Impurity control for a high pressure CO<sub>2 </sub>purification and supply system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Highly pressurized liquid carbon dioxide streams used in industrial processes often contain impurities introduced during mechanical pumping, which can compromise purity and require additional purification steps.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that involves a batch process including distillation and filtration to strip volatile impurities from liquid carbon dioxide, followed by condensation and pressurization in a high-pressure accumulation chamber, with a distillation column and purifying filters to enhance purity and maintain high pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If mechanical pumping is used to pressurize liquid carbon dioxide, then delivery pressure is improved, but impurity introduction worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pumping system with a thermal pressurization system. Instead of using a mechanical pump to increase pressure, the system uses a heater to vaporize liquid CO2, and the resulting gas pressure naturally pressurizes the liquid in the accumulation chamber. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact that would otherwise introduce particulate impurities into the CO2 stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by maintaining the CO2 in a liquid state at elevated temperatures (above its freezing point but below critical temperature) and using thermal energy to control pressure. By heating the accumulation chamber, the system converts liquid CO2 to a pressurized state through phase change and thermal expansion, achieving high pressure without mechanical pumping.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If distillation and filtration steps are added to remove impurities, then purity is improved, but process complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary purification by passing the feed CO2 through a distillation column and filters before it enters the accumulation chamber. This preliminary action removes impurities in advance, so that the subsequent pressurization and delivery processes do not need additional purification steps, simplifying the overall system while maintaining high purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple purification functions into integrated components. The distillation column and filters are positioned in series to create a unified purification stage, and the accumulation chamber serves dual purposes as both a storage vessel and a pressurization chamber, reducing the number of separate components needed.
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 process effectively removes impurities and maintains high purity of the carbon dioxide stream, ensuring it can be delivered at high pressure with improved consistency and reduced contamination, suitable for applications like optical component cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
introducing the liquid carbon dioxide stream (A) into a distillation column (B) having packing (C) therein, and stripping volatile impurities from the liquid carbon dioxide stream with the packing
Implementation Method 2
vaporizing the liquid carbon dioxide stream (A) in a sump (D) of the distillation column (B) for providing a carbon dioxide vapor
Implementation Method 3
condensing the purified vapor feed stream within a condenser (18) to form an intermediate liquid carbon dioxide stream
Implementation Method 4
heating the high pressure accumulation chamber (30) to pressurize the intermediate liquid carbon dioxide stream contained therein to a delivery pressure
Implementation Method 5
heating the high pressure accumulation chamber (30) to pressurize the intermediate liquid carbon dioxide stream contained therein to a delivery pressure
Implementation Method 6
introducing a carbon dioxide vapor feed stream into at least one purifying filter (13,14)
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for producing a purified, pressurized liquid carbon dioxide stream includes a distillation column (B) having packing (C) therein and a sump (D) below the packing, the distillation column in fluid communication with the liquid carbon dioxide supply tank for receiving the liquid carbon dioxide stream and the packing stripping volatile impurities from the liquid carbon dioxide stream; a heater (E) in contact with the liquid carbon dioxide stream in the sump (D) for vaporizing the liquid carbon dioxide stream in the sump; a vent in the distillation column (B) from which a first vaporized portion (G) of carbon dioxide vapor in the sump (D) is withdrawn from the distillation column: and a conduit (I) in fluid communication with the sump (D) and from which a second vaporized portion (H) of the carbon dioxide vapor in the sump is withdrawn into the conduit (I) to be introduced into the carbon dioxide vapor feed stream.