Steam Stripping for Electrolyzer Liquid Degassing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for degassing liquid streams from electrolyzers are complex, costly, and inefficient, particularly due to the formation of ignitable or explosive gas mixtures, and often require extensive safety measures and equipment, which reduces the profitability and safety of the process.
Innovation Solution
The method employs steam stripping to degas liquid streams containing gases from electrolyzers, using a steam stripper to separate the gases from the liquids, thereby simplifying the process and reducing the need for extensive safety measures and equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If vacuum degassing is used to remove dissolved gases from liquid streams, then gas removal effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption and equipment complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from vacuum conditions to atmospheric pressure operation. The sparger introduces gas bubbles at atmospheric pressure, allowing dissolved gases to transfer to the bubble phase without requiring vacuum pumps or complex pressure control systems, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective gas removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the gas removal function from complex vacuum systems and implements it through a simple sparger device that introduces inert gas bubbles. This extraction simplifies the system by removing the need for vacuum pumps, seals, and complex control mechanisms while achieving the same gas removal objective.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If vacuum degassing equipment is installed to remove dissolved gases, then gas safety is improved, but device complexity and initial investment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a simple sparger device that can be easily installed and removed without complex infrastructure. The sparger consists of basic components (tubes with holes) that can be made from inexpensive materials and do not require expensive vacuum pumps, seals, or complex safety systems, thereby reducing both initial investment and operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary inert gas (such as nitrogen or air) that acts as a mediator to transfer dissolved gases from the liquid phase to the gas phase. This intermediary gas creates bubbles that facilitate gas removal without requiring vacuum conditions, thereby simplifying the equipment while maintaining safety by preventing explosive gas mixtures through inerting.
3Device complexity
If thermal degassing is used to remove gases from liquid streams, then equipment simplicity is improved, but gas removal effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by introducing gas bubbles through a sparger to facilitate mass transfer of dissolved gases. The rising bubbles create turbulence and increase the liquid-gas interfacial area, enhancing gas removal efficiency through fluid dynamics rather than thermal effects, thereby maintaining equipment simplicity while improving gas removal effectiveness.
4Reliability
If complex safety measures and monitoring systems are implemented to handle dissolved gases, then safety is improved, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful dissolved gases into a beneficial process feature by using the sparger-introduced bubbles to actively strip gases from the liquid. The gas bubbles serve dual purposes: they facilitate mass transfer for gas removal and create an inert atmosphere that prevents explosive mixtures. This approach eliminates the need for expensive safety monitoring systems while maintaining or improving safety.
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 removes gases from liquid streams, enhancing safety and reducing operational costs by eliminating the need for complex engineering and expensive safety measures, while allowing for the potential recycling of gases back into the electrolysis system.
Implementation Method 1
The method employs steam stripping to degas liquid streams containing gases from electrolyzers, using a steam stripper to separate the gases from the liquids
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for degassing at least one first and/or second liquid stream containing a first gas derived from an electrolyzer and/or formed by treating at least one first gas stream derived from an electrolyzer comprising a first fluid and the first gas, and to a device for degassing at least one first and/or second liquid stream containing a first gas derived from an electrolyzer and/or formed by treating at least one first gas stream derived from an electrolyzer comprising a first fluid and the first gas.