Patent ID: 7531016
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: B01J,C01B,F28F,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A chemical reaction apparatus comprising: a plurality of substrates which are bonded to each other and which are heatable; at least one flow path which is formed in at least one of the plurality of substrates, and through which a fluid flows, the flow path including an inlet opening and an outlet opening which are exposed on an outermost surface of the at least one of the plurality of substrates; a heating element which is formed on at least one surface of at least one of the plurality of substrates to heat said plurality of substrates and to heat the flow path to a predetermined temperature so that a chemical reaction of the fluid flowing through the flow path is accelerated; and a heat radiation preventing film which contacts and covers at least a portion of one of: (i) the outermost surface of the at least one of the plurality of substrates and (ii) an outermost surface of the heating element to reflect at least a part of heat rays reflected from said outermost surfaces to thereby prevent lowering of a temperature of the flow path; wherein the heat radiation preventing film comprises at least one of: (i) a metal film made of Au, Al, or Ag, and (ii) a metal oxide film made of SnO wherein the plurality of substrates include at least a first substrate having a first surface in which the flow path is formed, and a second substrate bonded to the first surface of the first substrate; wherein the heating element comprises a thin-film heater, and the thin-film heater is formed on at least one of: a first surface of the second substrate that opposes the first substrate, a second surface of the second substrate away from the first surface of the second substrate, and a second surface of the first substrate away from the first surface of the first substrate; wherein the heating element further comprises an electrically insulating film provided on the surface on which the thin-film heater is formed, and the electrically insulating film covers the thin-film heater and has a flat surface opposite to a surface thereof covering the thin-film heater; wherein the thin-film heater is formed on at least one of the second surface of the second substrate and the second surface of the first substrate; wherein the plurality of substrates include a third substrate bonded onto the electrically insulating film which covers the thin-film heater; wherein the heat radiation preventing film is formed on an outer surface of the third substrate; and wherein the third substrate has a recess in a surface which opposes the thin-film heater.