Absorption Column External Heat Exchange Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing absorption columns in gas purification processes, such as the Rectisol, Purisol, and Selexol processes, face issues with bubble formation and gas entrainment during part-load operations due to flow turbulence, leading to impaired heat transfer and increased mechanical energy input, which is costly to mitigate.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a dumped bed in the pipeline of the absorption column above the first heat exchanger, utilizing random packing bodies to retard flow and prevent waterfall-like liquid discharge, thereby reducing mechanical energy input and bubble formation, and ensuring gravity-driven flow through the heat exchanger circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the absorption liquid flows through the cooler from bottom to top to obtain the best contact between absorption liquid and heat exchange surface, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but flow turbulence occurs in the inclined conduit section leading to bubble formation and gas entrainment
Solution Approach 1:
A gas separator is introduced as an intermediary device between the inclined conduit section and the heat exchanger. This separator intercepts and removes bubbles and entrained gas before the liquid enters the heat exchanger, allowing the liquid to flow from bottom to top for optimal heat contact without the harmful effects of gas bubbles impairing heat transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The gas separator extracts and removes the harmful gas bubbles and entrained gas from the absorption liquid stream. By separating the gas phase from the liquid phase before heat exchange, the system maintains efficient heat transfer while eliminating the detrimental effects of gas presence in the heat exchanger
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a valve is installed in the return line to control fill level in the inclined conduit portion to minimize turbulence, then bubble formation is reduced, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gas separator removes the need for active control mechanisms like valves by passively separating gas bubbles from the liquid stream through gravity and flow dynamics. This extraction of the gas separation function from the control system eliminates complex valve installations and control mechanisms while still achieving the goal of minimizing bubble formation effects
Solution Approach 2:
The gas separator operates autonomously using the natural properties of the two-phase flow (gas bubbles in liquid). The device self-regulates the separation process through its internal geometry and flow patterns without requiring external control systems, valves, or active monitoring, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effectiveness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively minimizes bubble formation and enhances heat exchange efficiency by reducing mechanical energy input and gas entrainment, providing a cost-effective and reliable method for maintaining optimal contact between the absorption liquid and heat exchange surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a dumped bed is installed in the course of this pipeline... to retard flow and prevent waterfall-like liquid discharge, thereby reducing mechanical energy input
Implementation Method 2
utilizing random packing bodies to retard flow... reducing mechanical energy input
Implementation Method 3
at least one external heat exchange circuit for cooling or heating the absorption liquid, comprising one or more serially connected heat exchangers
Implementation Method 4
the absorption liquid flows through the cooler from bottom to top... maintaining optimal contact between the absorption liquid and heat exchange surfaces
Implementation Method 5
The Rectisol process uses cryogenic methanol as the absorption medium and exploits the property of methanol that its absorptivity for the concomitants sharply increases with decreasing temperature
Data Source
AI summary
An absorption column including at least one external heat exchange circuit for cooling or heating the absorption liquid, including one or more serially connected heat exchangers, wherein the junction of the pipeline for withdrawal of the absorption liquid from the column is disposed above the junction of the pipeline into the first heat exchanger in the flow direction, wherein the pipeline also includes a dumped bed.