Catalytic Gas Processing With Heat Recovery for PFC and N2O

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies struggle to effectively decompose perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and nitrous oxide (N2O) simultaneously, as they require separate treatment and generate nitrogen oxides, which are potent global warming agents.

Innovation Solution

A catalyst apparatus with a heat exchange unit, heating part, and catalyst unit that raises the temperature of exhaust gases through multiple stages and uses a catalyst aggregate composed of zinc aluminate and perovskite oxide to decompose PFCs and N2O efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If catalytic decomposition method is used to remove perfluorinated compounds, then decomposition efficiency is improved and device corrosion is reduced, but nitrogen oxides are generated that require separate treatment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecomposition efficiencyVSAvoidnitrogen oxides generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the catalytic decomposition function and nitrogen oxide removal function into a single integrated catalyst system. The catalyst layer contains multiple functional components that simultaneously decompose perfluorinated compounds and reduce nitrogen oxides, eliminating the need for separate treatment units and improving overall efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The catalyst is designed with multi-functionality to perform both perfluorinated compound decomposition and nitrogen oxide removal. By incorporating specific metal components and support materials with dual catalytic activities, the single catalyst system addresses multiple harmful substances, reducing device complexity and treatment steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If exhaust gas temperature is increased to improve reaction efficiency with catalyst, then decomposition effectiveness is improved, but heat loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction efficiencyVSAvoidheat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a pre-heating section before the catalyst layer that utilizes waste heat from the exhaust gas itself or from downstream processes to pre-heat the incoming exhaust gas. This preliminary heating action reduces the temperature gap that needs to be bridged by the main heating system, improving reaction efficiency while minimizing additional energy input and heat loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers waste heat from the exhaust gas stream by using heat exchangers that capture thermal energy from the hot exhaust gases. This recovered heat is then reused to pre-heat incoming exhaust gas or for other process heating needs, reducing overall heat loss and improving energy efficiency while maintaining the high temperatures required for effective catalytic decomposition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If multiple treatment processes are used to treat perfluorinated compounds and nitrous oxide separately, then treatment completeness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment completenessVSAvoidnumber of treatment units
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the perfluorinated compound decomposition unit and nitrogen oxide removal unit into a single integrated catalytic reactor. The catalyst layer is designed with multiple active components that work simultaneously to decompose both types of pollutants, reducing the number of separate treatment units while maintaining treatment completeness through the synergistic action of different catalytic materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The catalytic system is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple pollutant types simultaneously. By incorporating metal components with different catalytic activities and optimizing the catalyst support structure, the single treatment unit achieves complete decomposition of perfluorinated compounds and reduction of nitrogen oxides, eliminating the need for multiple separate treatment processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 apparatus effectively raises the temperature of exhaust gases to facilitate simultaneous decomposition of PFCs and N2O, reducing them to harmless substances like HF and N2, while minimizing heat loss and maintaining catalyst performance over time.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchange unit configured to raise the temperature of a first exhaust gas, which includes perfluorinated compounds or nitrous oxide, through heat transfer plates to form a second exhaust gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a catalyst unit integrally formed with the heating part and configured to remove the perfluorinated compounds or the nitrous oxide in the third exhaust gas through the fluid flow repeated in the vertical direction from the bottom to form a first processing gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalytic decomposition: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP4640626A1Gas processing apparatus using catalyst
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 ENNOPIA
  • EP4640626A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4640626A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4640626A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Provided is a catalyst apparatus capable of removing perfluorinated compounds or nitrous oxide through a catalyst. A processing gas is introduced into a heat exchange unit, and an exhaust gas having a higher temperature than the processing gas discharged by a heat exchange action is supplied to a heating part. In the heating part, an exhaust gas capable of reacting with the catalyst may be formed through a simple temperature-raising operation, and the perfluorinated compounds or nitrous oxide are effectively removed by the catalyst unit.