MICROCHANNEL TECHNOLOGY HAVING STRUCTURES WITH REDUCED MATERIAL AND ENHANCED VOLUMETRIC PRODUCTIVITY

摘要

Novel designs for microchannel apparatus are described in which microchannels are shaped to reduce the amount of material needed to build an apparatus. In these designs, some microchannels are shaped, in cross-section, to provide relatively more structural material in areas of greatest stress, while leaving greater area for unit operations in areas of the apparatus that are subjected to relatively less stress.