Textile Gas-Liquid-Solid Contactors for CO2 Capture Without Flooding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas-liquid contactors face issues with inlet liquid distribution, wall effects, channeling, and flooding, and there is a need for improved CO2 capture capabilities, especially at low ppm levels in ambient conditions using non-hazardous materials that can be fabricated as lightweight modular units.
Innovation Solution
The use of textile-based gas-liquid-solid contactors comprising hydrophilic fibers and a support structure, optionally with an active enzyme, to enhance gas-liquid contact and facilitate CO2 absorption, utilizing hydrophilic textiles that absorb and convey liquid through the packing, creating high surface area for efficient CO2 capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional packings (stainless steel, glass, ceramic) are used to create gas-liquid contact area, then mass transfer between gas and liquid phases is promoted, but the system experiences inlet liquid distribution issues, wall effects, channeling and flooding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous hollow fiber membranes as the contactor medium. These porous structures provide extensive internal surface area for gas-liquid contact while maintaining uniform flow distribution through the porous matrix, eliminating channeling and flooding issues associated with conventional packings. The porous structure naturally distributes liquid across the entire cross-section, preventing wall effects and inlet distribution problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structures combining hydrophobic membrane materials with hydrophilic coatings or porous support layers. This composite approach creates a functional system where the hydrophobic membrane provides selective permeability and structural integrity, while hydrophilic components facilitate uniform liquid distribution and prevent channeling, thereby resolving the contradiction between mass transfer efficiency and flow stability.
2Area of stationary object
If porous hollow fiber membrane contactors are used to promote gas-liquid contact, then contact area is increased, but the system requires hydrophobic materials that may limit CO2 capture at low ppm levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the surface properties of the membrane contactor by applying hydrophilic coatings or using hydrophilic porous materials. This parameter change in surface wettability enhances liquid distribution and increases the effective contact area available for CO2 absorption. The modified parameters enable the system to effectively capture CO2 at low ppm levels by maximizing interfacial contact between gas and liquid phases throughout the membrane structure.
3Productivity
If conventional equipment assemblies are used for CO2 capture, then CO2 separation is achieved, but the system is heavy and requires complex construction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin-film hollow fiber membranes as the core contactor element. These thin-film structures provide high surface area to volume ratio, enabling effective CO2 separation while minimizing material usage and overall system weight. The flexible thin-film construction allows for compact module design, replacing heavy conventional equipment assemblies with lightweight membrane-based systems that maintain separation productivity.
4Productivity
If conventional packings are used to create gas-liquid contact, then mass transfer is promoted, but construction costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the contactor into modular hollow fiber membrane modules that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each module contains bundled hollow fibers with standardized configurations, simplifying construction while maintaining high mass transfer rates. This segmentation allows for scalable system design and reduces overall construction complexity compared to custom-designed conventional packing systems.
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
The textile-based contactors improve CO2 absorption efficiency, reduce weight and construction costs, and minimize disruption in fluid flow, enabling effective CO2 capture in diverse applications, including natural gas, biogas, and medical treatments, with enhanced enzyme longevity and process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing hydrophilic textiles that absorb and convey liquid through the packing
Implementation Method 2
An active enzyme is attached to the hydrophilic fibers
Data Source
AI summary
In various exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides novel water-absorbent textile-based gas-liquid-solid contactors for carbon dioxide (CO2) gas separation, as well as novel methods for producing and using these materials. The water-absorbent textile-based contactors of the present invention allow aqueous liquids to penetrate and travel intimately throughout the water-absorbent textile structure. The textile structure comprises many fibers with small diameters which creates a very high surface area. When exposed to a gas, the gas will be in contact with liquid spread throughout the solid wetted textile structure, all three phases “gas-liquid-solid” are in intimate contact. The textile contactor itself has superior performance compared to conventional packing materials, and, when combined with biocatalysts, the performance improves even more dramatically. By incorporating a biocatalyst, the invention enables use of benign solvents that have otherwise been overlooked in conventional systems due to poor kinetics.