Active microchannel fluid processing unit and method of making

Patent · 09 December 2002

OSTI ID:874927

Bennett, Wendy D ^[1]; Martin, Peter M ^[1]; Matson, Dean W ^[1]; Roberts, Gary L ^[2]; Stewart, Donald C ^[3]; Tonkovich, Annalee Y ^[4]; Zilka, Jennifer L ^[4]; Schmitt, Stephen C ^[5]; Werner, Timothy M ^[6]

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1. Kennewick, WA
2. West Richland, WA
3. Richland, WA
4. Pasco, WA
5. Dublin, OH
6. Columbus, OH

The present invention is an active microchannel fluid processing unit and method of making, both relying on having (a) at least one inner thin sheet; (b) at least one outer thin sheet; (c) defining at least one first sub-assembly for performing at least one first unit operation by stacking a first of the at least one inner thin sheet in alternating contact with a first of the at least one outer thin sheet into a first stack and placing an end block on the at least one inner thin sheet, the at least one first sub-assembly having at least a first inlet and a first outlet; and (d) defining at least one second sub-assembly for performing at least one second unit operation either as a second flow path within the first stack or by stacking a second of the at least one inner thin sheet in alternating contact with second of the at least one outer thin sheet as a second stack, the at least one second sub-assembly having at least a second inlet and a second outlet.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute (Richland, WA)
• Patent Number(s): 6,490,812
• Application Number: 09/735062
• OSTI ID: 874927
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/34/165/422/
active
alternating
block
contact
defining
flow
flow path
fluid
inlet
inner
method
microchannel
operation
outer
outlet
path
performing
placing
processing
processing unit
relying
sheet
stack
stacking
sub-assembly
unit