Moving Bed Adsorber Cross-Flow Mercury Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flue gas cleaning systems in coal-fired power plants struggle to effectively separate pollutants like mercury at high flue gas velocities, as conventional moving bed adsorbers require low flow rates for adsorbent retention, which is not compatible with the higher velocities present in these systems.

Innovation Solution

A purification device with a moving bed adsorber design featuring fine grids on the inflow and outflow sides to decouple adsorbent retention from flow velocity, allowing for cross-flow operation at higher velocities, and incorporating multiple adsorbers arranged in parallel and at angles to optimize filter surface area and reduce pressure loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If conventional moving bed adsorbers are used with gravity-based adsorbent retention, then adsorbent can be retained at low flow rates, but the system cannot operate at the higher flue gas velocities required in coal-fired power plant applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflue gas velocityVSAvoidadsorbent retention
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the gravity-based mechanical retention system with a flow dynamics-based retention mechanism. By designing the adsorber with specific flow distribution features and operating in cross-flow mode, the system maintains adsorbent retention through fluid mechanical forces rather than relying solely on gravity, enabling operation at higher velocities while preventing adsorbent escape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters by transitioning from vertical through-flow to cross-flow mode. This parameter change fundamentally alters the flow dynamics, allowing the system to operate at higher velocities while maintaining effective adsorbent retention through the interaction between gas flow and adsorbent particles in the cross-flow configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If multiple adsorbers are arranged in parallel to increase filter surface area, then separation efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of adsorbers
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the filter into multiple segments or zones within a single adsorber structure. By creating distinct flow paths and adsorption zones within one integrated device, the system achieves the functional equivalent of multiple parallel adsorbers, increasing separation efficiency while avoiding the complexity of managing multiple separate units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple adsorption functions into a single integrated adsorber device. By merging the functions of multiple parallel adsorbers into one unified structure with internal flow distribution, the system achieves high separation efficiency while reducing device complexity through consolidation and integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables effective separation of pollutants like mercury and other heavy metals at higher flue gas velocities, meeting stringent emission standards by ensuring efficient adsorbent retention and flow adaptation, suitable for coal-fired power plants.

Implementation Method 1

a purification device for separating pollutants, in particular heavy metal and/or heavy metal compounds, in particular mercury and/or mercury compounds, from combustion gases, comprising a filter device containing one or more moving bed adsorbers, the moving bed adsorber(s) being/are set up from top to bottom to be traversed below by the adsorbent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3714961A1Separation of contaminants, in particular of heavy metals and mercury using moving bed absorber
Publication Date: 2020.09.30 STEINMULLER ENGINEERING GMBH
  • EP3714961A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3714961A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3714961A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cleaning device and a method for separating pollutants, in particular heavy metals and/or heavy metal compounds, in particular mercury and/or mercury compounds, from combustion gases 3, comprising a filter device containing one or more moving bed adsorbers 20, wherein the moving bed adsorber 20 is arranged to be traversed from top to bottom by adsorbent 2 and to be flowed through by the combustion gases (3) in a cross-flow manner, wherein according to the invention the moving bed adsorber 20 has at least one filter bed 1 traversed by adsorbent 2, which is bounded on the upstream and downstream sides by fine meshes 11.