Gas Stream Hydration Using Non-Potable Water to Reduce Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas-liquid contacting systems face challenges in minimizing water loss and contamination from non-potable or off-spec water sources, which can impact downstream processes such as CO2 capture and bioreactor systems, particularly in areas with water restrictions or hot, dry climates.
Innovation Solution
A hydration system that uses non-potable or off-spec water sources to humidify a gas stream within a contact zone, separating the hydration solution from downstream processes to prevent contamination, while controlling temperature and flow to minimize evaporation and pressure drop, and utilizing drift elimination techniques to prevent solution loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If non-potable or off-spec water sources are used to humidify gas streams, then fresh water requirements are reduced, but water loss through evaporation and contamination of downstream processes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the gas stream into multiple pathways: a first portion is humidified using non-potable water in a separate hydration system, while a second portion bypasses this system. This segmentation allows selective humidification without contaminating the entire downstream process stream, thereby reducing both fresh water requirements and water loss through evaporation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the humidification function into a separate, isolated hydration system that processes only a portion of the gas stream. By taking out the humidification step and isolating it from the main downstream process, the system can use non-potable water without risking contamination of sensitive downstream equipment, thus reducing fresh water requirements while minimizing water loss.
2Quantity of substance
If non-potable or off-spec water sources are used to humidify gas streams, then fresh water requirements are reduced, but contamination of downstream processes occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the gas stream so that only a first portion contacts the non-potable hydration solution in the hydration system, while a second portion remains uncontaminated. This segmentation ensures that downstream processes receive clean gas without contamination, while still achieving the benefit of reduced fresh water requirements through selective use of non-potable water.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the potentially contaminating humidification step into a separate, isolated system that processes only a portion of the gas stream. By taking out this function and isolating it physically and functionally from the main downstream process, the system eliminates contamination risks while maintaining the advantage of using non-potable water sources.
3Productivity
If temperature and flow are increased to enhance humidification, then evaporation efficiency improves, but pressure drop and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by humidifying only a first portion of the gas stream rather than the entire flow. This allows the hydration system to operate with optimized temperature and flow conditions for efficient evaporation without subjecting the entire gas stream to high pressure drops, thereby achieving good humidification efficiency while minimizing overall pressure loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by creating a localized hydration environment within the hydration system where temperature and flow conditions are optimized for evaporation efficiency. This localized optimization occurs only in the contact zone where needed, while the rest of the gas stream maintains its original properties, thus achieving high humidification efficiency without excessive pressure drop across the entire system.
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
Reduces water evaporation losses and contamination in downstream processes, allowing the use of alternate water sources without disrupting process performance, thus minimizing fresh water requirements and maintaining process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
evaporating water from the hydration solution into the gas stream to form a humidified gas stream
Implementation Method 2
directing a hydration solution into the contact zone using a pump
Implementation Method 3
a drift elimination section configured to prevent hydration solution from leaving with a humidified gas stream
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for humidifying a gas stream using a hydration system include directing a gas stream through a contact zone of at least one hydration system; directing a hydration solution into the contact zone using a pump; contacting the gas stream with the hydration solution; evaporating water from the hydration solution into the gas stream to form a humidified gas stream, transporting the humidified gas stream out of the at least one hydration system; and collecting the remaining hydration solution in a hydration solution collection basin below the contact zone. The at least one hydration system is fluidly coupled to at least one downstream process and the humidified gas stream from the at least one hydration system is transported as a feed stream to the at least one downstream process.