Moving Sorbent Bed CO2 Capture With Lower Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas adsorbate capture processes, particularly for CO2, face challenges in managing high mechanical and desorption energy costs due to pressure drops and the need for substantial adsorbent material volumes, especially in industrial applications with large gas volumes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving a continuous cycle of sorbent cells between adsorption and regeneration reactors, utilizing heat-exchanger zones for temperature modulation, countercurrent flows, and automated displacement in moving beds to optimize gas flow and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gas flow velocity is increased to improve CO2 capture productivity, then productivity increases, but pressure drop increases leading to higher mechanical energy costs
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous gas flow is divided into multiple parallel streams that pass through separate adsorption beds. This segmentation allows each bed to operate at lower flow velocities (reducing pressure drop) while the combined capacity of all beds maintains high overall productivity for CO2 capture.
2Quantity of substance
If adsorbent material quantity is increased to improve CO2 capture capacity, then capture capacity increases, but system volume and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs continuous cyclic operation with multiple adsorption beds alternating between adsorption and regeneration phases. This ensures that while one bed is being regenerated, others are actively capturing CO2, maintaining continuous capture capacity without requiring excessive adsorbent material or system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each adsorption bed serves multiple functions sequentially: CO2 capture during adsorption phase, then regeneration during desorption phase. This multi-functionality allows the same equipment and adsorbent material to be reused continuously, reducing the total amount of adsorbent needed compared to single-use systems.
3Reliability
If regeneration frequency is increased to maintain adsorbent effectiveness, then capture efficiency is maintained, but energy consumption for heating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic cyclic operation where adsorption beds alternate between capture and regeneration phases. This periodic action allows efficient heat management by recovering heat from beds during cooling phases and using it for regeneration, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining capture efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors the saturation state of adsorption beds and triggers regeneration only when necessary. This feedback control optimizes regeneration timing and frequency, avoiding unnecessary regeneration cycles and reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable capture 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
This approach minimizes energy demand and adsorbent material requirements by efficiently capturing and releasing CO2, reducing pressure drops and enhancing the overall efficiency of the capture process.
Implementation Method 1
an adsorption step where CO2 is attached to the adsorbent material
Implementation Method 2
chemical bonds of varying intensity (e.g. Van der Waals interactions) are created between the CO2 molecules and the adsorbent material
Implementation Method 3
a desorption step, also known as a regeneration step, where CO2 is released from the adsorbent material
Implementation Method 4
a first heat-exchanger zone is between the adsorption reactor and the regeneration reactor for the sorbent cells moving from the adsorption reactor to the regeneration reactor to be heated
Data Source
AI summary
A system for gas adsorbate capture has an adsorption reactor(s) configured for receiving an adsorbate gas flow. A regeneration reactor(s) is configured for receiving a regenerative fluid flow. A plurality of individual sorbent cells are in a generally continuous cycle between the adsorption reactor and the regeneration reactor. A group of the individual sorbent cells may form an adsorption moving bed in the adsorption reactor to capture the adsorbate from the gas flow.