3D-printed apparatus for efficient fluid-solid contact
| DWPI Title: Apparatus for directing flow of fluid into and out of structure of tiled unit cells, has unit cells whose solid portions are formed with multiple pores where pores is configured to improve fluid-solid contact in apparatus |
| Abstract: Additively manufactured monolithic structures for containing and directing flows of fluids are described herein, which can achieve high contact area between fluids and solids while maintaining uniform flow conditions and requiring low applied pressures to yield desired flow rates, for use in heat exchangers, chromatography columns, catalytic converters, etc. An exemplary monolithic structure comprises a plurality of tiled unit cells having a same shape, where the tiled unit cells are integrally formed as a single component. The tiled unit cells are arranged to define one or more interior regions of fluid flow, one or more inlets to each interior region of fluid flow, and one or more outlets to each interior region of fluid flow. The structures and methods of tiling herein are suited to additive manufacturing technologies such as projection stereolithography, multiphoton lithography, etc. |
| Use: Apparatus for directing flow of fluid into and out of structure of tiled unit cells, for heat exchanger, chromatography column and catalytic converter. |
| Advantage: The structures facilitate fluid flow with high surface area and low resistance to flow. The openings extend through the faces such that a fluid flowing through one of the openings are freely flow through the hollow interior portion to any other of the openings. |
| Novelty: The (3D)-printed apparatus has multiple tiled unit cells are arranged so that a fluid flows through the unit cells (100) at an angle to an average direction of the fluid's flow through the apparatus. The angle being greater than zero and less than 90 degrees. The unit cells arranged to define a volume comprising a first region in which the fluid flows through the unit cells. A second region occupied by solid portions of the unit cells. The fluid is impeded from flowing in the second region. The volume is entirely occupied by the first and second regions. The solid portions of each of the unit cells have multiple pores formed, and the pores are configured to improve fluid-solid contact in the apparatus. |
| Filed: 10/26/2017 |
| Application Number: US15794413A |
| Tech ID: SD 14204.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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