Oxygen-Selective Adsorbent Sintering for Thermal Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oxygen-selective adsorbents face challenges with thermal stability and oxygen adsorptivity due to the instability of barium peroxide and reactivity with other minerals or metals, leading to reduced performance over time.

Innovation Solution

The method involves sintering BaMg(CO3)2 particles with MgCO3 or Mg(OH)2 attached to their surface at high temperatures, converting them into nano-sized barium oxide and magnesium oxide, which enhances oxygen adsorption rates and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If barium peroxide is used as an oxygen-selective adsorbent, then oxygen adsorptivity is initially high, but thermal stability deteriorates at high temperature causing particle sintering and gradual loss of adsorptivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen adsorptivityVSAvoidthermal stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite material system consisting of barium oxide dispersed in a magnesium oxide matrix. The magnesium oxide provides thermal stability and structural support, preventing particle sintering at high temperatures, while barium oxide maintains oxygen adsorptivity. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between initial adsorptivity and thermal stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a heterogeneous structure where barium oxide particles are distributed within a magnesium oxide matrix. The magnesium oxide matrix provides local thermal stability and structural integrity at high temperatures, while barium oxide particles maintain local oxygen adsorptivity. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between thermal stability and adsorptivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If barium oxide is mixed with third substrate materials to improve stability, then thermal stability increases, but use-rate of barium oxide decreases due to non-uniform protective film formation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal stabilityVSAvoiduse-rate of barium oxide
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the porous structure of magnesium oxide as the supporting matrix, which allows barium oxide to be uniformly dispersed throughout the three-dimensional structure. This porous framework provides both thermal stability and ensures high contact between barium oxide and oxygen, maintaining high use-rate while achieving thermal stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The magnesium oxide acts as an intermediary material that provides thermal stability and structural support without forming a protective film that would block oxygen access. Instead, it creates a porous matrix that facilitates oxygen diffusion to barium oxide particles, thereby maintaining high use-rate while providing thermal stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If barium oxide is impregnated with zirconia to improve stability, then thermal stability and heat storage increase, but oxygen adsorptivity decreases when impregnation level exceeds 20%

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal stabilityVSAvoidoxygen adsorptivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the supporting material parameter from zirconia to magnesium oxide. Magnesium oxide provides comparable thermal stability but with a more favorable interaction with barium oxide, allowing higher dispersion levels without blocking oxygen access. This parameter change enables maintaining both thermal stability and high oxygen adsorptivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If barium oxide and magnesium oxide precursors are mixed in aqueous solution and sintered, then oxygen adsorptivity improves, but barium oxide reacts with water to form unstable barium hydroxide during sintering

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen adsorptivityVSAvoidsintering process difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary carbonation of barium and magnesium salts to form carbonate precursors before sintering. These carbonate precursors are more stable during the sintering process and decompose at lower temperatures to form the desired oxide mixture, avoiding the water reaction problem that would occur if hydroxide precursors were used.

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 results in an oxygen-selective adsorbent with improved thermal stability and high oxygen adsorptivity, capable of rapid oxygen absorption and maintaining performance over time.

Implementation Method 1

sintering BaMg(CO 3 ) 2 particles or particles in which MgCO 3 or Mg(OH) 2 are attached to the outside of BaMg(CO 3 ) 2 at a high temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSintering: Sintering

Implementation Method 2

as BaCO 3 and MgCO 3 in BaMg(CO 3 ) 2 are converted into barium oxide and magnesium oxide, respectively

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDecomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 3

barium oxide has been used in a process of producing oxygen through an oxidation reaction shown in Chemical Formula 1, adsorbing oxygen during this process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 4

releasing oxygen through a reduction reaction under oxygen-free atmosphere

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReduction: Reduction

Data Source

PatentEP2669003B1Preparation method of an oxygen-selective adsorbent having fast adsorption rate
Publication Date: 2019.01.23 KOREA INST OF ENERGY RES
  • EP2669003B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2669003B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2669003B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for preparing an oxygen-selective adsorbent for selectively adsorbing oxygen in the air. The invention provides a method for preparing an oxygen-selective adsorbent which comprises a step of preparing BaMg(CO3)2 particles or particles in which MgCO3 orMg(OH)2 are attached to the outside of BaMg(CO3)2 and a step of burning the particles at a high temperature, and the oxygen-selective adsorbent prepared thereby. The oxygen-selective adsorbent according to the invention adsorbs oxygen in the air at a fast rate compared with an existing oxygen-selective adsorbent. In addition, high thermal stability and excellent oxygen adsorptivity are ensured.