels, and fluid passageway channels formed in the axial direction, the upper plate having a plurality of doughnut-shaped channels of a certain depth arranged in the axial direction on top and bottom surfaces, fluid-communicators formed by concatenating the end portions of the doughnut- shaped channels each other in order to fluid-communicate the doughnut-shaped channels, and three- dimensional fluid-passageways where injected fluids repeatedly move in vertical and axial directions, and being stacked on a top of the lower plate, wherein the doughnut- shaped channel formed on the bottom surface having the fluid- communicators placed at a center of the doughnut-shaped channel of the lower plate is fluid-communicated with the fluid-passageway channel of the lower plate, and the doughnut-shaped channel formed on the top surface is placed on the same axis line as the doughnut-shaped channel of the lower plate, and fluid- communicated with the doughnut-shaped channels formed on the bottom surface and the fluid-passageway channels of the lower plate.

[6] The micro channel reactor according to claim 5, wherein the doughnut- shaped channels of the lower plate are formed by etching, and the doughnut-shaped channels formed on the top and bottom surfaces of a middle plate are etched half as deep as thickness of the middle plate so as to fluid-communicated upwardly and downwardly.

[7] The micro channel reactor according to claim 5 or 6, wherein two or more of the lower plate and the middle plate of the fluid mixer are consecutively stacked, and fluid-communicated upwardly and downwardly through the end portions of the fluid-passageways.

[8] The micro channel reactor according to claim 1, wherein the fluid mixer is further provided with one or more heat insulation hole(s) passing through certain portions surrounding the micro channels in a certain shape.

[9] The micro channel reactor according to claim 1, wherein the fluid mixer has a plurality of the micro channels and the branch ports connected in series or parallel.

[10] A micro channel reactor comprising: a fluid injector provided with injection tubes for injecting fluids to be mixed into the inside of the micro channel reactor therethrough; a fluid mixer for mixing the injected fluids; and a fluid discharger for discharging the mixed fluid, wherein the fluid mixer includes: a lower plate, a middle plate, and an upper plate formed in one body, the lower plate having a plurality of doughnut-shaped channels of a certain depth arranged in an axial direction on a top surface, fluid-communicators formed by con¬ catenating end portions of the doughnut- shaped channels each other in order to fluid-communicate the doughnut- shaped channels, and fluid passageway channels formed in the axial direction, the middle plate having a plurality of doughnut- shaped channels of a certain depth arranged in the axial direction on top and bottom surfaces, fluid- communicators formed by concatenating the end portions of the doughnut- shaped channels each other in order to fluid-communicate the doughnut- shaped channels, and three-dimensional fluid-passageways where injected fluids repeatedly move in vertical and axial directions, and being stacked on a top of the lower plate, wherein the doughnut-shaped channel formed on the bottom surface having the fluid-communicators placed at a center of the doughnut- shaped channel of the lower plate is fluid-communicated with the fluid- passageway channel of the lower plate, and the doughnut- shaped channel formed on the top surface is placed on the same axis line as the doughnut-shaped channel of the lower plate, and fluid-communicated with the doughnut-shaped channels formed on the bottom surface and the fluid-passageway channels of the lower plate, the upper plate being stacked on the top of the middle plate.

[11] The micro channel reactor according to claim 10, wherein the doughnut- shaped channels of the lower plate are formed by etching, and the doughnut-shaped channels formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the middle plate are etched half as deep as thickness of the middle plate so as to fluid-communicated u pwardly and downwardly.

[12] The micro channel reactor according to claim 10, wherein depth of the doughnut- shaped channels of the lower plate is the same as that of the doughnut- shaped channels formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the middle plate.

[13] The micro channel reactor according to claim 10, wherein the fluid mixer further includes a container for containing fluids injected from the fluid injector, a branching unit having a plurality of micro channels branched from the container, and a joining section connected to the three-dimensional fluid-passageway channels of the fluid mixer for joining the fluid branched by the branching unit.

[14] The micro channel reactor according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of neighboring fluid passageway channels of the fluid mixer is provided, and connectors for connecting end portions of the fluid passageway channel are provided.

[15] The micro channel reactor according to claim 10, wherein the lower plate, middle plate, and upper plate of the fluid mixer are blazingly bonded.

[16] The micro channel reactor according to claim 10, further comprising a micro heat exchanger coupled to a lower portion of the lower plate of the fluid mixer, the micro heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet of a coolant, and a plurality of micro channels formed on a top surface. [17] The micro channel reactor according to claim 10, wherein two or more of the lower plate and the middle plate of the fluid mixer are consecutively stacked, and fluid-communicated upwardly and downwardly through the end portions of the fluid-passageways.