Rotating Monolith Reactor for Chemical Looping Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for chemical-looping combustion face challenges such as unreliable valve operation at high temperatures, pulsing gas streams, abrasion of oxygen carriers, and leakage issues in power-producing equipment, which hinder efficient CO2 separation from fossil fuel combustion.
Innovation Solution
A reactor design with a rotating oxygen carrier bed and radially extending partition walls allows for radial gas flow, minimizing gas mixing and expansion-related issues, enabling efficient separation of CO2 from N2 in the air stream, using a solid oxidizing agent to facilitate chemical-looping combustion reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If switching operation between containers is used to separate CO2, then CO2 separation is achieved, but gas streams become pulsed and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a rotating monolith reactor that continuously rotates between oxidation and reduction zones, replacing the static switching operation. This dynamic rotation ensures continuous gas flow without pulsing while maintaining CO2 separation efficiency through the inherent design of the rotating structure that prevents gas mixing between zones.
2Reliability
If circulating fluidised bed is used to transport oxygen carrier, then smooth operation is achieved, but abrasion and fines production occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the oxygen carrier transport function from the fluidised bed system and replaces it with a rotating monolith structure where the oxygen carrier is fixed on the rotating substrate. This eliminates the circulation and abrasion issues while maintaining smooth operation through continuous rotation.
3Reliability
If rotating monolith reactor is used for chemical looping combustion, then CO2 separation is achieved, but leakage occurs due to gas expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monolith into axially separated oxidation and reduction zones with physical barriers between them. This segmentation prevents gas leakage and mixing by creating distinct compartments that maintain separate gas streams while allowing the monolith to rotate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces radial rotation as an additional dimension to the axial flow system. By rotating the monolith around its axis while maintaining axial segmentation, the system accommodates gas expansion in the radial direction while preserving axial separation of gas streams, preventing leakage.
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 design achieves efficient, smooth, and economically favorable CO2 separation, reducing atmospheric CO2 levels by minimizing gas mixing and leakage, and ensuring reliable operation of power-producing equipment.
Implementation Method 1
M+xO2→MO2x
Implementation Method 2
2MO2y+yCH4→yCO2+2yH2O+2M
Implementation Method 3
said at least two gases flow radially outward through a continuous solid oxygen carrier bed
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention comprises a method and reactor of chemical looping combustion involving at least two gases in a reactor in which: said at least two gases are conveyed to a reactor fluid inlet center which is divided in at least two sectors; said at least two gases flow radially outward into an oxygen carrier bed that surrounds said fluid inlet center, said oxygen carrier bed comprising an active material, in which at least one reaction takes place between said active material and said at least two gases; effluents from said at least one reaction are conveyed to an outer compartment of the reactor, said compartment being divided in two sections by means of two radially extending partition walls, said fluid inlet center, said oxygen carrier bed and said outer compartment are rotating relative to each other.