Abstract: A method is disclosed for the seamless scale-up of a micro reactor process, to transfer lab test to a pilot or production unit, the process comprising the steps of using a wall material for the lab reactor with a thermal conductivity lower than 3 W/m-K, and using a wall material for the production reactor with a thermal conductivity higher than 5 W/m-K.

Abstract: An end-face sealing fluidic connector for fluidic connection and/or interconnection of glass, glass-ceramic and/or ceramic fluidic modules in a microreactor includes a connector body having a circular first end face with a recess for retaining one or more O-rings and a first end section having a circular cylindrical outeT surface and a diameter In the range of from 3 to 25 mm. The outer surface has a circumferential recess dividing the first end section into a proximal portion adjacent the first end face and a distal portion. A retaining ring is seated in the circumferential recess and a protecting ring coinpming a high-compression-strength polymer surrounds the proximal portion of the first end section. A circular cylindrical sleeve surrounds the first end section and the reinforcing and/or protecting ring, the sleeve including a circumferentially extending inside bearing surface for engaging the retaining ring on the distal side thereof.

Abstract: A microreaction device or system (4) includes at least one thermal control fluidic passage (C,E) and a principal working fluidic passage (A) with average cross-sectional area in the range of 0.25 to 100 mm2, and having a primary entrance (92) and multiple secondary entrances (94) with the spacing between secondary entrances (94) having a length along the passage (A) of at least two times the root of the average cross-sectional area of the passage (A). The device or system (4) also includes at least one secondary working fluidic passage (B) having an entrance (102) and multiple exits (106) including a final exit (106), each exit (106) being in fluid communication with a corresponding one of the multiple secondary entrances (94) of the principal fluidic passage (A).

Abstract: A microfluidic device comprises at least one reactant passage defined by walls and comprising at least one parallel multiple flow path configuration comprising a group of elementary design patterns being able to provide mixing and/or residence time which are arranged in series with fluid communication so as to constitute flow paths, and in parallel so as to constitute a multiple flow path elementary design pattern, wherein the parallel multiple flow path configuration comprises at least two communicating zones between elementary design patterns of two adjacent parallel flow paths, said communicating zones being in the same plane as that defined by said elementary design patterns between which said communicating zone is placed and allowing passage of fluid in order to minimize mass flow rate difference between adjacent parallel flow paths which have the same flow direction.

Abstract: An end-face sealing fluidic connector [20] for fluidic connection and/or interconnection of glass, glass-ceramic and/or ceramic fluidic modules [12] in a microreactor [10] and includes a connector body [22] having a circular first end face [26] with a recess [28] for retaining one or more O-rings [30]. The connector body [22] has a first end section [32] having a circular cylindrical outer surface [34] having a diameter [36] in the range of from 3 to 25 mm extending along the connector body [22] from the first end face [26]. The outer surface [34] of the first end section [32] is having a circumferential recess [38] dividing the first end section [32] into a proximal portion [40] adjacent the first end face [26] and a distal portion [42] separated from the proximal portion [40] by the circumferential recess [38].

Abstract: A microfluidic device (10) includes at least two glass, ceramic or glass ceramic microfluidic modules (20) fluidicaly interconnected and of substantially plate shape defining generally four relatively thin edges (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) and two opposite relatively large faces (22, 24), each microfluidic module (20) including at least one microfluidic channel (30) defining at least in part a microchamber (32); at least one fluidic inlet (50) and at least one fluidic outlet (60); and said microfluidic modules being tightly interconnected with a fluid duct (120) through at least one tightly holding connector (90) comprising at least one clamping structure or means (95, 97), and is characterized in that the at least one clamping means (95, 97) comprises a joint (150) comprising a spherical shaped member (160) and a cup shaped member (170).

Abstract: Embodiments are directed a method for reducing and/or controlling compression of stacked layers in a micro fluidic device, wherein the method comprises stacking at least two layers wherein at least one of the stacked layers comprises a microstructure. The microstructure comprises a fluid passage, a plurality of walls configured to define a spacing A1 between layers and a plurality of uniformly spaced pneumatic struts wherein the pneumatic struts define sealed containers comprising entrapped gas. The method further comprises the step of sintering the stacked layers wherein the sintering pressurizes the entrapped gas inside the pneumatic struts to oppose compression of the walls and compression of the spacing A1 between stacked layers.

