Applications of microreactor in chemistry and chemical engineering

doi:10.16085/j.issn.1000-6613.2016.01.002

Abstract

Abstract: Microreactor belongs to the miniature chemical reaction system, which has some characteristics of high heat-and mass-transfer rates, strictly-controlled reaction time, easy scale-up, excellent safety performance, and so on. Comparing with the common batch reactors, advantages of microreactors are reducing reaction time, greatly promoting conversion and yields. On the other hand, there are some existing challenges, such as the clogging problem, catalyst loading, design and fabrication of microchannels, and so on. This paper aims to introduce the microreactor technology, which has been growing rapidly in recent years. Some of the basic characteristics of microreactor are summarized focusing on applications of microreactor in chemistry and chemical engineering as well as some of typical examples of existing in fine chemical and pharmaceutical industry. A variety of challenges are also discussed. Microreactor is a frontier and hot topic in the research of chemistry and chemical engineering and analysis shows that microreactor still has very big development space and has the potential to change the chemistry and chemical engineering landscape. In the future, further in-depth and systematic understanding of the regularities and mechanisms of chemical reaction in microreactor and design of microchannels should be emphasized. Introducing the microreactor technology into more reaction systems and further improving the integration level still need to be perfected.

Key words: microreactor, microchannels, microscale, laminar flow, safety

摘要： 微反应器是微型化学反应系统,具有换热和传质效率高、严格控制反应时间、易于放大、安全性能好等特点。和传统搅拌反应器相比,这些特点使得微反应器在缩短反应时间、大幅度提高化学反应的转化率和产品收率等方面展现出一定的优势。但微反应器也存在易堵塞,催化剂负载、微通道的设计与制造难度大等问题。本文介绍了近年来快速发展的微反应器技术,回顾了微反应器的特点,重点探讨微反应器在化学化工领域的应用以及微反应器在精细化工和制药工业、生物化工领域的应用实例,讨论了微反应器目前存在的诸多挑战。微反应器目前是化学和化工学科的前沿和热点方向,分析表明微反应器仍然有很大的发展空间,有潜力改变化学化工前景。提出应进一步深入系统地认识微反应器内化学反应以及微通道设计的基本规律和机理,将微反应器技术引入更广泛的反应体系中,加强微反应器的集成化水平。

关键词: 微反应器, 微通道, 微尺度, 层流, 安全

CLC Number:

TQ052

LIU Zhaoli, ZHANG Pengfei. Applications of microreactor in chemistry and chemical engineering[J]. Chemical Industry and Engineering Progree, 2016, 35(01): 10-17.

刘兆利, 张鹏飞. 微反应器在化学化工领域中的应用[J]. 化工进展, 2016, 35(01): 10-17.

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