Optimal design for split-and-recombine-type flow distributors of microreactors based on blockage detection

Abstract

In order to increase the productivity of microreactors, the parallelization of the microreactors is required. The performances of flow distributors can affect the product yield and fault detection ability when blockage happens. In this research, an optimal design method to calculate the channel diameters and to determine the flow sensor location is derived based on mass balance and pressure balance models of split-and-recombine-type flow distributors (SRFDs). The model accuracy is verified by experiment data. The proposed method is applied to optimal design of SRFDs under constant flow rate operation conditions. The maximum angle difference between normal and blockage conditions at one sensor to those at the other sensors is set to be the objective function and the uniformity of flow distribution in microreactors under normal condition is also required. The diameters of each pipe in SRFDs are selected as the design variables. Simulated annealing algorithm is used to solve the optimization problem. The effectiveness of the optimal design results is demonstrated by fluid dynamics simulations. The results show that using the optimal channel diameters of SRFDs, the pressure drop in SRFD section is lower than that of the microreactor section. Meanwhile, in the case studies, only a few sensors that are located inside the SRFDs can easily detect the blockage abnormal condition in the parallelized microreactor system.