Energy recovery system for saturated activated carbon regeneration
By integrating waste heat collection, energy capture and conversion into an energy recovery system, the problems of energy waste and incomplete recovery in the regeneration of saturated activated carbon are solved, achieving efficient energy utilization and stable supply, and reducing production costs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511079100.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-02
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-28
AI Technical Summary
Existing saturated activated carbon regeneration technology suffers from serious energy waste and imperfect recovery technology, resulting in low energy utilization and high production costs. Existing waste heat recovery devices have complex structures and cannot effectively capture latent heat and other forms of energy.
An energy harvesting system is adopted, including a waste heat harvesting component and an adsorbate desorption energy capture device, combined with a thermal-to-electrical energy conversion module and an energy storage and redistribution system. Waste heat is collected through a heat exchanger, energy fluctuations are captured using piezoelectric or thermoelectric materials, and converted into electrical energy through an organic Rankine cycle system. The electrical energy is then stored in a lithium-ion battery and distributed according to demand.
It improves energy utilization by 30% - 50%, reduces energy consumption and production costs, realizes the recovery and stable supply of multiple forms of energy, and ensures the continuity and stability of the regeneration process.
Smart Images
Figure CN120854731A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of activated carbon regeneration technology, and in particular to an energy recovery system for the regeneration of saturated activated carbon. Background Technology
[0002] In the field of saturated activated carbon regeneration, current mainstream regeneration technologies, such as thermal regeneration and electrochemical regeneration, involve significant energy consumption. Thermal regeneration heats saturated activated carbon to a certain temperature in a high-temperature furnace, causing adsorbate desorption. During this process, a large amount of heat energy is used to raise the temperature of the activated carbon and the reaction environment; however, most of this heat energy is wasted after regeneration through exhaust gas or equipment heat dissipation. Electrochemical regeneration uses an electric field to separate adsorbate from the activated carbon. The electrical energy consumed in this process, besides being used in the regeneration reaction, is not effectively recovered. While some attempts have been made to recover energy, such as adding simple waste heat recovery devices to thermal regeneration equipment, the recovery efficiency is low, and only a small portion of the sensible heat can be recovered. Effective solutions are still lacking for the latent heat generated during the reaction and other forms of energy waste. Currently, existing energy recovery technologies for saturated activated carbon regeneration have the following shortcomings: 1. Serious energy waste: In existing saturated activated carbon regeneration technologies, a large amount of energy is released into the environment without being fully utilized after the regeneration process, resulting in low energy efficiency, increased production costs, and is not in line with the concept of sustainable development. For example, in the thermal regeneration method, most of the large amount of heat energy consumed by the high-temperature furnace is lost during the cooling stage. 2. Imperfect recovery technology: Existing energy recovery attempts, such as simple waste heat recovery devices, can only recover a limited amount of sensible heat. They cannot effectively capture and convert the latent heat generated during adsorbate desorption and other complex energy forms. Moreover, these recovery devices are often complex in structure and have high maintenance costs, which further limits their widespread application.
[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to design an energy recovery system for the regeneration of saturated activated carbon to improve the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the Invention
[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present invention aims to provide an energy recovery system for the regeneration of saturated activated carbon, thereby solving the problems of severe energy waste and imperfect recovery technology in the energy recovery of saturated activated carbon under existing technologies.
[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution: An energy recovery system for the regeneration of saturated activated carbon includes: An energy harvesting system, comprising a waste heat harvesting component and an adsorbate desorption energy capture device, wherein the waste heat harvesting component is used to collect waste heat from the exhaust gas of the thermal regeneration furnace, and the adsorbate desorption energy capture device is used to capture energy fluctuations generated during the adsorbate desorption process. An energy conversion system, comprising a thermal-to-electrical energy conversion module, wherein the thermal-to-electrical energy conversion module is used to convert waste heat collected by the energy harvesting system into electrical energy; An energy storage and redistribution system, comprising a battery energy storage unit and an energy redistribution controller, wherein the battery energy storage unit is used to store converted electrical energy, and the energy redistribution controller is used to distribute the stored electrical energy.
[0006] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the waste heat collection component is a heat exchanger installed on the exhaust gas duct of the thermal regeneration furnace. The heat exchanger is equipped with a circulating cooling medium, and the high-temperature waste gas in the exhaust gas duct of the thermal regeneration furnace transfers heat with the circulating cooling medium.
[0007] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adsorbate desorption energy capture device is a sensing device installed near the activated carbon regeneration reaction zone.
[0008] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sensing device is a piezoelectric material.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sensing device is a thermoelectric material.
[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heat-to-electricity conversion module adopts an organic Rankine cycle system. The organic Rankine cycle system consists of an evaporator, a steam turbine, a condenser, and a working fluid pump. The evaporator contains a boiling point organic working fluid. The heat carried by the circulating cooling medium heats the low-boiling point organic working fluid in the evaporator, causing the low-boiling point organic working fluid to vaporize and expand into a gaseous organic working fluid, which drives the steam turbine to rotate. The output end of the steam turbine is connected to a generator to generate electricity. The gaseous organic working fluid is cooled and liquefied in the condenser and then transported back to the evaporator by the working fluid pump.
