Rotational Gas Separator Using Supersonic Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing CO2 and other moieties from gas streams, such as adsorption monoliths and centrifugal stratification, require special materials, high maintenance, and are hindered by viscous heating effects that cause re-vaporization, necessitating a more efficient and cost-effective solution for modular, low-cost technology that can remove 50-100% of target moieties from gas streams like those generated at power plants.
Innovation Solution
The method combines supersonic expansion and oblique shock compression with ridged body rotation to liquefy or solidify target moieties like H2O, CO, and CO2, minimizing thermal heating effects and using a compact system with no specialty chemicals or solvents, allowing for simultaneous extraction of multiple components without pretreatment of flue gas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If centrifugal stratification is used to compress target moieties into liquid or solid phase, then separation efficiency is improved, but viscous heating effects cause re-vaporization that worsens separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful viscous heating effect by removing the liquid/solid phases from the gas stream immediately after compression, preventing them from traveling through flow fields where viscous heating would cause re-vaporization. The condensed phases are separated and removed directly from the compression zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary cooling or expansion actions to the gas stream before compression to reduce the temperature and minimize viscous heating effects during the compression process. This preliminary preparation helps maintain the condensed state of target moieties throughout the separation process.
2Productivity
If special adsorbents or proprietary substrates are used for removal, then removal efficiency is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the gas stream to separate target moieties through its own physical properties (temperature, pressure, composition) without requiring external special materials. The system uses the inherent characteristics of the gas stream and condensed phases to achieve separation, eliminating the need for proprietary substrates or adsorbents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves efficient removal by changing physical parameters (temperature, pressure, flow rate) of the gas stream rather than introducing special materials. By manipulating these parameters, the system can selectively condense and separate target moieties based on their physical properties alone.
3Productivity
If liquid/solid phases travel through flow fields during removal, then separation is achieved, but viscous heating causes re-vaporization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the condensed liquid/solid phases from the hot gas stream immediately after compression and separates them in a dedicated separation zone. This prevents the condensed phases from traveling through extended flow fields where viscous heating would raise their temperature and cause re-vaporization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides thermal cushioning by cooling the gas stream or the condensed phases before they travel through flow fields. This preliminary cooling protects the condensed phases from viscous heating effects that would otherwise cause re-vaporization during transport.
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 efficiently separates target moieties from gas streams, maintaining them in a condensed state, reducing re-vaporization, and enabling modular, low-cost implementation with reduced thermal heating, suitable for applications in power plants and other gas separation processes.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting the streams to supersonic expansion and oblique shock compression along with ridged body rotation
Implementation Method 2
subjecting the streams to supersonic expansion and oblique shock compression along with ridged body rotation
Implementation Method 3
imparting a ridged body rotation to an outward radial flow of gas which has an initial supersonic expansion followed by an oblique shock compression
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a system for removing target moieties from gas streams, the system comprising a supersonic expander coaxially positioned within an array of oblique shock inducers. Also provided is a method for removing target moieties from gas streams, the method comprising simultaneously subjecting the streams to supersonic expansion and oblique shock compression.