IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0011386
(2001-12-05)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- TeGrotenhuis, Ward E.
- Stenkamp, Victoria S.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Battelle Memorial Institute
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
23 인용 특허 :
10 |
초록
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Methods of separating fluids using capillary forces and/or improved conditions for are disclosed. The improved methods may include control of the ratio of gas and liquid Reynolds numbers relative to the Suratman number. Also disclosed are wick-containing, laminated devices that are capable of separa
Methods of separating fluids using capillary forces and/or improved conditions for are disclosed. The improved methods may include control of the ratio of gas and liquid Reynolds numbers relative to the Suratman number. Also disclosed are wick-containing, laminated devices that are capable of separating fluids.
대표청구항
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1. A process of separating fluids, comprising:passing a fluid mixture into a microchannel of a separator device; the separator device comprising a liquid outlet and a gas outlet; wherein a wick and a gas channel are disposed within the microchannel; wherein the fluid mixture comprises a first compon
1. A process of separating fluids, comprising:passing a fluid mixture into a microchannel of a separator device; the separator device comprising a liquid outlet and a gas outlet; wherein a wick and a gas channel are disposed within the microchannel; wherein the fluid mixture comprises a first component that is a liquid in the wick and a second component that substantially remains a gas during the process; wherein conditions during the process are such that the ratio of the gas to liquid Reynolds numbers, ReGS/ReLS, is greater than about (4500)?(Su)?0.67; removing the first component through the liquid outlet; and removing the second component through the gas outlet. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the gas to liquid Reynolds numbers, ReGS/ReLS, is in the range of (4600 to 100,000)?(Su)?0.67.3. The process of claim 2 wherein the fluid mixture consists essentially of 2 components.4. The process of claim 1, wherein one of the components comprises liquid water.5. The process of claim 3 wherein the wick has capillary pore sizes in the range of 100 nm to 0.1 mm.6. The process of claim 2 wherein the wick has a thickness of less than 0.5 mm.7. The process of claim 6 wherein the wick comprises a punctured foil.8. The process of claim 1 wherein the wick comprises a punctured and expanded foil.9. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of removing heat from the wick into a heat exchanger that is in thermal contact with the wick.10. The process of claim 2 wherein the wick comprises a Fresnel lens.11. The process of claim 2 wherein the wick comprises an intermetallic.12. A device capable of separating fluids, comprising:a laminate comprising at least 2 plates, wherein at least one plate comprises a fluid opening and at least one channel; the channel comprising an open area and a wick; wherein the open area is a contiguous open area adjacent the wick such that a gas can travel through the open area from the fluid opening to a gas exit; wherein a capture structure is disposed within the open area; wherein, in the wick, a liquid can travel to a liquid exit; and wherein the capture structure provides structural support for the laminate. 13. The device of claim 12 wherein channel walls and the wick define sides of the open area.14. The device of claim 12 wherein the wick comprises a punctured foil.15. The device of claim 12 wherein the capture structure comprises a punctured and expanded foil.16. The device of claim 12 wherein the at least 2 plates are substantially planar.17. The device of claim 16 wherein the wick comprises a Fresnel lens.18. The device of claim 16 wherein the wick comprises an intermetallic.19. The device of claim 16 further comprising a pore throat, and wherein the capture structure provides force against the pore throat.20. The device of claim 12 further comprising a gasket disposed between the at least two plates.21. A method of separating two or more fluids, comprising:passing a first fluid into an inlet of a laminated device; wherein the first fluid comprises a first fluid component and a second fluid component; wherein the laminated device comprises at least two, substantially planar, layers, and a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet; wherein said layers comprise a heat exchange layer and a separator layer; wherein the separator layer comprises a channel having an open area and a wick; wherein capillary force is the primary force used to move a liquid within the wick within the separator layer; and wherein a second fluid passes through the first fluid outlet and a third fluid passes through the second fluid outlet; wherein the second fluid has a higher relative concentration of the first fluid component as compared to the concentration of the first fluid component in the first fluid and as compared to the concentration of the first fluid component in the third fluid. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the channel is a microchannel and the laminated device comprises at least 4 repeating separator/heat exchange layer units.23. The method of claim 21 wherein the channel is a microchannel and the microchannel has a depth of 1 to 1000 micrometers.24. The method of claim 21 wherein the channel is a microchannel and the heat exchange layer comprises elongated channels for extended surface area, and further wherein a gas is passed through the heat exchange layer.25. The method of claim 21 wherein the wick comprises a Fresnel lens.26. The method of claim 21 wherein the channel is a microchannel and the wick comprises an intermetallic.27. The method of claim 21 wherein the channel is a microchannel and a capture structure is disposed in the microchannel.28. The method of claim 21 wherein the channel is a microchannel and the second fluid moves through the wick to the first fluid outlet, and wherein the third fluid moves through the open area to the second fluid outlet.29. A method of separating components of a fluid, comprising:passing a first fluid comprising a first fluid component and a second fluid component into an inlet of a device comprising: a first fluid outlet, a second fluid outlet at least one channel; the channel being substantially planar; the channel comprising an open area and a wick, wherein a fluid flows through the open area and a liquid flows through the wick; wherein the first fluid flows in one direction in the open area and the liquid flows in the wick substantially in the opposite direction (counter-flow); wherein the first fluid is heated to form a gas in at least one portion of the device; wherein the gas is cooled, and a liquid forms in at least one other portion of the device; passing a second fluid through the first fluid outlet and a third fluid through the second fluid outlet; wherein the second fluid has a higher relative concentration of the first fluid component as compared to the concentration of the first fluid component in the first fluid and as compared to the concentration of the first fluid component in the third fluid. 30. The method of claim 29 wherein heating of the first fluid and the cooling of the gas are accomplished by heat exchange with a microchannel heat exchanger.31. The method of claim 29 where gas is removed at one end and condensed to form a liquid in an external device and the liquid from the external device is returned to the wick at the same end.32. The method of claim 29 where liquid is removed from the wick at one end, partially vaporized in an external device and gas from the external device is returned to the open area at the same end.33. The method of claim 29 wherein the second fluid removed from the first outlet comprises a gas.34. The method of claim 29 wherein the second fluid removed from the first outlet comprises a liquid.35. The method of claim 29 wherein the third fluid removed from the second outlet comprises a gas.36. The method of claim 29 wherein the third fluid removed from the second outlet comprises a liquid.37. The method of claim 29 wherein the first fluid enters the inlet as a gas or a mixture of a gas and a liquid.38. The method of claim 29 wherein the first fluid is heated by a fourth fluid flowing through cross-current heat exchange channels with multiple passes occurring in the counter-flow direction.39. The method of claim 29 wherein the first fluid is heated by a fourth fluid flowing through heat exchange channels in a direction parallel to but in the opposite direction of flow in the open area.40. The method of claim 29 wherein reactive distillation is accomplished by a chemical reaction occurring in the open area, in the wick, or in an area behind the wick.41. The method of claim 29 wherein the wick comprises a Fresnel lens.42. A process of separating fluids, comprising:providing a separator device comprising at least one liquid outlet, at least one fluid opening, at least one channel, and at least one gas outlet; the at least one channel comprising an open area and a wick, passing a mixture comprising two immiscible fluids, comprising a first fluid and a second fluid, into the fluid opening of said device; wherein the first fluid is a liquid that is removed from the open area and sorbed by the wick; wherein the liquid travels to the at least one liquid outlet; and wherein the first fluid exits the device through the at least one liquid outlet; wherein the second fluid is a gas; wherein the gas travels to the at least one gas outlet; and wherein the gas exits the device through the at least one gas outlet; and wherein the device has separation properties such that, when tested by passing a fluid mixture containing 4.4% liquid water by volume in air into the fluid opening at a rate of 18.6 ml/s total flow per cc of open area, under the conditions of 25° C. temperature and atmospheric pressure, and where the inlet gas Reynolds number, ReGS, is 400, the Reynolds number ratio, ReGS/ReLS, is 1.9, and the Suratmann number is 90000, at least 95%, of the liquid water is removed from the fluid mixture prior to exiting the at least one gas outlet of the device, while the liquid water exits the at least one liquid outlet. 43. The process of claim 42 wherein the at least one channel comprises a microchannel and wherein the ratio of the gas to liquid Reynolds numbers, ReGS/ReLS, is in the range of (4600 to 100,000)?(Su)?0.67.44. A device capable of separating fluids, comprising:at least one liquid outlet, at least one fluid opening, at least one channel, and at least one gas outlet; the at least one channel comprising an open area and a wick, wherein the device has separation properties such that, when tested by passing a fluid mixture containing 4.4% liquid water by volume in air into the fluid opening at a rate of 18.6 ml/s total flow per cc of open area, under the conditions of 25° C. temperature and atmospheric pressure, and where the inlet gas Reynolds number, ReGS, is 400, the Reynolds number ratio, ReGS/ReLS, is 1.9, and the Suratmann number is 90,000, at least 95%, of the liquid water is removed from the fluid mixture prior to exiting the at least one gas outlet of the device, while the liquid water exits the at least one liquid outlet. 