MicroChemTec Backbone
 | The connection of microstructured components for chemical engineering is easily performed using a modular, flexibly extendable backbone system, which consists of single elements with 45 mm edge length. This backbone provides tubings for conducting fluids between the modules. In addition it allows the integration of heating or cooling fluids and comprises an electric and and communication bus system. |
 | The standard backbone element is a modular component itself. It comprises front plates, inlays and three different types of tubing, which can be flexibly inserted to provide all required fluid connections: -straight connector -elbow -T-piece Apart from these standard elements a variety of elements for special applications can be provided, such as: ceramic or PEEK elements for thermal decoupling of plant areas at different temperature level, optical transparent elements for spectroscopic online analytics, metal block elements for heat transfer using heating/cooling fluids. |
| The backbone allows both commercial and demonstration-type micro devices to be coupled in all three dimensions in a flexible and easy manner. A large range of volume flows is accessible using fluid lines of various diameters, thereby enabling operation in the 10 ml/h range for lab use and process optimisation up to several 100 l/h for pilot-plant operation. |  |
| Specifications of the backbone:Housing parts: stainless steel or aluminium Tubing: stainless steel or PEEK, Types: straight connector, elbow, T-piece Ø 1.5 mm (standard), 1 and 3 mm optional Seals: viton, graphite, steel C-profile Temperature: up to 300 °C Pressure: up to 100 bar Flow rates: 10 ml/h - 100 l/h Pitches: Backbone element 45 mm, fluid ports 9 mm (18 mm for standard inlet/outlet port) Seal furrow: Ø 6 mm, depth 0.27 mm (± 0.025 mm) Microreactors, mixers, heat exchangers, valves, micropumps etc. are attached to the backbone via standardized connectors. Sensors and electric components can be integrated in the backbone. The following figure shows a microplant comprising devices from different manufacturers coupled to the backbone. |  |
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