Gas Treatment Apparatus Phase Separation Regeneration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gas treatment methods require high energy consumption for separating and recovering acidic compounds, such as carbon dioxide, from gases using absorbents and regenerators.

Innovation Solution

A gas treatment method and apparatus that employs a phase-separable treatment liquid and a separation promoting gas in the regenerator to facilitate low-temperature regeneration of acidic compounds, reducing energy consumption by leveraging phase separation and heat transfer efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional heating regeneration is used to separate acidic compound from treatment liquid, then separation effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical state parameters of the treatment liquid by controlling temperature and pressure to induce phase separation. By adjusting these parameters, the treatment liquid transitions between single-phase and two-phase states, enabling acidic compound separation without high-temperature heating, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining separation effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes phase transition of the treatment liquid as the core mechanism. When the treatment liquid absorbs acidic compound, it undergoes phase separation into two phases under specific temperature and pressure conditions. During regeneration, by controlling phase transition through pressure reduction or temperature adjustment, the acidic compound is released without requiring conventional high-energy heating processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

2Use of energy by moving object

If phase separation is used for regeneration, then energy consumption is reduced, but regeneration rate may decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidregeneration rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a separation promoting gas as an intermediary substance in the regenerator. This gas facilitates the phase separation process and enhances the release of acidic compound from the treatment liquid during regeneration, thereby improving regeneration rate without compromising the energy-saving benefits of phase separation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite system consisting of treatment liquid and separation promoting gas together in the regenerator. This composite approach combines the phase separation capability of the treatment liquid with the mass transfer enhancement provided by the separation promoting gas, achieving both low energy consumption and high regeneration rate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 method effectively reduces energy required for acidic compound separation and recovery by optimizing regeneration temperatures and using a separation promoting gas to enhance regeneration rates, achieving lower energy consumption compared to traditional methods.

Implementation Method 1

The absorber brings the gas to be treated into contact with the treatment liquid, so as to make the treatment liquid absorb the acidic compound in the gas to be treated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The treatment liquid causes phase separation, upon absorbing the acidic compound, into phases with different content proportions of the acidic compound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase separation: Phase Change

Implementation Method 3

The regenerator heats the treatment liquid, to thereby separate the acidic compound from the treatment liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

subjecting the amine compound or mixture having absorbed the acidic compound to heating and supergravity desorption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDesorption: Desorption

Data Source

PatentEP3702015B1Gas treatment method and gas treatment apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 KOBE STEEL LTD
  • EP3702015B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3702015B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3702015B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A gas treatment method includes an absorption step in which a gas to be treated containing an acidic compound, such as carbon dioxide, is brought into contact, in an absorber (12), with a treatment liquid that absorbs the acidic compound; and a regeneration step in which the treatment liquid, having the acidic compound absorbed therein, is sent to a regenerator (14), and the treatment liquid is then heated to separate the acidic compound from the treatment liquid. In the regeneration step, a gas almost insoluble to the treatment liquid, such as hydrogen gas, is brought into contact with the treatment liquid.