Microreactors / Microreaction technology
DMT ENCOS and the University of Hamburg are researching microreactors for fine chemicals
R&D Micro-Reactors - MICRO-Fit
DMT ENCOS and the University of Hamburg have launched a research project on the design of microreactors. Microreactors are extremely miniature process engineering devices with internal structures in the micrometer to millimeter range, which are seen as having great potential for carrying out complex chemical production processes under well-controllable conditions. They are particularly suitable for fine chemicals, which often have to be produced in many different specifications and comparatively small quantities. This is where the high investment costs for microreactors could pay off.
However, digital tools for calculating and designing microreactors are not yet available on the international market. DMT ENCOS aims to close this gap in cooperation with the University of Hamburg. As a TÜV NORD GROUP company and an engineering firm specializing in process plant planning, ENCOS is a proven partner for companies in the chemical, petrochemical, and mineral oil industries. The Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (TMC) and the Department of Mathematics are participating from the University of Hamburg.
The design tool is intended to enable the technically and economically optimal design of a microreactor system for a given reaction engineering task. This requires the development of the relevant physical-mathematical model equations for channel structures in the micro- to millimeter range, experimental validation, and finally the implementation of their solution in a powerful numerical programming environment.
"The design tool to be created will represent a new, efficient option for designing microreactors for the process industry. DMT ENCOS will initially use this system for its own customers in the fine chemicals industry; links to specific projects already exist in this field. The plan is to further develop the tool to market maturity and offer it as a software solution, for example, to larger simulation service providers," explains Project Manager Frank Schlüter, DMT ENCOS.
This project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and runs until 2020.
