Atmospheric Gas Upgrading With Multi-Swing Adsorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas purification processes are energy-intensive, require large equipment footprints, and have limitations in achieving high purity and fast throughput, especially when separating combustible components like hydrogen and methane from gas mixtures.
Innovation Solution
A gas upgrading system utilizing a multi-swing process that operates under atmospheric conditions, eliminating the need for high pressure ratios and vacuum, and employs a scalable adsorbent contactor chamber with chemically active materials to selectively separate target gases like hydrogen and methane, achieving high purity and recovery rates without the need for additional polishing stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional pressure swing adsorption (PSA) columns are used to separate target gases, then gas purification is achieved, but energy consumption increases due to large pressure variations and vacuum requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the operating parameters from high-pressure PSA conditions to atmospheric pressure operation. The adsorption process occurs at atmospheric pressure with temperature swing as the primary regeneration mechanism, eliminating the need for high-pressure compression and vacuum systems while maintaining effective gas separation and purification.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical pressure-based separation system with a thermally-driven adsorption system. Instead of using compressors and vacuum pumps to create pressure differentials, the system uses temperature variations to control adsorption and desorption cycles, significantly reducing mechanical energy consumption.
2Reliability
If large pressure vessels with small granule adsorbents are used to prevent buoyancy, then adsorbent retention is improved, but equipment footprint and capital cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses fibrous adsorbent materials with high mechanical strength and low density that can be contained in simpler, smaller vessels. The fibrous structure provides inherent retention properties without requiring oversized pressure vessels, reducing both equipment footprint and capital costs while maintaining reliable adsorbent containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite fibrous adsorbent materials that combine high surface area with structural integrity. These composite materials provide both the necessary adsorption capacity and mechanical strength to prevent buoyancy and retention issues without requiring large containment vessels.
3Quantity of substance
If small granule adsorbents are used in conventional PSA, then adsorption capacity is maintained, but throughput is limited by process cycle speed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a periodic temperature-swing adsorption process where alternating heating and cooling cycles drive adsorption and desorption. This periodic thermal action enables faster cycle times compared to pressure-swing methods, increasing throughput while maintaining high adsorption capacity through the use of fibrous materials with rapid mass transfer characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic temperature control to enhance mass transfer rates. By dynamically adjusting temperature during the adsorption cycle, the system optimizes both capacity and kinetics, enabling faster throughput without sacrificing adsorption capacity.
4Manufacturing precision
If additional equipment for pre-treatment and post-treatment is added to achieve desired purity, then gas purification quality improves, but device complexity and capital cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention designs the adsorption system to perform multiple functions within a single integrated process. The same fibrous adsorbent material and atmospheric pressure operation achieve both primary separation and final polishing, eliminating the need for separate pre-treatment and post-treatment equipment while maintaining high component purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables the adsorption system to self-regulate and self-purify through its inherent temperature-swing mechanism. The process automatically achieves desired purity levels without requiring additional external treatment equipment, as the thermal cycling inherently provides both concentration and purification functions.
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 achieves high purity and capture recovery of target gases with reduced energy consumption, smaller operational footprint, and faster cycle times, making it suitable for a broad range of applications from small to large-scale plants.
Implementation Method 1
a gas upgrading system utilizing a multi-swing process that operates under atmospheric conditions... employs a scalable adsorbent contactor chamber with chemically active materials to selectively separate target gases
Implementation Method 2
admit a first regeneration stream comprising at least a third component into the second port of at least one contactor chamber to displace or desorb at least a portion of the second component on the at least one adsorbent material
Data Source
AI summary
A process for purifying a mixed gas stream by physisorptive and chemisorptive gas separation under ambient pressure conditions using competing physical and chemical surface reactions between the gas mixture species and an active or functionalized mesoporous or microporous material by guiding the gas mix over the media on multiple passes. The process comprises providing a feed stream and adsorbing at least one component from said feed stream to generate an intermediate product stream, providing a regeneration stream and displacing the at least one component to generate a purified exhaust stream, and admitting the intermediate product stream to reactivate the adsorbent material and further purify the intermediate product stream.