Source gas conduit having an adsorbent coating for adsorbing gases from a gas stream, and related methods

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus (100) and related methods having a source gas conduit (110) with an adsorbent coating (112) for adsorbing compounds from a gas stream (W). The apparatus (100) of the present disclosure includes a heat exchanger (120) having an interior configured to pass a heat exchange medium. A plurality of source gas conduits (110) are in thermal communication with the heat exchanger (120) and are configured to pass a gas stream (W). Each of the plurality of source gas conduits (110) is in thermal communication with the heat exchanger (120). The adsorbent coating (112) is on an interior sidewall (L) of each of the plurality of source gas conduits (110).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the adsorption of compounds from gases, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for using a source gas conduit having an adsorbent coating to adsorb one or more compounds from a gas stream. [Background technology]

[0002] A power generation system, also known as a power plant, typically includes a variety of different systems (e.g., turbomachinery, generators, and / or other interconnected assemblies) used to generate electrical power. A power generation plant may include a power source (e.g., turbomachinery, solar panels, nuclear reactor, etc.), a prime mover (e.g., a rotatable shaft or similar element) for coupling the power source to the generator, and / or various components of the generator. For example, a power generation system may include a gas turbine assembly having a compressor coupled to a gas turbine. The gas turbine may be coupled to and drive a generator mounted on the same shaft. The generator produces electrical power.

[0003] Gas exhaust from power generation systems, as well as other types of gas streams, can contain various gaseous compounds, e.g., emissions, that cannot be released and / or remain in the environment beyond certain limits. Various devices and / or materials have proven usable to reduce the concentration of emissions from gas streams. However, some types of emissions (e.g., greenhouse gases) have proven particularly difficult to remove from gas streams. Such difficulties can be exacerbated when it is difficult to create the reactive conditions necessary to extract such emissions due to temperature and / or other conditions typically present in structures for conveying the gas stream. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003 / 0202919 Summary of the Invention

[0005] All aspects, examples, and features described below can be combined in any way technically possible.

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure provides an apparatus that includes a heat exchanger having an interior configured to pass a heat exchange medium therethrough; a plurality of source gas conduits in thermal communication with the heat exchanger and configured to pass a gas stream therethrough, each of the plurality of source gas conduits in thermal communication with the heat exchanger; and an adsorbent coating on an interior sidewall of each of the plurality of source gas conduits.

[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, wherein the adsorbent coating adsorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) from the gas stream in the plurality of source gas conduits.

[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the aforementioned aspects, wherein the plurality of source gas conduits extend parallel to and surround the heat exchanger.

[0009] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the aforementioned aspects, wherein at least one of the plurality of source gas conduits does not contact the heat exchanger.

[0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the aforementioned aspects, wherein each of the plurality of source gas conduits has a honeycomb shape.

[0011] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the aforementioned aspects, wherein a diameter of the heat exchanger is greater than a separation distance between a pair of opposing sidewalls in each of the plurality of source gas conduits and less than a separation distance between a pair of opposing apexes in each of the plurality of source gas conduits.

[0012] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the above aspects, and further includes an additional heat exchanger adjacent to the plurality of source gas conduits and configured to pass a heat exchange medium therethrough, and a connecting passage fluidly coupling the heat exchanger to the additional heat exchanger.

[0013] One aspect of the present disclosure provides an apparatus including: a gas pathway for routing a gas stream from a power generation system to an external environment; a plurality of heat exchangers within the gas pathway, the plurality of heat exchangers having interiors configured to route a heat exchange medium; a plurality of source gas conduits within the gas pathway, the plurality of source gas conduits coupled to exteriors of one of the plurality of heat exchangers and configured to route the gas stream therethrough, each of the plurality of source gas conduits in thermal communication with at least one of the plurality of heat exchangers and extending substantially parallel to the plurality of heat exchangers; and a plurality of interior sidewalls within at least one of the plurality of source gas conduits (110), each of the plurality of interior sidewalls having an adsorbent coating thereon, the adsorbent coating configured to adsorb compounds from the gas stream.

[0014] Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the compound includes carbon dioxide (CO2).

[0015] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the aforementioned aspects, wherein at least one of the plurality of source gas conduits does not contact the plurality of heat exchangers.

[0016] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the above aspects, wherein the plurality of interior side walls form a honeycomb shape.

[0017] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the aforementioned aspects, wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of heat exchangers is greater than a separation distance between a pair of opposing sidewalls in each of the plurality of source gas conduits and less than a separation distance between a pair of opposing apexes in each of the plurality of source gas conduits.

[0018] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the above aspects, further including at least one connecting passage fluidly coupling two of the plurality of heat exchangers.

[0019] Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the ratio of source gas conduits to heat exchangers in the gas path is from about 1:1 to about 100:1.

