Honeycomb Gas Adsorber With Induction Heating for Uniform Desorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas adsorption/desorption technologies face challenges in uniformly heating gas adsorbents, leading to inefficient gas recovery, particularly in direct air recovery (DAC) methods for CO2 from air, due to inconsistent distribution of magnetic materials and the difficulty in introducing electrical conduction through thermally conductive filaments.

Innovation Solution

A gas adsorption/desorption unit incorporating honeycomb structures with integrated magnetic materials and gas adsorbents, where the magnetic material is present in radial and axial directions, allowing for uniform induction heating and efficient gas adsorption/desorption, enhanced by a magnetic shield and controlled distribution of magnetic and gas adsorbent components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If magnetic material is mixed with gas adsorbent in adsorbent container, then gas adsorption/desorption can be performed, but uniform heating of gas adsorbent cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas adsorption/desorption efficiencyVSAvoiduniformity of heating
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the adsorbent container into multiple independent honeycomb structures, each with its own flow paths. This segmentation allows for more uniform distribution of magnetic material and gas adsorbent within each cell, enabling consistent induction heating across the entire adsorbent bed while maintaining high adsorption/desorption efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality by coating gas adsorbent on the inner surfaces of partition walls and introducing magnetic material specifically into cell cavities. This localized arrangement ensures that magnetic material is distributed uniformly throughout the structure, enabling consistent induction heating while maintaining high gas adsorption capacity on the partition wall surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Temperature

If thermally conductive filaments are densely arranged in support, then uniform heating of adsorbent material can be achieved, but it becomes difficult to introduce electrical conduction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of heatingVSAvoidcomplexity of electrical conduction system
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical system of thermally conductive filaments with an electromagnetic field-based induction heating system. By using induction heating coils to generate electromagnetic fields that directly heat the magnetic material and subsequently the gas adsorbent, the system achieves uniform heating without requiring complex networks of thermally conductive filaments or electrical conduction pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If magnetic material and gas adsorbent are filled in adsorbent container, then gas recovery can be performed, but consistent distribution of magnetic material cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas recovery efficiencyVSAvoiddistribution consistency of magnetic material
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the container into multiple honeycomb structures with defined cells, the invention provides specific spaces for magnetic material placement. This segmentation enables consistent distribution of magnetic material throughout the adsorbent bed, ensuring uniform induction heating while maintaining high gas recovery efficiency through the large surface area of partition walls coated with gas adsorbent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 ensures reliable and uniform heating of gas adsorbents, increasing the effective adsorption/desorption area and improving gas recovery efficiency by ensuring consistent magnetic material distribution and using induction heating.

Implementation Method 1

at least one induction heating coil provided around the periphery of each of the one or more honeycomb structures

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInduction heating: Induction Heating

Implementation Method 2

at least one induction heating coil provided around the periphery of each of the one or more honeycomb structures

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

the magnetic material is present in at least a part of the honeycomb structure in radial and axial directions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic energy absorption and conversion to thermal energy: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 4

gases are adsorbed on a gas adsorbent that selectively adsorbs gases having specific components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas adsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 5

the gases are desorbed from the gas adsorbent for recovery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal desorption: Desorption

Data Source

PatentEP4667081A1Gas adsorption/desorption unit, gas adsorption/desorption device and method for producing magnetic body
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 NGK INSULATORS LTD
  • EP4667081A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4667081A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4667081A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A gas adsorption/desorption unit 2 according to this invention includes: one or more honeycomb structures 20 including a honeycomb structure portion 24 having an outer peripheral wall 240 and partition walls 241 provided on an inner side of the outer peripheral wall 240, the partition walls 241 defining a plurality of cells 241a each extending from one end face to other end face of the honeycomb structure portion 24 to form a flow path; and at least one induction heating coil 21 provided around the periphery of each of the one or more honeycomb structures 20, wherein at least one of the one or more honeycomb structures 20 comprises a magnetic material and a gas adsorbent.