45. The device of claim 44 wherein the wick comprises a Fresnel lens.46. The device of claim 44 wherein the wick comprises a punctured foil.47. The device of claim 44 wherein the wick comprises an intermetallic.48. The device of claim 44 comprising a capture structure disposed in the open area wherein the device is a laminated device comprising substantially planar layers and the capture structure provides structural support.49. The process of claim 2 wherein the gas chamber has a height of 100 μm to 1 mm; wherein the height is defined by a surface of the wick and a surface of the separator device.50. The process of claim 2 wherein a pore throat is disposed between the wick and the liquid outlet, wherein the pore throat has a maximum flow capacity, and wherein the volumetric flow of the first component through the liquid outlet is at least 30% of the maximum flow capacity of the pore throat.51. The process of claim 2 wherein the gas channel is essentially planar, wherein the gas channel has dimensions of width, length and height; and wherein the width and length are at least 10 times larger than height.52. The device of claim 13 wherein the distance from a surface of the wick and a channel wall that define opposite sides of the open area and wherein the distance from this surface of the wick and this channel wall is 10 μm to 5 mm.53. The device of claim 52 wherein the wick comprises microchannels.54. The device of claim 16 wherein the wick comprises sintered metal, metal foam, a metal screen, or polymer fibers.55. The device of claim 13 wherein a pore throat that seals the liquid exit is disposed between the wick and the liquid exit.56. The device of claim 16 comprising the following structure: liquid flow channel/wick/gas flow channel/wick/liquid flow channel;wherein the contiguous open area is the gas flow channel. 57. The device of claim 16 wherein one of said plates comprises a heat transfer surface and wherein the capture structure is in thermal contact with the heat transfer surface.58. The method of claim 23 wherein the open area is defined by a surface of the wick and channel walls and wherein the distance from a surface of the wick and a channel wall that define opposite sides of the open area and wherein the distance from this surface of the wick and this channel wall is 100 μm to 1 mm.59. The method of claim 58 wherein the ratio of exposed surface area of the wick to volume of the open area is from 1 to 1000 cm2:cm3.60. The method of claim 21 comprising continuous distillation.61. The method of claim 21 wherein the heat exchange layer comprises heat exchange channels and wherein a heat exchange fluid travels in a zig-zag fashion through the heat exchange channels.62. The method of claim 21 wherein the wick comprises microchannels having a depth of 1 to 1000 μm.63. The method of claim 58 wherein the wick comprises pore sizes in the range of 100 nm to 0.1 mm, where these sizes are the largest pore diameters in the cross-section of the wick.64. The method of claim 21 wherein the open area comprises a capture structure and the capture structure is in thermal contact with the heat exchange layer.65. The method of claim 21 wherein a humidified stream enters the laminated device through a header and distributes into parallel microchannels containing wicks.66. The method of claim 21 wherein a wall of the heat exchange layer adjacent to the separator layer has reduced or non-wettability.67. The method of claim 21 wherein the open area is defined by a surface of the wick and channel walls and wherein the distance from a surface of the wick and a channel wall that define opposite sides of the open area and wherein the distance from this surface of the wick and this channel wall is 100 μm to 1 mm.68. The method of claim 29 wherein the wick comprises microchannels having a depth of 1 to 1000 μm.69. The method of claim 29 wherein the wick is graded by pore size or wettability to help liquid drain in a desired direction.70. The method of claim 34 wherein a pore throat that seals the first outlet is disposed between the wick and the liquid exit.71. The method of claim 42 wherein the open area is defined by a surface of the wick and channel walls and wherein the distance from a surface of the wick and a channel wall that define opposite sides of the open area, and wherein the distance from this surface of the wick and this channel wall is 100 μm to 1 mm.72. The method of claim 43 wherein the ratio of exposed surface area of the wick to volume of the open area is from 1 to 1000 cm2:cm3.73. The method of claim 43 comprising water recovery from multiple streams in an automotive fuel processor for generating a hydrogen rich gas stream for use in a fuel cell.74. The method of claim 42 wherein the device is a laminated device comprising substantially planar layers.75. The method of claim 74 comprising passing a humidified stream into the laminated device through a header that distributes the stream into parallel microchannels containing wicks.76. The device of claim 44 wherein the open area is defined by a surface of the wick and channel walls and wherein the distance from a surface of the wick and a channel wall that define opposite sides of the open area, and wherein the distance from this surface of the wick and this channel wall is 100 μm to 1 mm.77. The device of claim 76 wherein the ratio of exposed surface area of the wick to volume of the open area is from 1 to 1000 cm2:cm3.78. The device of claim 44 wherein the wick comprises microchannels having a depth of 1 to 1000 μm.79. The device of claim 44 wherein the wick comprises sintered metal, metal foam, a metal screen, or polymer fibers.80. The device of claim 44 wherein the device is a laminated device comprising substantially planar layers.81. The device of claim 44 wherein a pore throat is disposed between the wick and the liquid outlet, wherein the pore throat is in capillary contact with the wick; and wherein the pore throat has a pore size that is less than half that of the wick.
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