Integrated Cyclone Separator for MOX Off-Gas Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current off-gas purification systems for MOX pellet sintering plants are inadequate in achieving enhanced purification and cooling, as they struggle to efficiently separate solid and liquid components, including radioactive substances and harmful substances like zinc stearate, and do not effectively reduce hydrogen concentration or cool the off-gas efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A cyclone separator with a unique design featuring a first lateral gas inlet for off-gas and a second lateral gas inlet for an additive gas, such as nitrogen, which enhances vortex separation and cooling by increasing gas flow and temperature difference, allowing for the separation of at least 95% of solid parts and abrupt cooling of the off-gas by up to 200°C, while reducing hydrogen concentration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional heat exchangers and HEPA filters are used for off-gas purification, then the off-gas can be filtered and cooled, but the system fails to achieve enhanced purification efficiency and effective cooling to reduce hydrogen concentration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurification efficiencyVSAvoidcooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cyclone separator combines particle separation and gas cooling functions into a single integrated device. The cooling lines are positioned inside the cyclone body, allowing simultaneous separation of solid/liquid particles and cooling of the off-gas stream, thereby achieving both purification and temperature reduction in one unit rather than requiring separate heat exchangers and filters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cyclone separator performs multiple functions: it separates solid and liquid particles from the off-gas stream, cools the gas through integrated cooling lines, and reduces hydrogen concentration. This multi-functional design replaces the need for separate conventional heat exchangers, HEPA filters, and other purification devices, improving both reliability and productivity

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

2Reliability

If a cyclone separator is used to separate solid parts from off-gas, then separation efficiency is improved, but the system lacks effective cooling capability to reduce hydrogen concentration and cool the off-gas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidoff-gas temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cyclone separator combines particle separation and gas cooling functions into a single integrated device. The cooling lines are positioned inside the cyclone body, allowing simultaneous separation of solid/liquid particles and cooling of the off-gas stream, thereby achieving both purification and temperature reduction in one unit rather than requiring separate heat exchangers and filters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Cooling medium flows through cooling lines that act as intermediaries between the off-gas stream and the heat removal system. These cooling lines are strategically positioned within the cyclone body to efficiently transfer heat from the hot off-gas, enabling effective temperature reduction while maintaining separation functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If conventional purification systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the system fails to achieve abrupt cooling of up to 200°C and effective reduction of hydrogen concentration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem structureVSAvoidcooling rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cyclone separator combines particle separation and gas cooling functions into a single integrated device. The cooling lines are positioned inside the cyclone body, allowing simultaneous separation of solid/liquid particles and cooling of the off-gas stream, thereby achieving both purification and temperature reduction in one unit rather than requiring separate conventional heat exchangers and filters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system achieves abrupt cooling by changing the temperature parameter through the cooling lines, reducing the off-gas temperature by up to 200°C. The cooling medium flow rate and temperature are adjusted to achieve the desired cooling rate while maintaining system structural simplicity through the integrated cyclone design

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 cyclone separator effectively separates and cools off-gas, achieving at least 95% separation of solid parts and reducing hydrogen concentration, with enhanced cooling capabilities, thereby improving the overall purification efficiency and safety of the off-gas processing.

Implementation Method 1

supplying the off gas to an inside of the elongated hollow body, wherein the off gas hits and is directed along an inner surface of the circumferential wall, whereby solid parts (particles, particulates) are separated from the off gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVortex separation: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

The cyclone separator comprises a first lateral gas inlet for supplying the off gas to an inside of the elongated hollow body... whereby solid parts (particles, particulates) are separated from the off gas by rotational effects and gravity (vortex separation)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

A cooling arrangement in the form of a plurality of interconnected tubes extends helically around the elongated hollow body along the longitudinal axis of the cyclone separator. The cooling arrangement is connectable to a cooling circuit for distributing cooling water in order to cool off gas inside the elongated hollow body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3842152B1Off gas cleaning for MOX sintering plants with integrated cyclone
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 ALD VACUUM TECH GMBH
  • EP3842152B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3842152B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3842152B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cyclone separator (10) for separating solid and/or liquid parts from an off gas, in particular for installation in an off gas glove box (100). The cyclone separator (10) comprises an elongated hollow body (12) having a longitudinal axis, a first end (14), a second end (16) and a circumferential wall (18); a first lateral gas inlet (22) for supplying the off gas to an inside of the elongated hollow body (12), the first lateral gas inlet (22) being provided in the circumferential wall (18) of the elongated hollow body (12); a second lateral gas inlet (28) for supplying an additive gas to the inside of the elongated hollow body (12), the second lateral gas inlet (28) being provided in the circumferential wall (18) of the elongated hollow body (12) and being spaced from the first lateral gas inlet (22); and a gas outlet (34) for outputting the off gas and the additive gas. The elongated hollow body (12) is connectable or connected with a container (38) for collecting the solid and/or liquid parts separated from the off gas.