Integrated heat management systems and processes for adsorbed natural gas storage facilities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Natural gas storage systems face challenges in managing temperature fluctuations due to diurnal demand variations, leading to pressure swings that can damage equipment and increase operating costs, particularly in adsorption-based storage systems which require significant energy for heat management during adsorption and desorption cycles.

Innovation Solution

A thermal energy storage system incorporating a heat pump and insulated tanks to efficiently manage heat exchange during adsorption and desorption cycles, utilizing a refrigerant fluid to remove heat during adsorption and provide heat during desorption, thereby reducing energy consumption and maintaining stable adsorbent material temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If heat is removed during adsorption and supplied during desorption using conventional external heating systems, then gas desorption can be achieved, but energy consumption increases significantly (34-50 kJ/mol)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidheat management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the cooling system (chiller) and heating system (heat pump) into an integrated thermal management system. The chiller removes heat during adsorption and the heat pump recovers this heat to provide heating during desorption, merging two separate thermal management functions into one coordinated system that significantly reduces external energy requirements from 34-50 kJ/mol to 9-13 kJ/mol

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the heat generated during adsorption (which is typically a harmful byproduct requiring cooling) into a beneficial resource. By capturing and storing the heat removed during adsorption, the system transforms this waste heat into the heating source needed for subsequent desorption cycles, eliminating the need for external heating energy input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Stability of the object's composition

If adsorption storage facilities are used to manage diurnal demand variations, then pressure stability can be improved, but temperature management becomes more complex due to heat generation during adsorption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure stabilityVSAvoidtemperature control

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary cooling action by removing heat from the adsorbent material during the adsorption phase before the desorption phase begins. The chiller pre-cools the adsorbent bed, and the heat is captured and stored in the heat pump system, preparing the thermal conditions needed for efficient subsequent desorption while maintaining pressure stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements thermal feedback control where the heat removed during adsorption is measured, stored, and then fed back to provide heating during desorption. This closed-loop thermal management ensures that temperature changes are controlled and coordinated between adsorption and desorption cycles, maintaining overall system stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 system achieves an eightfold decrease in energy consumption, reducing the energy required to operate the facility from 34-50 kJ/mol to 9-13 kJ/mol, and further minimizes energy use by integrating spilled solar energy, resulting in efficient natural gas storage and stable pressure management.

Implementation Method 1

removing heat from an adsorbent material during gas adsorption to the adsorbent material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

gas adsorption to the adsorbent material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

heating the adsorbent material during desorption of gas from the adsorbent material using at least a portion of the removed heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 4

desorption of gas from the adsorbent material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDesorption: Desorption

Implementation Method 5

recycling heat during the step of heating to prepare a working fluid for the step of removing heat via temperature reduction of the working fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat recycling: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS11684888B2Integrated heat management systems and processes for adsorbed natural gas storage facilities

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

Systems and methods for heat exchange during gas adsorption and desorption cycling, one method including removing heat from an adsorbent material during gas adsorption to the adsorbent material; storing the removed heat for later use during desorption of gas from the adsorbent material; heating the adsorbent material during desorption of gas from the adsorbent material using at least a portion of the removed heat; and recycling heat during the step of heating to prepare a working fluid for the step of removing heat via temperature reduction of the working fluid.