[0020] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a method including: passing a heat exchange medium through an interior of a heat exchanger; and passing a gas stream through a plurality of source gas conduits in thermal communication with the heat exchanger, each of the plurality of source gas conduits being in thermal communication with the heat exchanger such that the heat exchange medium affects a temperature of an adsorbent coating in each of the plurality of source gas conduits, the passed gas stream reacting with the adsorbent coating in each of the plurality of source gas conduits to adsorb compounds from the gas stream.

[0021] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, further including passing a cold fluid through the heat exchanger so that the adsorbent coating adsorbs compounds from the gas stream, and passing a hot fluid through the heat exchanger to desorb the compounds from the adsorbent coating for extraction from the gas path.

[0022] Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the compound includes carbon dioxide (CO2).

[0023] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the above aspects, further including coupling one of the heating fluid supply or the cooling fluid supply to the heat exchanger.

[0024] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the aspects described above, further including coupling the plurality of source gas conduits to an exterior sidewall of the heat exchanger.

[0025] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the above aspects and further includes coupling a plurality of source gas conduits and a heat exchanger within a gas path from the power generation system.

[0026] Two or more aspects described in this disclosure, including those described in the Summary section, may be combined to form an embodiment not specifically described herein.

[0027] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will become apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

[0028] These and other features of the present disclosure will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a gas path of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 shows a perspective view of multiple source gas conduits in an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a plurality of source gas conduits and a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 shows an expanded perspective view of a plurality of source gas conduits and a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 1 illustrates a perspective view of a source gas conduit and multiple heat exchangers according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a heat exchanger provided in a source gas conduit according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 7] 10 illustrates an example of a 4:1 configuration of source gas conduits and heat exchangers according to further embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 10 illustrates an example of an 8:1 configuration of source gas conduits and heat exchangers according to further embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 10 illustrates an example of another 4:1 configuration of source gas conduits and heat exchangers according to additional embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 10]10 illustrates another exemplary configuration with more heat exchangers than the heat exchangers according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11A] 10A-10C illustrate various alternative configurations of the heat exchanger and source gas conduit according to further embodiments of the present disclosure; [Figure 11B] 10A-10C illustrate various alternative configurations of the heat exchanger and source gas conduit according to further embodiments of the present disclosure; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] It should be noted that the drawings of the present disclosure are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the present disclosure and therefore should not be considered limiting of the scope of the present disclosure. In the drawings, like reference numerals represent like elements between the drawings.

[0031] First, in order to clearly explain the subject matter of this disclosure, it is necessary to select specific terminology when referring to and describing relevant machine objects within an additive manufacturing system. Wherever possible, common industry terminology is used and utilized consistent with its accepted meaning. Unless otherwise noted, such terminology should be given a broad interpretation consistent with the context of this application and the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will understand that in many cases, a particular object may be referred to using several different or overlapping terms. What may be described herein as being a single part may include and be referred to in other contexts as consisting of multiple parts. Alternatively, what may be described herein as including multiple parts may be referred to elsewhere as a single part.

[0032] As noted below, certain descriptive terms may be used regularly herein: The terms "first," "second," and "third" may be used interchangeably to distinguish one object from another and are not intended to indicate the location or importance of the individual objects.

[0033] The terminology used herein is merely for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprise" and / or "comprising," as used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or objects, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, objects, and / or groups thereof. "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, or the subsequently described object or element may or may not be present, and that the description includes instances in which the event occurs or the object is present, as well as instances in which the event does not occur or is not present.

[0034] When an element or layer is referred to as "on," "engaged," "connected," or "coupled" to another element or layer, it can be directly on, engaged, connected, or coupled to the other element or layer, or there may be intervening elements or layers. Conversely, when an element is referred to as "directly on," "directly engaged," "directly connected," or "directly coupled" to another element or layer, there may not be intervening elements or layers. Other words used to describe relationships between elements should be interpreted similarly (e.g., "between" vs. "directly between," "adjacent" vs. "directly adjacent," etc.). As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0035] As described above, the present disclosure provides an apparatus and related methods having a source gas conduit with an adsorbent coating for adsorbing compounds from a gas stream (e.g., a gas stream, a volume of contacted air, etc.). More specifically, the apparatus can include a heat exchanger having an interior configured to pass a heat exchange medium. The heat exchanger includes a thermally conductive material. A plurality of source gas conduits are in thermal communication with the heat exchanger and are configured to pass a gas stream therethrough. Each of the plurality of source gas conduits is in thermal communication with the heat exchanger. An adsorbent coating is on an interior sidewall of each of the plurality of source gas conduits.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an apparatus 100 including a gas path 102 for delivering a gas stream W (e.g., from a power generation system) to an external environment (e.g., ambient space and / or other area external to the power generation component). The gas stream W can include any gas stream, including those generated by the operation of the power generation system and those unrelated to the operation of the power generation system. In some examples, the gas stream W can be gas produced from a power generation reaction (e.g., combustion of stack gases, exhaust gases, exhaust gases, etc. to power gas-driven turbomachinery and / or other power generation equipment) and / or other unrelated gases. In other gases, the gas stream W can be an air stream or can include gases produced from other sources (e.g., flue gas from a manufacturing plant). The gas stream W can include compounds such as reaction products of fuel and combustion air, as well as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides (NO ). XThe gas stream W may include residual materials such as sulphur dioxide (S), carbon monoxide (CO), and / or carbon dioxide (CO), as well as any particulates exhausted from the reaction zone. Reaction products in gas stream W of particular interest include, for example, carbonaceous emissions (e.g., carbon dioxide CO) and / or other gaseous products that must be controlled within applicable limits. However, gaseous products may be difficult to remove from gas stream W under typical operating conditions unless the temperature is adjusted to an acceptable level to promote reactions to remove the desired gases. Embodiments of apparatus 100 provide physical space to promote adsorption of gases from gas stream W while simultaneously controlling the temperature within gas path 102 to allow for continuous adsorption regardless of operating conditions.

