Deliquescent Dehydrating Agent Bed Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Deliquescent desiccant drying technologies face challenges in optimizing dehydration performance while minimizing the consumption of deliquescent agents, as existing methods often result in inefficient use of dehydrating power and high material usage.

Innovation Solution

A method and installation that optimize the height ratio and specific surface area of inert and deliquescent agent beds within a drying column, utilizing a bed structure with a mixture of inert materials and deliquescent agents of varying weights and shapes to enhance dehydration efficiency and reduce agent consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a traditional drying bed configuration is used with deliquescent agents, then dehydration function is provided, but deliquescent agent consumption is high and dehydration performance is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedehydration performanceVSAvoiddeliquescent agent consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The drying bed is segmented into multiple layers: a lower inert material layer (height h) and an upper deliquescent agent layer (height H). This segmentation allows the brine to flow through both layers sequentially, enabling the inert layer to contribute to dehydration and extend the useful life of the deliquescent agents, thereby reducing agent consumption while maintaining dehydration performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inert material layer acts as an intermediary between the effluent and the deliquescent agents. It provides a support structure that allows brine to flow through while maintaining contact with the deliquescent agents, optimizing the dehydration process and reducing the need for excessive deliquescent agent material

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the height of inert bed is increased to optimize brine flow, then dehydration efficiency improves, but the ratio of inert material to deliquescent agents increases leading to higher material usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedehydration efficiencyVSAvoidinert material quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the h/H ratio parameter within specific ranges (0.1 to 0.4) to achieve the best balance between dehydration efficiency and material usage. By controlling this parameter, the system maximizes the utilization of both inert material and deliquescent agents without excessive consumption of either component

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

This approach significantly reduces deliquescent agent consumption while improving dehydration performance, achieving water concentration reductions of over 50% in effluents like diesel and kerosene, making it more attractive from both technical and commercial perspectives.

Implementation Method 1

dehydration or drying of liquids and/or gases using deliquescent desiccants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeliquescence: Deliquescence

Implementation Method 2

When the brine passes through the inert bed, it still has a significant dehydrating power

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP2872238B1Method for start-up for a dehydration process using deliquescent products
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 QUADRIMEX CHEM
  • EP2872238B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2872238B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2872238B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a facility for the dehydration or drying of liquids and/or gases by means of deliquescent dehydrating agents. The invention especially enables the reduction of the consumption of deliquescent dehydrating agents while improving the dehydration performances of said method and its facility.