Mobile Biogas Purification via Clathrate Formation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional biogas purification methods are energy-intensive, require large amounts of water, and are impractical for mobile applications, especially in areas with limited water resources, due to their reliance on high-pressure water scrubbing and stationary systems.

Innovation Solution

A mobile biogas purification apparatus that uses clathrate formation to separate impurities from biogas in a single step, employing a pressure vessel with temperature and pressure control, an anionic surfactant solution, and visual monitoring to isolate pipeline-quality methane, while recycling water and minimizing water usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional water scrubbing methods are used to purify biogas, then purification effectiveness is improved, but water consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiogas purification effectivenessVSAvoidwater consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes phase transition of water from liquid to solid (freezing) to enable purification. By cooling the biogas mixture to sub-zero temperatures, water condenses and freezes, separating it from the gas phase. This phase change allows effective removal of water and other contaminants without requiring large volumes of water for scrubbing, thus resolving the contradiction between purification effectiveness and water consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temperature parameter from ambient to sub-zero conditions to alter the physical state of water and enable purification. This parameter change allows the system to operate with minimal water consumption while maintaining high purification effectiveness, as the temperature-driven phase transition naturally separates contaminants from the biogas stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If high-pressure water scrubbing systems are used, then purification efficiency is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurification efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical high-pressure scrubbing systems with a simpler thermal-based purification system. Instead of using high-pressure water injection and complex scrubbing machinery, the system uses temperature control to induce phase transition of water, achieving purification through thermal fields rather than mechanical fields. This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining or improving purification efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

By leveraging the phase transition of water from liquid to solid at sub-zero temperatures, the patent achieves efficient purification without requiring high-pressure mechanical systems. The phase change process naturally separates contaminants from the gas stream, eliminating the need for complex high-pressure scrubbing equipment and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

3Manufacturing precision

If stationary high-pressure scrubbing systems are used, then purification effectiveness is improved, but adaptability to mobile applications decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurification effectivenessVSAvoidmobile application suitability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a dynamic, flexible purification system that can be adapted to mobile applications. The system uses a portable pressure vessel that can be deployed in various locations, and the operational parameters (temperature, pressure) can be adjusted based on local conditions. This dynamic design allows the same purification technology to function effectively in both stationary and mobile contexts, resolving the contradiction between purification effectiveness and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The phase transition-based purification mechanism inherently provides adaptability to mobile applications. The system uses a portable pressure vessel that can be deployed in various locations, and the temperature-driven phase change process works effectively regardless of location. This eliminates the need for large stationary infrastructure, enabling the system to be adapted to mobile and remote applications while maintaining purification effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

4Manufacturing precision

If conventional purification methods are used in areas with limited water resources, then purification can be performed, but operational feasibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurification capabilityVSAvoidoperational feasibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs phase transition of water at sub-zero temperatures to achieve purification with minimal water consumption. By freezing water in the biogas mixture, the system separates contaminants from the gas stream without requiring large volumes of water for scrubbing. This makes the system operationally feasible in areas with limited water resources, as it uses a fraction of the water required by conventional methods while maintaining purification capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temperature parameter to sub-zero conditions to enable purification in water-scarce environments. This parameter change allows the system to operate effectively with minimal water input, as the temperature-driven phase transition naturally separates contaminants without requiring large volumes of water for washing or scrubbing. This resolves the contradiction between purification capability and operational feasibility in water-limited areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method effectively reduces water requirements and operational costs, enabling efficient biogas purification in a compact, mobile format suitable for regions with scarce water resources, producing a high-purity methane product.

Implementation Method 1

cooling the pressure vessel to a first predetermined temperature and pressurizing the pressure vessel to a predetermined pressure... isolating the product gas from the biogas impurity at a clathrate formation equilibrium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectClathrate formation: Hydrates

Implementation Method 2

injecting an aqueous solution into the pressure vessel having a predetermined concentration of an anionic surfactant... hastens hydrate formation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

a heating mantle for warming the pressure vessel... allowing the water to warm up to release trapped gases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

a cooling coil wrapped around an interior of the pressure vessel... cooling the pressure vessel to a first predetermined temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Data Source

PatentUS8828124B1Biogas purification apparatus and method for operation thereof
Publication Date: 2014.09.09 THE RES FOUND OF STATE UNIV OF NEW YORK
  • US8828124B1 patent drawing
  • US8828124B1 patent drawing
  • US8828124B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A biogas purification method includes injecting biogas into a pressure vessel, cooling the pressure vessel to a first predetermined temperature and pressurizing the pressure vessel to a predetermined pressure. The method further includes visually monitoring separation of a biogas impurity from a product gas during an induction period, isolating the product gas from the biogas impurity at a clathrate formation equilibrium by removing the product gas from the pressure vessel and passing the product gas through water to yield a purified gas.