Patent ID: 7569195
Filing Date: 2009-08-04
Classification: B01J,C01B,C07C,C10G,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A microchannel unit assembly comprising: a removable microchannel unit including an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice in fluid communication with a plurality of microchannels distributed throughout the removable microchannel unit; a pressurized vessel adapted to have the removable microchannel unit mounted thereto, the pressurized vessel adapted to contain a pressurized fluid exerting a positive gauge pressure upon at least a portion of the exterior of the removable microchannel unit, the pressurized vessel including a docking station adapted to have the removable microchannel unit mounted thereto and provide fluid communication with at least one inlet conduit adapted to carry an input stream to the removable microchannel unit and at least one outlet conduit adapted to carry away an output stream from the removable microchannel unit, the docking station including an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice, where the inlet orifice of the docking station is adapted to be generally aligned with the inlet orifice of the removable microchannel unit to provide fluid communication between the microchannels and the inlet conduit, and where the outlet orifice of the docking station is adapted to be generally aligned with the outlet orifice of the removable microchannel unit to provide fluid communication between the microchannels and the outlet conduit; a retainer operative to maintain the general orientation of the inlet orifice of the docking station with the inlet orifice of the removable microchannel unit, as well as maintain the general orientation of the outlet orifice of the docking station with the outlet orifice of the removable microchannel unit; and a first gasket assembly sandwiched between at least one of the retainer and the docking station, and the removable microchannel unit and the docking station, to ensure a fluidic seal therebetween; wherein the removable microchannel unit includes two opposing sides that are tapered; wherein the docking station includes two opposing sides that are tapered to correspond to the taper of two opposing sides of the removable microchannel unit; and wherein the retainer is bolted to at least one of the pressurized vessel and the removable microchannel unit.