Electrochemical Gas Treatment with pH Control for Biogas Upgrading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biogas treatment methods are inefficient and costly for removing non-compressible contaminants like CO2, and existing ion dosing processes for wastewater treatment are cumbersome and expensive, requiring continuous inputs of reagents and salts.
Innovation Solution
An electrochemical method using electrodes to generate ions in a working fluid, which react with contaminant gases to convert them into reaction products, maintaining pH at a set point to sequester contaminants and produce a purified gas stream enriched in target gases like methane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional biogas treatment methods are used to remove CO2, then contaminant removal is achieved, but the process becomes costly and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical/physical separation methods (membranes, adsorption) with an electrochemical system that uses electrical energy to generate reactive species for contaminant removal. This substitution enables more efficient CO2 and H2S removal from biogas while reducing operational costs and improving treatment productivity through continuous in-situ generation of reactive chemicals.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrochemical cell autonomously generates the necessary reactive species (through water electrolysis producing OH- and H2O2) to remove contaminants, eliminating the need for external reagent dosing systems. The system self-regulates by continuously producing the chemicals needed for contaminant sequestration, improving both efficiency and reducing operational complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional ion dosing processes are used for wastewater treatment, then treatment is achieved, but continuous reagent and salt inputs are required increasing cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The electrochemical cell autonomously generates the necessary reactive species (through water electrolysis producing OH- and H2O2) to remove contaminants, eliminating the need for external reagent dosing systems. The system self-regulates by continuously producing the chemicals needed for contaminant sequestration, improving both efficiency and reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the reagent dosing function entirely from the system by generating all necessary chemicals in-situ through electrochemical reactions. This eliminates the complex external dosing infrastructure while maintaining effective contaminant removal, simplifying the overall treatment system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If CO2 is removed from biogas to enable compression and transport, then biogas becomes suitable for fuel use, but the removal process becomes costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical/physical separation methods (membranes, adsorption) with an electrochemical system that uses electrical energy to generate reactive species for contaminant removal. This substitution enables more efficient CO2 and H2S removal from biogas while reducing operational costs and improving treatment productivity through continuous in-situ generation of reactive chemicals.
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 method efficiently removes contaminants such as CO2, H2S, and NH3 from biogas, producing a valuable gas product with enhanced commercial value, and generates FeCO3 for recycling back into the wastewater treatment system, reducing the need for external reagents and improving wastewater treatment efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
applying a voltage across an electrically connected pair of electrodes at least partially in contact with a working fluid in an electrochemical cell to generate a plurality of ions
Implementation Method 2
reacting at least a portion of the at least one contaminant gas with the plurality of ions in the working fluid to convert the portion of the at least one contaminant gas to one or more reaction products
Implementation Method 3
separating the at least one reaction product from the gas stream
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for removing a portion of at least one contaminant gas from a gas stream is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: a) applying a voltage across a pair of electrodes in contact with a working fluid to generate a plurality of ions; and b) reacting the at least one contaminant gas with the plurality of ions to convert it to one or more reaction products, thereby sequestering at least some of the contaminant gas from the first gas stream to produce a second gas stream, wherein the pH of the working fluid is substantially maintained at a predetermined set point for improving the efficiency of the conversion. The invention also relates to a process for treating sewage or wastewater by adding the one or more reaction products to: the sewage, wastewater, sludge and/or an anaerobic digester.