Drawer-Type Solvent Purification Modules for Carbon Capture Regeneration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing post-combustion carbon capture devices face issues with heat-stable salts, high molecular weight degradation products, and other pollutants leading to corrosion, reduced productivity, and high maintenance costs due to incomplete purification by activated carbon filters, which also require complex and inefficient packing replacement.

Innovation Solution

A drawer-type carbon capture solvent purification and recovery device with a ferris wheel-type mounting frame allows for flexible purification module placement and easy replacement, featuring adjustable purification technologies and modules equipped with conductivity meters and differential pressure gauges for monitoring and regeneration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If activated carbon filter is used to purify regenerated lean liquid, then organic substances and suspended particles can be adsorbed, but heat-stable salts, high molecular weight degradation products, and metal ions cannot be completely removed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorganic substances and suspended particles removalVSAvoidpurification completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The purification system is segmented into multiple functional stages: activated carbon filtration for organic substances, followed by advanced oxidation processes and membrane separation for heat-stable salts and degradation products. Each stage targets specific pollutant types, achieving comprehensive purification that a single activated carbon filter cannot accomplish.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs composite purification technologies combining activated carbon with advanced oxidation catalysts and membrane materials. This composite approach enables simultaneous removal of diverse pollutants including heat-stable salts, high molecular weight degradation products, and metal ions through multiple mechanisms acting in sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If packing in activated carbon filter is replaced when adsorption capacity decreases, then purification effectiveness can be maintained, but the replacement process is complex and requires stopping the machine

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurification effectivenessVSAvoidpacking replacement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static packing to dynamic replaceable modules. The purification packing is designed as modular cartridges that can be quickly swapped without shutting down the system, enabling continuous operation while maintaining purification effectiveness through simple module replacement rather than complex packing procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Spares packing modules are pre-prepared and can be quickly installed to replace exhausted ones. This preliminary preparation of replacement modules eliminates the need for complex on-site packing procedures and allows rapid module swapping during scheduled maintenance windows without requiring system shutdown.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If the uppermost layer of packing fails first and lowermost layer fails last, then adsorption capacity decreases from top to bottom, but replacing packing requires removing all packings which increases workload

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadsorption capacity distributionVSAvoidoperation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The packing is segmented into multiple independent modular cartridges arranged in series. When the uppermost layer shows signs of failure, only that specific module needs replacement rather than the entire packing bed. This segmentation allows targeted maintenance that preserves operational productivity by leaving functional modules in place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The problematic packing module is extracted and removed individually from the system for replacement, while the remaining functional modules stay in place. This selective extraction approach eliminates the need to remove and replace all packings, significantly reducing maintenance workload and maintaining system productivity during replacement operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If multiple purification technologies are adopted according to solvent properties, then purification level can be improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurification levelVSAvoidpurification system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The purification system is designed with multi-functional integrated units that can handle different pollutant types through a single modular platform. The universal module design incorporates multiple purification mechanisms (adsorption, oxidation, separation) within each cartridge, allowing high purification levels without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs dynamically configurable modular modules that can be selectively activated based on solvent properties and pollutant composition. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to achieve high purification levels for specific applications without always deploying the full complexity of all available purification technologies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Facilitates efficient and flexible solvent purification and recovery by enabling easy replacement and regeneration of packing, reducing operational complexity and maintenance costs while maintaining purification effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

the support supports the mounting frame through a rotating shaft, one end of the rotating shaft is keyed or fixedly connected with the center of the mounting frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 2

the telescopic pipe is provided in the first connecting hole of one of the two adjacent filter portions, and is inserted into the second connecting hole of the other filter portion after the telescopic pipe is extended outwards

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExtension and contraction:

Implementation Method 3

the elastic sheet is in a fan-shaped structure; the pressing portion and the boss are both fixed on a same side of the elastic sheet; when the pressing portion is pressed, the boss is separated from the first insertion hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 4

a spiral slot is provided at an inner side of the first connecting hole, and a second guide block is fixed on the side wall of the telescopic pipe, and the second guide block is snapped into the spiral slot, and when the rotating rod is pulled clockwise or counterclockwise, the second guide block of the telescopic pipe rotates along the spiral slot

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpiral motion:

Data Source

PatentEP4714908A1Drawer-type carbon capture solvent purification and recovery device and method
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 HUANENG CLEAN ENERGY RES INST
  • EP4714908A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4714908A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4714908A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a drawer-type carbon capture solvent purification and recovery device and method. The recovery device includes a support, a mounting frame and a purification module, the purification module is connected in an insertable manner to the mounting frame along the outer periphery of the mounting frame at equal intervals, and two adjacent purification modules are communicated with each other. The left half of the mounting frame forms a purification region, and the right half of the mounting frame forms a regeneration region. A liquid to be filtered sequentially flows through all purification modules in the purification region from top to bottom and then is discharged from a liquid outlet pipe. When the packing of the uppermost purification module in the purification region fails, the mounting frame is rotated, so that the failed purification module is rotated to the regeneration region, and the lowest purification module in the regeneration region is rotated to the purification region accordingly.