Non-aqueous Scrubber Gas Analysis for Sulfur Compounds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing sulfur compounds in hydrocarbon gases, such as natural gas, are either time-consuming and expensive or suffer from cross-sensitivity issues with electrochemical sensors, making it difficult to accurately determine individual odorant concentrations in field deployments.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising non-aqueous scrubbers and electrochemical sensors that selectively remove sulfur compounds using materials like alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, and iodate salts, followed by precise sensing of remaining sulfur compounds to determine their concentrations, allowing for accurate analysis of individual odorants like THT, TBM, and MES.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If gas chromatography is used for odorant analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming sampling and laboratory analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical gas chromatography system with an electrochemical sensor-based system. The electrochemical sensors directly measure odorant concentrations in the gas stream without requiring complex mechanical separation equipment, thereby maintaining measurement precision while significantly improving analysis speed and enabling real-time monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes specific sulfur compounds from the gas stream using chemical scrubbers before the gas reaches the electrochemical sensors. By selectively removing interfering compounds like H2S and mercaptans through chemical reactions with scrubber materials, the system eliminates cross-sensitivity issues and enables accurate measurement of individual odorants using simpler, faster electrochemical detection.
2Productivity
If electrochemical sensors are used for odorant detection, then productivity is improved through real-time monitoring, but measurement precision deteriorates due to cross-sensitivity to multiple sulfur compounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses chemical scrubbers to extract and remove specific interfering sulfur compounds from the gas stream before it reaches the electrochemical sensors. By selectively removing compounds like H2S and mercaptans through chemical reactions with scrubber materials, the system eliminates cross-sensitivity issues and enables accurate measurement of individual odorants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the gas analysis process into multiple parallel measurement channels, each with its own scrubber-sensor combination. Different scrubbers remove different interfering compounds, allowing multiple electrochemical sensors to simultaneously measure different odorants without cross-interference, thereby achieving both real-time monitoring and high measurement precision.
3Ease of operation
If aqueous bubbling solutions are used in field deployment, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to freezing at low temperatures and evaporation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the scrubbing medium from liquid (aqueous solution) to solid (desiccant material or solid scrubber). This parameter change eliminates the freezing and evaporation issues inherent to liquid systems, allowing the scrubbing function to operate reliably across a wide temperature range while maintaining ease of operation through simple solid-gas contact.
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 enables accurate and efficient analysis of sulfur compounds in hydrocarbon gases, reducing cross-sensitivity issues and allowing for real-time monitoring of odorant concentrations in natural gas pipelines, while being compact and suitable for hazardous locations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one scrubber comprising a non-aqueous scrubber material that removes at least one sulfur compound from the gas
Implementation Method 2
The scrubber material comprises an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, a carbonate salt, a bicarbonate salt, an iodate salt, a metal oxide, an amine, or a combination thereof
Implementation Method 3
at least one gas sensor in fluid communication with the at least one scrubber, the at least one gas sensor sensing at least one remaining sulfur compound in the scrubbed gas
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for analyzing a gas are provided. In some embodiments, the system includes: at least one scrubber including a scrubber material that removes at least one sulfur compound from the gas to produce a scrubbed gas; at least one gas sensor in fluid communication with the at least one scrubber, the at least one gas sensor sensing at least one remaining sulfur compound in the scrubbed gas. In some embodiments, the systems and methods disclosed herein may be used to analyze individual odorants in a hydrocarbon gas such as natural gas.