Reconfigurable chemical process systems
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for software-reconfigurable chemical process systems useful in a wide range of applications. Embodiments may include software control of internal processes, automated provisions for cleaning internal elements with solvents, provisions for clearing and drying gasses, and multitasking operation. In one family of embodiments, a flexible software-reconfigurable multipurpose reusable “Lab-on-a-Chip” or “embedded chemical processor” is realized that can facilitate a wide range of applications, instruments, and appliances. Through use of a general architecture, a single design can be economically manufactured in large scale and readily adapted to diverse specialized applications. Clearing and cleaning provisions may be used to facilitate reuse of the device, or may be used for decontamination prior to recycling or non-reclaimed disposal. In other embodiments, a flexible software-reconfigurable multipurpose reusable laboratory glassware setup may be realized, sparing talented laboratory staff from repetitive, complex, or low-level tasks occurring in analysis, synthesis, or small-scale chemical manufacturing.
1. A software-reconfigurable, computer-controlled chemical processing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a control system executing configuration and process operation software;
a plurality of chemical laboratory glassware elements each element comprising at least one chemical interface port;
a plurality of glass chemical transport elements, each transport element connected to at least one of the chemical laboratory glassware elements; and
a plurality of electrically-controlled glass stopcock valves comprising glass stopcock valve bodies and associated rotating shaft for rotation within each associated glass stopcock valve body, the associated rotating shaft mechanically coupled to a rotating servomotor actuator, the rotating servomotor actuator comprising a stepper-motor and rotation-angle-sensor unit, the rotating servomotor actuator electrically connected to the control system;
wherein the electrically-controlled glass stopcock valves and the glass chemical transport elements are arranged to form a chemical interconnection network that connects the plurality of the chemical laboratory glassware elements for processing of chemicals; and
wherein the apparatus is reconfigurable under the control of the configuration and process software; and
wherein the control system attains one of a plurality of distinct configurations by reconfiguring the chemical interconnection network.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the configuration and process operation software comprises software for controlling cleaning of the glassware elements, chemical transport elements, and stopcock valves with solvents.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the configuration and process operation software comprises software for controlling clearing the glassware elements, transport elements, and stopcock valves with a clearing gas.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the configuration and process operation software comprises software for controlling drying of the glassware elements, transport elements, and stopcock valves with a drying gas.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the configuration and process operation software allocates glassware elements, transport elements, and stopcock valves by executing software algorithms.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the configuration and process operation software simultaneously controls a plurality of independent chemical processes.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the configuration and process operation software controls chemical processing in real-time.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the configuration and process operation software configures the chemical interconnection network into one of a plurality of configurations to control the processing of chemicals for a unique application.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the glassware elements, transport elements, and stopcock valves comprise quick-fit glassware joints.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control system comprises at least one digital computer.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control system further comprises a plurality of processors arranged in a multi-level control system.
12. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the clearing of the glassware elements, transport elements, and stopcock valves is performed without disassembly.
13. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cleaning of the glassware elements, transport elements, and stopcock valves is performed without disassembly.
14. A flexible, reconfigurable, reusable laboratory apparatus comprising:
a control system executing configuration and process operation software;
a plurality of laboratory chemical glassware elements;
a plurality of laboratory chemical glassware transport elements;
a plurality of servo-controlled glass stopcock valves comprising glass stopcock valve bodies and associated rotating shaft for rotation within each associated glass stopcock valve body, the associated rotating shaft mechanically coupled to a rotating servomotor actuator, the rotating servomotor actuator comprising a stepper-motor and rotation-angle-sensor unit, the rotating servomotor actuator electrically connected to the control system;
wherein the plurality of chemical glassware elements, the plurality of laboratory transport elements, and the plurality of servo-controlled glass stopcock valves are connected together to form a chemical interconnection network and wherein the control system operates the servo-controlled valves to select at least one chemical path within the interconnection network to perform at least one chemical process from a plurality of chemical processes.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the apparatus is used for chemical analysis.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the apparatus is used for chemical synthesis.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the apparatus is used for small-scale chemical manufacturing.
18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the configuration and process operation software controls chemical processing.
19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the configuration and process operation software simultaneously controls a plurality of independent chemical processes.
20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the control system further comprises a plurality of processors arranged in a multi-level control system.