Coiled-Duct Centrifugal Air Separation Replacing Chemical CO₂ Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling carbon dioxide levels in enclosed environments, such as spacecraft and submarines, are either non-regenerative and require significant chemical supplies or are bulky and power-intensive, posing challenges for efficient and sustainable gas purification.
Innovation Solution
Centrifugal air separators that utilize a coiled duct to separate gas streams based on molecular weight, allowing for the efficient removal of carbon dioxide without the need for regeneration or significant power consumption, by directing the input air stream through the coiled duct to stratify it according to molecular weight, separating it into clean and waste streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If chemical reaction systems are used to control carbon dioxide levels, then carbon dioxide removal is achieved with relatively little electrical power, but significant supply of replacement chemical is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the separation mechanism from chemical reaction to physical centrifugal separation based on molecular weight differences. By utilizing the density difference between carbon dioxide and other atmospheric gases, the system achieves continuous separation without consuming chemical reactants, thus eliminating the need for replacement chemical supplies while maintaining low power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the chemical reaction system with a mechanical centrifugal separation system. The coiled duct configuration creates centrifugal forces that physically separate gases based on molecular weight, substituting chemical processes with mechanical/physical processes that do not require consumable chemicals.
2Quantity of substance
If adsorption systems are used to control carbon dioxide levels, then the system is regenerative with no significant supply requirements, but significant electrical power is used for regeneration and the system is bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the thermal regeneration process of adsorption systems with continuous mechanical centrifugal separation. Instead of periodically heating and cooling adsorbent beds to release and re-absorb carbon dioxide, the centrifugal system continuously separates gases based on molecular weight, eliminating the need for regeneration cycles and associated power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The centrifugal separation system operates continuously without interruption, unlike adsorption systems that require periodic regeneration cycles. The coiled duct configuration enables continuous separation of carbon dioxide from the air stream, maintaining constant purification action without downtime for regeneration, thus reducing overall power consumption and improving system efficiency.
3Quantity of substance
If adsorption systems are used to control carbon dioxide levels, then the system is regenerative, but the system is quite bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces heavy adsorbent beds and associated regeneration equipment with a lightweight centrifugal separation system. The coiled duct configuration requires minimal structural support and no heavy regeneration infrastructure, significantly reducing the overall system weight while maintaining regenerative operation through continuous separation.
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
This solution effectively maintains safe carbon dioxide levels in enclosed environments, reducing the need for chemical supplies and minimizing power consumption, while being compact and sustainable, thus providing a reliable and efficient gas purification system.
Implementation Method 1
The separation section is configured to separate the input air stream into a clean air stream emitted from an exit port of the separation section and a waste stream emitted from a waste port of the separation section
Implementation Method 2
centrifugal air separators that utilize a coiled duct to separate gas streams based on molecular weight
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of recirculating clean air in an atmosphere of an enclosure comprise directing an input air stream from the atmosphere of the enclosure through a coiled duct at a rate sufficient to stratify the input air stream within the coiled duct according to a molecular weight of components of the input air stream and to form a heavy fraction stream and a light fraction stream, wherein the heavy fraction stream is relatively enriched in carbon dioxide as compared to the light fraction stream; withdrawing the heavy fraction stream from the coiled duct; and returning the light fraction stream from the coiled duct to the atmosphere of the enclosure.