Infrared Filter Rejuvenation for Chemical Contaminant Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current filtration systems for chemical- and particulate-contaminated flow, such as those using ceramic plates and activated charcoal, are expensive to operate and generate significant toxic waste due to inefficient rejuvenation processes that rely on combustion, leading to incomplete combustion and high carbon dioxide emissions.
Innovation Solution
A non-combustive gasification method using a containment vessel with infrared transmissivity and temperature-tolerant filter media, where a solvent carrier is used to push contaminants through the filter, and infrared heating elements heat the filter medium to volatilize contaminants without combustion, allowing for in situ rejuvenation and collection of contaminants as SynGas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If combustion processes are used to heat the charcoal and gasify the collected hydrocarbons, then the contaminants can be removed from the filter media, but the process produces incomplete combustion, high carbon dioxide emissions, and requires complex mechanical handling equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the heating parameter from combustion-based thermal processing to infrared radiation heating. This allows the filter media to be heated to the required temperature for contaminant gasification without the harmful byproducts of combustion, eliminating carbon dioxide emissions and incomplete combustion issues while maintaining effective contaminant removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical combustion system with an infrared heating system. Instead of using burners, fuel delivery systems, and air supply mechanisms for combustion, the system uses infrared radiation sources that directly heat the filter media, eliminating the need for complex mechanical combustion equipment and reducing harmful emissions
2Loss of substance
If conventional combustion-based rejuvenation is used, then contaminants can be gasified and removed, but the process is inefficient and expensive with high operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the energy delivery method from combustion to infrared radiation. Infrared heating directly transfers thermal energy to the filter media molecules, creating more efficient heating with less energy loss. This eliminates the energy wasted in combustion processes and improves overall energy efficiency while maintaining effective contaminant gasification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the inefficient mechanical combustion system with an infrared heating system that directly energizes the filter media. This eliminates energy losses associated with combustion inefficiency, heat transfer through multiple media, and mechanical handling, resulting in a more energy-efficient rejuvenation process
3Reliability
If ceramic plates with micro-scale pores are used for filtration, then all particulate can be trapped, but very powerful pumps are required to pump the dirty water through the pores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses activated charcoal, which is a porous material with an extensive internal surface area. The porous structure of activated charcoal provides high filtration efficiency for trapping contaminants while maintaining lower flow resistance compared to dense ceramic plates, thereby reducing the pump power required to maintain flow through the filter
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs activated charcoal, which can be considered a composite material with a complex porous structure comprising both micro-pores and meso-pores. This composite porous structure provides effective contaminant trapping while offering lower hydraulic resistance than solid ceramic membranes, reducing the power needed for pumping
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
This approach reduces operational costs and waste, achieves efficient contaminant removal, and produces useful SynGas, while minimizing the carbon footprint compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
at least one infrared heating element configured to transmit infrared energy within the pass-band of the infrared spectrum to heat the filter medium disposed within the filtration chamber to a temperature of at least 260° C.
Implementation Method 2
heating the loaded filter medium by transmitting infrared energy from the first array of infrared heating elements through the first ceramic glass wall at a frequency within the pass-band of the infrared spectrum to volatilize the contaminants trapped in the loaded filter medium
Data Source
AI summary
An in situ system of filter rejuvenation has a fluid inlet on a first side of a reaction chamber, a fluid outlet disposed on a second side of the reaction chamber, a filtration chamber with a first wall comprising a ceramic glass material with a pass-band in the infrared spectrum. The filtration chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet so that a fluid introduced into the inlet passes through the filtration chamber and exits through the fluid outlet. The system has at least one infrared heating element configured to transmit infrared energy within the pass-band of the ceramic glass material to heat the filter medium disposed within the filtration chamber to a temperature of at least 260° C., which can gasify contaminants without combustion.