Horizontal Sorbent Bed Layout for Low-Leakage CO2 Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing CO2 capture systems face challenges in efficiently capturing CO2 from dilute sources like air with high energy consumption, large footprint, and potential leakage, while maintaining low pressure drop and minimizing sorbent weight and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A sorbent unit design with horizontal gas flow through sorbent beds, a center volume for gas collection, and closed casings to prevent leakage, supported by a frame to minimize weight and energy consumption, using zeolite or silica gel for efficient CO2 capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If vertical cylindrical tanks with packed beds are used for CO2 capture, then CO2 can be adsorbed from gas streams, but the system requires large footprint, high energy consumption for regeneration, and complex support structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical cylindrical tanks to horizontal flow through shallow adsorbent beds. Gas flows horizontally through the adsorbent layer rather than vertically down deep beds, fundamentally changing the dimensional approach to achieve the same capture capacity with reduced footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The adsorbent is divided into multiple shallow beds arranged horizontally rather than one deep vertical bed. This segmentation allows gas to flow through multiple smaller adsorbent layers, achieving equivalent capture capacity while reducing the vertical height and footprint requirements.
2Quantity of substance
If deep packed beds are used to increase adsorbent surface area, then CO2 capture efficiency improves, but pressure drop increases and gas flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing bed depth vertically to gain more adsorbent surface area, the patent extends the adsorbent configuration horizontally with multiple shallow beds. Gas flows parallel to the ground through these beds, maintaining low pressure drop while achieving sufficient surface area contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses horizontal gas flow through shallow beds optimized for low pressure drop. The flow regime and bed configuration are designed to minimize gas flow resistance while maintaining effective mass transfer between gas phase and adsorbent surface.
3Strength
If complex support structures are used to hold adsorbent weight, then adsorbent can be supported, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adsorbent support function from complex internal support structures and transfers it to the building floor. The adsorbent beds are designed to rest directly on the floor, eliminating the need for elaborate support frameworks within the device itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The building floor serves a dual function: it provides the structural base for the facility and simultaneously supports the weight of the adsorbent beds. This multi-functional use of the floor eliminates the need for dedicated support structures.
4Productivity
If vertical flow through packed beds is used, then gas can be processed, but incoming and outgoing gas streams may mix, reducing purification efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the gas flow path into distinct horizontal zones. Fresh gas enters one end of the horizontal bed system and flows through multiple shallow beds in sequence, while purified gas exits from the other end. This segmentation prevents mixing between incoming and outgoing streams.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of vertical flow where mixing can occur at the bottom outlet, the patent uses horizontal flow where the gas stream moves laterally through the adsorbent beds. The inlet and outlet are positioned at opposite ends of the horizontal configuration, eliminating the mixing problem inherent in vertical designs.
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 design achieves low energy consumption, minimal footprint, and effective CO2 capture from dilute sources with minimal leakage, suitable for applications like greenhouse gas supply and breathing systems.
Implementation Method 1
Small porous particles such as zeolite or silica gel can selectively adsorb component(s) such as CO2 or H2O from dilute gaseous sources. The component(s) to be adsorbed or captured diffuse into the pores of the particles and are attached to certain locations or sites within the pores by electrical van der Waals forces.
Implementation Method 2
The component(s) to be adsorbed or captured diffuse into the pores of the particles and are attached to certain locations or sites within the pores
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a sorbent unit, comprising: sorbent beds at either side of a center volume; and side covers and bottom cover at the side and bottom of the center volume; wherein the sorbent unit above each sorbent bed has a casing and sorbent filling and discharging arrangements which are closed during operation to prevent any undesired gas escape. The present invention also relates to a system for purification of gas, comprising: at least one enclosure comprising a gas feed pipe, a gas exit pipe, and at least one sorbent unit according to the invention. The present invention also relates to a method for purifying gas.