Scraped-Surface Salt Separator for Supercritical Salt Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing salt separators in thermochemical conversion processes, particularly for supercritical water gasification, face inefficiencies in separating type II salts, which can clog equipment and require high thermal or mechanical energy inputs, and existing antifouling solutions are not effective for these small particles.
Innovation Solution
A salt separator with a scraper plate and internal filters, capable of retaining microparticles and nanoparticles, is used to separate and regenerate salts under controlled temperature conditions, allowing continuous operation and efficient salt removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional salt separators are used in supercritical water gasification, then salt separation can be achieved, but type II salts (microparticles and nanoparticles) clog the equipment and require high thermal or mechanical energy inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes type II salts (microparticles and nanoparticles) from the supercritical water stream using a dedicated filtration system with filters specifically designed to capture these fine particles, preventing them from clogging downstream equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary cooling zone that transforms the supercritical water into subcritical or liquid phase, causing type II salts to precipitate and become amenable to filtration, thereby mediating between the supercritical reaction environment and the salt removal mechanism
2Reliability
If conventional salt separators are used, then salt separation can be achieved, but excessively high inputs of thermal or mechanical energy are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature and pressure parameters of the supercritical water to subcritical or liquid phase conditions in a controlled cooling zone, inducing salt precipitation without requiring high energy inputs for mechanical separation or thermal processing
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition of water from supercritical to subcritical or liquid state to drive salt precipitation and separation, leveraging natural thermodynamic changes rather than consuming additional thermal or mechanical energy
3Reliability
If conventional salt separators are used, then salt separation can be achieved, but salts are combined with a significant portion of organic material
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a localized filtration environment with specifically designed filters that target type II salts while allowing organic materials to pass through, achieving selective separation based on particle size and properties
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
The solution effectively prevents clogging and enables continuous operation by retaining and regenerating salts, improving the efficiency and longevity of thermochemical conversion facilities.
Implementation Method 1
a scraper plate (13) which is slidingly mounted in the tube (10) and in the inner chamber (C) of the enclosure along a path which generates scraping friction directly with the internal wall of the tube (10) and/or with any solid material deposit, including the precipitated salts
Implementation Method 2
at least one salt filter housed and fastened in the inner chamber, the salt filter being adapted to retain the salts within it, once they have been precipitated in the inner chamber, including those in the form of microparticles and nanoparticles
Implementation Method 3
an outer one (21) of which, which is thermally insulating, incorporates heating elements (22) which thus heat the chamber (C) and the injection tube (10)
Implementation Method 4
supercritical water gasification of biomass... water at temperatures greater than 374° C. under a pressure greater than 22.1 MPa
Implementation Method 5
the precipitation occurs virtually instantaneously as soon as the temperature reached leads to a decrease in the solubility of the salts
Data Source
AI summary
A separator for salts contained in a solution which is brought under supercritical conditions, with at least one salt filter which can retain therein salts initially contained in the solution and which are precipitated, including those in the form of micro- or nanoparticles. The operation of the salt separator makes it possible, if necessary, to heat the solution for conversion to a temperature ensuring the precipitation of the salts and their retention within suitable filters and then to separate the solution for conversion into a salt-depleted stream which is discharged from the separator and directed to a conversion reactor, in particular a gasification reactor, and, if appropriate, into a stream loaded with salts to be extracted in the form of a brin.