Abstract: An automated sequential reaction system that can be used to either sequentially produce a plurality of different products each requiring a single reaction, or to produce a desired product that requires a series of sequential reactions. A system controller controls an automated reactant supply, a solvent supply, a reaction module, a detector, and a product collector. Prior to initiating any reaction, the system is flushed with solvent and a heat exchanger supplies the reaction module with a temperature-conditioned fluid to maintain the reaction module at a desired temperature. For single reactions, a plurality of reactants are injected into a chemical reactor included in the reaction module. As fluid exits the chemical reactor, the detector determines if the fluid is a desired chemical product or solvent, and routes the fluid to the appropriate receptacle.

Abstract: A modular chemical production system that preferably includes a microreactor for producing a product by reacting two or more reactants. Modularization enables components such as controllers, pumps, valves, microreactors, and processing modules to be added or removed from the system as required to produce a desired product. A minimum system includes a control module and a reaction module, which has a mixing volume and a reaction volume. Various pumping modules and residence time modules may also be included in the system. Modules can be changed if malfunctioning, or for producing a different product, or to change a quantity of the chemical produced. The control module preferably accesses a database in which data define parameters for a plurality of different reactions that are optimized for the production of different chemical products.

Abstract: A stacked plate chemical reactor in which simple plates, each incorporating no surface features other that an opening, are stacked together. When openings in adjacent plates are properly aligned, a fluid pathway is defined between inlet ports for each chemical reactant and an outlet port for a chemical product. In one embodiment of the invention, sixteen simple plates are stacked to provide a reactor incorporating three heat transfer fluid pathways, two reactant fluid pathways, one product fluid pathway, multiple mixing chambers, multiple reaction chambers, two reactant pretreatment heat exchangers, two reaction chamber heat exchangers, and multiple temperature sensor pathways. Precise dimensional control of the reactant fluid pathway height enables stacked laminar flow paths for the reactants to be achieved, allowing efficient and rapid diffusion mixing to occur. Because the simple plates incorporate no features other than openings, fabrication of such plates is easily achieved.

Abstract: A variable residence time chamber module that provides an additional residence time for a reaction of mixed reactants to reach completion. The module includes a thermally insulated housing in which are disposed a plurality of residence time chambers. A rotary inlet valve and rotary outlet valve select among the plurality of chambers, coupling them respectively to an inlet port through which the mixed but incompletely reacted reactants are supplied and an outlet port through which a desired product of the reaction is withdrawn. A heat transfer media is preferably used to control the temperature of the residence time chambers, so that an optimal reaction temperature is provided. The mixed reactants pass through the inlet valve into a selected one of the plurality of residence time chambers. Once the selected residence time chamber is full, the inlet valve is actuated to supply the mixed reactants to a successive residence time chamber.