Reversible Blower VPSA Adsorption Energy Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas purification processes using cyclic vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) face inefficiencies due to high energy consumption and complexity, particularly in regeneration steps, which require significant purged gas quantities and are impractical for both small and large-scale applications.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a single or multiple bed VPSA process with dedicated reversible blowers and a buffer tank to store purge and equalization gas, combined with the use of super capacitors to store and reuse electrical energy generated during bed transitions, improving energy efficiency and process simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional VPSA processes use multiple beds with complex regeneration steps including purge gas, then adsorbent regeneration is achieved, but energy consumption increases and process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the purge gas step from the conventional VPSA regeneration process. By using a single bed with reversible blower, the system achieves adsorbent regeneration through direct vacuum evacuation without requiring the additional purge gas step that is present in multi-bed conventional processes, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining regeneration effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The reversible blower serves multiple functions: it acts as both a vacuum pump for evacuation and a pressurization device for feed gas introduction. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate vacuum pumps and reduces the number of process steps required for regeneration, simplifying the overall process and reducing energy consumption
2Reliability
If conventional VPSA processes use multiple beds with dedicated vacuum pumps, then adsorbent regeneration is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of vacuum pump and pressurization device into a single reversible blower. The blower can operate in reverse to create vacuum for evacuation and then switch to forward operation for pressurization, combining multiple equipment functions into one device and significantly reducing process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The reversible blower operates in reverse direction to function as a vacuum pump during evacuation steps, then switches to normal direction for pressurization. This inversion of operational direction allows a single device to perform multiple functions that traditionally required separate equipment, simplifying the overall system
3Productivity
If VPSA processes use shorter cycle times for compact design, then capital cost decreases, but energy efficiency worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The reversible blower maintains continuous operation throughout the cycle, switching between vacuum and pressurization modes without stopping. This continuous operation with optimized timing allows for shorter cycle times and higher productivity while maintaining energy efficiency by eliminating the energy losses associated with frequent start-stop operations
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 a safer, more practical, and energy-efficient gas separation process that can be applied to any gas mixture, including oxygen from air, with reduced energy consumption and operational complexity, enabling efficient gas purification with improved product recovery and purity.
Implementation Method 1
The reversible blowers, which can be used to pressurize and evacuate the beds at variable speeds in fixed or variable times
Implementation Method 2
using one or more adsorber vessels that are packed with a particulate adsorbent material which adsorbs at least one gaseous component of the gas mixture more strongly than it adsorbs at least one other component of the mixture
Implementation Method 3
the adsorbent is at least partially regenerated by creating a vacuum in the adsorber vessel thereby causing adsorbed components to be desorbed from the adsorbent
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides for a method utilizing adsorber bed(s) and reversible blower(s) operating in a vacuum pressure swing adsorption separation process to separate gases. The process is designed to provide a safer and more cost-effective adsorption system that captures and utilizes energy typically wasted during equipment transitions thereby achieving overall higher power efficiency.