Frozen Gas Capture Wheel for Turbine Outlet Clogging Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbo-machinery used in gas separation applications often causes gases like carbon dioxide to freeze at -225° Fahrenheit, resulting in fine particulate matter that can clog or damage downstream components due to sudden temperature drops.
Innovation Solution
A turbine outlet frozen gas capture apparatus with an enclosure divided into two chambers, a rotatable wheel to capture and transport frozen gas from the first to the second chamber, and a heater within the second chamber to vaporize the gas, along with a system to maintain a pressure differential preventing backflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If turbo-machinery is used to separate gas at high velocities, then gas separation efficiency is improved, but temperature drops suddenly causing gas to freeze and form fine particulate matter that can clog or damage downstream elements
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is divided into a first chamber for receiving turbine outlet exhaust and a second chamber for vaporizing frozen gas, with a rotatable wheel capturing frozen gas particles and transporting them between chambers. This segmentation allows the system to handle frozen gas particles separately from the main gas flow, preventing them from reaching downstream elements while maintaining efficient gas separation in the turbine.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable wheel acts as an intermediary mechanism that captures frozen gas particles in the first chamber, transports them through a passage, and deposits them in the second chamber where they are vaporized. This intermediary transport system prevents direct contact between frozen gas particles and downstream elements, resolving the clogging and damage problem while preserving the benefits of high-velocity gas separation.
2Reliability
If frozen gas is captured and transported to a second chamber for vaporization, then downstream elements are protected from clogging and damage, but additional apparatus components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable wheel serves multiple functions: it acts as a barrier to capture frozen gas particles in the first chamber, functions as a transport mechanism to move particles through the passage to the second chamber, and serves as a structural element dividing the two chambers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall apparatus structure while maintaining protection of downstream elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus combines the functions of particle capture, transport, and vaporization into a single integrated system where the rotatable wheel and two chambers work together as a unified mechanism. By merging these functions rather than using separate independent systems, the design reduces complexity while achieving reliable protection of downstream elements from frozen gas particulate matter.
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
Effectively captures and vaporizes frozen gas, preventing clogging and damage by maintaining a pressure differential that inhibits the flow of frozen gas back into the first chamber, ensuring smooth operation of downstream components.
Implementation Method 1
a heater disposed within the second chamber and configured to vaporize the frozen gas transported therein to thereby produce vaporized gas
Implementation Method 2
a system configured to draw the vaporized gas from the second chamber and to maintain a pressure differential between the first and second chambers sufficient to prevent flow of the turbine outlet exhaust across the divider
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine outlet frozen gas capture apparatus is provided and includes an enclosure divided into first and second chambers, the first chamber being receptive of turbine outlet exhaust including frozen gas, a wheel disposed and configured to be rotatable such that frozen gas received in the first chamber is captured and transported into the second chamber and a heater disposed within the second chamber and configured to vaporize the frozen gas transported therein to thereby produce vaporized gas.