In Avantium we are focused on continuously improving our Flowrence platform to maximize precision and uptime. To this aim we have developed unique, Avantium designed modules, tailored for the needs in high-throughput experimentation. We now also want to make these improvements available for existing Flowrence users.
In this article the following upgrade possibilities are presented:
The added value you will receive as a user is clearly highlighted for each upgrade option. For more information, please contact us to discuss your particular situation and possibilities.
Increasing your data quality and uptime with our microfluidic distributor chips
Gas and liquid feeds, can be efficiently distributed using our microfluidic distributor chips. This technology provides a very narrow distribution of feeds to the parallel reactors. Various types of chips are available to be able to cover a wide range of flow rates and feed properties. Each chip is manufactured according to strict specifications to guarantee the quality of the distribution. The replacement of the chips can be done in minutes, offering much more operational flexibility while still using the same reactor system. Compared to historical hand-cut-capillary based distribution systems, this new technology reduces maintenance efforts and ultimately increases your uptime significantly, while providing more consistent data.
Reach unparalleled precision with our Active Liquid Distribution system (ALD)
We have specifically developed the Active Liquid Distribution system (ALD) to serve the most demanding applications with the highest possible precision. The ALD works by individually controlling the liquid flow to each reactor such that it converges to the average over all reactors, thereby ensuring perfectly equal liquid feed distribution. The unique design is based on Avantium’s proven proprietary microfluidic glass chips therefore providing a highly accurate flow control. An added advantage is its auto-calibrating function, avoiding the need for time consuming tuning by the operator.
High accuracy for low pressure applications with our Reactor Pressure Control (RPC)
Our Reactor Pressure Controller (RPC) is based on Avantium’s proprietary’s microfluidic technology and will help you make maximum use of your unit by reducing the likelihood of pressure-related outliers.
It will also allow you to mitigate differences in pressure drop over the catalyst bed, particularly when restrictions form with time on stream. The extremely narrow inlet pressure control obtained at all time will greatly improve the flow distribution to the parallel reactors.
The module has been designed to work hand in hand with our TinyPressure modules combining microfluidic chip technology and individual reactor pressure measurement. The reactor inlet or outlet pressure is thus continuously monitored with the RPC adjusting automatically the back-pressure of each reactor providing a very precise pressure control for each reactor. This is particularly critical for low pressure applications, where high relative errors in pressure can have visible effects on catalyst activity and comparison.
It can be easily installed on existing parallel pressure regulators (PPR) and connected to already present TinyPressure modules. As an autonomous system which doesn’t require daily supervision this greatly enhances your precision while not compromising on uptime.
Talk to us!
Get in contact with our Business Development team. Driven by a passion for creating a cleaner chemical sector, Avantium R&D Solutions is always open to solving any problems, no matter how big or small the ask.
Liquid sampling robot equipped with a compact manifold aiming at depressurizing the effluent immediately after each reactor in separate reactor lines to atmospheric pressure. Reactor effluent is depressurized by a miniaturized (low volume) parallel dome regulator, allowing a stable control of gas or gas/liquid product streams. This eliminates the use of valves at high pressure (such as multi-position valves), which are prone to leakage.
Gas liquid separation can be performed directly by collecting liquid phase products in sample vials, while directing gas phase products towards online gas analyzer. This approach minimizes required flush times in the downstream section of the reactor making high pressure gas-liquid separators, level sensors, and drain valves obsolete.
Microfluidics Distribution
Unrivalled accuracy in gas distribution with patented glass-chips with 0.5% RSD channel-to-channel variability. Single chip for 4 or 16-reactors. Quick exchange for different operating conditions
One of the challenges in high-throughput catalysis is the distribution of gas and liquid flows to multiple reactors, while ensuring uniform and stable flow rates across all channels. Conventional methods, such as capillary tubes, valves, and flow controllers, are often bulky, complex, and prone to clogging, leakage, and drift. Moreover, they are difficult to scale up and down, and to adapt to different flow regimes and viscosities.
To overcome these limitations, Avantium has developed a novel technology based on microfluidic chips, which are small devices that can manipulate fluids at the micrometer scale.
Microfluidics modular gas distribution
The gas feed can be efficiently distributed by using microfluidic distributor glass-chips. Every chip is tested with a guaranteed flow distribution.Various types of chips are available to be able to cover a wide dynamic range in flow rate and feed properties. Change out of the chips can be done in minutes, offering the unique flexibility to cover a wide range of applications using the same reactor system.
