Regeneration Offgas Scrubbing with Segmented Intermediate Vessels

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to ensure a homogeneous inflow of sulfur-containing components in regeneration offgases to downstream plants, as existing processes face difficulties in processing varying concentrations of sulfur components over time, leading to fluctuations that can disrupt downstream sulfur recovery processes.

Innovation Solution

A process is implemented where the regeneration offgas is contacted with a scrubbing medium at varying volume flow rates and pressures during peak and non-peak periods, with the scrubbing medium being stored in intermediate vessels to stabilize the concentration of sulfur components, allowing for efficient absorption and regeneration, thereby reducing fluctuations in the offgas composition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single intermediate vessel is used to store laden scrubbing medium, then the vessel must be large enough to handle peak flows, but this increases device complexity and space requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle peak sulfur component flowsVSAvoidsize and capacity of intermediate vessel

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single intermediate vessel is divided into two separate vessels: a first intermediate vessel for storing scrubbing medium during peak sulfur component entry, and a second intermediate vessel for storing scrubbing medium during non-peak periods. This segmentation allows each vessel to be smaller in capacity while collectively handling the same peak flows, thereby reducing the overall size and complexity of the storage system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between two operating modes: during peak sulfur component entry, the first intermediate vessel is filled while the second is emptied to the regeneration apparatus; during non-peak periods, the roles reverse. This dynamic operation allows the system to handle variable flow rates without requiring a single large vessel, optimizing both reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If scrubbing medium flow rate is increased to handle peak sulfur components, then absorption efficiency improves, but energy consumption and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverate of sulfur component removalVSAvoidenergy for scrubbing medium circulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system operates in periodic cycles, alternating between filling the first intermediate vessel during peak sulfur component entry and emptying it to the regeneration apparatus during non-peak periods. This periodic action allows the scrubbing medium flow rate to be optimized for peak conditions without continuously maintaining high flow rates, thereby improving productivity during critical periods while reducing overall energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate vessels pre-store scrubbing medium before peak sulfur component loads occur, allowing the system to respond quickly to peak demands without continuously circulating large volumes of scrubbing medium. This preliminary storage action enables high productivity during peaks while minimizing energy consumption during non-peak periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 ensures a more stable and constant concentration of sulfur components in the offgas, reducing the need for large intermediate storage vessels and conveying equipment, and allows for more effective removal of sulfur-containing components, improving the processing efficiency in downstream plants.

Implementation Method 1

contacting the regeneration offgas stream with a scrubbing medium in a gas scrubbing apparatus... intense mass transfer between the crude gas and the absorbent or scrubbing medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

there is intense mass transfer between the crude gas and the absorbent or scrubbing medium in an absorber column

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMass transfer: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

the laden scrubbing medium is stored at a first pressure in a first intermediate vessel, and in that, for periods before tv and after tn, the regeneration offgas stream is contacted with a second volume flow rate of the scrubbing medium and the laden scrubbing medium is stored at a second pressure in a second intermediate vessel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure storage: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS11400409B2Process for aftertreatment of regeneration offgas

Publication Date: 2022.08.02 LAIR LIQUIDE SA POUR LETUDE & LEXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE

AI summary

The invention relates to a process for aftertreatment of gas streams in which unwanted components are present in an amount that varies irregularly in a periodic manner or over time and/or in a varying concentration, by means of an absorption or gas scrubbing process. For this purpose, during the entry of the desorption peak into the gas scrubbing apparatus, the amount of scrubbing medium is increased proceeding from a normal value during a first phase and, after the end of the desorption peak, the amount of scrubbing medium is returned back to the normal value during a second phase, wherein the laden scrubbing media are collected in different intermediate vessels during the two phases, mixed and released as a mixture to a downstream scrubbing medium regeneration apparatus.