Sectioned flow device

Abstract

A flow module or plate reactor includes one or more sectioned or un-sectioned heat exchanger plates. Each sectioned heat exchanger plates has a plurality of sections, each of which has a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet configured to flow one or more fluids therein in a first direction. The flow module or plate reactor includes one or more thermocouples and/or sensors and a regulating valve positioned either downstream of each of the heat exchanger outlets or upstream of one of the heat exchanger inlets. The flow module or plate reactor includes one or more serpentine configured process flow channels which have a channel inlet point and a channel outlet point which define a line oriented in a second direction which is at an angle of ninety degrees relative to the first direction. The flow module or plate reactor includes one or more flow plates and/or reactor plates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sectioned flow module or sectioned plate reactor comprising:
 at least one heat exchanger plate, at least one of the at least one heat exchanger plate being a sectioned heat exchanger plate and at least one of the at least one heat exchanger plate being an un-sectioned heat exchanger plate, each of the sectioned heat exchanger plates having a plurality of heat exchanger sections, each of the plurality of heat exchanger sections having a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet configured to flow one or more heat exchanger fluids therein in a first direction from the heat exchanger inlet to the heat exchanger outlet;   at least one of a thermocouple and a sensor, connected to at least one of the heat exchanger inlet, the heat exchanger outlet and between the heat exchanger inlet and the heat exchanger outlet;   a regulating valve positioned one of:
 downstream of each of the heat exchanger outlets; and 
 upstream of one of the heat exchanger inlets; 
   each of the regulating valves being in communication with the at least one thermocouple and sensor for regulation of the one or more heat exchanger fluids in response to signals received from the at least one thermocouple and sensor;   at least one process flow channel, the at least one process flow channel having a channel inlet point and a channel outlet point, the at least one process flow channel having a serpentine configuration between the channel inlet point and the channel outlet point, the channel inlet point and the channel outlet point defining a line oriented in a second direction, the second direction being at an angle of ninety degrees relative to the first direction;   at least one of a flow plate and a reactor plate, the at least one flow plate and reactor plate being one of:
 stacked between two of the sectioned heat exchanger plates or between sectioned heat exchanger plates and un-sectioned heat exchanger plates; and 
 stacked between one of the sectioned heat exchanger plates and one of the un-sectioned heat exchanger plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . A sectioned flow module or sectioned plate reactor comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchanger plates, each of the plurality of heat exchanger plates being a sectioned heat exchanger plate, each of the sectioned heat exchanger plates having a plurality of heat exchanger sections, each of the plurality of heat exchanger sections having a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet configured to flow one or more heat exchanger fluids therein in a first direction from the heat exchanger inlet to the heat exchanger outlet;   at least one of a thermocouple and a sensor, connected to at least one of the heat exchanger inlet, the heat exchanger outlet and between the heat exchanger inlet and the heat exchanger outlet;   a regulating valve positioned one of:
 downstream of each of the heat exchanger outlets; and 
 upstream of one of the heat exchanger inlets; 
   each of the regulating valves being in communication with the at least one thermocouple and sensor for regulation of the one or more heat exchanger fluids in response to signals received from the at least one thermocouple and sensor;   at least one process flow channel, the at least one process flow channel having at least one of a reactor plate and a flow plate disposed therein;   the at least one process flow channel having a channel inlet point and a channel outlet point, the at least one process flow channel having a serpentine configuration between the channel inlet point and the channel outlet point, the channel inlet point and the channel outlet point defining a line oriented in a second direction, the second direction being at an angle of ninety degrees relative to the first direction.   
     
     
         3 . A method for regulating the temperature in a sectioned heat exchanger plate, the method comprising:
 providing a heat exchanger plate, the heat exchanger plate having at least one heat exchanger section, each of the at least one heat exchanger sections having a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet, the heat exchanger plate having at least one process flow channel, the process flow channel having a channel inlet point and a channel outlet point, the channel inlet point and the channel outlet point defining a line oriented in a first direction, the process flow channel being in or on at least one of a flow plate and a reactor plate positioned proximate the at least one heat exchanger section, and the process flow channel having a serpentine configuration between the channel inlet point and a channel outlet point, a least one temperature sensor disposed in the heat exchanger plate and a regulating valve positioned in each of the heat exchanger outlets;   flowing in the at least one heat exchanger section, at least one heat exchanger fluid in a second direction from the heat exchanger inlet to the heat exchanger outlet, the first direction being at an angle of ninety degrees relative to the second direction;   measuring temperature of at least one of the at least one heat exchanger fluid and the process fluid to generate temperature signals;   modulating the temperature signals;   transmitting the temperature signals to the regulating valves;   controlling with the regulating valves, a flow of the heat exchanger fluid in response to the temperature signals.   
     
