Single Heat Exchanger Gas Purification by Partial Condensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas purification methods require high technical and regulatory expenditures, often involving multiple heat exchangers and complex control systems to effectively condense or freeze out foreign substances from gas flows.
Innovation Solution
A simplified gas purification method using a single heat exchanger with a closed cooling medium circuit, where the gas flow is cooled by a primary coolant, and an additional cooling medium can be injected to achieve the necessary temperature for condensation or freezing, allowing for efficient removal of foreign substances with reduced operational complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple heat exchangers and complex regulating technology are used, then gas purification effectiveness is improved, but technical expenditure and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple heat exchanger functions into a single heat exchanger unit. The first and second heat exchanger sections are integrated into one device, with the gas flow passing through both sections sequentially. This consolidation maintains the purification effectiveness of multiple heat exchangers while significantly reducing device complexity and technical expenditure.
Solution Approach 2:
The single heat exchanger performs multiple functions: it cools the gas flow in the first section to condense foreign substances, then the same device reheats the gas in the second section to prevent refreezing. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate heat exchangers for cooling and reheating, reducing overall system complexity.
2Device complexity
If a single heat exchanger is used, then device complexity is reduced, but gas purification effectiveness may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The single heat exchanger is segmented into two distinct functional sections: a first heat exchanger section for cooling the gas flow below the dew point to condense foreign substances, and a second heat exchanger section for reheating the gas to above the dew point to prevent refreezing. This segmentation within a unified device maintains purification effectiveness while simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger dynamically adjusts the gas temperature through its two sections - first cooling to a target temperature below the dew point for condensation, then reheating to a target temperature above the dew point. This dynamic temperature control within a single device ensures effective purification without requiring multiple separate units.
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 results in a cost-effective and straightforward method for gas purification, capable of condensing or freezing out foreign substances with minimal technical and regulatory expenditure, while maintaining a low temperature difference between the entering and exiting gas flows.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling medium cools the gas flow, on its path in the interior space, to below the dew point of the foreign substance which is to be eliminated, so that the foreign substance is condensed or frozen out
Implementation Method 2
the cooling medium cools the gas flow, on its path in the interior space, to below the dew point of the foreign substance which is to be eliminated, so that the foreign substance is condensed or frozen out
Implementation Method 3
the gas flow is so cold that it can, after exiting the heat exchanger, be deflected and conducted through a second group of tubes back through the interior space of the heat exchanger, as a result of which the gas flow in the interior space of the heat exchanger is cooled
Implementation Method 4
the gas flow is so cold that it can, after exiting the heat exchanger, be deflected and conducted through a second group of tubes back through the interior space of the heat exchanger, as a result of which the gas flow in the interior space of the heat exchanger is cooled and the gas flow in the tubes is warmed up again
Implementation Method 5
the cooling medium being cooled to a predefinable temperature by a primary coolant before entering the first end region of the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
The subject matter of the invention is a method for purifying a foreign-substance-laden gas flow of the foreign substance, with the gas flow being conducted through a heat exchanger and being placed in thermal contact with a cooling medium in order to freeze and/or condense the foreign substance out, wherein the purification takes place in only one tube heat exchanger, through the interior space of which the gas flow is conducted from a first end region to a second end region, and here, is cooled by means of contact with a first group of tubes which are traversed by the coolant, and in that the gas flow, in the second end region, is directly deflected again and is conducted back through the interior space of the heat exchanger to the first end region through a second group of tubes while undergoing an exchange of heat with the gas flow flowing into the interior space. A corresponding device has a heat exchanger having at least two groups of tubes which run through an interior space of the heat exchanger from a first end region to a second end region of the heat exchanger, with it being possible for the gas flow to traverse the interior space of the heat exchanger from a gas flow inlet at the first end region to the second end region, and with a first group of the tubes being part of a substantially closed cooling medium circuit, and a second group of the tubes for recirculating the gas flow from the second end region of the heat exchanger being connected to a purified gas outlet in the first end region. In order to further reduce the operating temperature in the second end region, it is possible for additional cooling medium to be injected into the cooling medium circuit upstream of said second end region. It is even possible for the injection to take place by means of an injector, which then replaces a pump and cooler.