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Laminated Microchannel Chemical Reactor

Technology Category: Microtechnology; Fabrication Methods

Description: The microchannel chemical reactor shown above consists of three sections: a laminated combustor, a laminated reactor body, and a solid nonlaminated cover plate. The reactor and combustor were fabricated by PNNL's lamination process. The reactor, shown below, is being used for steam reforming and partial oxidation reactions. The reactor section has an interior microchannel reaction chamber, a quench chamber, and a preheat chamber. The second and third level sets of microchannels are used to extract heat from the catalytic reaction region. A total of ten different laminate shim patterns were required to fabricate the laminated components of the reactor. The combustor was constructed using two alternating laminate patterns and two solid metal end blocks. The reactor body was constructed using eight different shim patterns and two solid metal end blocks.

Laminated Reactor Chamber and Cover (bottom side of combustor chamber)

A close up of the combustor section is shown below. A top plate with an inlet and outlet is attached and sealed to this section. The circular groove around the microchannels and header regions is cut by conventional machining processes to accommodate a resilient metal gasket having a "C" cross-section.

Laminated Combustor Chamber and Cover

The reactor and combustor chambers are machined and polished to provide smooth surfaces for sealing. The following pictures show both the combustor and reactor sections prior to machining and the laminates used to produce each.

Combustor Before Machining and Laminates
Reactor Before Machining and Laminates

Point of Contact: Peter M Martin (509) 375-2076