Hydro fluoro ether gas separation process
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating nitrogen and oxygen from air, such as cryogenic fractionation and pressure swing adsorption, are energy-intensive, costly, and have large equipment footprints, while existing membrane technologies face limitations in cycle speed and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A process using hydro fluoro ether to selectively adsorb oxygen from air at near-ambient temperatures, allowing for continuous operation with low global warming potential and zero ozone depletion, involving mixing air with hydro fluoro ether in a closed vessel, retaining it to separate components based on solubility differences, and releasing the adsorbed gas at reduced pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If cryogenic fractionation is used to separate oxygen and nitrogen, then high purity separation is achieved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from cryogenic conditions to near-ambient temperatures, and changes the separation mechanism from distillation based on boiling point differences to absorption based on solubility differences in hydro fluoro ether, thereby achieving high purity separation with dramatically reduced energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cryogenic distillation system with a chemical absorption system using hydro fluoro ether, where oxygen is selectively absorbed from air at near-ambient temperatures, eliminating the need for energy-intensive cooling and distillation equipment
2Quantity of substance
If pressure swing adsorption with multiple vessels is used, then gas separation capacity increases, but device complexity and equipment footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple pressure swing adsorption vessels into a single vessel by using liquid hydro fluoro ether as the absorbent medium, eliminating the need for complex piping, valves, and control systems while maintaining separation capacity through continuous circulation of the absorbent
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses liquid hydro fluoro ether circulation instead of gas-phase pressure swing adsorption, employing hydraulic principles to continuously pump and circulate the liquid absorbent through the single vessel, thereby simplifying the system while maintaining high separation capacity
3Quantity of substance
If larger vessels are used to meet capacity demands, then separation capacity increases, but installation cost and equipment footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a liquid absorbent system that can be circulated through compact piping and heat exchange surfaces, replacing the need for large rigid vessels, thereby achieving high separation capacity in a compact footprint that can be easily installed in space-constrained environments
Data Source
AI summary
A process for something separating oxygen from air includes mixing the air with hydro fluoro ether in a closed vessel for a desired period of time so that the oxygen from the air is adsorbed into the hydro fluoro ether, discharging the oxygen-adsorbed hydro fluoro ether from the closed vessel, and flashing the oxygen-adsorbed hydro fluoro ether into a chamber so that so as to separate the oxygen from the hydro fluoro ether. Nitrogen is separated from the air as the oxygen is adsorbed in the hydro fluoro ether in the closed vessel. The step of flashing that includes passing the elevated pressure oxygen-adsorbed hydro fluoro ether across a restricting orifice so as to evaporate the oxygen from the hydro fluoro ether.