Gas Conversion Device with Gravity-Replenished Solid Reactant Bed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current plasma reactors for CO2 conversion into CO face challenges in achieving high conversion rates and low energy consumption, with unwanted oxygen byproducts leading to back reactions and increased separation costs.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a plasma reactor and a chamber with a fixed bed of solid reactant material, where the solid reactant material is replenished continuously via a silo using gravitational flow, allowing for a two-stage conversion process that reduces oxygen levels in the product gas and maintains efficient operation without stopping for refills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If plasma reactor is used for CO2 conversion, then CO production is achieved, but oxygen byproducts cause back reactions and reduce conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes oxygen byproducts from the reaction system by introducing a secondary reaction zone where oxygen reacts with additional carbon material to form CO. This separates the harmful oxygen removal function from the main CO2 conversion plasma reactor, allowing the plasma reactor to focus on CO2 dissociation while the secondary zone handles oxygen consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary carbon material in the secondary reaction zone that acts as a mediator to consume oxygen byproducts. This intermediary substance reacts with oxygen to form additional CO, effectively removing the harmful oxygen while producing more desired product, thus mediating between the plasma reactor output and the final product specification.
2Productivity
If continuous operation is desired, then downtime for reactant replenishment must be minimized, but manual refilling causes operational interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares carbon material in advance and stores it in a reservoir or feeder system connected to the reaction zone. This preliminary preparation and storage of reactant material allows the system to automatically replenish carbon without manual intervention during operation, eliminating downtime for refilling and enabling continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the system automatically monitors and replenishes carbon material in the reaction zone. The automated feeder or dosing system continuously supplies carbon material as needed without requiring operator intervention, allowing the reactor to maintain continuous operation without downtime for manual refilling.
3Loss of energy
If energy consumption is reduced, then operational costs decrease, but conversion efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous process where CO2 conversion and oxygen removal occur in an integrated two-stage system without interruption. The plasma reactor continuously dissociates CO2 while the secondary zone simultaneously consumes oxygen byproducts, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the system. This continuity eliminates energy losses associated with batch processing, heating/cooling cycles, and operational interruptions, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining high conversion efficiency.
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 device achieves significant reduction in oxygen levels in the product gas, improving CO2 conversion efficiency and reducing energy costs, enabling continuous operation with minimal downtime for reactant replenishment.
Implementation Method 1
plasma reactor for generating a plasma
Implementation Method 2
CO2 can be directly split into CO and O2
Implementation Method 3
a flow of solid reactant material from the silo to the chamber is induced so as to maintain the chamber filled with solid reactant material, and wherein the flow of solid reactant material from the silo to the chamber is induced by a gravitational force or at least partly by a gravitational force
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a device for gas conversion comprising a plasma reactor and a chamber configured for receiving a gas flow of converted and unconverted feed gas evacuated from the plasma reactor. The chamber comprises a supply throughput for filling the chamber with solid reactant material so as to form the fixed bed of solid reactant material, and at least one gas exhaust window for extracting a product gas. The device for gas conversion further comprises a silo for storing a stock of the solid reactant material and a connecting tube connecting a bottom opening of the silo with the supply throughput of the chamber. The silo and the connecting tube are configured such that, when the device is in operation and solid reactant material is being depleted in the chamber, a flow of solid reactant material from the silo to the chamber is induced so as to maintain the chamber filled with solid reactant material, and wherein the flow of solid reactant material from the silo to the chamber is induced by a gravitational force or at least partly by a gravitational force. The present disclosure also relates to a method for gas-conversion.