Siloxane Removal via Hydrolysis and Solid Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently removing siloxanes, silanes, and other silicon compounds from fluid streams, particularly in biogas, while effectively managing waste gases and achieving low siloxane levels.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving a hot box that reacts the fluid with water at suitable temperatures and pressures for hydrolysis, producing silicon dioxide and methane, with adsorbent materials capturing the silicon dioxide as solid material, and a heat exchanger to manage the gas temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If hydrolysis reaction is used to remove siloxanes, then siloxane removal efficiency is improved, but solid silicon dioxide accumulates in the system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the solid silicon dioxide produced by hydrolysis from the gas stream using a solid-liquid separator. The separator removes particulate SiO2 from the treated gas, preventing accumulation in the system while maintaining the benefits of hydrolysis for siloxane removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards the solid silicon dioxide as a separate waste stream while recovering the treated gas for further processing or use. This separation allows the system to benefit from siloxane removal without the negative effects of solid accumulation in the main gas flow.
2Productivity
If high temperature is used for hydrolysis reaction, then reaction rate is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter along the reactor length, using higher temperatures at the inlet to drive the hydrolysis reaction and gradually lowering temperatures toward the outlet. This temperature profile optimizes both reaction rate and energy efficiency, avoiding the need for uniformly high temperatures throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous hydrolysis reaction throughout the reactor by ensuring sufficient residence time and appropriate temperature conditions along the entire reactor length. This continuous action allows the reaction to proceed to completion without requiring excessively high temperatures at any single point, reducing overall energy consumption.
3Manufacturing precision
If water vapor is added to promote hydrolysis, then siloxane conversion is improved, but gas humidity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts excess water vapor from the gas stream using a condenser or dryer section following the hydrolysis reactor. This removal of excess moisture maintains the siloxane conversion benefits while preventing unwanted humidity increases in the final gas product.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality conditions to different sections of the system: high humidity conditions are maintained in the reactor zone to promote hydrolysis, while the downstream section uses lower humidity conditions to produce a drier final gas product. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between conversion efficiency and product humidity.
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 effectively reduces siloxane levels to very low parts per billion (ppb) levels, compared to current techniques, and can be used to produce clean biogas suitable for combustion or renewable natural gas applications.
Implementation Method 1
react the initial flow with water at a temperature and pressure suitable for hydrolysis to generate a first treated flow. At least a portion of the initial flow is hydrolyzed to produce silicon dioxide and methane
Implementation Method 2
adsorbent material housed in the hot box and configured to capture at least a portion of the silicon dioxide as solid material
Data Source
AI summary
Systems for and methods of treating a fluid containing siloxanes, silanes and/or other silicon compounds. A hot box is configured to receive an initial flow of the fluid, react the flow with water at a temperature and pressure suitable for hydrolysis to generate a first treated flow, in which at least a portion is hydrolyzed to produce silicon dioxide and methane, and discharge the first treated flow. A solid removal mechanism can be configured to receive the first treated flow, separate at least a portion of the silicon dioxide as solid material, and discharge the remaining components as a second treated flow. Techniques of the present disclosure can lead to very low siloxane levels.