Supercritical Water Salt Separation Fluidized Bed Reactor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing supercritical water treatment processes face challenges in controlling the transition from subcritical to supercritical temperatures, leading to unwanted salt deposits in reactor chambers, especially when oxidizing agents are not desirable due to cost or chemical properties, and fluidized beds may not optimally circulate, allowing salt deposits to form.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus combining a heat exchanger and a fluidized bed reactor with a temperature gradient that maintains subcritical conditions near the inlet and supercritical conditions further downstream, using external heating to prevent deposits and avoid oxidant use, featuring a fluidization plate and distributed heat exchange elements to ensure efficient salt separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a fluidized bed is used to reduce salt deposits on reactor walls, then salt deposition on walls is reduced, but certain portions of the reaction chamber (especially at the inlet) still allow salt deposits to form due to insufficient circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The reaction chamber is divided into multiple zones with different temperature characteristics. The inlet region maintains subcritical temperatures where salts remain soluble, while downstream regions operate at supercritical temperatures. This spatial segmentation prevents salt deposition at the inlet by keeping the temperature below the critical point where salt solubility changes dramatically.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the reaction chamber are assigned different thermal conditions tailored to their specific functions. The inlet zone has subcritical temperature quality to prevent salt deposition, while the main reaction zone has supercritical temperature quality to enable efficient salt separation. This local differentiation optimizes performance in each zone without compromising the other.
2Use of energy by moving object
If oxidation reaction is used to provide thermal energy for supercritical transition, then energy supply is improved, but control of temperature transition becomes difficult due to varying biomass composition
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating in a controlled manner before the fluid enters the main reaction zone. By pre-heating the aqueous phase to a controlled temperature and then introducing it to the supercritical zone, the system avoids uncontrolled temperature spikes that would occur if all heating relied on the oxidation reaction alone. This preliminary action ensures smooth transition to supercritical conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary heating system that acts as a mediator between the energy source and the aqueous phase. This intermediary system provides controlled thermal energy input, allowing precise control of the temperature transition to supercritical conditions, while the oxidation reaction then maintains and supplements the thermal energy in the reaction zone.
3Use of energy by moving object
If oxidizing agent is used to provide thermal energy, then energy for supercritical transition is improved, but cost and chemical compatibility issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the waste aqueous material itself as the fuel source for generating thermal energy. The organic content in the waste stream undergoes oxidation to provide the heat required for maintaining supercritical conditions. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external oxidizing agents or additional fuel sources, reducing both cost and chemical compatibility concerns while simultaneously treating the waste material.
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 enables efficient, cost-effective, and controlled salt separation under supercritical water conditions, reducing maintenance and allowing for continuous operation, scalability, and use with various aqueous liquids, while avoiding aggressive environments for reactor materials.
Implementation Method 1
the heat exchanger is configured to generate a decreasing temperature gradient in the fluidized bed chamber from the outlet section to the entry section, the temperature gradient in the outlet section and mid-section being supercritical for aqueous substances and being subcritical for aqueous substances in at least a first portion of the entry section adjacent the fluidization plate
Implementation Method 2
fluidized bed reactor comprising a supercritical water pressure containing wall defining therein a fluidized bed chamber
Implementation Method 3
fluidized bed chamber extends between the inlet system and outlet system
Implementation Method 4
an outlet system configured to separate solids from supercritical fluid at another end thereof
Implementation Method 5
heat exchanger may comprise a plurality of heat exchange elements positioned within the fluidized bed chamber
Implementation Method 6
heat exchange elements configured for receiving a heat exchange fluid therein
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for salt separation (2) under supercritical water conditions, comprising a heat exchanger (4) and a fluidized bed reactor (6). The fluidized bed reactor comprising a supercritical water pressure containing wall (8) defining therein a fluidized bed chamber (10) connected to an inlet system (16) at one end thereof and an outlet system (18) configured to separate solids from supercritical fluid at another end thereof. The fluidized bed chamber receives a fluidized bed (12) therein and is configured to receive through the inlet system (16) a liquefied aqueous substance (14) for treatment in the fluidized bed chamber. The inlet system (16) comprises an inlet chamber (20) and a fluidization plate (22) positioned between the inlet chamber (20) and the fluidized bed chamber (10). The fluidized bed chamber extends between the inlet system (16) and outlet system (18) and comprises an entry section (10a) adjacent the inlet system (16), an outlet section (10c) adjacent the outlet system (18), and a mid-section (10b) extending between the entry section and the outlet section. The heat exchanger (4) extends along the fluidized bed chamber (10) and is configured to generate a decreasing temperature gradient in the fluidized bed chamber from the outlet section (10c) to the entry section (10a), the temperature gradient in the outlet section and mid-section being supercritical for aqueous substances and being subcritical for aqueous substances in the entry section (10a) adjacent the fluidization plate (22).