Multi-channel parallel module temperature control system

Abstract

A modular reactor system comprises a backplane connected to a computer and a thermal control unit. The backplane includes a plurality of seats for releasably holding a plurality of modules. Each module holds a reactor vessel that may be used to conduct experiments. A plurality of laboratory instruments, such as motors, switches, sensors and pumps are included within the backplane and on the reactor modules. These laboratory instruments are utilized to perform work on the contents of the reactor vessels when the modules holding the reactor vessels are positioned in the backplane. A computer is connected to the backplane and controls the laboratory instruments within the backplane and on the reactor modules positioned within the backplane. A thermal control unit provides a thermal control fluid that is delivered to the reactors in the reactor modules when the modules are properly seated in the backplane.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for independently controlling the temperature of a plurality of reactor vessels within an apparatus comprising, 
 a plurality of reactor vessels,    a plurality of independently controllable reactor thermal control systems, each of the plurality of reactor thermal control systems associated with a respective one of the plurality of reactor vessels.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of reactor thermal control systems comprises a plurality of reactor chill fluid systems, and each of the plurality of reactor chill fluid systems is independently controllable to supply a variable amount of chill fluid to the reactor thermal control system.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , each of the plurality of reactor chill fluid systems further comprising, 
 a valve, the valve controllable to supply a variable amount of chill fluid to the reactor thermal control system.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein, 
 each of the plurality of reactor chill fluid systems is associated with a chill fluid supply manifold, and wherein,    the controllable valve of each of the plurality of reactor chill fluid systems affects the amount of chill fluid supplied to the reactor thermal control system from the chill fluid supply manifold.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of reactor chill fluid systems is associated with the same chill fluid supply manifold.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , the chill fluid supply manifold further comprising, 
 means for maintaining positive pressure within the chill fluid supply manifold.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the means for maintaining positive pressure comprises a back pressure control valve.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the means for maintaining positive pressure comprises a chill fluid pump with a variable output.  
     
     
         9 . A system for independently controlling the temperature of a plurality of reactor vessels within an apparatus comprising, 
 a plurality of reactor thermal control systems, each of the plurality of reactor thermal control systems in conductive contact with a respective one of the plurality of reactor vessels, each of the plurality of reactor thermal control systems comprising,    thermal control fluid in conductive contact with the reactor vessel,    a thermal control chamber for maintaining the thermal control fluid in conductive contact with the reactor vessel,    a thermal control fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the thermal control chamber,    a heat exchanger located within the thermal control fluid reservoir,    a reactor chill fluid system in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, and    a heat element in conductive contact with the thermal control fluid.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising 
 a variable speed thermal control fluid pump capable of taking a suction on the thermal control fluid reservoir and supplying thermal control fluid to the thermal control chamber.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the reactor chill fluid system is independently controllable to supply a variable amount of chill fluid.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , the reactor chill fluid system further comprising, a valve, the valve proportionally controllable to supply a variable amount of chill fluid.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the reactor chill fluid system is associated with a chill fluid supply manifold, and the valve of the reactor chill fluid system affects the amount of chill fluid supplied to the reactor chill fluid system from the chill fluid supply manifold.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the reactor chill fluid system of each of the plurality of reactor thermal control systems is associated with the same chill fluid supply manifold.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , the chill fluid supply manifold further comprising, 
 means for maintaining positive pressure within the chill fluid supply manifold.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the means for maintaining positive pressure comprises a back pressure control valve.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the means for maintaining positive pressure comprises a chill fluid pump with a variable output.  
     
     
         18 . A system for controlling the temperature of a reactor vessel comprising, 
 a reactor vessel, and    a controllable reactor chill fluid system associated with the reactor vessel, the controllable reactor chill fluid system controllable to supply a variable amount of chill fluid.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , the reactor chill fluid system further comprising, 
 a first valve, the first valve controllable to supply a variable amount of chill fluid.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein 
 the reactor chill fluid system is associated with a chill fluid supply manifold, and    the first valve of the reactor chill fluid system affects the amount of chill fluid supplied to the reactor chill fluid system from the chill fluid supply manifold.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , the chill fluid supply manifold further comprising, 
 means for maintaining positive pressure within the chill fluid supply manifold.    
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the means for maintaining positive pressure comprises a back pressure control valve.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the means for maintaining positive pressure comprises a chill fluid pump with a variable output.  
     
     
         24 . A system for independently controlling the temperature of a plurality of reactor vessels within an apparatus comprising, 
 a plurality of reactor vessels,    a plurality of thermal control systems, each of the plurality of thermal control systems in conductive contact with a respective one of the plurality of reactor vessels, and each of the plurality of thermal control systems independently capable of heating and cooling the respective reactor vessel.    
     
     
         25 . A method of independently controlling the temperature of a plurality of reactor vessels comprising the steps of, 
 providing a plurality of reactor vessels,    providing for each of the plurality of reactor vessels a reactor thermal control system, each reactor thermal control system comprising a first valve controllable to supply a variable amount of cooling to the reactor vessel, and    controlling the first valve in the open or shut direction to provide respectively more or less cooling to the reactor vessel.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising the step of, 
 determining that more or less cooling of the reactor vessel is needed.  
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of determining comprises the step of, 
 sensing one or more parameters from the set of parameters including time, temperature of the reactor vessel, pressure in the reactor vessel, torque on a stirrer in a reactor vessel, absence or presence of a vapor or gas in the reactor vessel, or temperature of an experimental solution in the reactor vessel.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the steps of 
 providing a cooling system with a cooling fluid supply manifold to supply cooling fluid to each of the reactor thermal control systems, the cooling system comprising a backpressure control valve, the back pressure control valve sized to maintain positive pressure within the cooling fluid supply manifold, and    controlling the back pressure control valve in a direction opposite the throttling of the first valve.