Active pressure control can be used to compensate when catalyst bed pressure drop is expected. The inlet reactor pressure will be continuously monitored and controlled to guarantee equal inlet pressure and thus avoid any negative impact of a restricted catalyst bed on the flow distribution to the parallel reactors.
Microfluidic Splitter Chip
The microfluidic splitter chip is a single microfluidic chip that can distribute gas and liquid flows to 16 channels, with a channel-to-channel flow variability of less than 0.5% RSD (relative standard deviation). The chip is made of glass and can operate at high pressures (up to 400 barg). The chip can handle a wide range of flow rates.
The glass chip works by splitting the incoming flow into equal parts. The splitting process is based on the principle of laminar flow, which means that the fluid flows in parallel layers, without mixing or turbulence. This ensures that the flow rate and pressure are uniform across all channels, and that the distribution is independent of the fluid properties, such as viscosity and density.
Benefits
Microfluidic chips offer several advantages for high-throughput catalysis, such as:
Increased flexibility and scalability: Compact and modular design, allowing easy exchange of glass chips adapted to different flow regimes and viscosities.
High reproducibility and reliability: As the flow distribution is precise and accurate, ensuring consistent results across all channels.
Improved efficiency and productivity: As more tests can be performed, with less time and resources required.
Reactor Pressure Control
Reactor Pressure Control (RPC)
The most accurate and stable pressure regulator for a 16-parallel reactors with just ±0.1bar RSD. The RPC uses microfluidics technology to regulate the pressure of each reactor, maintaining equal distribution of the inlet flow over the 16 reactors.
How to prevent pressure drop influencing the feed distribution
In traditional high throughput systems, changes in pressure drop will have a direct impact on the feed distribution. If the reactor pressure in not actively controlled, differences in the inlet pressure will directly impact the feed distribution and the reactors will not receive the same feed flow. The resulting effects are even more pronounced at small scale testing. Such testing systems cannot compensate for this, which results in reduced testing precision.
Avantium invented the Reactor Pressure Control (RPC) to overcome this problem. The RPC ensures the pressure between all reactors is always equal. See related patented technology WO2014062055 and WO2014062056.
The benefit
If there is a pressure drift during a test, the RPC can actively compensate for this to ensure an equal inlet pressure for each reactor, ensuring the continued precise functioning of the microfluidic gas distribution. This advantage is even greater in the case of low-pressure processes such as Oxidative Methane coupling or Reforming, because in such cases even small variations in reactor pressure can have a large impact on the yields of products.
In addition, the RPC always records real-time pressure drop measurements over each reactor. This enables early detection of potential plugging in any reactor.
Avantium’s microfluidics in combination with the i-RPC guarantee the most precise feed distribution in the industry.
Reactor pressure control is not only important to ensure accurate pressure control, but also to help maintaining equal distribution of the inlet flow over the 16 reactors.
The Reactor Pressure Controller (RPC) uses microfluidics technology to individually regulate the backpressure of each reactor, enabling the most accurate and stable pressure control in a multi-parallel reactors system, with an average reactor to reactor pressure deviation ±0.1barg RSD.
By measuring the inlet pressure of each reactor, the RPC maintains a constant inlet pressure by regulating the backpressure. As a result, the distribution of the inlet flows over the 16 reactors is unaffected and a low reactor-to-reactor flow variability is achieved (see also the Active liquid distribution).
TinyPressure
TinyPressure glass-chip holder with integrated pressure measurement
Compact modular design for gas and liquid distribution. No high-temperature pressure sensors required. Quick exchange of the microfluidic glass-chips, without the need for time-consuming leak testing.
Modular glass-chip holder with integrated pressure measurement
The reactor inlet pressure is measured using 16 pressure indicators integrated in the Tiny Pressure (TP) module. This module holds the microfluidic glass-chips for gas distribution, combined with pressure measurement in one module. The reactor outlet pressure is also measured using a Tiny Pressure module, allowing online measurement of catalyst bed pressure drop.
As the pressure of the reactor inlet and outlets is measured at room temperature, no high temperature pressure sensors are required ensuring a highly accurate pressure measurement for 16 reactors in a compact module.
The TinyPressure module has a pressure range of 10 – 200 barg (high pressure or 0.5 – 10 barg (low pressure). The modular and user-friendly design allows the modules to be replaced by an operator in a matter of minutes, without the need for time-consuming leak testing procedures, easy calibration (firmware will store calibration values) and quick exchange of the microfluidic glass-chip.
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