Patent ID: 7422910

Claim:
A method of passing a fluid through a manifold of a microchannel device, comprising: flowing a first fluid stream into a manifold and then through a first channel in a first direction; flowing a portion of the first fluid stream to a second channel; and flowing a portion of the first fluid stream through the second channel; wherein the second channel extends at a nonzero angle relative to the first direction; wherein the second channel comprises a microchannel and comprises at least one dividing wall that separates the second channel into at least a first and a second subchannel; wherein the first layer and the manifold are each substantially planar; wherein the manifold is substantially contained within the first layer, and wherein the first layer and the manifold are substantially coplanar, and wherein the first channel is disposed in the first layer and flow through the first channel is substantially parallel to the plane of the first layer; wherein the first channel and the manifold are about the same height; wherein the second layer is substantially planar, and wherein the second channel is disposed in the second layer and flow through the second channel is substantially parallel to the plane of the second layer; and wherein the first layer and the second layer are substantially parallel and the nonzero angle refers to an angle within the second layer.