[0037] Gas stream W may enter gas path 102 through inlet 104 (e.g., a space having predetermined dimensions appropriate for a corresponding power generation system) and may exit gas path 102 through outlet 106 connected to an external environment (e.g., ambient space and / or any other component external to the power generation system). Portions of apparatus 100 may also be adjacent to or fluidly coupled to heating fluid supply 108 and / or cooling fluid supply 109 external to gas path 102. The fluid supplies 108, 109 may provide a heat exchange medium for regulating the temperature within gas path 102, as described elsewhere herein. Gas path 102 between inlet 104 and outlet 106 may include and / or be subdivided into multiple source gas conduits 110. The term “source gas” refers to the composition of gas stream W as it enters gas path 102. Source gas, by this definition, includes compounds adsorbed via embodiments of apparatus 100. The term “release gas” refers to the composition of gas stream W as it exits gas path 102. The emitted gas differs from the source gas because it contains a significantly lower concentration of compounds of interest (e.g., CO or other substances described herein) due to these compounds being adsorbed by the apparatus 100. Each source gas conduit 110 can extend substantially parallel to the orientation of the gas path 102 between the inlet 104 and the outlet 106. Accordingly, the source gas conduits 110 can extend substantially parallel to one another. As discussed in more detail herein, the source gas conduits 110 can include an adsorbent coating 112 ( FIG. 3 ) that is physically exposed to the gas flow W as it passes from the inlet 104 through the gas path 102 to the outlet 106. As discussed herein, the adsorbent coating 112 can include a solid layer of an adsorbent material, catalyst, or the like configured to adsorb compounds, such as CO, from the gas stream. The source gas conduits 110 can be fabricated to be as thin as possible and can include one or more metals that can be formed and processed as thin sheets of material.According to one example, each source gas conduit 110 can be formed from a metal sheet having a thickness of up to about 40 micrometers (μm), such that the cross-sectional area of ​​the source gas conduit 110 (i.e., including the open space it surrounds) is between about 1.7% metal and about 5.9% metal. Each source gas conduit 110 can have any conceivable length; for example, they can extend through most of the gas path 102 and / or be subdivided into multiple source gas conduits 110 linearly spaced throughout the gas path 102.

[0038] Further details of the source gas conduits 110 are described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , which provide an expanded view of the source gas conduit bank 114 in the gas path 102. The source gas conduits 110 can have any desired cross-sectional shape to provide an open space for the gas flow W to pass through. According to various embodiments, the source gas conduits 110 can have any conceivable geometric shape, such as a circle, a triangle, a quadrilateral, and / or any polygon for enclosing an area. FIG. 2 illustrates each source gas conduit 110 in the conduit bank 114 as a hexagon, by way of example. A source gas conduit 110 may be adjacent to one or more other source gas conduits 110 of the same shape in the conduit bank 114, e.g., they are shaped and sized to fit together. In this example, the source gas conduits 110 in the source gas conduit bank 114 form a honeycomb-type pattern. Some portions of the source gas conduit bank 114 may not include source gas conduits 110, thus forming openings 116 in the source gas conduit bank 114. As described in further detail herein, the openings 116 provide open space between the source gas conduits 110 of the source gas conduit bank 114, for example, to accommodate a heat exchanger 120 (FIGS. 1, 3 et seq.) described herein.

