| At present, there are many problems existing in our | | | | increase efficiency of resources and energy utilization |
| chemical industry. For example, the equipment is too | | | | in various reaction processes. Thus, the intensification, |
| large; energy consumption is too much; environmental | | | | miniaturization and greening of chemical processes can |
| pollution is very serious; operating efficiency is relatively | | | | be realized. |
| low. It has been a great challenge for researchers to | | | | Because of the miniaturization of feature scale, the |
| solve all these problems. Fortunately, the successful | | | | development of micro-chemical technology not only |
| development and application of micro-chemical | | | | creates a great challenge in technology field, but also |
| technology has the probability to change present | | | | raises many new problems in the field of science. In |
| situation. Micro-chemical technology can change the | | | | the chemical system of micro-scale, the theories of |
| property, size, consumption amount of present | | | | the traditional momentum transport, energy transport, |
| chemical equipment. There are many exothermic | | | | quality transport and reaction engineering need to be |
| processes with strong reactions in chemical industry. | | | | innovated. In addition, many macro rules may be not |
| These processes have great danger of explosion. The | | | | suitable any more. Therefore, the basic studies on |
| application of micro-reaction technology can raise the | | | | things like surface effect and interface effect under |
| operation efficiency and improve the safety during the | | | | micro-scale are more important. At present, the studies |
| process. | | | | of micro-reaction system mainly focus on fields like |
| The constant renewal of information technology | | | | production process, energy and environment, drug |
| characterized by computers and the development of | | | | development and biological technology, etc. |
| Micro-electromechanical Systems put the concept of | | | | Actually, micro-reaction technology has attracted |
| "micromation" into people's jobs and daily life. After two | | | | developed countries like America since the beginning |
| development stages of unit operation and momentum | | | | of 1990s. Many countries have made research plans |
| transport, energy transport, quality transport and | | | | one after another to advance the utilization process of |
| reaction engineering, chemical engineering science has | | | | "micro-reaction technology". Many institutes have |
| gradually expanded to microscale field. | | | | already begun their research on micro-reaction |
| It is said that micro-chemical engineering and | | | | technology, such as Dalian Institute of Chemical |
| technology integrate the ideas of | | | | Physics. In 2000, researchers in Dalian Institute of |
| Micro-electromechanical Systems with basic principles | | | | Chemical Physics took the lead in doing such research |
| of chemistry and chemical industry together and mainly | | | | in our country. Now a complete research and |
| study the basic characteristics and rules of the | | | | development system has formed integrating |
| process of design, imitation, production and application | | | | technology platform of micromachining with the basic |
| of micro-model equipment in chemical industry when | | | | study and application of micro-chemical engineering |
| the space-time scale is under a few hundred microns | | | | and technology. |
| and microseconds. Compared with conventional | | | | It is estimated that micro-chemical technology will be |
| chemical equipment, micro-chemical equipment has | | | | applied successfully to present equipment upgrading, |
| many better properties of high transmission rate, high | | | | the integration of micro-reaction device and equipment |
| security and easy control, which can realize the | | | | in conventional process, micro hydrogen resources |
| constant operation and high integrative and flexible | | | | system and personal products in approaching five to |
| production. In addition, micro-reactive technology has | | | | ten years. |
| great ability of heat and mass transmission, which can | | | | |