[0011] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: This invention improves the energy utilization rate of saturated activated carbon regeneration by 30%-50% through comprehensive energy harvesting, efficient conversion, and rational storage and redistribution, significantly reducing energy consumption and production costs. It not only recovers traditional waste heat but also captures and utilizes various energy forms generated during adsorbate desorption, solving the problem of single-form energy recovery in the past. In this invention, all components work collaboratively, and the energy storage unit provides stable energy support when the energy demand of the saturated activated carbon regeneration equipment fluctuates, ensuring the continuity and stability of the regeneration process and reducing the impact of unstable energy supply on the activated carbon regeneration effect. This invention has the advantages of improved energy utilization rate, multi-form energy recovery, and high system stability. Attached Figure Description
[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the specification, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and enable those skilled in the art to practice and use the invention.
[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the workflow of an energy recovery system used in the regeneration of saturated activated carbon. Detailed Implementation
[0014] To make the technical problems solved by the present invention, the technical solutions adopted, and the technical effects achieved clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0015] Example: Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides an energy recovery system for the regeneration of saturated activated carbon, including an energy harvesting system, an energy conversion system, and an energy storage and redistribution system.
[0016] In this embodiment, the energy harvesting system includes a waste heat harvesting component and an adsorbate desorption energy capture device. The energy harvesting system is used to collect waste heat from the exhaust gas of the thermal regeneration furnace. The thermal regeneration furnace is a device in a saturated activated carbon regeneration equipment, which is existing technology and will not be described in detail here. The waste heat harvesting component is a heat exchanger installed on the exhaust gas discharge pipe of the thermal regeneration furnace. A circulating cooling medium is installed inside the heat exchanger. The high-temperature exhaust gas in the exhaust gas discharge pipe of the thermal regeneration furnace transfers heat with the circulating cooling medium. The heat exchanger adopts a finned tube structure to increase the contact area with the exhaust gas and improve the heat exchange efficiency. Its function is to transfer the heat in the high-temperature exhaust gas to the circulating cooling medium (such as water or heat transfer oil) to achieve the initial collection of waste heat from the exhaust gas.
[0017] The adsorbate desorption energy capture device is a sensing device installed near the activated carbon regeneration reaction zone. This device is used to capture the energy fluctuations generated during the adsorbate desorption process. The sensing device can be made of piezoelectric material, which converts the tiny mechanical vibrations generated during the desorption process into electrical energy. Alternatively, the sensing device can be made of thermoelectric material, which directly converts the heat energy generated by temperature changes into electrical energy. In this embodiment, the sensing device can also be any other device capable of converting energy fluctuations into electrical energy. In practical applications, the appropriate device can be selected based on the specific requirements.
[0018] In this embodiment, the energy conversion system includes a thermal-to-electrical conversion module. The thermal-to-electrical conversion module adopts an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system to convert the waste heat collected by the energy harvesting system into electrical energy. The ORC system consists of an evaporator, a steam turbine, a condenser, and a working fluid pump. The evaporator contains a boiling point organic working fluid. The heat carried by the circulating cooling medium heats the low-boiling point organic working fluid in the evaporator, causing the low-boiling point organic working fluid to vaporize and expand into a gaseous organic working fluid, which drives the steam turbine to rotate. The output end of the steam turbine is connected to a generator to generate electricity. The gaseous organic working fluid is cooled and liquefied in the condenser and then transported back to the evaporator by the working fluid pump to complete the cycle.
[0019] In this embodiment, the energy conversion system also includes the integration and conversion of other forms of energy. The electrical energy generated by the adsorbate desorption energy capture device and other forms of energy (such as a small amount of mechanical energy) are collected by the energy integration circuit, and then the DC-AC converter is used to convert the direct current into alternating current for easy subsequent storage and use.
[0020] In this embodiment, the energy storage and redistribution system includes a battery energy storage unit and an energy redistribution controller. The battery energy storage unit uses a high-performance lithium-ion battery pack as the energy storage device to store the converted electrical energy. The battery management system (BMS) monitors parameters such as battery voltage, current, and temperature in real time to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the battery. The energy redistribution controller intelligently controls the distribution of stored energy according to the energy demand of the saturated activated carbon regeneration equipment and other surrounding equipment. For example, when the saturated activated carbon regeneration equipment starts up next time, the stored electrical energy is used first to preheat the equipment, reducing the consumption of external energy. Excess electrical energy can also be distributed to other electrical equipment in the wastewater treatment plant to achieve optimized energy utilization.
