Single Rotor Rotary Valve for Adsorption Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary valve assemblies for adsorption-based separation processes are costly and require large, custom-made components, limiting their size and flow capacity.
Innovation Solution
A compact rotary valve assembly design using a single rotor with flat end surfaces for sealing and multiple channels, reducing the need for separate feed and product rotors, and incorporating a pressure-balanced arrangement to minimize size and cost while maintaining robustness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional rotary valve assemblies use separate feed and product rotors, then the valve can handle complex multi-stream flows, but the device size and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate feed rotor and product rotor into a single integrated rotor assembly. The unified rotor contains all necessary flow channels (feed channels, product channels, equalization channels, blowdown channels) and sealing surfaces, eliminating the need for multiple separate rotating components while maintaining the ability to control multiple process streams independently through spatially arranged channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The single rotor is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides feed stream distribution, product stream collection, pressure equalization between beds, and blowdown flow control. The universal rotor design integrates all these functions into one component, reducing overall device complexity while preserving adaptability for different process configurations.
2Quantity of substance
If custom-made large components are used in rotary valve assemblies, then the valve can achieve required flow capacity, but manufacturing cost and lead time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor is segmented into distinct functional zones with separate channels for feed, product, equalization, and blowdown flows. This segmentation allows each channel type to be optimized independently for its specific flow requirements while being manufactured as a single integrated component, achieving high flow capacity without requiring oversized custom-made parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the radial dimension of the rotor by arranging multiple channels at different radial positions and angles. This three-dimensional channel layout maximizes flow capacity within a compact rotor diameter, allowing the valve to handle large flow rates without increasing overall component size or manufacturing complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple separate rotors are used, then sealing between rotating and stationary parts can be maintained, but the number of custom components and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sealing surfaces that would traditionally require separate rotors are integrated into a single rotor body. The rotor incorporates flat sealing faces at its ends and side sealing surfaces, all formed as integral parts of the unified rotor structure. This reduces the number of separate sealing interfaces from multiple rotor-stator contacts to a minimized set of sealing surfaces on one rotor assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor employs consistent sealing technology across all its interfaces, using flat-face seals on the end surfaces and radial seals at the periphery. This homogeneous sealing approach simplifies the selection and installation of sealing components compared to mixing different sealing types that would be required with multiple separate rotors of different designs.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are rotary valve assemblies, comprising a single rotor, for use in adsorption based separation processes. Also disclosed are adsorption based separation apparatuses including said rotary valve assemblies, and adsorption based separation processes using said adsorption based separation apparatuses.