Floating Seal Assembly for Rotary Gas Separation Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary pressure swing adsorption devices face challenges in maintaining effective sealing pressures and preventing gas leakage due to the reliance on mechanical springs for balancing pressures, which can lead to inconsistent performance and reduced operational flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A rotary gas separation device with a seal assembly that utilizes a floating seal and independently controllable activation gas chambers to apply variable sealing pressures, eliminating the need for mechanical springs and allowing for adjustable sealing forces based on process and activation gas pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical springs are used to provide fixed balancing pressure, then sealing pressure is maintained, but operational flexibility and performance consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical springs with a gas pressure balancing system. Activation gas chambers filled with inert gas (such as nitrogen) substitute for mechanical springs to provide balancing pressure. This allows the sealing mechanism to respond dynamically to pressure changes without mechanical wear, improving both reliability and adaptability to varying operational conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic pressure from activation gas chambers to balance the sealing force. The activation gas pressure is regulated to match the process gas pressure, creating a balanced sealing mechanism that adapts to pressure variations. This pneumatic system replaces mechanical spring forces and provides consistent sealing performance across different operating conditions
2Force
If mechanical springs are used for pressure balancing, then sealing force is provided, but gas leakage increases due to inconsistent performance
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing mechanical springs with a regulated gas pressure system, the invention achieves more consistent sealing force. The activation gas pressure can be precisely controlled to match process conditions, ensuring the sealing element maintains constant contact with the sealing surface without the variability inherent in mechanical spring systems, thereby reducing gas leakage
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the activation gas pressure to match the process gas pressure conditions. This parameter matching ensures that the sealing force remains appropriate across different operating pressures, preventing both excessive wear and insufficient sealing that would lead to gas leakage
3Reliability
If fixed balancing pressure is used, then sealing is maintained, but adaptability to varying process conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a static mechanical spring system to a dynamic gas pressure system. The activation gas pressure can be independently regulated and adjusted in real-time to match varying process conditions, allowing the sealing mechanism to adapt dynamically while maintaining reliable sealing effectiveness across different operating scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The activation gas chambers are designed to automatically balance the sealing pressure by matching the process gas pressure. The system self-regulates through pressure equilibrium, where the activation gas pressure naturally adjusts to counterbalance the process gas pressure on the sealing element, providing adaptability without complex external control mechanisms
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 provides a more flexible and durable sealing mechanism, reducing gas leakage and maintaining consistent sealing forces across varying process conditions, enhancing the efficiency and longevity of the device.
Implementation Method 1
The process and activation gases apply sealing pressure to the floating seal thereby moving it towards the adjacent surface
Implementation Method 2
Gas separation can be accomplished by passing a mixture of gases over an adsorbent material that preferentially adsorbs a more readily adsorbed component relative to a less readily adsorbed component of the mixture
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas separation device is disclosed. In particular, seal assemblies and adsorbent element constructions for a gas separation device such as a pressure swing adsorption device are disclosed. The seal assembly can be part of a rotary valve and can include a seal backer and a floating seal positioned within a bore in the seal backer. The floating seal is configured to press towards and seal against an adjacent rotor. Valve action is provided as apertures in the floating seal and rotor are brought into and then out of alignment as a result of relative rotation therebetween. The seal assembly can include two types of gas chambers to apply balanced sealing pressures over the sealing surface of the valve, one type configured to receive pressurized process gas from within the device and the other configured to receive gas from an independently controlled pressurized gas source. The adsorber elements in the device may comprise improved spacer cross support structures at the ends of wound laminate adsorbent structures.