Abstract: A fluid porting assembly for a microreactor comprising a process fluid passageway, a pliable seal, and a cooling fluid passageway is provided. The pliable seal is positioned in the vicinity of the process fluid outlet and is configured to define a sealing interface between the process fluid outlet and a fluid port of a microreactor. The cooling fluid passageway terminates at a cooling fluid interface and defines a dispensing gap between the cooling fluid interface and the sealing interface. The cooling fluid outlet is configured to distribute cooling fluid about a periphery of the pliable seal and to direct cooling fluid away from the periphery of the pliable seal through the dispensing gap when the pliable seal of the fluid porting assembly engages a fluid port of a microreactor. The cooling fluid removes heat from areas of the microreactor in the vicinity of the fluid port and pliable seal.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention relates to reactors and a reactor system that include multiple microstructures each having a first edge and a second edge and an entrance side (18) and including an entrance port (22) and one or more other ports through the entrance side with all of the ports through the entrance side (32a, 32b) arranged in a standard pattern and closer to the first edge than the second edge. Desirably, the entrance port (22) and an exit port (24) are concentric.

Abstract: The present invention deals with microfluidic devices (200) including a microreactor (20) and at least one connector (101) sealed thereon. It also deals with a method for manufacturing such microfluidic devices and to blocks of material suitable as connector.

Abstract: A microreactor assembly [100] is provided comprising a fluidic interconnect backbone [10] and plurality of fluidic microstructures. Interconnect input/output ports [12] of the fluidic interconnect backbone [10] are interfaced with microchannel input/output ports [14] of the fluidic microstructures at a plurality of non-polymeric interconnect seals [50]. Interconnect microchannels [15] are defined entirely by the fluidic interconnect backbone [10] and extend between the non-polymeric interconnect seals [50] without interruption by additional sealed interfaces. At least one of the fluidic microstructures [20, 30, 40] may comprise a mixing microstructure formed by a molding process. Another of the fluidic microstructures [20, 30, 40] may comprise an extruded reactor body. Still another fluidic microstructure [20, 30, 40] may comprise a quench-flow or hydrolysis microreactor formed by a hot-pressing method.

Abstract: A microreactor assembly is provided comprising a fluidic microstructure and an injector assembly. The injector assembly comprises a liquid inlet, a gas inlet, a liquid outlet, a gas outlet, a liquid flow portion extending from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet, and a gas flow portion extending from the gas inlet to the gas outlet. Further, the injector assembly defines an injection interface with a microchannel input port of the fluidic microstructure. The injector assembly is configured such that the gas outlet of the gas flow portion is positioned to inject gas into the liquid flow portion upstream of the liquid outlet, into the liquid flow portion at the liquid outlet, or into an extension of the liquid flow portion downstream of the liquid outlet and is configured such that gas is injected into the liquid flow portion or the extension thereof as a series of gas bubbles.

Abstract: A fluid porting assembly for a microreactor comprising a process fluid passageway, a pliable seal, and a cooling fluid passageway is provided. The pliable seal is positioned in the vicinity of the process fluid outlet and is configured to define a sealing interface between the process fluid outlet and a fluid port of a microreactor. The cooling fluid passageway terminates at a cooling fluid interface and defines a dispensing gap between the cooling fluid interface and the sealing interface. The cooling fluid outlet is configured to distribute cooling fluid about a periphery of the pliable seal and to direct cooling fluid away from the periphery of the pliable seal through the dispensing gap when the pliable seal of the fluid porting assembly engages a fluid port of a microreactor. The cooling fluid removes heat from areas of the microreactor in the vicinity of the fluid port and pliable seal.

Abstract: A microfluidic device having a glass, glass-ceramic, or ceramic structure, said structure including one or more passages defined therein with at least one first passage accessible through at least one first port wherein the first passage contains at least one solid object disposed therein said solid object including a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion differeing from the glass, glass-ceramic, or ceramic of said structure, said solid object resting in said first passage substantially without compressive stress from an inside surface of said passage at room temperature.