[0021] The operation of the energy recovery system used in the regeneration of saturated activated carbon includes the following three stages: Energy harvesting stage: When the high-temperature exhaust gas discharged from the thermal regeneration furnace passes through the heat exchanger, the heat of the exhaust gas is transferred to the circulating cooling medium, which raises the temperature of the circulating cooling medium and realizes waste heat harvesting. At the same time, the adsorbate desorption energy capture device starts to work, and piezoelectric materials or thermoelectric materials convert the energy in the desorption process into electrical energy or other harvestable energy forms. Energy conversion stage: The heated cooling medium enters the evaporator of the organic Rankine cycle system, heating the low-boiling-point organic working fluid to vaporize it. The vaporized organic working fluid drives the turbine to rotate, and the turbine drives the generator to generate electricity, completing the conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy. In this process, there are other energy integration and conversion: the electrical energy generated by the adsorbate desorption energy capture device and other forms of energy are collected by the energy integration circuit and converted into alternating current by the DC-AC converter, so as to facilitate the combination and processing of other electrical energy.
[0022] Energy storage and redistribution stage: The converted AC power is delivered to the battery energy storage unit for storage. The battery management system ensures that the battery is charged in the best condition. The energy redistribution controller distributes the electrical energy stored in the battery to the saturated activated carbon regeneration equipment or other equipment that needs energy according to the energy demand signal of the equipment, so as to achieve efficient use of energy.
[0023] This invention improves the energy utilization rate of saturated activated carbon regeneration by 30%-50% through comprehensive energy harvesting, efficient conversion, and rational storage and redistribution, significantly reducing energy consumption and production costs. It not only recovers traditional waste heat but also captures and utilizes various energy forms generated during adsorbate desorption, solving the problem of single-form energy recovery in the past. In this invention, all components work collaboratively, and the energy storage unit provides stable energy support when the energy demand of the saturated activated carbon regeneration equipment fluctuates, ensuring the continuity and stability of the regeneration process and reducing the impact of unstable energy supply on the activated carbon regeneration effect. This invention has the advantages of improved energy utilization rate, multi-form energy recovery, and high system stability.
[0024] The application scenarios of this invention for energy recovery systems in saturated activated carbon regeneration include, but are not limited to, the following fields: In the field of industrial waste gas purification: In industrial waste gas purification equipment, many adsorbents need to be regenerated after adsorption saturation. The energy recovery technology of this invention can be applied to the regeneration process of these adsorbents, realizing energy recovery and utilization, and reducing the cost of industrial waste gas treatment.
[0025] Air purification industry: The energy recovery technology of this invention is also applicable to the regeneration of saturated activated carbon filter elements in large-scale air purification systems. It can save energy and improve system operating efficiency while ensuring the filter element regeneration effect.
[0026] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. An energy recovery system for the regeneration of saturated activated carbon, characterized in that, include: An energy harvesting system, comprising a waste heat harvesting component and an adsorbate desorption energy capture device, wherein the waste heat harvesting component is used to collect waste heat from the exhaust gas of the thermal regeneration furnace, and the adsorbate desorption energy capture device is used to capture energy fluctuations generated during the adsorbate desorption process. An energy conversion system, comprising a thermal-to-electrical energy conversion module, wherein the thermal-to-electrical energy conversion module is used to convert waste heat collected by the energy harvesting system into electrical energy; An energy storage and redistribution system, comprising a battery energy storage unit and an energy redistribution controller, wherein the battery energy storage unit is used to store converted electrical energy, and the energy redistribution controller is used to distribute the stored electrical energy.
2. The energy recovery system for saturated activated carbon regeneration according to claim 1, characterized in that, The waste heat collection component is a heat exchanger installed on the exhaust gas duct of the thermal regeneration furnace. The heat exchanger is equipped with a circulating cooling medium, and the high-temperature waste gas in the exhaust gas duct of the thermal regeneration furnace transfers heat with the circulating cooling medium.
3. The energy recovery system for saturated activated carbon regeneration according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adsorbate desorption energy capture device is a sensing device installed near the activated carbon regeneration reaction zone.
4. The energy recovery system for saturated activated carbon regeneration according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sensing device is made of piezoelectric material.
5. An energy recovery system for saturated activated carbon regeneration according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sensing device is made of thermoelectric material.
6. An energy recovery system for saturated activated carbon regeneration according to claim 2, characterized in that, The heat-to-electricity conversion module adopts an organic Rankine cycle system, which consists of an evaporator, a steam turbine, a condenser, and a working fluid pump. The evaporator contains a boiling point organic working fluid. The heat carried by the circulating cooling medium heats the low-boiling point organic working fluid in the evaporator, causing the low-boiling point organic working fluid to vaporize and expand into a gaseous organic working fluid, which drives the steam turbine to rotate. The output end of the steam turbine is connected to a generator to generate electricity. The gaseous organic working fluid is cooled and liquefied in the condenser and then transported back to the evaporator by the working fluid pump.