Liquid Extraction System for Solvent-Displaced Water Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing water from solids, such as in the ethanol manufacturing process, are energy-intensive and inefficient, often leaving residual water and contaminants, making it difficult to recover pure ethanol and dispose of water effectively.
Innovation Solution
A process using multiple solvents with progressively lower heat of vaporization and boiling points to step-wise displace and separate water from solids, reducing the energy required for drying and solvent separation, and allowing for the recovery of pure ethanol and water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If thermal drying is used to remove water from solids, then water removal is achieved, but large amounts of thermal energy are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter approach from thermal energy (heat) to liquid-liquid extraction using solvents with different solubility characteristics. By selecting solvents with specific solubility parameters that differ from water, the system achieves water removal through selective dissolution rather than thermal evaporation, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining drying effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces organic solvents as intermediary substances to facilitate water removal. These solvents act as mediators that selectively interact with water molecules through solvation, displacing water from the solid matrix without requiring direct thermal input. The solvents serve as transfer agents that enable water removal through chemical affinity rather than thermal energy
2Device complexity
If a single solvent is used for water removal, then the process is simple, but complete separation and recovery of pure water and ethanol is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the extraction process into multiple stages using different solvents with progressively lower water solubility. Instead of using one solvent for all extraction, the system employs a sequence of solvents (e.g., ethanol, isopropanol, hexane) that progressively remove water from different compartments of the solid matrix. This segmentation enables complete water removal while allowing for clean separation and recovery of pure water and ethanol streams through controlled liquid-liquid extraction
3Productivity
If conventional drying methods are used, then water is removed from solids, but residual water and contaminants remain making disposal difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses organic solvents as intermediary substances that selectively interact with water and contaminants through solvation. These solvents penetrate the solid matrix and form soluble complexes with water and dissolved contaminants, enabling their complete removal. The solvents act as mediators that transform insoluble contaminants into soluble forms, allowing for complete extraction and subsequent easy separation through liquid-liquid extraction or distillation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the extraction mechanism from thermal (evaporative) to chemical (solvation-based). By using solvents with specific solubility parameters that match both water and contaminants, the system achieves complete removal of all soluble contaminants while maintaining high drying rates. The parameter change from heat-driven evaporation to solvent-driven solvation enables simultaneous removal of water and contaminants without leaving residues
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 process reduces energy consumption by at least 20% compared to conventional methods, enabling the recovery of high-purity ethanol and water, and facilitates the separation of solvents and other components, making the output streams more usable.
Implementation Method 1
The process uses a liquid-solid extraction process to remove the water from the solid feed stream
Implementation Method 2
The feed stream having the first solvent in the interstitial spaces is then contacted with a second solvent; and the first solvent present in the interstitial spaces is displaced by the second solvent
Implementation Method 3
The solvents are separated from the solids by the application of heat
Implementation Method 4
The multiple solvents are separated from each other by liquid-liquid extraction or distillation processes
Data Source
AI summary
A process for removing water from solid material (10) using liquid-solid extraction and liquid-liquid extraction in an extraction system (100). Multiple solvents are used sequentially to replace the water with a first solvent, then replacing that solvent with a second solvent, etc., then eventually removing the last solvent from the solid materials. The solvents have progressively lower heats of vaporization, enthalphy of vaporization, boiling point or related property, so as to conserve use of thermal energy.