     
         4 . A method for regulating the temperature in a sectioned flow module or sectioned plate reactor, the method comprising:
 providing at least one of a sectioned flow module and a sectioned plate reactor, each of the sectioned flow module and the sectioned plate reactor comprising: at least one heat exchanger plate, at least one of the at least one heat exchanger plate being a sectioned heat exchanger plate and at least one of the at least one heat exchanger plate being an un-sectioned heat exchanger plate, each of the sectioned heat exchanger plates having a plurality of heat exchanger sections, each of the plurality of heat exchanger sections having a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet, at least one of a thermocouple and a sensor, connected to at least one of the heat exchanger inlet, the heat exchanger outlet and between the heat exchanger inlet and the heat exchanger outlet;   providing a regulating valve positioned one of: downstream of each of the heat exchanger outlets, and upstream of one of the heat exchanger inlets, each of the regulating valves being in communication with the at least one thermocouple and sensor;   each of the sectioned flow module and the sectioned plate reactor further comprising: at least one process flow channel, the at least one process flow channel having a channel inlet point and a channel outlet point, the at least one process flow channel having a serpentine configuration between the channel inlet point and the channel outlet point, the channel inlet point and the channel outlet point defining a line oriented in a first direction, each of the sectioned flow module and the sectioned plate reactor further comprising: at least one of a flow plate and a reactor plate, the at least one flow plate and reactor plate being one of:
 stacked between two of the sectioned heat exchanger plates or between sectioned heat exchanger plates and un-sectioned heat exchanger plates; and 
 stacked between one of the sectioned heat exchanger plates and one of the un-sectioned heat exchanger plate, 
   flowing one or more heat exchanger fluids in a second direction from the heat exchanger inlet to the heat exchanger outlet, the first direction being at an angle of ninety degrees relative to the second direction;   measuring a temperature of at least one of the at least one heat exchanger fluid and the process fluid to generate temperature signals;   modulating the temperature signals;   transmitting the temperature signals to the regulating valves; and   controlling with the regulating valves, a flow of the heat exchanger fluid in response to the temperature signals.   
     
     
         5 . A method for regulating the temperature in a sectioned flow module or sectioned plate reactor, the method comprising:
 providing at least one of a sectioned flow module and a sectioned plate reactor, each of the sectioned flow module and the sectioned plate reactor comprising: a plurality of heat exchanger plates, each the plurality of heat exchanger plates being a sectioned heat exchanger plate, each of the sectioned heat exchanger plates having a plurality of heat exchanger sections, each of the plurality of heat exchanger section having a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet;   providing at least one of a thermocouple and a sensor, the thermocouple or the sensor being connected to at least one of the heat exchanger inlet, the heat exchanger outlet and between the heat exchanger inlet and the heat exchanger outlet;   providing a regulating valve positioned one of: downstream of each of the heat exchanger outlets and upstream of one of the heat exchanger inlets, each of the regulating valves being in communication with the at least one thermocouple and sensor;   each of the sectioned flow modules and the sectioned plate reactors further comprising at least one process flow channel, the at least one process flow channel having at least one of a reactor plate and a flow plate disposed therein, the at least one process flow channel having a channel inlet point and a channel outlet point, the at least one process flow channel having a serpentine configuration between the channel inlet point and the channel outlet point, the channel inlet point and the channel outlet point defining a line oriented in a first direction;   flowing one or more heat exchanger fluids in a second direction from the heat exchanger inlet to the heat exchanger outlet, the first direction being at an angle of ninety degrees relative to the second direction;   measuring a temperature of at least one of the at least one heat exchanger fluid and the process fluid to generate temperature signals;   modulating the temperature signals;   transmitting the temperature signals to the regulating valves; and   controlling with the regulating valves, a flow of the heat exchanger fluid in response to the temperature signals.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 ,
 further providing at least one reactant inlet in the process flow channel;   inputting at least one reactant in the at least one reactant inlet;   flowing a process fluid in the process flow channel in one of cross-flow, counter-flow and co-flow configuration relative to the heat exchanger fluids; and   recording a temperature in the process flow channel after the input of reactants.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 ,
 further providing at least one reactant inlet in the process flow channel;   inputting at least one reactant in the at least one reactant inlet;   flowing a process fluid in the process flow channel in one of cross-flow, counter-flow and co-flow configuration relative to the heat exchanger fluids; and   recording a temperature in the process flow channel after the input of reactants.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger section further comprises a cooling section and a warming section;
 recirculating the heat exchanger fluids to one of the at least one heat exchanger sections   at least one of recovering heat from cooling section and discharging heat to the warming section.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the sectioned heat exchanger plate further comprises a cooling section and a warming section;
 recirculating the heat exchanger fluids to one of the sectioned heat exchanger plate;   at least one of recovering heat from cooling section and discharging heat to the warming section.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the temperature signals are converted to a frequency signal which is modulated to provide frequency-modulated pulse regulation of the regulating valves so that a pulsating flow of fluids is created. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the temperature measurement signals are converted to a frequency signal which is modulated to provide frequency-modulated pulse regulation of the regulating valves so that a pulsating flow of fluids is created.