Adsorbent Regeneration via Flow Reversal and Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air management systems face challenges in efficiently regenerating adsorbents used for indoor air purification, as they become saturated and lose efficiency over time, requiring energy-intensive purge processes that are costly and inefficient, especially when dealing with varying pollutant concentrations and conditions.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a method where the direction of gas flow is reversed during regeneration, preventing pollutants from accumulating downstream and allowing for more efficient purging of adsorbents, using a combination of adsorbents like solid-supported amines and carbon for capturing CO2 and VOCs, and optimizing the adsorption-regeneration cycle by limiting the duration of each phase to maintain efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If adsorbents are used to capture pollutants from indoor air, then air quality is improved, but the adsorbents become saturated and lose efficiency over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic regeneration cycles where the adsorbent is alternately used for pollutant capture and then regenerated by heating. This cyclic operation allows the adsorbent to maintain high efficiency continuously by resetting its capacity through periodic thermal regeneration, preventing permanent saturation and extending operational life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the adsorbent to regenerate it. By heating the adsorbent above a threshold temperature, the adsorbed pollutants are desorbed and removed, restoring the adsorbent's capture capacity. This parameter change enables the adsorbent to transition between active and regenerated states.
2Reliability
If purge gas is used to regenerate adsorbents, then adsorbent efficiency is restored, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs heat exchangers that utilize the thermal energy from the incoming indoor air stream to preheat the purge gas used for regeneration. This self-service approach recovers waste heat from the air being treated and uses it to reduce the energy required for heating the adsorbent during regeneration, thereby lowering overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary component between the indoor air stream and the purge gas. This intermediary transfers thermal energy from the air stream to the purge gas, enabling efficient heat recovery and reducing the direct energy input needed for regeneration without requiring additional external heating sources.
3Reliability
If purge gas flows through adsorbent, then pollutants are released, but pollutants may accumulate downstream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reverses the flow direction of the purge gas through the adsorbent bed during regeneration. By flowing the purge gas in the opposite direction to the normal air stream, pollutants are released and carried back toward the source rather than accumulating downstream, preventing secondary contamination and improving regeneration efficiency.
4Productivity
If adsorbent bed is continuously used, then air treatment is maintained, but adsorbent saturation reduces effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the adsorbent system into multiple beds that can operate in sequence. While one bed is actively treating air, another bed undergoes regeneration. This segmentation allows continuous air treatment without interruption, as beds can be swapped between service and regeneration modes, maintaining both productivity and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic switching between multiple adsorbent beds, alternating between active service and regeneration phases. This periodic operation ensures that at least one bed is always in a high-efficiency state ready for service, maintaining continuous air treatment effectiveness while allowing other beds to regenerate without compromising productivity.
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 approach enhances the economic and functional performance of air treatment systems by reducing energy consumption, prolonging adsorbent lifespan, and maintaining air quality by optimizing the adsorption-regeneration cycle and preventing pollutant recapture.
Implementation Method 1
streaming the indoor air flow over and/or through the adsorbent in a first direction such that the adsorbent captures at least some of the pollutant from the indoor air flow
Implementation Method 2
streaming the regeneration gas flow over and/or through the adsorbent in a second direction opposite to the first direction, such that the regeneration gas flow regenerates at least some of the adsorbent and purges at least some of the pollutant from the adsorbent
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments of the disclosure correspond to, for example, a method for controlling a scrubber containing an adsorbent. The scrubber may be configured to cycle between scrubbing at least one pollutant/gas from a stream of gases with the pollutant/gas being adsorbed onto the adsorbent, and regenerating at least some of the adsorbent and thereby purging at least some of the one pollutant and/or first gas from the adsorbent via a regeneration gas flow. The method may include flowing a stream of gases through the scrubber, the scrubber including the adsorbent and adsorbing at least some of the one pollutant/gas from the stream of gases onto the adsorbent during an adsorption phase over a first time period. The method may also include purging at least a portion of the one pollutant/gas from the adsorbent during a regeneration phase over a second time period with a regeneration gas flow, and cycling therebetween.