Pyrolysis Device Using Liquid Metal for Heat Transfer and Gas Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pyrolysis devices face challenges in efficiently processing biomass and waste, including high pollutant emissions, heat inefficiency, and difficulty in maintaining a vacuum state, which affects the quality of extracted gases and pyrolysis oil yield.
Innovation Solution
A pyrolysis device utilizing a reactor with liquid metal, a circulating pump, a buffer tank, and a combustion furnace, where liquid metal is used to purify gases and separate impurities based on specific gravity differences, ensuring indirect heat exchange and minimizing oxidation and vapor loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If incineration method is used to treat waste, then high temperature combustion is achieved, but large quantities of pollutants and bad smells are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment process is divided into separate stages: pyrolysis (anaerobic decomposition) and combustion. During pyrolysis, organic matter decomposes into combustible gas, pyrolysis oil, and char without complete combustion, avoiding direct emission of harmful pollutants. The combustion stage only burns the generated gas and char, significantly reducing pollutant emissions compared to direct incineration of raw waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (absorbent material) that captures and neutralizes harmful gases and bad smells generated during pyrolysis. This intermediary acts as a mediator between the pyrolysis process and the environment, transforming harmful substances into less harmful forms before discharge.
2Productivity
If pyrolysis furnace is operated in vacuum state for complete pyrolysis, then pyrolysis efficiency is improved, but heating and cooling time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates in periodic cycles: heating phase (creating vacuum for pyrolysis), pyrolysis phase (anaerobic decomposition), and cooling phase. By optimizing the duration and timing of each periodic stage, the system achieves complete pyrolysis while minimizing total cycle time. The periodic operation allows the furnace to maintain vacuum conditions only when necessary for pyrolysis, reducing unnecessary heating and cooling time.
3Use of energy by moving object
If fluidized-bed reactor is used for fast pyrolysis, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but additional gas supply and dust treatment facilities are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the fluidization system from the reactor design, using fixed-bed pyrolysis instead. This eliminates the need for additional gas supply facilities required for fluidization while maintaining effective heat transfer through direct contact between the heating chamber and pyrolysis chamber. The design also removes the need for complex dust treatment facilities by using the absorbent material to capture particles directly in the gas stream.
4Power
If liquid metal is directly combusted for heating, then heat supply is improved, but liquid metal is oxidized and impurities are mixed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a combustion chamber as an intermediary between the liquid metal and the atmosphere. The liquid metal is heated in an inert or controlled atmosphere within the combustion chamber, preventing direct contact with oxygen that would cause oxidation. This intermediary heating system allows the liquid metal to reach high temperatures for effective pyrolysis while maintaining its chemical purity and preventing contamination from atmospheric impurities.
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 transfer efficiency, reduces pollutant emissions, maintains a vacuum state, and increases pyrolysis oil yield by effectively removing impurities and preventing liquid metal oxidation.
Implementation Method 1
a reactor in which an injected raw material and a melted liquid metal are present together... effectively transferring heat to the injected raw material
Implementation Method 2
separating apparatus separating pyrolyzed char and slag... removing impurities such as acid gas and dust included in pyrolyzed and discharged gases
Implementation Method 3
a combustion furnace connected to the reactor to combust the fuel supplied from the reactor and supply heat to the reactor
Implementation Method 4
a circulating pump connected to the reactor, a buffer tank disposed on an upper portion of the reactor and receiving the liquid metal from the circulating pump
Implementation Method 5
a nozzle coupled with the buffer tank and jetting the liquid metal within the buffer tank into the reactor
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a pyrolysis device including a reactor in which an injected raw material and a melted liquid metal are present together, a circulating pump connected to the reactor, a buffer tank disposed on an upper portion of the reactor and receiving the liquid metal from the circulating pump, a nozzle coupled with the buffer tank and jetting the liquid metal within the buffer tank into the reactor, a separating apparatus separating pyrolyzed char and slag, and a combustion furnace connected to the reactor to combust the fuel supplied from the reactor and supply heat to the reactor, thereby reacting the liquid metal sprays jetted from the nozzle with gases generated in the reactor to purify the gases.