NL2017029B1

NL2017029B1 - Spinning disc reactor

Info

Publication number: NL2017029B1
Application number: NL2017029A
Authority: NL
Inventors: De Jong Maarten; Van Zadelhoff Haske; Janga Jonathan; Frank Hengeveld Wessel
Original assignee: Flowid Holding B V
Priority date: 2016-06-23
Filing date: 2016-06-23
Publication date: 2018-01-17
Also published as: WO2017222376A1; NL2017029A

Abstract

This invention relates to reactors, more particularly to spinning disc reactors, and to methods to perform reactions using these reactors. These reactors have no mechanical bearings and no dynamic seals. One or more spinning discs provided in the cavities of the reactor are driven from outside the reactor using magnetic forces. These spinning disc reactors can be used for a variety of reactions, including reactions involving aggressive chemicals, with minimal wearing over time.

Description

SPINNING DISC REACTOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to reactors, more particularly to spinning disc reactors, and to methods to perform reactions using these reactors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The chemical and biotechnological industries are continuously working on more efficient and safer production routes. New processes and devices are developed that are more energy efficient, result in less waste products and/or are safer to operate. Major improvements can be realized by developing processes and devices with enhanced mass and heat transfer during the reactions.

Spinning disc reactors are well-known in the art of process intensification. In this respect, reference is made to M. Meeuwse, Rotor-Stator Spinning Disc Reactor, PhD thesis, 2011, Eindhoven University of Technology. This type of reactors is also referred to as rotating disc reactors, spinning disc mixers or rotating disc mixers in the art. The terms can be used interchangeably. The spinning disc reactors according to the present invention are cocurrent rotor-stator spinning disc reactors that are characterized in that they have a stator housing and one or more rotatable discs inside the housing wherein the housing and the discs are configured such that there is only a small gap between the inner surface of the housing and the discs. Due to the high-velocity gradients which can be generated by the spinning discs in the small gap, large shear forces can be induced in the fluid between the static housing and the rotating surfaces of the discs, enabling improved heat and mass transfer and rapid homogenisation of concentration and temperature variations on the microscopic level. This makes spinning disc reactors attractive devices for e.g. performing exothermic reactions and reactions which are limited by mass transfer rates. Because of the improved heat and mass transfer, the residence time of the reacting material or the total volume of the reacting material in the reactor at a given time can be reduced without compromising reaction yield. Improved heat transfer may decrease energy consumption and the risks and dangers of thermal runaways and thermal ignition frequently encountered in batch reactors due to poor temperature control. Because of these advantages, it is contemplated that spinning disc reactors will strongly influence the manner in which industry carries out fast reactions and/or reactions which are limited by heat or mass transfer rates. W094/21367A1 discloses a method and apparatus for mixing and dispersion of flowable materials such as viscous flowable pastes. The apparatus comprises a stator body and a core member comprising a number of discs. The core member comprises a central shaft having along its length a plurality of uniformly spaced radially outwardly extending discs that can rotate inside the stator body. The core member is driven by a speed-controllable driving means, positioned outside the stator body, via the shaft which extends through the wall of the stator body and which rotates in a mechanical bearing which is sealed and which is positioned in the wall of the stator body. The cavity between the stator body and the core member defines an annular flow passage. During operation, the flowable material to be mixed or dispersed is moved through the passage under pressure so as to maintain the passage full of material while the core member is rotated to induce shear in the moving material. US2005/0053532A1 discloses a spinning disc reactor with a gap of less than 1 mm between the stator housing and the rotating disc. The rotor disc and rotor shaft are of one part and are driven by a motor, positioned outside of the reactor, via a drive belt. The rotor disc and rotor shaft are able to rotate in a bearing. The bearing ensures that the rotor disc and shaft are correctly positioned in the housing. The gap between the housing and the rotor shaft where the rotor shaft extends through the wall of the housing is closed by a mechanical dynamic seal. During operation, reactants are fed to the surface of the rotating disc such that the reactants spread out on the surface in the form of a thin film. US2009/0208389A1 discloses spinning tube-in-tube reactors having a reaction passage between the rotor tube exterior surface and the stator tube interior surface, through which reactants pass. The reaction passage is between 50 and 500 pm wide. The rotor tube is suspended within the stator tube by a flexible connection between a driving motor shaft and the rotor tube and by a thrust bearing which ensures that the rotor tube cannot move vertically.

The spinning disc reactors described in the art are made of metal and/or have a rotor shaft extending through the reactor wall, wherein the rotor shaft is positioned in a mechanical bearing sealed with a mechanical dynamic seal such that the rotor is able to rotate inside the stator housing of the reactor. The mechanical bearings, mechanical dynamic seals and metal are subject to wear due to friction between rotating elements and chemical corrosion due to aggressive chemicals, which may result in leakage of chemicals from the reactor.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved spinning disc reactors and methods of using those spinning disc reactors. It is a further object of the invention to provide spinning disc reactors that can be used for a variety of reactions, including reactions involving aggressive chemicals, with minimal wear over time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventors found that the above objects can be met by avoiding the use of mechanical bearings and dynamic seals and by driving the one or more spinning discs from outside the reactor using magnetic forces.

Accordingly, in a first aspect a reactor is provided, said reactor comprising: a) a housing defining a first cavity having an upstream end and a downstream end, said first cavity having at least one fluid inlet at the upstream end for providing fluid into the first cavity and a fluid outlet at the downstream end for withdrawing fluid from the first cavity; b) a circular disc-shaped element provided in the first cavity, said circular disc-shaped element being rotatable within the first cavity around a rotation axis pointing from the downstream end to the upstream end of the first cavity and comprising magnets for driving rotation of the circular disc-shaped element by magnetic forces from outside the housing, wherein the housing and the circular disc-shaped element, in operation, define a radial fluid bearing and an axial fluid bearing between the circular disc-shaped element and the wall of the first cavity; and wherein there is a gap having a width of between 1 and 2000 pm between the wall of the first cavity and the circular disc-shaped element such that the at least one fluid inlet, the gap between the wall of the first cavity and the circular disc-shaped element and the fluid outlet define a fluid pathway through the reactor.

Consequently, the reactor according to the invention has no rotating parts or mechanical bearings extending through the housing of the reactor and no dynamic seals. This overcomes the problems of leakage of chemicals from the reactor. During operation, the circular disc-shaped element is rotated within the cavity by magnetic forces from outside the housing. The inventors have unexpectedly found that, despite the complex geometry of the reactor, the disc-shaped element can be rotated without the use of mechanical bearings inside the reactor. During operation, the fluid flowing through the reactor acts as a lubricant causing fluid bearing of the one or more rotating disc-shaped elements in the reactor.

The inventors have further found that when all reactor parts adjacent to the fluid pathway through the reactor are composed of ceramic material, preferably silicon carbide, the reactor can be used for a variety of reactions, including reactions involving aggressive chemicals, with minimal wear over time.

The inventors have established that the above principles also hold true when the reactor comprises multiple cavities and circular disc-shaped elements provided therein.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a method for the manufacture of a product in a reactor according to the invention, said method comprising the steps of: a) supplying two or more fluid reactants to the at least one fluid inlet of the first or the most upstream cavity; b) forcing the reaction fluid thus formed through the gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more corresponding circular disc-shaped elements by applying a pressure while the disc-shaped elements are rotating to produce a reaction fluid comprising the product; c) drawing off the reaction fluid comprising the product from the fluid outlet of the most downstream cavity.

DEFINITIONS

The term ‘reactant’ as used herein is not limited to substances which are intended to undergo chemical reaction but also includes substances which are intended to undergo physical processes such as mixing or heating. As such, the term ‘reactant’ as used herein encompasses in addition to those components undergoing chemical reaction to form the intended reaction product(s), and eventually by-products, also solvents, co-solvents, dispersants, emulsifiers, catalysts and the like.

The term ‘fluid’ in ‘fluid reactants’ may relate to gases, liquids, solids, or combinations thereof. Solids in particulate form may have macroscopic fluid flow properties.

The term ‘product’ as used herein denotes the intended substance or substances to be manufactured in the reaction fluid which is collected at the downstream end of the reactor.

The term ‘fluid bearing’ or ‘dynamic fluid bearing’ as used herein denotes two radially or axially aligned surfaces separated by a fluid forming a lubricating wedge between these two surfaces. In the context of the present invention, one of the surfaces is the inner wall of a cavity and the other surface is the outer surface of a part rotating in said cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 depicts a cross-section of a reactor according to the invention comprising a single circular disc-shaped element.

Figure 2 shows a close-up of Figure 1.

Figure 3 depicts a cross-section of a reactor according to the invention comprising three circular disc-shaped elements.

Figure 4 depicts a simplified cross-section of the reactor of Figure 3 wherein some numbering has been omitted.

Figure 5 shows the dependency of flow behaviour on gap ratio G, defined as the gap h between the wall of the cavity and the circular disc-shaped element divided by the radius Rd of the disc-shaped element, and on rotational Reynolds number Re r, wherein Re r is defined as ro f?D2 v_1. Regime I in Figure 5 relates to laminar flow (Torsional Couette flow), Regime II to laminar flow (Batchelor flow), Regime III to turbulent flow (Torsional Couette flow) and Regime IV to turbulent flow (Batchelor flow).

Figure 6 shows a diagram from which the flow behaviour on the surface of the circular disc-shaped element at a radius r from the axis of rotation, plug flow or ideally mixed flow, can be inferred from the superimposed dimensionless throughflow rate Cw, defined as 0w-v'1-Rd\ and the rotational Reynolds number Rer, which is defined as (o-Rd2-v~\ for different values of the gap ratio G, defined as the gap h between the wall of the cavity and the circular disc-shaped element divided by the radius Ro of the disc-shaped element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention, a reactor is provided, said reactor comprising: a) a housing defining a first cavity having an upstream end and a downstream end, said first cavity having at least one fluid inlet at the upstream end for providing fluid into the first cavity and a fluid outlet at the downstream end for withdrawing fluid from the first cavity; b) a circular disc-shaped element provided in the first cavity, said circular disc-shaped element being rotatable within the first cavity around a rotation axis pointing from the downstream end to the upstream end of the first cavity and comprising magnets for driving rotation of the circular disc-shaped element by magnetic forces from outside the housing, wherein the housing and the circular disc-shaped element, in operation, define a radial fluid bearing and an axial fluid bearing between the disc-shaped element and the wall of the first cavity; and wherein there is a gap having a width of between 1 and 2000 μιη between the wall of the first cavity and the circular disc-shaped element such that the at least one fluid inlet, the gap between the wall of the first cavity and the circular disc-shaped element and the fluid outlet define a fluid pathway through the reactor.

The reactor as described herein can be considered a co-current rotor-stator spinning disc reactor wherein the housing is the stator and wherein the circular disc-shaped element constitutes the rotor.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing of the reactor as defined hereinbefore comprises at least one further cavity and further circular disc-shaped element provided in said further cavity, each further cavity having a fluid inlet at the upstream end of said further cavity for providing fluid into the further cavity, and each further cavity having a fluid outlet at the downstream end of said further cavity for withdrawing fluid from the further cavity, said further circular disc-shaped elements being rotatable within the corresponding further cavities around a rotation axis pointing from the downstream end to the upstream end of the further cavity, wherein the housing and each further circular disc-shaped element, in operation, define a radial fluid bearing and an axial fluid bearing between the further circular disc-shaped element and the wall of the further cavity; and wherein there is a gap having a width of between 1 and 2000 μιη between the wall of each further cavity and each further disc-shaped element provided therein, and wherein the fluid outlet of the cavity upstream of each further cavity is connected to the fluid inlet of the further cavity such that the at least one fluid inlet of the most upstream cavity, the gap between the wall of each further cavity and the circular disc-shaped element provided therein and the fluid outlet of the most downstream cavity define a fluid pathway through the reactor, wherein i) each further circular disc-shaped element comprises magnets for driving rotation of the further disc-shaped element by magnetic forces from outside the housing, or ii) each further circular disc-shaped element is mechanically coupled to a circular discshaped element comprising magnets, or iii) a combination of i) and ii).

In a preferred embodiment, the circular disc-shaped elements are mechanically coupled such that they cannot move independently.

In another preferred embodiment, the reactor as defined hereinbefore comprises two, three, four, five, or more than five further cavities and further circular disc-shaped element provided therein.

In still another preferred embodiment, a reactor as defined hereinbefore is provided wherein the housing comprises at least two further cavities and further circular disc-shaped elements provided therein, wherein the reactor comprises different modules that are stackable in axial direction with O-rings in between to make the reactor leak-tight. The number of cavities and disc-shaped elements can be easily increased by increasing the number of modules.

The reactor can further comprise one or more heating and/or cooling elements in the body of the housing. Preferably the one or more heating and/or cooling elements are applied adjacent to the fluid pathway through the reactor. In a preferred embodiment, a heating and/or cooling element comprises a cavity adjacent to the fluid pathway through the reactor with a circular disc-shaped element provided in said cavity, said circular disc-shaped element comprising magnets for driving rotation by magnetic forces from outside the housing along the rotation axis as defined hereinbefore.

In a preferred embodiment a reactor as defined hereinbefore is provided wherein the housing comprises at least one further cavity and further circular disc-shaped element provided therein and wherein the rotation axes of all circular disc-shaped elements coincide.

The gap having a width of between 1 and 2000 pm between the wall of each cavity and the circular disc-shaped element provided therein can also be called ‘clearance between rotor and stator’ or ‘clearance between the wall of the cavity and the circular disc-shaped element provided therein’. In a preferred embodiment, the gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more circular disc-shaped elements provided therein has a width of between 1 and 1500 pm, more preferably between 1 and 1000 pm, even more preferably of between 1 and 500 pm, still more preferably of between 1 and 400 pm.

In another preferred embodiment, the gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more circular disc-shaped elements provided therein has a width of between 3 and 2000 pm. In still another preferred embodiment, the gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more circular disc-shaped elements provided therein has a width of between 5 and 2000 pm. In still another preferred embodiment, the gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more circular disc-shaped elements provided therein has a width of between 10 and 2000 pm. In a further preferred embodiment, the gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more circular disc-shaped elements provided therein has a width of between 15 and 2000 pm. In a still further preferred embodiment, the gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more circular disc-shaped elements provided therein has a width of between 20 and 2000 pm.

The gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more circular disc-shaped elements provided therein need not have a constant width throughout the fluid pathway through the reactor. The gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more circular disc-shaped elements is preferably smaller in the axial fluid bearing and in the radial fluid bearing than in the remaining part of the gap in order to optimize lubrication and bearing performance in the fluid bearing and to align the circular disc-shaped elements in their respective cavities during start-up and operation of the reactor. The preferred width of the gap in the axial fluid bearing and in the radial fluid bearing is between 1 and 20 μιη, more preferably between 3 and 15 pm, still more preferably between 5 and 10 pm.

In another preferred embodiment, the width of the gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more circular disc-shaped elements in the axial fluid bearing and in the radial fluid bearing is between 1 and 20 pm, preferably between 3 and 15 pm, more preferably between 5 and 10 pm, while the remaining part of the gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more circular disc-shaped elements has a width of between 400 and 2000 pm, more preferably between 500 and 1500 pm.

In case the gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more circular disc-shaped element is smaller in the axial fluid bearing and in the radial fluid bearing than in the remaining part of the gap, the cavity wall in the radial fluid bearing preferably comprises two or more grooves in radial direction and/or the axial fluid bearing preferably comprises two or more grooves in axial direction. A groove in axial direction and a groove in radial direction may form a single bigger groove. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that these grooves improve lubrication of and flow through the fluid bearing and avoid excessive pressure build-up over the fluid bearing during operation of the reactor.

In an embodiment, the gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more circular disc-shaped elements provided therein is of constant width throughout the fluid pathway through the reactor.

In another preferred embodiment, each of the one or more circular disc-shaped elements in the reactor as defined hereinbefore comprises a stub axle pointing in upstream direction and a stub axle pointing in downstream direction defining the axial fluid bearing, said stub axles being centred around the axis of rotation. In a more preferred embodiment, the one or more circular disc-shaped elements in the reactor as defined hereinbefore each comprise a stub axle pointing in upstream direction and a stub axle pointing in downstream direction defining the axial fluid bearing, said stub axles being centred around the axis of rotation, and further comprise an edge around each stub axle defining the radial fluid bearing.

When these stub axles are present, the circular disc-shaped elements can be mechanically coupled via a stick, made of for example polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), positioned in and substantially filling the empty space formed by two opposite grooves applied in adjacent surfaces of the stub axle of a circular disc-shaped element pointing in downstream direction and the stub axle of a circular disc-shaped element pointing in upstream direction, wherein said grooves are centred at the axis of rotation and are applied in the radial direction.

Embodiments wherein the cavity wall, instead of the circular disc-shaped element, comprises a stub axle pointing in upstream direction and a stub axle pointing in downstream direction defining the axial fluid bearing, wherein said stub axles are centred around the axis of rotation, are also envisaged. Likewise, embodiments are envisaged wherein the cavity wall, instead of the circular disc-shaped element, comprises a stub axle pointing in upstream direction and a stub axle pointing in downstream direction defining the axial fluid bearing, said stub axles being centred around the axis of rotation, wherein an edge is provided around each stub axle defining the radial fluid bearing.

Moreover, embodiments are envisaged wherein for each pair of a cavity and a corresponding circular-disc-shaped-element one of the stub axles, and preferably one of the edges, is provided on the cavity wall and one of the stub axles, and preferably one of the edges, is provided on the circular disc-shaped element.

Alternatively, the one or more circular disc-shaped elements in the reactor as defined hereinbefore may comprise one or more thickened sections along their outer perimeter such that the radial and axial fluid bearings are defined between the wall of the one or more cavities and the outer perimeter of the one or more circular disc-shaped elements provided in those one or more cavities.

In an embodiment the single cavity, or the most upstream cavity in case the housing comprises more than one cavity, has one fluid inlet. In a more preferred embodiment the single cavity, or the most upstream cavity in case the housing comprises more than one cavity, has two or more fluid inlets. In case the single cavity, or the most upstream cavity in case the housing comprises more than one cavity, has one fluid inlet, this fluid inlet is preferably centred at the axis of rotation of the circular disc-shaped element provided in said cavity. In case the single cavity, or the most upstream cavity in case the housing comprises more than one cavity, has two or more fluid inlets, one of these fluid inlets is preferably centred at the axis of rotation of the circular disc-shaped element provided in said cavity, while the remaining fluid inlets are positioned a distance away from the axis of rotation in radial direction. When such a configuration is used, a second or further reactant fed via the one or more remaining fluid inlets mixes with the bulk of the fluid present between and substantially filling the gap between the cavity wall and the circular disc-shaped element.

In a further embodiment, the one or more cavities have one or more radial fluid openings for providing fluid into the cavity or for withdrawing fluid from the cavity. A radial fluid opening, in the context of the invention, is a fluid opening in radial direction allowing for providing or withdrawing fluid directly from the gap between the wall of the cavity and the circular disc-shaped element provided therein along the outer perimeter of the circular disc-shaped element. Such openings can for example be used to provide a fluid into the cavity to quench a reaction or to add another reactant in case of a multiple-step synthesis. Hence, if the housing of the reactor as defined hereinbefore comprises at least one further cavity and further circular disc-shaped element provided therein, the most downstream cavity preferably has one or more radial fluid openings for providing fluid into the cavity or for withdrawing fluid from the cavity.

In a still further embodiment the reactor as defined hereinbefore further comprises an external means for driving rotation by magnetic forces of the one or more circular disc-shaped elements provided in the cavities of the housing of the reactor along the axis of rotation. In a preferred embodiment, the external means comprises a motor outside of the housing connected via a driving shaft to a driving disc outside of the housing that can rotate around a rotation axis that coincides with the rotation axis of the one or more circular disc-shaped elements, said driving disc containing one or more magnets. The magnetic forces between the magnets in the driving disc and the magnets in the circular disc-shaped element(s) or mechanically coupled circular disc-shaped elements causes rotation of the circular discshaped element(s) in their respective cavities around the axis of rotation.

In another preferred embodiment, the external means comprises electromagnetic coils positioned around the external surface of the housing of the reactor extending in axial direction, said electromagnetic coils being configured to develop an alternating electromagnetic field in the one or more cavities of the reactor causing rotation of the circular disc-shaped element(s) in their respective cavities around the axis of rotation, wherein the electromagnetic coils together with the housing of the reactor define a stator and the one or more circular disc-shaped elements comprising magnets define a rotor.

In still another embodiment, the external means comprises a motor outside of the housing able to rotate magnets positioned around the external surface of the housing of the reactor extending in axial direction. The magnetic forces between the magnets positioned around the external surface of the housing of the reactor extending in axial direction and the magnets in the circular disc-shaped element(s) or mechanically coupled circular disc-shaped elements causes rotation of the circular disc-shaped element(s) in their respective cavities around the axis of rotation.

These preferred examples of external means for driving rotation by magnetic forces are however not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

The skilled person understands that the general concept of the reactor of the invention does not particularly limit the type of materials the circular disc-shaped elements and the wall of the cavity are made of, apart from the requirement that the materials must have sufficient mechanical strength and stiffness. Hence, the circular disc-shaped elements and the wall of the cavity can for example be made of plastics, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), metals, such as stainless steel, or ceramics. In a preferred embodiment, the circular discshaped elements and the wall of the cavity are made of the same material to avoid excessive wear of only the circular disc-shaped elements or only the cavity wall.

It is actually the type of application of the reactor that determines the preferred type of materials for the circular disc-shaped elements and the wall of the cavity. In a preferred embodiment, the one or more circular disc-shaped elements and the wall of the one or more cavities are composed of ceramic material. Most preferably the ceramic material is silicon carbide (SiC). SiC is known for its good abrasion resistance and heat conductivity and is therefore highly suitable for different types of fluids, aggressive chemicals and reactions that require temperature control.

In a preferred embodiment, the radius Ro of the circular disc-shaped elements is between 1 cm and 25 cm, more preferably between 2 and 15 cm, even more preferably between 3 and 10 cm. The radius Ro as used throughout the description is calculated from the axis of rotation to the outer perimeter of the circular disc-shaped element.

In another preferred embodiment, the thickness of the rotatable discs, not taking into account stub axles, edges or thickened sections, in axial direction is between 1 mm and 5 cm.

In still another preferred embodiment, the gap ratio G of the gap h between the wall of the cavity and the circular disc-shaped element provided therein, not taking into account stub axles, edges or thickened sections, to the radius Ro of the circular disc-shaped element, again not taking into account stub axles, edges or thickened sections, is between 4T0'6 and 0.03.

The circular disc-shaped elements, not taking into account stub axles, edges or thickened sections, at least have an upstream surface and a downstream surface. Each upstream surface or downstream surface may independently of each other be planar, curved, frilled, corrugated or bent, most preferably planar. In a preferred embodiment, both the upstream and downstream surfaces of the circular disc-shaped elements are planer surfaces radially extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

The reactor as defined hereinbefore is preferably used for chemical reaction of different chemical reactants, optionally in the presence of one or more catalysts and optionally in one or more (co-)solvents.

Accordingly, in a second aspect, the invention provides a method for the manufacture of a product in a reactor as defined hereinbefore, said method comprising the steps of: a) supplying two or more fluid reactants to the at least one fluid inlets of the first or most upstream cavity; b) forcing the reaction fluid thus formed through the gap between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more circular disc-shaped elements by applying a pressure while the disc-shaped elements are rotating to produce a reaction fluid comprising the product; c) drawing off the reaction fluid comprising the product from the fluid outlet of the most downstream cavity.

Step b) ensures that during operation the reaction fluid substantially fills the gap between the cavity wall(s) and the circular disc-shaped element(s).

For sufficient heat and mass transfer, it is preferred that the flow of fluid reactants across at least part of the circular disc-shaped element is turbulent. Given the radius Ro [m] of the circular disc-shaped element, the gap h [m] between the wall of the cavity and the circular disc-shaped element and the kinematic viscosity v [m2/s] of the fluid reactants flowing through the reactor, it is within the skills of the artisan to choose the angular velocity ω [rad/s] of the circular disc-shaped elements required for a certain type of flow behaviour across the surface of the circular disc-shaped element. In this respect, reference is made to M. Djaoui et al., Heat transfer in a rotor-stator system with radial inflow, Eur. J. Mech. B. Fluids, 20 (2001), pp 371-398 and to Figure 5. Figure 5 shows a graph of the gap ratio G [-], defined as the gap h [m] between the wall of the cavity and the circular disc-shaped element divided by the radius Ro [m] of the circular disc-shaped element, versus -logffteR), wherein Re r [-] is the rotational Reynolds number which is defined as co-i?D2-v_1. Regime I in Figure 5 relates to laminar flow (Torsional Couette flow), Regime II to laminar flow (Batchelor flow), Regime III to turbulent flow (Torsional Couette flow) and Regime IV to turbulent flow (Batchelor flow).

The skilled person can infer from Figure 5 which combination of gap ratio G and rotational Reynolds number Rer leads to laminar or turbulent flow across the circular discshaped elements. The dashed arrow in Figure 5 shows for example the development of flow behaviour for a typical gap ratio of (7=0.016 when the angular velocity of the rotating discs is increased, such as during start-up of the reactor. Hence, for a given gap ratio G, kinematic viscosity v and disc radius Rd, the angular velocity ω required to obtain turbulent flow can be calculated.

In an embodiment the first cavity, or the most upstream cavity in case the housing comprises more than one cavity, has one fluid inlet. Different reactants may be premixed and provided into the first cavity or into the most upstream cavity through the single fluid inlet.

In case the single cavity, or the most upstream cavity in case the housing comprises more than one cavity, has two or more fluid inlets, one of these fluid inlets is preferably centred at the axis of rotation of the circular disc-shaped element provided in said cavity while the remaining fluid inlets are positioned a distance away from the axis of rotation in radial direction. When such a configuration is used, a second or further reactant fed via the one or more remaining fluid inlets mixes with the bulk of the first reactant already present between and substantially filling the gap between the cavity wall and the circular disc-shaped element. In order to realize optimal mixing of the first and further reactant(s), it may be important that the flow of the first reactant across the circular disc-shaped element at the distance away from the axis of rotation in radial direction where the further inlet of the second reactant is positioned behaves ideally mixed. For a given radius Rd [m] of the circular discshaped element, gap h [m] between the wall of the cavity and the circular disc-shaped element, angular velocity ω [rad/s] of the one or more circular disc-shaped elements and kinematic viscosity v [m2/s] of the fluid reactants, the skilled person can determine at which radius r from the axis of rotation of the circular disc-shaped elements plug-flow alters into ideally-mixed flow. In this respect, reference is made to figure 4 and paragraph 3.1. of M.M. de Beer et al., Single phase fluid-stator heat transfer in a rotor-stator spinning disc reactor, Chem. Eng. Sci., 119 (2014), pp 88-98, and to Figure 6 of the present invention. Figure 6 shows a diagram from which the flow behaviour at a radius rpFR [m] from the axis of rotation of the circular disc-shaped element, plug flow or ideally-mixed flow, can be inferred from the superimposed dimensionless throughflow rate Cw, defined as 0\rvl-R])', wherein Φν [m3/s] is the volumetric flow rate, and the rotational Reynolds number Rer [-], which is defined as ω·/?ΐ)2·ν-1, for different values of the gap ratio G [-], defined as the gap h [m] between the wall of the cavity and the circular disc-shaped element divided by the radius Ro [-] of the circular disc-shaped element. At a radius r above rpFR the flow is ideally mixed, while at a radius r below rpFR plug flow takes place.

The angular velocity roof the one or more circular disc-shaped elements can typically be varied between 0 and 900 rad/s. The preferred angular velocity during operation depends on the radius Ro of the circular disc-shaped elements(s). During operation, the angular velocity ro of the one or more circular disc-shaped elements is preferably varied between 100 and 900 rad/s.

The pressure needed to force the fluid reactants through the fluid pathway through the reactor depends on the length of the fluid pathway, the curvature of or obstacles inside the fluid pathway and the viscosity of the reaction fluid. It is within the skills of the artisan to choose the right pump and pumping conditions to obtain a certain residence time of the fluid reactants in the reactor.

If a particular process requires extended residence time, the process may be carried out in a continuous manner with a reactor as defined hereinbefore having a plurality of discs, such as two disc, three discs, four discs, five discs, or more than five discs. Alternatively, at least part of the fluid reactants may be drawn off as product at the one or more outlets of the reactor as defined hereinbefore and at least part of the fluid reactants may be recycled for further conversion with one or more fresh reactants to one or more fluid inlets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 depicts a cross-section of a reactor according to the invention comprising a single circular disc-shaped element. The reactor (1) comprises a housing (2), made of SiC, defining a first cavity (3) having an upstream end (4) and a downstream end (5), said first cavity (3) having a fluid inlet (6) at the upstream end (4) for providing fluid into the cavity (3) and a fluid outlet (7) at the downstream end (5) for withdrawing fluid from the first cavity (3). A circular disc-shaped element (8), made of SiC, is provided in the cavity (3), said discshaped element (8) being rotatable within the cavity (3) around a rotation axis (9) pointing from the downstream end (5) to the upstream end (4) of the cavity (3) and comprising magnets (10) for driving rotation of the circular disc-shaped element (8) by magnetic forces (11) from outside the housing (2). The reactor (1) further comprises a second fluid inlet (6’) positioned a distance away from the axis of rotation in radial direction for providing fluid into the cavity (3).

The circular disc-shaped element (8) comprises a stub axle (12) pointing in upstream direction and a stub axle (12) pointing in downstream direction, both centred around the axis of rotation (9). Moreover, the circular disc-shaped element (8) comprises an edge (13) around both stub axles (12) pointing in upstream direction and in downstream direction. The fluid inlets (6) and (6’), the gap between the wall of the cavity (3) and the disc-shaped element (8) and the fluid outlet (7) define a fluid pathway through the reactor.

The housing (2) and the circular disc-shaped element (8), in operation, define an axial fluid bearing (14) and a radial fluid bearing (15) between the circular disc-shaped element (8) and the wall of the cavity (3).

In Figure 1, the gap between the wall of the cavity (3) and the disc-shaped element (8) is smaller in the axial fluid bearing (14) and the radial fluid bearing (15) than in the remaining part of the gap.

Figure 1 further depicts a motor (16) connected via a shaft (17) to a driving disc (18) being rotatable around rotation axis (9). Motor (16), shaft (17) and driving disc (18) are positioned outside of the housing (2). Said driving disc (18) also comprises magnets (19). If the motor (16), during operation, drives rotation of the driving disc (18), the magnetic forces (11) between magnets (10) and magnets (19) cause the circular disc-shaped element (8) to rotate around rotation axis (9) in cavity (3).

Figure 2 shows a close-up of the housing (2) and the circular disc-shaped element (8) at the place of the axial (14) and radial (15) fluid bearings. The wall of the housing (2) forming together with the circular disc-shaped element (8) cavity (3) comprises in the fluid bearing four grooves (20) in radial direction and four grooves (20) in axial direction. In Figure 2, every groove in radial direction forms together with a groove in axial direction one bigger groove (20). The close-up on the right-hand side is a close-up in the plane A.

Figure 3 depicts a cross-section of a reactor according to the invention comprising three circular disc-shaped elements. The reactor (1) comprises a housing (2), made of SiC, defining a first cavity (3a) having an upstream end (4a) and a downstream end (5a), said first cavity (3 a) having a fluid inlet (6a) at the upstream end (4a) for providing fluid into the first cavity (3a) and a fluid outlet (7a) at the downstream end (5a) for withdrawing fluid from the first cavity (3a). Likewise, the housing (2) comprises a second cavity (3b) and a third cavity (3c). The second and third cavities (3b, 3c) have an upstream end (4b, 4c) and a downstream end (5b, 5c), a fluid inlet (6b, 6c) at the upstream end (4b, 4c) for providing fluid into the cavities (3b, 3c) and a fluid outlet (7b, 7c) at the downstream end (5b, 5c) for withdrawing fluid from the cavities (3b, 3c). The fluid outlet (7a) of cavity (3a) at downstream end (5a) coincides with the fluid inlet (6b) of cavity (3b) at upstream end (4b). Likewise, fluid outlet (7b) of cavity (3b) at downstream end (5b) coincides with the fluid inlet (6c) of cavity (3c) at upstream end (4c).

Circular disc-shaped elements (8a, 8b, 8c), made of SiC, are provided in cavities (3 a, 3b, 3c), said disc-shaped elements (8a, 8b, 8c) being rotatable within the cavities (3a, 3b, 3c) around a single rotation axis (9) pointing from the downstream end (5 c) to the upstream end (4a).

The circular disc-shaped elements (8a, 8b, 8c) comprise a stub axle (12, number not indicated) pointing in upstream direction and a stub axle (12) pointing in downstream direction, both stub axles being centred around the axis of rotation (9), like in Figure 1. Moreover, the circular disc-shaped elements (8a, 8b, 8c) comprise an edge (13, number not indicated) around both stub axles (12) pointing in upstream direction and in downstream direction. The housing (2) and the circular disc-shaped elements (8a, 8b, 8c), in operation, define axial fluid bearings (14, number not indicated) and radial fluid bearings (15, number not indicated) between the circular disc-shaped elements (8a, 8b, 8c) and the wall of the respective cavities (3a, 3b, 3c).

Cavity (3c) comprises a radial fluid opening (7c’) for providing fluid into the cavity or for withdrawing fluid from the cavity.

Circular disc-shaped element (8a) comprises magnets (10) for driving rotation of the circular disc-shaped element (8a) by magnetic forces from outside the housing (2). Circular disc-shaped element (8 a) is mechanically coupled to circular disc-shaped element (8b) via a stick made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (21) positioned in and substantially filling the empty space formed by two opposite grooves applied in adjacent surfaces of the stub axle (12) of circular disc-shaped element (8a) pointing in downstream direction and the stub axle (12) of circular disc-shaped element (8b) pointing in upstream direction. Said grooves are centred at the axis of rotation (9) and are applied in the radial direction. Likewise, circular disc-shaped elements (8b) and (8c) are mechanically coupled via the stub axles and a stick made of PTFE. Hence, the circular disc-shaped elements (8a, 8b, 8c) cannot rotate independently around the axis of rotation (9). If magnetic forces are applied to drive rotation of circular disc-shaped element (8a), this causes circular disc-shaped element (8b) and (8c) to rotate around a rotation axis (9) as well.

Figure 4 depicts a simplified cross-section of the reactor of Figure 3 wherein some numbering has been omitted. The dashed lines show how the reactor can be composed of different modules (22, 23, 24) with O-rings (25) in between to make the reactor leak-tight.

The number of cavities and disc-shaped elements can be easily increased by increasing the number of modules (23).

Thus, the invention has been described by reference to certain embodiments discussed above. It will be recognized that these embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms well known to those of skill in the art.

Furthermore, for a proper understanding of this document and its claims, it is to be understood that the verb ‘to comprise’ and its conjugations are used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. In addition, reference to an element by the indefinite article ‘a’ or ‘an’ does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements. The indefinite article ‘a’ or ‘an’ thus usually means ‘at least one’.

All patent and literature references cited in the present specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Claims

1. Reactor welke omvat: a) een behuizing welke een eerste holte omvattende een stroomopwaarts uiteinde en een stroomafwaarts uiteinde definieert, waarin genoemde eerste holte ten minste één vloeistofingang aan het stroomopwaartse uiteinde voor toevoeren van vloeistof aan de eerste holte heeft en een vloeistofuitgang aan het stroomafwaartse uiteinde voor het afvoeren van vloeistof uit de eerste holte; b) een rond schijfvormig element geplaatst in de eerste holte, welk rond schijfvormig element roteerbaar is in de eerste holte rond een rotatieas welke wijst van het stroomafwaartse uiteinde in de richting van het stroomopwaartse uiteinde van de eerste holte, welke magneten omvat voor het aandrijven van rotatie van het ronde schijfvormige element door magnetische krachten van buiten de behuizing, waarin de behuizing en het ronde schijfvormige element, in gebruik, een radiaal vloeistoflager en een axiaal vloeistoflager definiëren tussen het ronde schijfvormige element en de wand van de eerste holte; en waarin er een vrije ruimte is tussen de wand van de eerste holte en het ronde schijfvormige element, welke een breedte heeft van tussen 1 en 2000 pm, zodat de ten minste één vloeistofingang, de vrije ruimte tussen de wand van de eerste holte en het ronde schijfvormige element en de vloeistofuitgang een vloeistoftraject door de reactor definiëren.A reactor comprising: a) a housing defining a first cavity comprising an upstream end and a downstream end, wherein said first cavity has at least one fluid inlet at the upstream end for supplying fluid to the first cavity and a fluid outlet to the downstream end for draining fluid from the first cavity; b) a round disk-shaped element disposed in the first cavity, which round disk-shaped element is rotatable in the first cavity about an axis of rotation pointing from the downstream end toward the upstream end of the first cavity, which comprises magnets for driving rotation of the round disk-shaped element by magnetic forces from outside the housing, wherein the housing and the round disk-shaped element, in use, define a radial fluid bearing and an axial fluid bearing between the round disk-shaped element and the wall of the first cavity; and wherein there is a free space between the wall of the first cavity and the round disc-shaped element, which has a width of between 1 and 2000 µm, so that the at least one fluid entrance, the free space between the wall of the first cavity and the round disk-shaped element and the fluid outlet define a fluid path through the reactor.

2. Reactor volgens conclusie 1, waarin de behuizing ten minste één additionele holte omvat en een additioneel rond schijfvormig element geplaatst in genoemde additionele holte, waarin elke additionele holte een vloeistofingang aan het stroomopwaartse uiteinde van genoemde additionele holte voor toevoeren van vloeistof aan de additionele holte heeft, en elke additionele holte een vloeistofuitgang aan het stroomafwaartse uiteinde van genoemde additionele holte voor het afVoeren van vloeistof uit de additionele holte, waarin genoemde additionele ronde schijfvormige elementen roteerbaar zijn in de corresponderende additionele holtes rond een rotatieas welke wijst van het stroomafwaartse uiteinde in de richting van het stroomopwaartse uiteinde van de additionele holte, waarin de behuizing en elk additioneel rond schijfvormige element, in gebruik, een radiaal vloeistoflager en een axiaal vloeistoflager definiëren tussen het additionele ronde schijfVormige element en de wand van de additionele holte; en waarin er een vrije ruimte is tussen de wand van elke additionele holte en elk daarin geplaatst additioneel rond schijfvormig element, welke een breedte heeft van tussen 1 en 2000 pm, en waarin de vloeistofuitgang van de holte stroomopwaarts van elke additionele holte verbonden is met de vloeistofingang van de additionele holte zodat de ten minste één vloeistofingang van de meest stroomopwaartse holte, de vrije ruimte tussen de wand van elke additionele holte en het ronde schijfVormige element daarin geplaats en de vloeistofuitgang van de meest stroomafwaartse holte een vloeistoftraject door de reactor definiëren, waarin i) elk additioneel rond schijfvormig element magneten omvat voor het aandrijven van rotatie van het additionele ronde schijfvormige element door magnetische krachten van buiten de behuizing, of ii) elk additioneel rond schijfvormig element mechanisch gekoppeld is aan een rond schijfvormig element welke magneten omvat, of iii) een combinatie van i) en ii).The reactor of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises at least one additional cavity and an additional round disc-shaped element disposed in said additional cavity, wherein each additional cavity has a fluid inlet at the upstream end of said additional cavity for supplying fluid to the additional cavity and each additional cavity has a fluid exit at the downstream end of said additional cavity for discharging fluid from the additional cavity, wherein said additional round disc-shaped elements are rotatable in the corresponding additional cavities about an axis of rotation pointing from the downstream end into the direction of the upstream end of the additional cavity, in which the housing and each additional round disc-shaped element, in use, define a radial fluid bearing and an axial fluid bearing between the additional round disc-shaped element and the wall of the additive hollow cavity; and wherein there is a free space between the wall of each additional cavity and any additional round disc-shaped element disposed therein, which has a width of between 1 and 2000 µm, and wherein the fluid exit from the cavity upstream of each additional cavity is connected to the liquid inlet of the additional cavity such that the at least one liquid entrance of the most upstream cavity, the free space between the wall of each additional cavity and the round disk-shaped element placed therein and the liquid outlet of the most downstream cavity define a liquid path through the reactor, wherein i) each additional round disc-shaped element comprises magnets for driving rotation of the additional round disc-shaped element by magnetic forces from outside the housing, or ii) each additional round disc-shaped element is mechanically coupled to a round disc-shaped element which comprises magnets, or iii ) a combination of i) and ii).

3. Reactor volgens conclusie 2, waarin de rotatieassen van alle ronde schijfvormige elementen samenvallen.The reactor of claim 2, wherein the rotational axes of all round disc-shaped elements coincide.

4. Reactor volgens conclusie 2 of 3, waarin de ronde schijfvormige elementen mechanisch gekoppeld zijn zodat ze niet onafhankelijk van elkaar kunnen bewegen.Reactor according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the round disc-shaped elements are mechanically coupled so that they cannot move independently of each other.

5. Reactor volgens één van de conclusies 1-4, waarin elk van de één of meer ronde schijfvormige elementen een asstomp omvat welke in stroomopwaartse richting wijst en een asstomp welke in stroomafwaartse richting wijst waardoor een axiaal vloeistoflager gedefinieerd wordt en waarin genoemde asstompen gecentreerd zijn op de rotatieas.A reactor according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein each of the one or more round disc-shaped elements comprises an axle stub pointing in upstream direction and an axle stump pointing in downstream direction whereby an axial fluid bearing is defined and wherein said axle stumps are centered on the axis of rotation.

6. Reactor volgens conclusie 5, verder omvattende een kraag rond elke asstomp welke een radiaal vloeistoflager definieert.The reactor of claim 5, further comprising a collar around each axle stub which defines a radial fluid bearing.

7. Reactor volgens conclusie 5 of 6, waarin de ronde schijfVormige elementen mechanisch gekoppeld zijn via een staafje dat gepositioneerd is in en dat de lege ruimte gevormd door twee tegenover elkaar liggende groeven aangebracht in de aanliggende oppervlakken van de asstomp van een rond schijfvormig element die in stroomafwaartse richting wijst en van de asstomp van een rond schijfVormig element die in stroomopwaartse richting wijst vrijwel vult, waarin genoemde groeven gecentreerd zijn op de rotatieas en toegepast zijn in radiale richting.A reactor according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the round disc-shaped elements are mechanically coupled via a rod positioned in and the void formed by two opposite grooves arranged in the adjacent surfaces of the shaft stub of a round disc-shaped element which downstream direction and substantially fills the shaft stub of a round disc-shaped element pointing upstream, wherein said grooves are centered on the axis of rotation and applied in radial direction.

8. Reactor volgens één van de conclusies 1-7, waarin de één of meer ronde schijfvormige elementen en de wand van de één of meer holtes gemaakt zijn van keramisch materiaal.The reactor according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the one or more round disc-shaped elements and the wall of the one or more cavities are made of ceramic material.

9. Reactor volgens conclusie 8, waarin het keramische materiaal silicium carbide (SiC) is.The reactor of claim 8, wherein the ceramic material is silicon carbide (SiC).

10. Reactor volgens één van de conclusies 1-9, waarin het aantal vloeistofingangen van de eerste holte of van de meest stroomopwaartse holte twee of meer is.The reactor of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the number of fluid inputs of the first cavity or of the most upstream cavity is two or more.

11. Reactor volgens één van de conclusies 1-10, waarin de vrije ruimte tussen de wand van de één of meer holtes en de één of meer ronde schijfvormige elementen daarin een breedte heeft van tussen 1 en 1500 pm, bij voorkeur tussen 1 en 1000 μηι, bij sterkere voorkeur tussen 1 en 500 μηι, bij nog sterkere voorkeur tussen 1 en 400 μηι.Reactor according to any of claims 1-10, wherein the free space between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more round disc-shaped elements therein has a width of between 1 and 1500 µm, preferably between 1 and 1000 μηι, more preferably between 1 and 500 μηι, even more preferably between 1 and 400 μηι.

12. Reactor volgens één van de conclusies 1-11, waarin de breedte van de vrije ruimte tussen de wand van de één of meer holtes en de één of meer schijfvormige elementen daarin in het axiale en/of radiale vloeistoflager tussen 1 en 20 μηι is, bij voorkeur tussen 3 en 15 μηι, bij sterkere voorkeur tussen 5 en 10 μηι.A reactor according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein the width of the free space between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more disc-shaped elements therein in the axial and / or radial fluid bearing is between 1 and 20 μηι , preferably between 3 and 15 μηι, more preferably between 5 and 10 μηι.

13. Reactor volgens één van de conclusies 1 - 12, waarin de vrije ruimte tussen de wand van de één of meer holtes en de één of meer ronde schijfvormige elementen kleiner is in het axiale vloeistoflager en in het radiale vloeistoflager dan in het resterende deel van de vrije ruimte, en waarin de wand van de holte in het radiale vloeistoflager twee of meer groeven in radiale richting omvat en/of waarin het axiale vloeistoflager twee of meer groeven in axiale richting omvat.The reactor according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the free space between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more round disc-shaped elements is smaller in the axial fluid bearing and in the radial fluid bearing than in the remaining part of the free space, and in which the wall of the cavity in the radial fluid bearing comprises two or more grooves in the radial direction and / or wherein the axial fluid bearing comprises two or more grooves in the axial direction.

14. Reactor volgens één van de conclusies 1-13, waarin de één of meer schijfvormige elementen aangedreven worden door een motor buiten de behuizing welke verbonden is via een aandrijfas met een aandrijfschijf buiten de behuizing welke kan roteren rond een rotatieas die samenvalt met de rotatieas van de één of meer schijfvormige elementen, waarin de aandrijfschijf één of meer magneten bevat.A reactor according to any of claims 1-13, wherein the one or more disc-shaped elements are driven by a motor outside the housing which is connected via a drive shaft to a drive disc outside the housing which can rotate about a rotation axis coinciding with the rotation axis of the one or more disc-shaped elements, wherein the drive disc comprises one or more magnets.

15. Reactor volgens één van de conclusies 2-14, waarin de behuizing ten minste twee additionele holtes met additionele ronde schijfvormige elementen daarin omvat, en waarin de reactor verschillende modules omvat welke in axiale richting stapelbaar zijn met O-ringen daartussen welke de reactor lekdicht maken.Reactor according to any of claims 2-14, wherein the housing comprises at least two additional cavities with additional round disc-shaped elements therein, and wherein the reactor comprises several modules that can be stacked in axial direction with O-rings between which the reactor is leak-tight to make.

16. Reactor volgens één van de conclusies 1-15, waarin de hoeksnelheid van de één of meer ronde schijfvormige elementen gevarieerd kan worden tussen 0 en 900 rad/s.The reactor according to any of claims 1-15, wherein the angular velocity of the one or more round disc-shaped elements can be varied between 0 and 900 rad / s.

17. Reactor volgens één van de conclusies 1-16, welke verder één of meer verwarmings-of koelelementen in het lichaam van de behuizing omvat.The reactor of any one of claims 1-16, further comprising one or more heating or cooling elements in the body of the housing.

18. Reactor volgens conclusie 17, waarin een verwarmings- en/of koelelement een holte aanliggend aan het vloeistoftraject door de reactor omvat welke holte voorzien is van een rond schijfvormig element daarin, waarin genoemd rond schijfvormig element magneten omvat voor het aandrijven van rotatie om de rotatieas door magnetische krachten van buiten de behuizing.A reactor according to claim 17, wherein a heating and / or cooling element comprises a cavity adjacent the fluid path through the reactor, which cavity is provided with a round disc-shaped element therein, wherein said round disc-shaped element comprises magnets for driving rotation about the axis of rotation due to magnetic forces from outside the housing.

19. Werkwijze voor het vervaardigen van een product in een reactor volgens één van de conclusies 1-18, welke werkwijze de volgende stappen omvat: a) toevoeren van twee of meer vloeibare reactanten aan de ten minste één vloeistofïngang van de eerste of de meest stroomopwaartse holte; b) forceren van de aldus gevormde reactievloeistof door de vrije ruimte tussen de wand van de één of meer holtes en de één of meer corresponderende ronde schijfVormige elementen door het toepassen van druk terwijl de schijfVormige elementen roteren teneinde een reactievloeistof te produceren welke het product omvat; c) afVoeren van de reactievloeistof welke het product omvat uit de vloeistofuitgang van de meest stroomafwaartse holte.A method of manufacturing a product in a reactor according to any of claims 1-18, which method comprises the steps of: a) supplying two or more liquid reactants to the at least one liquid inlet of the first or the most upstream cavity; b) forcing the reaction liquid thus formed through the free space between the wall of the one or more cavities and the one or more corresponding round disc-shaped elements by applying pressure while the disc-shaped elements rotate to produce a reaction liquid comprising the product; c) Discharging the reaction liquid comprising the product from the liquid outlet of the most downstream cavity.

20. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 19, waarin elke reactant via een separate ingang aan de reactor wordt toegevoerd.The method of claim 19, wherein each reactant is supplied to the reactor via a separate inlet.

21. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 19 of 20, waarin ten minste een deel van het product dat afgevoerd wordt uit de vloeistofuitgang van de meest stroomafwaartse holte gerecycled wordt voor verdere omzetting, optioneel met één of meerdere verse reactanten, naar een vloeistofïngang van de meest stroomopwaartse holte.A method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein at least a portion of the product discharged from the fluid outlet of the most downstream cavity is recycled for further conversion, optionally with one or more fresh reactants, to a fluid inlet of the most upstream cavity .

22. Werkwijze volgens één van de conclusies 19 - 21, waarin de één of meer schijfvormige elementen roteren met een hoeksnelheid tussen 10 en 900 rad/s.The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the one or more disc-shaped elements rotate at an angular velocity between 10 and 900 rad / s.