Ammonia Vent Gas Scrubbing With Acidic Water Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ammonia vent gas treatment systems in ammonia-propelled and dual-fuel engine vessels face challenges with ammonia leakage due to evaporation from residual ammonia in storage tanks and re-evaporation from dissolved ammonia water, necessitating a system that maximizes ammonia recovery and reuse while preventing hazardous concentrations from being discharged.
Innovation Solution
An ammonia vent gas treatment system utilizing a vent gas treatment facility with a knockout drum, recovery tank, and gas pipe to return ammonia gas to the facility, combined with acidic water as wash water to manage ammonia concentration and size, and a control method for ammonia detection and water supply direction based on fuel supply valve status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If fresh water is used for ammonia vent gas treatment, then ammonia recovery is achieved, but the treatment facility size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of wash water from fresh water to acidic water (with pH 2-4). This parameter change enhances the ammonia absorption efficiency due to the chemical reaction between acidic water and ammonia, allowing for more effective treatment within a smaller facility volume. The acidic environment promotes complete ammonia conversion to ammonium ions, improving recovery efficiency without requiring increased facility size.
2Quantity of substance
If ammonia water is stored in a tank, then ammonia recovery is maximized, but ammonia evaporates from residual ammonia on tank walls causing hazardous concentrations to be discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system using ammonia concentration sensors that continuously monitor the vent gas. When ammonia concentration exceeds the safe discharge threshold, the system automatically adjusts the wash water supply rate and acidic water injection rate to maintain concentration within safe limits. This closed-loop control prevents hazardous ammonia discharge while maximizing recovery efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes residual ammonia from tank walls through continuous acidic water washing. The acidic water flows over the tank interior surfaces, chemically reacting with and removing adsorbed ammonia residues. This extraction process prevents ammonia evaporation from residual deposits and eliminates the source of hazardous gas discharge.
3Volume of stationary object
If acidic water is used as wash water, then treatment facility size is reduced, but control of ammonia concentration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses ammonia concentration sensors to provide real-time feedback on vent gas composition. This feedback signal is fed to a control unit that automatically adjusts the acidic water supply rate and injection parameters. The closed-loop control system simplifies operation by automatically maintaining optimal conditions without requiring complex manual intervention, balancing facility size reduction with controlled ammonia concentration management.
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
The system effectively recovers and reuses ammonia, prevents excessive ammonia discharge, and reduces the size of the treatment facility by using acidic water, ensuring safe and efficient ammonia vent gas treatment.
Implementation Method 1
a vent gas treatment facility configured to recover and treat ammonia discharged from a consumer of ammonia fuel or from an intermediate component that supplies ammonia fuel to the consumer
Implementation Method 2
using acidic water as wash water for a vent gas treatment facility that performs ammonia recovery processing
Implementation Method 3
ammonia evaporates from residual ammonia remaining on the inner wall of a tank storing the recovered ammonia water, thereby allowing ammonia gas at a concentration exceeding an allowable level to be discharged externally
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an ammonia vent gas treatment system for an ammonia-propelled vessel. The vent gas treatment system includes: a vent gas treatment facility configured to recover and treat ammonia discharged from a consumer of ammonia fuel or from an intermediate component that supplies ammonia fuel to the consumer; a wastewater tank for storing ammonia water discharged from the vent gas treatment facility; and a gas pipe for returning ammonia gas generated in the tank to the vent gas treatment facility, thereby efficiently addressing not only the discharge of ammonia water but also the problem of ammonia gas in the tank storing the ammonia water