Heat Transfer Oil Regeneration with Pre-Cooling and Rectification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for regenerating heat transfer oil in solar thermal plants, such as simple flash distillation followed by partial condensation, result in significant oil losses and inefficient separation of degradation products, leading to increased costs due to high oil prices and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A plant comprising a distillation column, boiler, rectifier, air condenser, backflow tank, and pumps, with an optional air cooler to pre-cool the oil before distillation, effectively separates heavy and light components, minimizing oil losses and improving regeneration performance by preventing heavy components from being carried away in vapors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simple flash distillation followed by partial condensation is used, then the process is simple, but oil losses increase significantly (approximately 30% loss when eliminating 70% of heavy components)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single-step distillation process into two separate stages: a distillation column for heavy component removal and a rectifier column for light component removal. This segmentation allows each column to be optimized for its specific separation task, preventing oil losses associated with attempting to remove all degradation products in one step.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pre-cooling stage before the distillation column to condense heavy components that would otherwise be carried away in the vapor phase. This preliminary action prevents oil losses by recovering heavy components before they enter the distillation column, addressing the root cause of the 30% loss problem.
2Device complexity
If simple flash distillation is used, then the device complexity is low, but the separation efficiency of degradation products is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the separation function into two specialized columns: the distillation column optimized for heavy component separation and the rectifier column optimized for light component separation. This segmentation achieves superior separation efficiency compared to a single-column system.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-cooling stage serves as a preliminary action that condenses heavy components before they enter the distillation column, enhancing the overall separation efficiency by preventing heavy component carryover in the vapor phase.
3Quantity of substance
If heavy components are removed by flash distillation, then some separation is achieved, but heavy components are carried away in vapors causing oil losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pre-cooling stage before the distillation column to condense heavy components that would otherwise be carried away in the vapor phase. This preliminary action prevents oil losses by recovering heavy components before they enter the distillation column.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition (condensation) in the pre-cooling stage to convert heavy component vapors back into liquid form, preventing their carryover in the vapor phase and reducing oil losses during the distillation process.
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
The solution achieves 99.4% purity of the regenerated oil, compared to the initial 94.3% purity, while reducing oil losses and enhancing regeneration efficiency, thereby addressing the economic and operational challenges of high oil degradation.
Implementation Method 1
The degraded oil reaches the air cooler, at a high temperature, from the solar facility. Preferably, the temperature at the inlet of the air cooler is comprised between 295° C. and 310° C. The temperature at the outlet of the air cooler is preferably comprised between 95° C. and 110° C.
Implementation Method 2
a distillation column (stripper) to separate the heavy components
Implementation Method 3
a rectifier for separating the light components
Implementation Method 4
an air condenser
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a plan and a process for regenerating degraded heat transfer oil. The plant includes a distillation column for separating heavy components. The distillation column has an upper part and a lower part, the upper part having: a first inlet for receiving degraded oil, and a head having a first outlet for expelling light component vapor. The plant also includes a rectifier, for receiving the vapor, and having: an upper part having a second outlet for expelling light components; and a lower part having a third outlet for expelling regenerated oil. The distillation column further includes a fourth outlet for letting heavy components out in the lower part of the distillation column, a pressure transmitter at the first inlet, a pressure and temperature transmitter at the first outlet, temperature transmitters inside the distillation column, level switches, an automatic valve at the fourth outlet, and an electric resistance for maintaining the oil in a liquid state.