Draft Tube Tapered Design for Syngas Moisture Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gasification systems face challenges in efficiently separating entrained quench liquid from syngas, leading to high moisture content in the cooled syngas, which affects downstream processing and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A quench system configuration featuring a draft tube with a tapered configuration and shear plates that reverses the flow direction of syngas, decreasing drag forces on entrained quench liquid, allowing for effective separation and removal of moisture from the syngas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If syngas is cooled in a quench liquid, then the syngas temperature is reduced, but entrained quench liquid increases moisture content in the syngas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesyngas temperatureVSAvoidmoisture content

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful component (entrained quench liquid) from the syngas stream using a draft tube with tapered configuration and shear plates, separating the liquid from gas phases to reduce moisture content while maintaining cooling efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The draft tube reverses the flow direction of syngas, creating upward flow that opposes the downward force of gravity on liquid droplets, enhancing separation of entrained quench liquid from the syngas stream

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a draft tube with tapered configuration is used, then separation of entrained quench liquid is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidquench system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The draft tube employs a tapered configuration where the cross-sectional area changes gradually along the flow direction, optimizing flow dynamics and separation efficiency without requiring complex mechanical components or control systems

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 solution significantly reduces the moisture content of the syngas, enabling more efficient downstream processing and increasing the residence time of syngas within the draft tube for enhanced separation, resulting in a syngas with substantially less entrained quench liquid.

Implementation Method 1

a dip tube that may direct the syngas from the gasification chamber into a quench liquid to cool the syngas to generate a cooled syngas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a draft tube with a tapered configuration and shear plates that reverses the flow direction of syngas, decreasing drag forces on entrained quench liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow expansion: Bernoulli Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10131856B2Gasification quench system

Publication Date: 2018.11.20 AIR PROD & CHEM INC

AI summary

A system including a quench system that may cool a syngas generated in a gasification chamber. The quench system includes a quench chamber, a dip tube that may direct the syngas from the gasification chamber into a quench liquid to cool the syngas to generate a cooled syngas, and a draft tube disposed circumferentially about the dip tube and that may receive the cooled syngas. A passage is disposed between a first wall of the dip tube and a second wall of the draft tube, and the draft tube includes a tapered configuration in a flow direction along the passage.