Fiberbed Mist Collector With Acid-Impregnated Gas Filtration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for removing non-condensing gases like formaldehyde, NOx, and SO2 from asphalt production processes are costly, energy-intensive, and generate difficult-to-handle byproducts, necessitating a more efficient and cost-effective solution.

Innovation Solution

A fiberbed mist collector with a housing, pre-filters, condensing filters, and acid-impregnated filters is used to filter and remediate these gases, utilizing pre-filters to remove particulates, condensing filters to condense gases, and acid-impregnated filters to remove non-condensing gases, with a liquid collecting chamber for waste management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If thermal oxidation is used to remove formaldehyde, then formaldehyde removal efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases and system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformaldehyde removal efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters from high-temperature thermal oxidation to ambient temperature operation using acid-impregnated fiberbed filters. The acid impregnation creates active sites that chemically react with and capture formaldehyde at much lower temperatures, eliminating the need for energy-intensive heating while maintaining effective removal efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal/chemical oxidation system with a filtration-based system using acid-impregnated media. Instead of using heat and oxidation reactions, the system uses chemical adsorption and absorption mechanisms in the fiberbed filter to capture formaldehyde, significantly reducing energy requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If SCR or SNCR is used to remove NOx, then NOx removal efficiency is improved, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNOx removal efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and addresses NOx removal as a separate function within the filtration system. By incorporating acid-impregnated media specifically designed to capture NOx, the system isolates the NOx removal mechanism from the complex catalytic reduction systems, simplifying the overall architecture while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The acid-impregnated fiberbed acts as an intermediary medium that facilitates NOx removal through chemical absorption. Instead of requiring complex catalysts and reductant injection systems, the impregnated acid media directly interacts with and captures NOx, providing a simpler mediation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If flue gas desulfurization is used to remove SO2, then SO2 removal efficiency is improved, but operational cost and waste handling complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSO2 removal efficiencyVSAvoidoperational cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs acid-impregnated fiberbed filters that can be relatively easily replaced or regenerated. Instead of requiring continuous consumption of expensive alkaline reagents and complex waste handling infrastructure, the filtration media serves as a consumable component that captures SO2 and can be disposed of or regenerated more economically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The system facilitates discarding of captured sulfur compounds within the filter media, which then requires simpler waste handling compared to FGD byproducts. The impregnated acid media absorbs SO2 and the resulting compounds are contained within the filter, enabling easier disposal or recovery compared to large-volume FGD waste streams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Reliability

If condensing filter is used to remove gaseous pollutants, then pollutant removal is improved, but the required temperatures are impractical to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant removalVSAvoidcondensation temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the removal mechanism from physical condensation requiring extreme temperatures to chemical absorption and adsorption that occurs at ambient or near-ambient temperatures. The acid-impregnated media creates chemical affinity for target pollutants, eliminating the need for impractical temperature conditions.

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 system effectively removes at least 80-100% of non-condensing gases, such as formaldehyde, NOx, and SO2, while being cost-effective and easy to maintain, without generating harmful byproducts.

Implementation Method 1

at least one acid-impregnated filter configured to remove at least one non-condensing gas from the gas emissions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

one or more condensing filters; The condensing filters may be configured to condense at least a portion of the gas emissions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP4656272A1Fiberbed mist collector with improved filtering
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 ASTEC INC
  • EP4656272A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4656272A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4656272A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A fiberbed mist collector and method of use for filtering gas emissions having contaminants, including one or more unwanted gases that are produced during an asphalt concrete production process. The fiberbed mist collector includes a housing, a pre-filter area for receiving gases, a transition area for receiving gas emissions from the pre-filter area, a primary filter area provided with one or more primary filters, a liquid collecting chamber configured to collect liquid waste material falling from the primary filter area, a housing outlet, and an exhaust stack that receives gas emissions from the housing. A pre-filter is located between the pre-filter area and the transition area for filtering out particulate matter that is entrained with the gas emissions. Condensing filters are provided in the primary filter area to condense at least a portion of the gas emissions. An acid-impregnated filter removes at least one non-condensing gas from the gas emissions.