Protective Bed for Purifying Process Gases

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for cleaning process gases from thermal treatment processes are complex, expensive, and energy-intensive, with high energy consumption and catalyst deactivation due to high-boiling organic substances, requiring high temperatures and frequent catalyst replacement.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a protective bed with solid adsorption material before the catalyst bed to remove high-boiling organic substances, allowing for lower combustion temperatures and reduced energy consumption, and a controlled oxygen supply for catalytic combustion in the process gas purification of polyesters like polyethylene terephthalate and its copolymers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high entry temperatures are used to ensure complete combustion of high-boiling organic substances, then combustion efficiency is improved, but energy consumption and equipment size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective bed performs preliminary removal of high-boiling organic substances before the gas enters the catalyst bed. This preliminary action prevents these substances from reaching the catalyst, allowing combustion to occur at lower temperatures while maintaining complete combustion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The protective bed acts as an intermediary between the process gas and the catalyst bed. It selectively removes problematic high-boiling organic substances while allowing other components to pass through to the catalyst, thereby enabling lower operating temperatures in the catalyst bed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If high entry temperatures are used to ensure complete combustion of high-boiling organic substances, then combustion efficiency is improved, but heat exchanger size and equipment costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidheat exchanger size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By removing high-boiling organic substances in advance through the protective bed, the system eliminates the need for large heat exchangers designed to handle high temperatures. The heat exchanger can be smaller because it only needs to heat the gas to lower temperatures sufficient for catalyst-free combustion of remaining organics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If the process operates without a protective bed, then device complexity is reduced, but catalyst deactivation occurs due to high-boiling organic substances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcatalyst service life
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective bed serves as a simple intermediary component that selectively adsorbs high-boiling organic substances. This single addition protects the catalyst from deactivation without requiring complex control systems or multiple process stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If catalyst material is replaced frequently due to deactivation, then combustion efficiency is maintained, but operational continuity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidoperational continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective bed performs preliminary removal of catalyst poisons (high-boiling organic substances) before they can reach and deactivate the catalyst. This prevents catalyst deactivation and eliminates the need for frequent replacements, ensuring continuous operation.

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 extends the service life of catalyst materials, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes equipment costs by using smaller heating and cooling devices, while maintaining high combustion efficiency and reducing catalyst deactivation.

Implementation Method 1

the process gas is passed through a protective bed with a solid adsorption material before entering the catalyst container, which removes high-boiling organic substances or organic substances with a high combustion temperature from the process gas stream

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

Introducing a process gas from a reactor for the thermal treatment of polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and its copolymers, into at least one heat exchanger for heating the process gas and heating the process gas in this heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

subsequent combustion of the organic impurities in the process gas in the at least one catalyst bed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalytic combustion: Catalysis

Implementation Method 4

subsequent combustion of the organic impurities in the process gas in the at least one catalyst bed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 5

apparatus for cooling the process gas are used

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Data Source

PatentEP3689440B1Method and device for the purification of circulating process gases from the treatment of granular materials
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 POLYMETRIX AG

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for purifying a process gas containing organic impurities and optionally an amount of oxygen less than required for the complete combustion of the organic impurities in this method, wherein at least the steps of combustion of the process gas in a catalyst bed, heating of the process gas in a heat exchanger, and at least one energy recovery in at least one heat exchanger are carried out in a unit enclosed by a common jacket. To extend the service life of the catalyst bed, at least one protective bed is placed upstream of the catalyst container, which removes high-boiling organic substances or organic substances with a high combustion temperature from the process gas stream.