Internal Conduit Assemblies for Counter-Current Gas-Liquid Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat and mass transfer systems are limited by equilibrium limitations in co-current fluid flow, requiring external high-pressure piping and larger absorption volumes, which increase costs and space requirements.

Innovation Solution

A heat and mass transfer system with internal conduits within a pressure vessel that allows for counter-current or quasi-counter-current flow regimes, reducing the need for external piping and minimizing absorption volume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stress or pressure

If external high-pressure piping is used to route gas and liquid between heat and mass transfer chambers, then the system can maintain pressure, but the system size, cost, and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure maintenanceVSAvoidsystem size

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the piping function with the pressure vessel structure by incorporating internal conduits within the vessel walls. The conduits are integrated into the vessel structure rather than being external components, merging the pressure containment function with the fluid routing function. This eliminates the need for separate external high-pressure piping while maintaining pressure integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The internal conduits are nested within the pressure vessel structure. The conduits are positioned inside the vessel walls, with inlet conduits receiving fluid at a first position and outlet conduits discharging at a second position lower than the first position. This nesting approach allows pressure maintenance while minimizing external space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If co-current fluid flow is used in heat and mass transfer chambers, then the system is simpler to operate, but equilibrium limitations reduce transfer efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow regime simplicityVSAvoidheat and mass transfer efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional co-current flow arrangement by implementing counter-current flow between the gas and liquid phases within the heat and mass transfer chambers. The inlet conduits receive fluid at a first position, and outlet conduits discharge at a second position lower than the first position, creating opposite flow directions that enhance the driving force for mass transfer and overcome equilibrium limitations while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If larger absorption volumes are used to overcome equilibrium limitations, then heat and mass transfer efficiency improves, but space requirements and system cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat and mass transfer efficiencyVSAvoidabsorption volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the flow regime parameter from co-current to counter-current flow, which fundamentally alters the mass transfer driving force. This parameter change enables high heat and mass transfer efficiency without requiring larger absorption volumes, as the counter-current arrangement maintains a more favorable concentration gradient throughout the contactor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 configuration enhances heat and mass transfer efficiency, reduces system size and cost, and minimizes space requirements while maintaining effective capture of gases like CO2.

Implementation Method 1

facilitate heat and mass transfer between the portion of the gas and the portion of the liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

facilitate heat and mass transfer between the portion of the gas and the portion of the liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMass transfer: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

routing the gas and the liquid through a series of heat and mass transfer chambers by a conduit system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS20250360479A1Conduit assemblies for a heat and mass transfer system

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 IND CLIMATE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A heat and mass transfer system includes at least one vessel configured to receive a gas and a liquid, and a series of heat and mass transfer chambers, each heat and mass transfer chamber of the series of heat and mass transfer chambers configured to receive a portion of the gas and a portion of the liquid, and facilitate heat and mass transfer between the portion of the gas and the portion of the liquid. The portion of the gas and the portion of the liquid flow co-currently during the heat and mass transfer. The heat and mass transfer system also includes a conduit system including a plurality of channels configured to route the gas and the liquid between the heat and mass transfer chambers.