[0039] 1 and 3 , a group of heat exchangers 120 may be provided in the apparatus 100 and extend throughout the source-gas conduit bank 114 in the gas path 102. Each heat exchanger 120 may comprise a thermally conductive material with sufficient strength, thickness, etc. to prevent a thermally conductive fluid (e.g., heating fluid, refrigerant, etc.) from physically mixing with the gas flow W as it passes through the source-gas conduit 110. The source-gas conduit 110 may be shaped and / or sufficiently thin in thickness to deform to fit the outer diameter of the heat exchanger 120 when the conduit 110 and the heat exchanger 120 have different geometries. In various examples, the heat exchanger 120 may comprise one or more metals suitable for use as a fluid and thermally conductive medium, such as aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), and / or other thermally conductive metals or alloys. The heat exchangers 120 may extend parallel to the source-gas conduits 110 in the source-gas conduit bank 114. The source gas conduits 110 may be bonded to the exterior of the heat exchanger 120 by, for example, brazing and / or other metallurgical bonding techniques to maintain thermal contact between adjacent conduits 110 and the heat exchanger 120. As shown in FIG. 1 and described in further detail herein, the heat exchanger 120 may change direction and therefore include one or more bends for multiple passes through the conduit bank 114. Some of the heat exchangers 120 in the gas path 102 may not be provided with a distributor and / or collector assembly to prevent significant pressure loss within the heat exchanger 120 as the heat exchange medium passes through. In other embodiments, the heat exchanger 120 may include distribution and / or collection manifolds in the gas path 102 located between groups of source gas conduits 110. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3 and described elsewhere herein, each heat exchanger 120 may be adjacent to multiple source gas conduits 110 and provide simultaneous heating or cooling to multiple source gas conduits 110 of the conduit bank 114.

[0040] Heat exchanger 120 may be coupled, for example, from exchange medium line 122 ( FIG. 1 only) to discharge line 124 ( FIG. 1 only) at different locations external to gas path 102 and / or heat exchanger 120. Lines 122, 124 may be the only distribution and collection mechanisms for heat exchanger 120 and may be located external to gas path 102 as described herein. Exchange medium line 122 may be supplied with one or more fluids having a higher temperature than gas stream W when gas stream W enters inlet 104 (i.e., if heating is desired) or one or more fluids having a lower temperature than gas stream W when gas stream W enters inlet 104 (i.e., if cooling is desired). To supply heat exchange medium to exchange medium line 122, apparatus 100 may include a heating fluid supply 108 and / or a cooling fluid supply 109 coupled to exchange medium line 122. Fluid supplies 108, 109 can be coupled to exchange medium line 122, for example, via one or more valves V for selectively supplying heat exchange medium at a desired temperature to exchange medium line 122. As shown, exchange medium line 122 can be alternately coupled to multiple separate fluid supplies 108 for heating or cooling fluids that can be selectively coupled to heat exchanger 120 using a control system including, for example, adjustable valves, a computing device, a mechanical coupling for selecting one or more valves (e.g., valve V) to open or close, etc. Additional fluid supplies 108, 109 can optionally be coupled to exchange medium line 122, as shown by dashed lines in FIG. 1 .

[0041] As the heat exchange medium travels through the heat exchanger 120 from the exchange medium line 122 to the discharge line 124, its temperature may change due to thermal communication with the gas stream W in the source gas conduit 110. Thus, the heat exchange medium may arrive at the discharge line 124 at a temperature different from its initial temperature in the exchange medium line 122. The discharge line 124 may be coupled to an external environment (e.g., the surroundings and / or other portions of a larger system requiring heating or cooling) depending on the function (i.e., heating or cooling) of the heat exchange medium being sent through the heat exchanger 120.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3 , a portion of the conduit bank 114 can include several source gas conduits 110 adjacent to one heat exchanger 120, e.g., the source gas conduits 110 are arranged circumferentially around the heat exchanger 120. Each source gas conduit 110 can include an interior sidewall L having an adsorbent coating 112 thereon. The adsorbent coating 112 can include, for example, one or more metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), amine-based solid coatings configured to adsorb carbon dioxide and / or similar compounds, zeolites, and / or any other currently known adsorbent material for capturing a gas of interest from the gas stream W. MOFs and / or zeolites may be particularly suitable for adsorbing CO from the gas stream W. However, the adsorbent coating 112 of each source gas conduit 110 may be unreactive with the gas stream W at the exhaust temperature as it passes through the inlet 104 of the gas path 102. To induce adsorption of gases from gas stream W, heat exchanger 120 can raise or lower the temperature of source gas conduit 110 to a desired temperature for adsorbent coating 112 to adsorb and thus remove particular gases from gas stream W. Compounds adsorbed to adsorbent coating 112 can then be desorbed for extraction from gas path 102. If adsorption of CO2 is desired, heat exchanger 120 can deliver a heat exchange medium at a temperature lower than the initial temperature of gas stream W as it passes through inlet 104. Thus, heat exchanger 120 is operable to lower the temperature of gas stream W in source gas conduit 110, thereby inducing adsorbent coating 112 (e.g., MOF, zeolite, etc.) to react with exhaust gas stream W and adsorb CO2. Although the adsorbent coating 112 is not explicitly shown on the source gas conduit 110 in other figures solely for clarity of illustration, any source gas conduit 110 of any configuration described herein can have an adsorbent coating 112 on its interior sidewalls.

[0043] To enhance thermal communication between the heat exchanger 120 and the source gas conduits 110, the heat exchanger 120 can be shaped according to various specifications. As shown in FIG. 3 , when the source gas conduits 110 of a conduit bank 114 form a substantially hexagonal “honeycomb” arrangement, each heat exchanger 120 can be directly adjacent to six source gas conduits 110. Additionally, the heat exchanger 120 may be in thermal communication with additional source gas conduits 110 that are not directly adjacent, as described herein. The heat exchanger 120 can be characterized by a diameter Δ that is greater than the separation distance α between opposing sidewalls L within each source gas conduit 110. However, the diameter Δ of the heat exchanger 120 can be smaller than the separation distance β between opposing vertices (i.e., the junctions between two sidewalls L) within each source gas conduit 110. The separation distances α and β relative to one another can be varied such that the separation distance β is equal to about 1.15 times the separation distance α, or are related by a similarly scalable factor. Applicant has determined that shaping the heat exchanger 120 in this manner significantly increases heat transfer to the immediately adjacent source gas conduits 110, as well as other source gas conduits 110 in the source gas conduit bank 114 that are not directly adjacent to the heat exchanger 120.

[0044] 4 and 5, where FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the conduit bank 114 (portions of which have been obscured for ease of illustration) and FIG. 5 illustrates an expanded view of the conduit bank 114, further aspects of the source-gas conduits 110 and heat exchanger 120 are discussed. As illustrated, some source-gas conduits 110 of the source-gas conduit bank 114 may not be in contact with the heat exchanger 120. Such source-gas conduits 110 may nevertheless be in thermal communication with the heat exchanger 120 through any intervening source-gas conduits 110, i.e., because the source-gas conduits 110 may be formed of a thermally conductive material, as described herein.

[0045] To reduce the number of source gas conduits 110 that do not contact a heat exchanger 120 and / or to improve thermal communication within the source gas conduit bank 114, one or more of the heat exchangers 120 may include return or connecting passages 126. The connecting passages 126 may include bends and / or other segments that extend non-perpendicularly to the source gas conduits 110, for example, to recirculate the heat exchange medium multiple times through the source gas conduit bank 114. The number of connecting passages 126 may depend on several factors, such as the maximum span of the heat exchanger 120 within the source gas conduit bank 114 and / or the gas path 102. Heat exchangers 120 joined via connecting passages 126 may be considered additional heat exchangers 120 and / or different portions of the same heat exchanger 120, depending on the circumstances and / or temperature differentials. In various embodiments, each heat exchanger 120 may pass through the source gas conduit bank 114 six or more times. In further embodiments, and / or in other portions of one source gas conduit bank 114, the other heat exchanger 120 may pass through the source gas conduit bank 114 only once, or any applicable number of times.

[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a source gas conduit bank 114 according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure. While the source gas conduits 110 and heat exchangers 120 have been discussed and illustrated as occupying different spaces within the source gas conduit bank 114 elsewhere herein, this is not necessarily required in all cases. Here, the heat exchangers 120 can occupy the spaces between the source gas conduits 110, i.e., the non-circular empty spaces shown in FIG. 6 . Here, the heat exchangers 120 may be in thermal communication with the exterior of the source gas conduits 110 or with each other through the exterior sidewalls of the source gas conduits 110. This arrangement may be particularly suitable when the heat exchangers 120 need to quickly adjust the temperature of the source gas conduits 110 within the source gas conduit bank 114. In yet another embodiment, the positions of the source gas conduits 110 and the heat exchangers 120 may be reversed so that the source gas conduits 110 occupy the spaces between adjacent heat exchangers 120.

[0047] 7 illustrates a further alternative to the honeycomb configuration shown in FIGS. 2-4, in which, for example, the ratio of source gas conduits 110 to heat exchangers is approximately 4:1 (e.g., in a honeycomb configuration) rather than the 6:1 ratio described above. These physical aspects of the source gas conduits 110 can be varied to adjust the ratio of source gas conduits 110 to heat exchangers 120 and / or the amount of cross-sectional area that the source gas conduits 110 and heat exchangers 120 occupy relative to each other. In this case, the source gas conduits 110 may be substantially octagonal, with only one sidewall of each source gas conduit 110 adjacent to the corresponding heat exchanger 120. With this arrangement, heat exchangers 120 may be omitted from the quadrilateral space between certain source gas conduits 110, while being present in this space elsewhere within the source gas conduit bank 114. The rectangular space not occupied by the heat exchanger 120 may or may not be a source gas conduit 110 having an adsorbent coating 112 .

[0048] FIG. 8 illustrates a further configuration of the conduit bank 114 that can be implemented in embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, the source gas conduits 110 and heat exchangers 120 within the conduit bank 114 can have an approximately 8:1 ratio. To accommodate this configuration, each conduit 110, 120 can optionally have the same or substantially similar cross-sectional area. Furthermore, the conduits 110 and heat exchangers 120 can be substantially square or other quadrilateral, such that each heat exchanger 120 is surrounded by a corresponding group of source gas conduits 110 (e.g., eight source gas conduits 110 as shown). The 8:1 configuration of the conduits 110 and heat exchangers 120 can be particularly useful when the temperature of the gas path 102 ( FIG. 1 ) is sufficiently high that only a small amount of heating or cooling is required via the heat exchanger 120.

[0049] 9 , another configuration of the conduit bank 114 can provide another adjustable ratio of source gas conduits 110 and heat exchangers 120, for example, 4:1. Here, the heat exchangers 120 can be quadrilateral (e.g., square) while the source gas conduits 110 can be substantially octagonal (non-regular octagonal). The heat exchangers 120 can be adjacent to four source gas conduits 110 on all four sides of the heat exchanger 120, while the source gas conduits 110 can be adjacent to other source gas conduits 110 on some sides and adjacent to the heat exchangers 120 on other sides. Furthermore, the source gas conduits 110 can have a larger cross-sectional area than the heat exchangers 120. The source gas conduits 110 in this case can pass more fluid than the adjacent heat exchangers 120. Compared to the above example shown in FIG. 7, the ratio of the size of the source gas conduit 110 to the size of the heat exchanger 120 can increase from the embodiment of FIG. 7 to FIG. 8 and then to FIG. 9, resulting in additional degrees of freedom in influencing heat transfer behavior. Embodiments of the present disclosure allow manufacturers to select a wide range of heat exchanger pattern ratios, for example, from about 1:1 to about 100:1. Because the heat exchanger 120 is surrounded by four source gas conduits 110, it can remain operable to simultaneously heat or cool multiple source gas conduits 110. In this situation, the ratio of source gas conduits 110 to heat exchangers 120 can be adjusted, for example, by providing additional heat exchangers 120 in other spaces between the source gas conduits 110, thereby reducing the ratio of source gas conduits 110 to heat exchangers 120. The conduit bank 114 embodiment as shown in FIG. 8 or a similar configuration may be particularly suitable for fine-tuning the heating or cooling of the source gas conduits 110, for example, by varying the number of heat exchangers 120 in the conduit bank 114 by including or omitting heat exchangers 120 in various locations.

[0050] 10 illustrates yet another configuration in which the heat exchangers 120 may have a smaller cross-sectional area than the source gas conduits 110, but the heat exchangers 120 outnumber the source gas conduits 110, for example, to further tailor the ratio of the space occupied by the source gas conduits 110 to the space occupied by the heat exchangers 120. In particular, FIG. 10 illustrates a configuration in which the ratio of source gas conduits 110 to heat exchangers 120 is about 4:5.

[0051] 11A and 11B illustrate various alternative configurations of the conduit bank 114, for example, to allow for varying ratios of source gas conduits 110 to heat exchangers 120. The illustrated embodiments are individually identified by reference letters A, B, C, D1, D2, D3, E, F, G, H1, H2, H3, I, J, K, L, M, N, and O. While the conduits 110 and heat exchangers 120 in each example are shown as having a honeycomb shape, this is not necessary. One or more of these exemplary configurations and / or other arrangements of conduits 110 and heat exchangers 120 can be implemented in the conduit bank 114 to provide different amounts of thermal conductivity between the conduits 110 and heat exchangers 120. Example A illustrates a ratio of source gas conduits 110 to heat exchangers 120 of approximately 2:1. Example B illustrates a ratio of source gas conduits 110 to heat exchangers 120 of approximately 3:1. Example C illustrates a source gas conduit 110 to heat exchanger 120 ratio of approximately 4:1, with the heat exchangers 120 arranged diagonally within the conduit bank 114. Examples D1-D3 illustrate various types of source gas conduit 110 to heat exchanger 120 ratios of approximately 5:1, where the heat exchangers 120 may be arranged in horizontally or vertically extending linear arrays (i.e., Examples D1 and D3) or may be uniformly distributed throughout the conduit bank 114 (i.e., Example D2). Examples E, F, and G illustrate various configurations of source gas conduit 110 to heat exchanger 120 ratios of 6:1, 7:1, and 8:1, respectively. Examples H1-H3 similarly illustrate various embodiments of source gas conduit 110 and heat exchanger 120 ratios of approximately 11:1. Examples I, J, K, L, M, N, and O show additional arrangements of source gas conduits 110 and heat exchangers 120 in ratios of 15:1, 19:1, 24:1, 35:1, 48:1, 63:1, and 0=80:1. The greater the amount of source gas conduits 110 relative to heat exchanger 120, the greater the amount of exhaust gas in conduit bank 114 but the less the amount of heat exchange, while the less the amount of source gas conduits 110 relative to heat exchanger 120, the less the amount of exhaust gas in conduit bank 114 but the more the amount of heat exchange.Additionally, having fewer source gas conduits 110 per heat exchanger 120 also reduces the number of source gas conduits 110 that are structurally separated from the heat exchanger 120 by other source gas conduits 110.

[0052] 1 and 3 , embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for adsorbing one or more gases from a gas stream W using, for example, any one or more of the various implementations of the apparatus 100 described herein. A method according to the present disclosure can include, for example, routing a heat exchange medium through a heat exchanger 120 such that a thermally conductive composition of the heat exchanger 120 affects (i.e., raises or lowers) the temperature of the gas stream W in the source gas conduit 110. Routed the heat exchange medium through the heat exchanger 120 can include, for example, connecting the heat exchanger 120 to one of several exchange medium supplies 122, each having a heating or cooling fluid routed through the heat exchanger 120 to obtain a desired temperature. In some cases, methods of the present disclosure can include coupling a source gas conduit bank 114 to the interior of the gas path 102 (e.g., between its inlet 104 and outlet 106) such that the source gas conduit 110 is positioned to adsorb gas from the gas stream W.

[0053] Once the gas stream W in the source gas conduit 110 reaches a desired temperature, the method can include routing the gas stream W through any (or all) of the source gas conduits 110 in thermal communication with the heat exchanger 120. In some cases, the disclosed method can include physically coupling the source gas conduit 110 to the exterior of the heat exchanger 120 so that the conduits 110, 120 are in thermal communication with each other. The source gas conduit 110 in thermal communication with the heat exchanger 120 affects the temperature of the adsorbent coating 112 (shown only in FIG. 3 ), so that the adsorbent coating 112 can react with the gas stream W to adsorb one or more gases therefrom. Once the adsorbent coating 112 reaches a desired temperature through operation of the heat exchanger 120 and passing a heat exchange medium through it, the adsorbent coating 112 can react with the gas stream W to adsorb any compounds (e.g., CO) that can be adsorbed using the adsorbent coating 112. For example, heat exchanger 120 can cool sorbent coating 112 so that CO or other compounds are adsorbed from gas stream W and captured within sorbent coating 112. Later, gas path 102 can be coupled to a receptacle for CO and / or other space for releasing CO from sorbent coating 112. At this point, sorbent coating 112 is heated via heat exchanger 120, resulting in the captured CO being desorbed from sorbent coating 112 and removed from gas path 102.

[0054] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide various technical and commercial advantages, examples of which are described herein. Embodiments of the apparatus 100 can significantly improve adsorption of certain contaminants in various gas paths 102, including those of power generation systems, by, for example, eliminating the need for separate pressure vessels and / or other structures for adsorbing certain types of emissions. By locating the source gas conduit 110 and heat exchanger 120 directly within the gas path 102, embodiments of the present disclosure, when implemented in a power generation system, can reduce the reactor volume by up to approximately 50 percent (e.g., approximately 3,500 cubic meters). This advantage can result in a reduction in reactor weight by up to approximately 80 percent (e.g., approximately 1,000 tons). These advantages can also reduce the power required to heat or cool portions of the power generation system by up to approximately 30 megawatts. These and other advantages can be achieved, for example, by maintaining a strong physical and thermal coupling between the conduit 110 and the heat exchanger 120 during operation and / or the flow of a suitable heat exchange medium through the heat exchanger 120.

[0055] The above figures illustrate some of the processes involved in some embodiments of the present disclosure. Operations depicted in the figures or descriptions may occur out of the order depicted, or may in fact be performed substantially simultaneously or in reverse order, depending, for example, on the operations involved. As used herein throughout this specification and claims, approximating language may be applied to modify any quantitative expression that may reasonably vary without resulting in a change in the basic function involved. Thus, values ​​modified by terms such as "approximately," "about," and "substantially" are not intended to be limited to the exact value stated. In at least some instances, approximating language may correspond to the precision of the instrument for measuring the value. Herein, and throughout this specification and claims, range limitations are combinable and / or interchangeable, and unless the context or language dictates otherwise, such ranges are identified and include all subranges encompassed therein. The term "about" applied to a particular value in a range applies to both endpoints and may indicate + / - 5% of the stated value, unless specifically reliant on the precision of the instrument for measuring the value.

[0056] The corresponding structure, material, acts, and equivalents of all means-plus-function or step-plus-function elements in the following claims are intended to encompass any structure, material, or act for performing that function in combination with other specifically claimed claim elements. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The present embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application of the disclosure and to enable others skilled in the art to understand the disclosure in various embodiments with various modifications as suited to the particular uses envisioned. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 100 devices 102 Gas Route 104 Entrance 106 Exit 108 Heating fluid supply section 109 Cooling fluid supply section 110 Source gas conduit 112 Adsorbent Coating 114 Source Gas Pipeline Bank 116 Opening 120 Heat exchanger 122 Exchange Medium Line 124 Discharge Line 126 Connecting Passage L Internal side wall V-valve W Gas flow

Claims

1. An apparatus (100), comprising: a heat exchanger (120) having an interior configured to pass a heat exchange medium therethrough; a plurality of source gas conduits (110) in thermal communication with the heat exchanger (120) and configured to pass a gas flow (W), each of the plurality of source gas conduits (110) in thermal communication with the heat exchanger (120); an adsorbent coating (112) on the interior sidewall (L) of each of the plurality of source gas conduits (110); An apparatus (100) comprising:

2. The adsorbent coating (112) absorbs carbon dioxide (CO ) from the gas stream (W) in the plurality of source gas conduits (110). ２ 2. The apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the apparatus (100) adsorbs a

3. The apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of source gas conduits (110) extend parallel to and surround the heat exchanger (120).

4. The apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of source gas conduits (110) does not contact the heat exchanger (120).

5. The apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of source gas conduits (110) has a honeycomb shape.

6. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a diameter (Δ) of the heat exchanger (120) is greater than a separation distance (α) between a pair of opposing side walls in each of the plurality of source gas conduits (110) and less than a separation distance (β) between a pair of opposing vertices in each of the plurality of source gas conduits (110).

7. an additional heat exchanger (120) adjacent to the plurality of source gas conduits (110) and configured to pass the heat exchange medium therethrough; a connecting passage (126) fluidly coupling the heat exchanger (120) to the additional heat exchanger (120); The apparatus (100) of claim 1, comprising:

8. An apparatus (100), comprising: a gas path (102) for conveying a gas flow (W) from the power generation system to an external environment; a plurality of heat exchangers (120) within the gas path (102) and having an interior configured to pass a heat exchange medium; a plurality of source gas conduits (110) within the gas path (102), coupled to the exterior of one of the plurality of heat exchangers (120), and configured to pass the gas flow (W), each of the plurality of source gas conduits (110) being in thermal communication with at least one of the plurality of heat exchangers (120) and extending substantially parallel to the plurality of heat exchangers (120); a plurality of interior sidewalls (L) within at least one source gas conduit (110) of the plurality of source gas conduits (110), each of the plurality of interior sidewalls (L) having an adsorbent coating (112) thereon, the adsorbent coating (112) configured to adsorb compounds from the gas stream (W); An apparatus (100) comprising:

9. The compound is carbon dioxide (CO ２ 9. The apparatus (100) of claim 8, comprising:

10. The apparatus (100) of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of source gas conduits (110) does not contact the plurality of heat exchangers (120).

11. The apparatus (100) of claim 8, wherein the plurality of interior side walls (L) form a honeycomb shape.

12. 9. The apparatus (100) of claim 8, wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of heat exchangers (120) is greater than a separation distance (α) between a pair of opposing side walls in each of the plurality of source gas conduits (110) and less than a separation distance (β) between a pair of opposing vertices in each of the plurality of source gas conduits (110).

13. The apparatus (100) of claim 8, further comprising at least one connecting passage (126) fluidly coupling two of the plurality of heat exchangers (120).

14. The apparatus (100) of claim 8, wherein a ratio of source gas conduits (110) to heat exchangers (120) in the gas path (102) is between about 1:1 and about 100:

1.

15. 1. A method comprising: Passing a heat exchange medium through the interior of a heat exchanger (120); directing a gas stream (W) through a plurality of source gas conduits (110) in thermal communication with the heat exchanger (120), each of the plurality of source gas conduits (110) being in thermal communication with the heat exchanger (120) such that the heat exchange medium affects the temperature of an adsorbent coating (112) within the plurality of source gas conduits (110); Including, the transmitted gas stream (W) reacts with the adsorbent coating (112) within each of the plurality of source gas conduits (110) to adsorb compounds from the gas stream (W); method.

16. passing a cryogenic fluid through the heat exchanger (120) so that the adsorbent coating (112) adsorbs the compounds from the gas stream (W); passing a hot fluid through the heat exchanger (120) to desorb the compounds from the sorbent coating (112) for extraction from the gas path (102); 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

17. The compound is carbon dioxide (CO ２ 16. The method of claim 15, comprising:

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising coupling one of a heating fluid supply (108) or a cooling fluid supply (109) to the heat exchanger (120).

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising coupling the plurality of source gas conduits (110) to an exterior sidewall of the heat exchanger (120).

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising coupling the plurality of source gas conduits (110) and the heat exchanger (120) within a gas path (102).

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