Abstract: A microreactor includes a plurality of interconnected microstructures arranged in m process units with the process units configured to be operable together in parallel. Each of the m process units has a number n of respective process fluid inlets, wherein a number y of the n respective process fluid inlets are connected individually to respective non-manifolded fluid pumps, and wherein a number n minus y of the n respective process fluid inlets are connected to a respective manifolded fluid pump via a manifold, wherein y is an integer from 1 to n-1 inclusive.

Abstract: A microfluidic device, comprising wall structures formed of a consolidated frit material positioned between and joined to two or more spaced apart substrates formed of a second material with the wall structures defining one or more fluidic passages between the substrates, has at least one passage with a height in a direction generally perpendicular to the substrates of greater than one millimeter, preferably greater than 1.1 mm, or than 1.2 mm, or than as much as 1.5 mm or more, and may have a non three-dimensionally tortuous portion of the at least one passage, in which the wall structures have an undulating shape such that no length of wall structure greater than 3 centimeters or greater than 2 centimeters, or greater than 1 centimeter, or even no length at all, is without a radius of curvature. A device may also include the undulations without the height.

Abstract: A microfluidic device comprises at least one reactant passage defined by walls and comprising at least one parallel multiple flow path configuration comprising a group of elementary design patterns being able to provide mixing and/or residence time which are arranged in series with fluid communication so as to constitute flow paths, and in parallel so as to constitute a multiple flow path elementary design pattern, wherein the parallel multiple flow path configuration comprises at least two communicating zones between elementary design patterns of two adjacent parallel flow paths, said communicating zones being in the same plane as that defined by said elementary design patterns between which said communicating zone is placed and allowing passage of fluid in order to minimize mass flow rate difference between adjacent parallel flow paths which have the same flow direction.

Abstract: A microreactor assembly (100) is provided comprising a fluidic microstructure (10) and an injector assembly (20). The injector assembly (20) comprises a liquid inlet (22), a gas inlet (24), a liquid outlet (26), a gas outlet (28), a liquid flow portion (30) extending from the liquid inlet (22) to the liquid outlet (26), and a gas flow portion (40) extending from the gas inlet (24) to the gas outlet (28). Further, the injector assembly (20) defines an injection interface with a microchannel input port (14) of the fluidic microstructure (10). The injector assembly (20) is configured such that the gas outlet (28) of the gas flow portion (40) is positioned to inject gas into the liquid flow portion (30) upstream of the liquid outlet (26), into the liquid flow portion (30) at the liquid outlet (26), or into an extension (35) of the liquid flow portion (30) downstream of the liquid outlet (26).

Abstract: A microreactor assembly [100] is provided comprising a fluidic interconnect backbone [10] and plurality of fluidic microstructures. Interconnect input/output ports [12] of the fluidic interconnect backbone [10] are interfaced with microchannel input/output ports [14] of the fluidic microstructures at a plurality of non-polymeric interconnect seals [50]. Interconnect microchannels [15] are defined entirely by the fluidic interconnect backbone [10] and extend between the non-polymeric interconnect seals [50] without interruption by additional sealed interfaces. At least one of the fluidic microstractures [20, 30, 40] may comprise a mixing microstructure formed by a molding process. Another of the fluidic microstructures [20, 30, 40] may comprise an extruded reactor body. Still another fluidic microstructure [20, 30, 40] may comprise a quench-flow or hydrolysis microreactor formed by a hot-pressing method.

Abstract: A modular mounting and connection or interconnection system for microfluidic devices (20) includes a plurality of end-butting compression-sealing fluid connectors or adapters (32), and one or more clamping structures (54, 56) each structured to hold one of the fluid connectors (32) in compression against a planar surface of a microfluidic device (20), and to press against the device, on another directly opposing planar surface thereof, either a contact pad (48) or another of the fluid connectors (32), with each clamping structure (54,56) including an individually moveable compression-providing element such as a compression screw (36) structured to provide a controlled amount of compression.