High Pressure Parallel Fixed Bed Reactor and Method

Abstract

Apparatus and methods provide rapid analysis of members of a combinatorial library. The apparatus includes a plurality of reactor vessels for containing individual library members, a fluid handling system that apportions a test fluid about equally between each of the vessels, and a housing for enclosing the reactor vessels. The housing defines a pressure chamber configured to sustain a pressure substantially above atmospheric pressure. This allows for simultaneous screening of library members at high pressure by providing a small pressure differential on reactor components. The apparatus is used for screening library members based on their ability to catalyze the conversion of fluid reactants.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for evaluating four or more catalysts, the system comprising:
 a housing enclosing a pressure chamber;   an inlet port providing fluid communication between the pressure chamber and an external pressure source;   at least four reactor vessels inside the pressure chamber;   an inlet fluid distribution system providing fluid communication between each of the reactor vessels and at least one fluid source;   an analytical measurement system; and   an outlet fluid distribution system providing fluid communication between each of the reactor vessels and the analytical measurement system;   wherein the pressure chamber is configured to sustain a pressure above atmospheric pressure;   wherein each of the reactor vessels comprises a reaction cavity, an inlet port, and an outlet port;   wherein the inlet port is configured to admit a reactant feed stream into the reaction cavity;   wherein the outlet port is configured to discharge a reactor effluent stream out of the reaction cavity; and   wherein the analytical measurement system is configured to analyze reaction products or unreacted reactants in the reaction cavity or in the reactor effluent stream of each of the reactor vessels.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the analytical measurement system is enclosed within the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure chamber is configured to sustain a pressure above 50 psig. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure chamber is configured to sustain a pressure above 200 psig. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure chamber is configured to sustain a pressure above 1000 psig. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet fluid distribution system comprises a flow splitter configured to distribute incoming fluid to the reactor vessels. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the flow splitter is enclosed within in the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing may be opened to allow access to the reactor vessels or closed to enclose the reactor vessels. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet distribution system comprises a selection valve in fluid communication with the analytical measurement system and with the outlet port of each of the reactor vessels. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the selection valve is enclosed within the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least four more of the reactor vessels inside the pressure chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least twelve more of the reactor vessels inside the pressure chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet fluid distribution system comprises a microfluidic fluid distribution manifold configured to split a single fluid stream into multiple independent fluid streams. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the microfluidic fluid distribution manifold comprises:
 a common input port receiving a single fluid stream;   at least four independent output ports, wherein each of the output ports discharges an independent fluid stream; and   at least four fluidic channels, wherein each of the fluidic channels provides fluid communication between the common input port and one of the independent output ports;   wherein a single fluid stream received at the common input port is split into at least four independent fluid streams flowing through the fluidic channels to the independent output ports; and   wherein the microfluidic flow distribution manifold is adapted to distribute fluids at a pressure of more than about 1400 psi.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the analytical measurement system comprises an infrared spectrometer. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the analytical measurement system comprises an FTIR spectrometer. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the analytical measurement system comprises a mass spectrometer. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the analytical measurement system comprises a gas chromatograph. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the analytical measurement system comprises a sample probe in the pressure chamber for collecting reaction products or unreacted reactants. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reactant feed stream comprises a liquid and a gas.