Segmented Sorbent Bed for Low-Pressure Gas Separation
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas separation systems for capturing CO2 from atmospheric air face challenges in achieving low pressure drop while maintaining effective mass transfer, especially due to the low concentration of CO2 in air, which requires large air volumes to be processed, leading to high energy consumption and inefficiencies in conventional packed bed or fluidized bed configurations.
Innovation Solution
A novel gas separation unit employing a stack of flexible fabric layers with loose particulate sorbent material, arranged in a configuration that minimizes pressure drop and maximizes contact between the sorbent and gas stream, using a cyclic adsorption/desorption process with amine-functionalized sorbent materials, and incorporating a heat exchange system for efficient temperature management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional packed bed or fluidized bed configurations are used, then effective mass transfer is achieved, but pressure drop increases significantly leading to high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The sorbent bed is segmented into multiple shallow layers separated by distribute plates, transforming a single deep bed into multiple shallow beds. This segmentation reduces the pressure drop across each layer while maintaining adequate contact time for mass transfer, thereby lowering overall energy consumption for gas pumping.
Solution Approach 2:
Distribute plates are introduced as intermediary elements between sorbent layers to evenly distribute the gas flow. These plates prevent channeling and ensure uniform flow distribution across each shallow layer, maintaining mass transfer efficiency without requiring high pressure drops.
2Quantity of substance
If large air volumes are processed to capture CO2 from atmospheric air, then adequate CO2 capture is achieved, but pressure drop and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the sorbent into multiple shallow layers, the system can process large air volumes more efficiently. Each shallow layer presents a lower resistance to flow, allowing high volumetric throughput while maintaining adequate residence time for CO2 adsorption, thus reducing the energy penalty associated with moving large air volumes.
3Use of energy by moving object
If sorbent layers are made thinner to reduce pressure drop, then energy consumption decreases, but mass transfer efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sorbent is divided into multiple shallow layers rather than using a single thick layer. This segmentation allows each layer to be thin enough to minimize pressure drop and energy consumption, while the cumulative effect of multiple layers maintains adequate total mass transfer capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Distribute plates serve as intermediaries that enhance flow distribution across each thin layer, ensuring that even though individual layers are thin, the gas-sorbent contact is uniform and efficient, preserving mass transfer effectiveness.
4Use of energy by moving object
If sorbent material is loosely arranged to minimize pressure drop, then energy requirements decrease, but contact between sorbent and gas stream may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The loose particulate sorbent is contained within multiple shallow layers defined by fabric sheets. This segmentation allows the sorbent to remain loosely arranged for low pressure drop while ensuring adequate gas-sorbent contact within each confined shallow space.
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 reduces energy requirements by minimizing pressure drop and enhancing mass transfer efficiency, enabling economical and effective CO2 capture from large air volumes with reduced energy consumption and improved system performance.
Implementation Method 1
a cyclic adsorption/desorption process using amine functionalized solid sorbent materials together with a cyclic adsorption/desorption process using this material for the extraction of carbon dioxide from ambient air
Implementation Method 2
a portion of the CO2 contained in the air is chemically bound at the amine functionalized surface of the sorbent
Implementation Method 3
incorporating a heat exchange system for efficient temperature management
Implementation Method 4
During the subsequent desorption, the material is heated to about 50-110° C. and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide surrounding the sorbent is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A gas separation unit for the separation of a first gas from a mixture containing said first gas as well as further gases by a cyclic adsorption/desorption process using a loose particulate sorbent material for gas adsorption. The particulate sorbent material is arranged in at least two stacked layers (5) that are mounted on a stiff rectangular circumferential frame (7). A plurality of tubes (11) is provided for a heat exchange fluid within the frame (7). The tubes (11) are in thermal contact with a plurality of sheets (9) of metal which are arranged essentially perpendicular to a main plane of the frame (7) and perpendicular to the tubes (11). The sheets (9) extend in a continuous manner between a first pair of mutually parallel metal profiles (7′) and are provided with a plurality of holes (10) through which the plurality of tubes (11) penetrate.