Dielectric Barrier Discharge Siloxane Removal for Landfill Gas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing siloxanes from landfill gas (LFG) are inefficient, leading to waste cycles and adverse effects on engines and catalytic converters, with limited regeneration capabilities and high operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system is employed to convert siloxanes in a carrier stream into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) deposits and gaseous hydrocarbon fragments, using helium as a carrier gas and maintaining ambient temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adsorption on activated carbon filters is used to remove siloxane, then siloxane removal is achieved, but the filters have limited regeneration ability and contribute to waste cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of siloxane treatment from physical adsorption to chemical conversion. By applying plasma treatment, siloxanes are converted into different chemical forms (solid deposits and gaseous fragments) that can be easily separated, eliminating the need for filter regeneration and breaking the waste cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful siloxane contaminants into beneficial or easily removable forms. Through plasma treatment, siloxanes are transformed into solid deposits that can be collected and gaseous hydrocarbon fragments, turning a waste problem into a potential resource recovery opportunity.
2Quantity of substance
If water is used as an absorbent for siloxane removal, then some absorption occurs, but effectiveness is limited due to low solubility and high operational costs from constant recycling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical/physical absorption process with a chemical transformation process. Instead of relying on water's limited solubility to absorb siloxanes, plasma treatment chemically converts siloxanes into separable forms, dramatically improving both absorption capacity and operational efficiency without requiring constant recycling.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transitions in the treatment process. Plasma treatment converts gaseous siloxanes into solid phase deposits that can be easily separated from the gas stream, leveraging phase change to achieve efficient removal without the limitations of liquid absorption.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional adsorbents like silica gel and alumina are used, then longer lifecycles are achieved, but they suffer from inability to desorb at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to desorb siloxanes from saturated adsorbents (the conventional approach), the invention inverts the strategy by preventing siloxane accumulation in the first place through plasma treatment. This converts siloxanes into separable forms before they can adsorb, eliminating the desorption problem entirely while maintaining long operational lifecycles.
4Power
If siloxanes undergo combustion in fuel mixture, then energy generation is achieved, but silicon oxides deposit on engine components causing erosion and efficiency reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary treatment to the landfill gas before combustion. By using plasma treatment to convert siloxanes into solid deposits and gaseous fragments prior to engine combustion, the harmful siloxanes are removed in advance, preventing silicon oxide deposition on engine components while allowing clean combustion for energy generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes siloxane contaminants from the landfill gas stream through plasma treatment before the gas enters the combustion process. This separation removes the harmful component (siloxanes) while allowing the beneficial component (methane) to undergo combustion for energy generation without causing engine damage.
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
Achieves high siloxane conversion rates of up to 80% with robust, sustainable operation, producing valuable PDMS deposits and reducing engine contamination.
Implementation Method 1
forming plasma in the carrier gas/liquid siloxane stream to form an effluent
Implementation Method 2
a dielectric barrier discharge reactor, a plasma stream
Implementation Method 3
passing the effluent through a cold trap, wherein polydimethylsiloxane deposits out from the effluent
Data Source
AI summary
A dielectric barrier discharge system, employed to reform/remove organosilicon contaminants off a carrier stream to provide a sustainable, end-of-technology way of siloxane removal that will ensure siloxane does not re-enter the carrier stream, as well as generates useful end-products.