Perforated Sorbent Composite Sheets for Liquid Drainage in Gas Cleanup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sorbent polymer composite materials face challenges with liquid accumulation leading to reduced performance due to the formation of continuous percolated networks, which affect the removal efficiency of pollutants like sulfur oxides and mercury vapor from industrial gas streams.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of perforations in the sorbent polymer composite material sheets, ranging from 0.1 mm to 6.5 mm in diameter and 0.14% to 50% density, allows for the formation of an internal liquid network that percolates through the perforations, facilitating the drainage of liquid products and maintaining efficient pollutant removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If liquid product accumulates within the sorbent polymer composite material, then the liquid product forms a continuous percolated network, but this reduces the removal efficiency of pollutants from gas streams

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant removal efficiencyVSAvoidliquid product accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a perforated structure with controlled pore size (0.1 mm to 6.5 mm) and pore density (0.14% to 50%) into the sorbent polymer composite material. These perforations create preferential pathways that allow liquid products to drain through the material without forming continuous percolated networks, thereby maintaining pollutant removal efficiency while accommodating liquid accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Strength

If the sorbent polymer composite material is made denser to improve structural integrity, then mechanical strength increases, but liquid product drainage is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidliquid product drainage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating distinct regions within the material: dense sorbent polymer composite material for structural integrity and pollutant capture, and localized perforated regions for liquid drainage. This differentiation allows the material to simultaneously achieve high mechanical strength and effective liquid product drainage through the perforations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 perforated design enhances the removal efficiency of sulfur oxides and mercury vapor by relieving hydraulic pressure, increasing the effective surface area, and promoting the drainage of liquid products, thereby maintaining high performance over time.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one gaseous component reacts within the sorbent polymer composite material to form at least one liquid product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

the accumulation of the at least one liquid product causes the at least one liquid product to form an internal network that percolates at least through the plurality of perforations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP4659837A1Perforated sorbent polymer composite sheets for enhanced mass transport
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 WL GORE & ASSOC INC
  • EP4659837A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4659837A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4659837A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Devices and methods utilizing sorbent polymer composite materials in the form of at least one sheet. The at least one sheet can have a plurality of perforations that aids in the formation of an internal liquid network. In some embodiments, each perforation of the plurality of perforations has a size ranging from 0.1 mm to 6.5 mm and the at least one sheet has a perforation density ranging from 0.14% to 50% based on a total surface area of the at least one sheet.