Ionic Liquid Solvent Gas Separation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current separation techniques for process streams, such as distillation and ionic liquid membranes, are inefficient and costly due to high reflux ratios, membrane diffusion limitations, and inefficiencies in recovering separated components, particularly when dealing with gases with close boiling points or those requiring significant capital expenditure.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing an ionic liquid solvent to capture and recover gaseous components from process streams, including a separator and regenerator, which selectively captures and regenerates the solvent to emit the recovered gases, thereby improving separation efficiency and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional distillation is used to separate fluid components, then separation can be achieved, but a large number of stages and high reflux ratios are required which makes it cost-prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the separation system by using ionic liquid solvents with specific properties (negligible vapor pressure, tunable selectivity) instead of conventional distillation parameters, enabling separation at lower reflux ratios and fewer stages while maintaining high separation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ionic liquid solvents as intermediary substances that selectively absorb specific fluid components from the process stream, facilitating separation without requiring the complex multi-stage distillation process
2Manufacturing precision
If ionic liquid membranes are used for absorption, then separation can be achieved, but membrane diffusion rates are limited resulting in poor flux or significant capital expenditure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from membrane-based diffusion (solid state) to liquid-phase absorption (fluid state), utilizing the superior mass transfer characteristics of liquid ionic solvents to achieve both high selectivity and high flux rates without capital-intensive membrane infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transport mechanism from solid membrane diffusion to liquid-phase mass transfer, fundamentally altering the kinetic parameters to achieve higher productivity while maintaining selectivity through solvent composition optimization
3Manufacturing precision
If aqueous solutions of metal salts are used for absorption, then component separation can be achieved, but water vapor pressure causes inefficient recovery requiring de-watering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the problematic water-based aqueous solution with ionic liquid solvents that have negligible vapor pressure, eliminating the water carryover issue entirely while maintaining effective component capture efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent fundamentally changes the solvent parameter from water-based (high vapor pressure) to ionic liquid-based (negligible vapor pressure), eliminating the harmful water vapor pressure effect while preserving absorption efficiency
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 effectively captures and recovers gaseous components with high selectivity and purity, reducing the need for additional separation equipment and capital costs, while minimizing solvent loss and VOC emissions.
Implementation Method 1
capturing at least a portion of the gaseous component from the process stream by an ionic liquid solvent
Implementation Method 2
recovering at least a portion of a captured gaseous component from the ionic liquid solvent
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems and methods which provide a process stream comprising a gaseous component, capture the gaseous component from the process stream by an ionic liquid solvent of a separator, and recover a captured gaseous component from the ionic liquid solvent in a regenerator. A second gaseous component from the process stream may be captured by the ionic liquid solvent of the separator, and the second gaseous component may be recovered from the ionic liquid solvent in the regenerator. Alternatively, the second gaseous component from the process stream may be uncaptured by the ionic liquid solvent, and the uncaptured second gaseous component may be recovered from a membrane unit.