Rotary sorption system including recycled isolation loop and purge stream
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary bed sorption systems face issues with cross-contamination between process and regeneration fluid streams due to pressure and vapor pressure differences, particularly in areas adjacent to the active sorptive area but not subject to active fluid flow, leading to increased vapor concentration in the treated fluid stream.
Innovation Solution
A rotary sorption system design incorporating a purge airstream that preheats air for regeneration and a recycled isolation loop that pre-warms the rotor before entering the regeneration sector, eliminating seals between specific zones to minimize cross-contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seals and partitions are installed at the face of the rotary sorption bed to prevent cross-contamination, then cross-contamination between process and regeneration zones is reduced, but the freedom of positioning the ductwork is restricted and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes seals and partitions from the face of the rotary sorption bed, extracting the problematic sealing elements that caused ductwork positioning restrictions. Instead of using mechanical seals at the face, the system relies on the inherent sealing of the rotor housing and the positioning of ducts away from the face area, thereby simplifying the overall structure while maintaining cross-contamination prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary isolation fluid stream that circulates through isolation zones between the process and regeneration zones. This fluid stream acts as a mediator to prevent direct contact and cross-contamination between the process fluid and regeneration fluid, eliminating the need for face-mounted seals and partitions while maintaining effective isolation
2Strength
If dead zones are created at the center and outer periphery of the sorbent disk for thermal insulation, then thermal expansion is prevented, but these zones act as vapor sinks that release vapor into the treated fluid stream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by heating the isolation fluid stream before it enters the isolation zones adjacent to dead zones. This pre-heating ensures that when the isolation fluid contacts the dead zones, it prevents vapor diffusion from these zones into the process fluid stream, thereby eliminating the harmful vapor sink effect while maintaining the thermal insulation function
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation fluid stream serves as an intermediary barrier between the dead zones and the process fluid stream. By circulating heated isolation fluid through these zones, it prevents vapor migration from the thermally insulated dead zones into the treated fluid, converting the previously harmful vapor sinks into controlled isolation regions
3Reliability
If purge zones are incorporated to reduce cross-contamination, then vapor concentration in treated fluid is reduced, but system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the isolation function and the purge function into a single integrated isolation fluid stream system. The isolation fluid circulates through isolation zones, performing both the isolation of process and regeneration zones and the purge of accumulated vapors from dead zones, thereby achieving dual functionality with a single system component
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation fluid stream performs multiple functions: it isolates the process fluid from the regeneration fluid, heats the rotor material to prevent vapor condensation, and purges accumulated vapors from dead zones. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate purge systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining treated fluid purity
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
Reduces cross-contamination by equilibrating fluid streams to intermediate pressures, enhancing the concentration ratio of vapor in the process stream and improving system efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The isolation fluid stream is recycled between the second and fourth zones to pre-warm rotor material in these zones
Implementation Method 2
A purge airstream that uses warm air from a zone of a rotor after the regeneration zone to preheat the air to be further heated for supply to the regeneration zone
Implementation Method 3
Rotary bed sorption systems have long been used to collect a sorbate from one fluid stream, sometimes called a process or sorption fluid stream, and transfer it, in a more concentrated form, to a second fluid stream
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary sorption system includes a rotor formed of a rotating sorbent mass of a regenerable sorbent material, with which in a cycle of operation, a given volume of the sorbent mass sequentially passes through first, second, third, fourth, and fifth zones, before returning to the first zone. The system also includes a supply fluid stream directed through the first zone, a regeneration fluid stream directed through the third zone, and an isolation fluid stream that recirculates in a closed loop independent of the process fluid stream and the regeneration fluid stream through the second and fourth zones. A portion of the supply fluid stream passes through the fifth zone before joining the regeneration fluid stream and passing through the third zone, and no seal or barrier is disposed at a face of the rotor between the first zone and the fifth zone.