Protected Solid Adsorbent Coating for Fast Thermal Swing CO2 Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solid adsorbents, such as zeolites, face challenges in HTC and HTP processes due to slow heating and cooling cycles, reactiveness with fluids, and inefficient heat transfer, which hinders continuous operation and reduces the viability of these processes.
Innovation Solution
A protected solid adsorbent is developed with a selective nano layer coating that is permeable to active gases like CO2, while being hydrophobic to prevent interaction with liquid heating/cooling fluids, allowing for direct and efficient heating and cooling of the adsorbent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If direct heating and cooling of the adsorbent is used, then the heating and cooling time is reduced, but the adsorbent reacts with the heating/cooling fluid causing degradation
Solution Approach 1:
A hydrophobic protective layer is applied as an intermediary between the adsorbent and the heating/cooling fluid. This layer allows thermal energy to pass through while preventing direct contact and chemical reaction between the adsorbent and the fluid, thus enabling fast thermal response without degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
A thin hydrophobic protective layer is formed on the adsorbent surface. This thin film provides thermal conductivity for fast heating and cooling while simultaneously providing chemical protection by preventing fluid penetration to the adsorbent surface.
2Reliability
If a protective layer is applied to prevent fluid reaction, then adsorbent stability is improved, but the active gas cannot penetrate the coating for adsorption
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layer is designed with porous structure that allows small gas molecules (CO2, CH4, H2S) to diffuse through while preventing larger liquid fluid molecules from penetrating. This selective permeability maintains both protection and adsorption functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective layer exhibits different permeability properties for different substances: it is permeable to small gas molecules required for adsorption but impermeable to liquid heating/cooling fluids. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between protection and productivity.
3Reliability
If shell and tube geometry is used for heating and cooling, then adsorbent protection is maintained, but the thermal conductivity is low and system size is large
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is extracted from the bulk shell-and-tube structure and applied directly as a thin surface layer on the adsorbent particles. This eliminates the need for large-volume shell-and-tube heat exchangers while maintaining protection and enabling direct thermal contact.
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 solution reduces reaction between the adsorbent and heating/cooling fluids, enabling faster temperature swings, reducing system size, and enhancing the use of available heat sources, while maintaining the adsorption efficiency of CO2 without degrading the adsorbent.
Implementation Method 1
active agents in the form of gas molecules, such as CO2, adsorb onto the solid adsorbent
Implementation Method 2
the surface layer is hydrophobic to prevent interaction with liquid heating/cooling fluids
Implementation Method 3
Heating and cooling the adsorbent from outside the vessel, using for example shell and tube geometry, requires a long period of time due to the low effective thermal conductivity
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a protected solid adsorbent that includes a solid adsorbent substrate and a surface layer at least partially coating the solid adsorbent substrate, the surface layer being generally permeable to an active agent. Additionally, a process for protecting a solid adsorbent and an adsorption system that includes a vessel containing the protected solid adsorbent is provided.