Absorption Tower Separator for Level Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas collecting plants using chemical absorption methods face difficulties in controlling the level of rich absorbent liquid in absorption towers and regeneration towers due to fast gas velocities and inefficient gas-liquid separation, leading to composition changes and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design of an absorption tower with an absorption separator that separates the supply path of rich absorbent liquid from the path of object gas, using a first mounting plate with gas flow holes and bypass ports to facilitate level control and prevent composition changes, thereby enhancing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If gas and liquid are prevented from communicating by changing the structure of the upper portion of the absorption tower, then gas-liquid separation is improved, but level control of rich absorbent liquid becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The absorption tower is divided into distinct sections: an upper separation section with a rectifier for gas-liquid separation, and a lower absorption section with an absorbent liquid chamber. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function independently - the rectifier ensures clean separation while the chamber maintains proper liquid levels through its separate structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A intermediate chamber or buffer zone is introduced between the rectifier and the absorbent liquid outlet. This intermediate structure acts as a mediator that decouples the separation function from the level control function, allowing the rectifier to focus on gas-liquid separation while the intermediate chamber manages liquid level stabilization.
2Productivity
If fast linear velocity of gas is maintained in the absorption tower, then absorption efficiency is improved, but abnormal phenomena and composition changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The tower structure segments the high-velocity gas flow path from the absorbent liquid composition zones. The rectifier section handles high-velocity gas-liquid separation, while the absorbent liquid chamber maintains stable, lower velocity conditions that prevent composition changes and abnormal phenomena.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate chamber serves as a buffer that mediates between the high-velocity absorption zone and the stable liquid reservoir. It allows high-velocity gas to pass through for efficient absorption while preventing direct impact on the absorbent liquid composition in the chamber.
3Temperature
If conventional kettle reboiler or thermocyphon reboiler is used for regeneration, then heating function is provided, but level control and gas separation efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The regeneration system is segmented into a heating zone with reboiler and a separation zone with regeneration separator. The reboiler provides concentrated heating to generate vapor for stripping CO2, while the separator immediately above it separates the regenerated gas from the absorbent liquid, preventing level control issues and maintaining high separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The regeneration separator acts as an intermediary between the heating function and the level control system. It receives the heated mixture from the reboiler, performs rapid gas-liquid separation, and delivers stabilized liquid to the absorption tower, thus decoupling the heating process from level control difficulties.
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 design facilitates precise level control of rich absorbent liquid and prevents composition changes, improving the efficiency of gas-liquid separation and reducing energy losses, allowing for more effective carbon dioxide capture.
Implementation Method 1
an absorption separator (30) disposed between the absorption tower rectifier (20) and the absorbent liquid chamber (9)... The absorption separator separates an outlet through which the object gas flows out from the absorbent liquid chamber (9) from an inlet through which the rich absorbent liquid flows into the absorbent liquid chamber (9)
Implementation Method 2
carbon dioxide emitted from thermoelectric power plants or boiler equipment is absorbed in absorbent liquid in an absorption tower... The rectifier has an apparatus for collecting the absorbent liquid at a center portion mounted on a filler or a separating plate for separating gas evenly mounted on an upper portion of the absorption tower
Implementation Method 3
a reboiler for heating the absorbent liquid is mounted at the regeneration tower as energy source for regeneration. The reboiler heats the absorbent liquid for regeneration to separate the gas contained in the absorbent liquid
Implementation Method 4
The thermocyphon reboiler includes a heater or a heat-exchanger therein, and an absorbent liquid outlet is formed at a bottom surface of the reboiler. If the absorbent liquid containing the gas is supplied to an upper portion of the reboiler, the absorbent liquid in the reboiler is heated by the heater or the heat-exchanger and the gas is separated from the absorbent liquid and moves upwardly
Data Source
AI summary
A lean absorbent liquid supplier, disposed inside at an upper portion in the absorption tower housing, supplies a lean absorbent liquid into the housing. An absorption tower rectifier, disposed under the lean absorbent liquid supplier in the absorption tower housing, rectifies flow of the lean absorbent liquid supplied downwardly in the absorption tower housing, and dissolves an object gas in the lean absorbent liquid to generate a rich absorbent liquid. An absorbent liquid chamber, disposed below the absorption tower rectifier in the absorption tower housing temporarily stores the rich absorbent liquid therein. An absorption separator is disposed between the absorption tower rectifier and the absorbent liquid chamber in the absorption tower housing. The object gas is supplied to the absorbent liquid chamber.