Biofilter-Adsorber Capillary Humidification for VOC Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biofilters face issues with high aerodynamic resistance, complex humidity and temperature maintenance, and low air treatment efficiency due to gaps between plates, leading to incomplete pollutant removal, especially at increased air flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A biofilter-adsorber with a capillary charge system using wood or coal granules mixed with thermally modified wood fibre in tubes with porous or perforated walls, where the charge is self-humidified through capillary action, reducing energy consumption and maintaining optimal humidity, and the air flow is directed to ensure maximum contact with the adsorbent material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plate-type biofilters with capillary charge wetting system are used, then humidification is achieved, but air treatment efficiency is low because pollutants get through gaps between plates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces plate structures with porous ceramic rings that have controlled porosity (30-70%). The porous structure eliminates gaps between plates while maintaining capillary humidification, allowing pollutants to be treated effectively without bypassing the biofilter media.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite structures combining ceramic rings with bioactive materials (wood fibre, peat, compost) filled inside the rings. This composite approach maintains structural integrity while providing both humidification and pollutant degradation functions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If natural charge is used, then sustainability is improved, but charge stability and microorganism activity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-activates the natural charge materials (wood fibre, peat, compost) with beneficial microorganisms before installation. This preliminary action ensures the charge is immediately effective for pollutant degradation without requiring extended startup periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of natural materials through thermal treatment (thermally modified wood fibre) and controlled decomposition processes, enhancing their stability while maintaining microorganism compatibility and activity.
3Reliability
If a lot of power is used for humidifying the charge, then optimal humidity is maintained, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs passive capillary humidification where the porous ceramic rings and biofilter media automatically draw water from the water reservoir through capillary action. This self-service mechanism maintains optimal humidity without requiring external power for pumping or spraying systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces active mechanical humidification systems (pumps, spray nozzles, heaters) with passive capillary action based humidification. The porous materials themselves serve as the humidification mechanism, eliminating the need for mechanical power input.
4Loss of time
If high aerodynamic resistance is present in the charge, then pollutant contact time is increased, but air flow rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous charge into discrete porous ceramic rings arranged in series. Each ring provides a segment of the treatment process with optimized flow characteristics. This segmentation reduces overall aerodynamic resistance while maintaining sufficient contact time through the stacked configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous structure of the ceramic rings provides optimized flow paths with controlled resistance. The porosity (30-70%) allows air to pass through efficiently while maintaining adequate residence time for pollutant degradation, balancing flow rate and interaction time.
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 capillary charge system enhances air treatment efficiency by maintaining humidity without additional energy, reducing pollutant escape and increasing interaction time with microorganisms, resulting in improved pollutant removal and reduced operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a capillary charge system using wood or coal granules mixed with thermally modified wood fibre in tubes with porous or perforated walls, where the charge is self-humidified through capillary action
Implementation Method 2
A biofilter-adsorber with a capillary charge system using wood or coal granules mixed with thermally modified wood fibre... resulting in improved pollutant removal
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to biofilters with biologically activated material, specifically - for biofilters for removing volatile organic compounds, for example, acetone, butanol, toluene, xylene, styrene, butyl acetate, phenol, formaldehyde, etc. from air or gas. The purpose of the invention is to improve the structure of the treatment device, to expand operation possibilities, to increase air treatment efficiency and to reduce costs. A biofilter-adsorber with a capillary charge humidification system, having a polluted air supply duct, filtering charge, humidification system, ventilator blowing polluted air into the filter, systems of maintaining temperature in the biofilter-adsorber is characterised in that the device charge consists of plurality of vertical tubes 20 with porous or perforated walls filled with wood or activated coal granules of 2.0 - 6.0 mm in diameter, mixed with thermally modified wood fibre at the ratio 10:1. Tubes 20 are placed in lines I, II, III, IV, etc., distances between the tubes are 1.0 - 2.0 mm, the lines are installed at the angle of 30 - 45° with regard to the polluted air movement direction, and the distance between the lines does not exceed a tube radius. The tubes at 1/3 of their height from the bottom are submersed in activated liquid, in this way causing capillary humidification of the filtering section.