Patent attributes
Apparatus for intensifying heterogeneous chemical reactions is described. For the case of liquid-liquid reactions, with drops of a reactant distributed throughout the second continuous reactant, the physical phenomena of drop dispersion (break up) and drop coalescence are identified as the main physical steps affecting reaction rates. A basic flow cell structure is described in which the respective actions of dispersion and coalescence can be greatly intensified through the creation of enhanced body forces and shear flow zones. The basic cell structure can be arranged into pipe flow reactors to suit any production or process requirements. The basic cell structure is equally applicable to gas-liquid reactions with drops of one reactant being conveyed by a moving gas stream.
