Fluid processing apparatus and processing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9873103-B2
Application number	US-201113634809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2011
Priority date	Apr 8, 2010
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

A device enables the more stable performance of uniform treatment such as reaction by reducing pulsation generated in a fluid introduced between treatment surfaces using a micropump effect. The device treats an object between treatment surfaces. The treatment is performed by introducing a fluid between the treatment surfaces using a micropump effect. The micropump effect generates force in the direction in which the treatment surfaces move away from each other by the rotation of a treatment part and the recessed section formed in the treatment surface to thereby produce the effect of introducing the fluid between the treatment surfaces. The recessed section is formed so as to extend in the circumferential direction and inward/outward direction of the treatment surface, and multiple recessed sections are provided or an additional recessed section (α) different from the recessed sections is formed in at least one of the treatment surfaces.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid processing apparatus, comprising:
at least two processing members arranged opposite to each other and operable to approach to and separate from each other, at least one of the at least two processing members rotating relative to the other, the at least two processing members providing two processing surfaces facing each other with a space formed therebetween;
a first flow path formed in a center of the at least two processing members leading to the space between the two processing surfaces;
a second flow path, independent of the first flow path and radially outward of the first flow path, the second flow path being formed inside at least one of the at least two processing members, leading to the space between the two processing surfaces and forming an opening on the at least one of the two processing surfaces;
a plurality of depressions are arranged in a circumferential direction of at least one of the two processing surfaces, each of the plurality of depressions extending in a radial direction from inside to outside of the at least one of the two processing surfaces; and
a separate depression, different from the plurality of depressions, arranged on at least one of the two processing surfaces in a position between the plurality of depressions and the opening in the radial direction,
wherein the opening is the nearest opening formed on the at least one of the two processing surfaces in the radial direction from the center of the at least two processing members except for the plurality of depressions, the separate depression and the first flow path,
wherein the plurality of depressions are configured to produce a micro-pump effect for introduced a fluid to be processed into the space between the two processing surfaces, said micro-pump effect generating a force to move the two processing surfaces in a direction of separation therebetween by rotation of the at least one of the at least two processing members and the plurality of depressions, and generating an introduction effect of the fluid to be processed into the space between the two processing surfaces,
wherein the separate depression is configured to function as a pulsation-reducing depression to reduce pulsation caused by the micro-pump effect and to reduce an effect of a pressure change of the fluid to be processed between the two processing surfaces caused by the plurality of depressions, and
wherein a depth of each of the plurality of depressions is between 3 μm to 20 μm, and a depth of the separate depression is between 100 μm to 250 μm.

2. The fluid processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the separate depression overlaps with the plurality of depressions.

3. The fluid processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the separate depression has a form of a circular ring.

4. The fluid processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a width of the separate depression is between 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

5. A fluid processing method, comprising the steps of:
providing the fluid processing apparatus according to claim 1 ;
introducing a first fluid to be processed, via the first flow path, into the space between the at least two processing surfaces by using the micro-pump effect due to the plurality of depressions, the micro-pump effect generating a force to move the two processing surfaces in a separation direction therebetween by rotation of the at least one of the at least two processing members and the plurality of depressions, and further generating an introduction effect of the first fluid;
introducing a second fluid to be processed, via the second flow path, into the space between the at least two processing surfaces; and
mixing the first and second fluids in the space between the two processing surfaces, thereby forming a thin film fluid between the two processing surfaces.

6. The fluid processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the depth of the separate depression is between 200 μm to 250 μm.

7. The fluid processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the separate depression, in its entirety, is positioned radially outward of the plurality of depressions, and radially inward of the opening.

Assignees

• Enomura Masakazu
• M Technique Co Ltd

Inventors

• Enomura Masakazu

Classifications

• B01J2219/00132

  using electric heating or cooling elements · CPC title

• B01J2219/00094

  Jackets · CPC title

• B01J19/1887 Primary

  forming a thin film · CPC title

• Y10T137/0318

  Processes · CPC title

• B01F3/0807

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic