Miniaturization: Impact on Chemical Reactions and Mixing

This lecture discusses the principles of miniaturization in chemical engineering, focusing on the effects of mixing on chemical reactions. It begins by defining characteristic process times and process efficiency, emphasizing the importance of understanding how scale influences these parameters. The instructor explains the concept of reference time in various reactor types, including batch, semi-batch, and continuous reactors. The lecture highlights the significance of characteristic times for different phenomena, such as heat conduction and mass transfer, and how these times relate to reactor performance. The discussion includes opportunities for selective intensification of heat and mass transfer in smaller reactors, which can enhance reaction efficiency. The effects of segregation in mixing processes are also examined, illustrating how different mixing classes impact reaction rates and selectivity. The lecture concludes with practical examples and equations that demonstrate the relationship between reactor size, mixing efficiency, and overall process performance, providing insights into optimizing chemical reactions in miniaturized systems.