Thermal Sink for TSA Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Thermal Swing Adsorption (TSA) systems require multiple adsorbent beds and a cooling step for regeneration, increasing capital and operating costs due to the need for heat recovery, which is not efficiently managed with only two beds.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a thermal sink to absorb and store thermal energy from the product gas, allowing for the elimination of the cooling step and reducing the number of adsorbent beds required, thereby reducing capital and operating costs by pre-heating the regeneration gas using stored thermal energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If heat recovery is implemented using conventional TSA systems with multiple adsorbent beds, then operating costs are reduced, but capital costs and device complexity increase due to requiring at least three adsorbent beds
Solution Approach 1:
A thermal energy storage bed is introduced as an intermediary component between the adsorbent bed and the regeneration heater. This mediator stores thermal energy during the cooling phase and releases it during the heating phase, enabling heat recovery without requiring additional adsorbent beds. The thermal energy storage bed acts as a buffer that decouples the timing of heat input and output, resolving the contradiction between heat recovery efficiency and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temporal parameter of heat transfer by storing thermal energy during one phase and releasing it during another phase. By transforming the heat recovery process from a simultaneous exchange to a time-separated process using thermal energy storage, the system achieves effective heat recovery while maintaining a simpler configuration with only two adsorbent beds.
2Reliability
If a cooling step is included in the TSA regeneration process, then adsorbent performance is maintained for subsequent adsorption, but operating cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal energy storage bed serves as a mediator that absorbs excess heat during the cooling phase and releases stored thermal energy during the heating phase. This intermediary allows the adsorbent bed to be rapidly cooled without extending the overall cycle time, as the cooling process is coupled with thermal storage rather than passive cooling. The mediator enables simultaneous cooling and preparation for the next adsorption cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by overlapping the cooling step with thermal energy storage accumulation. Rather than performing cooling as a separate, time-consuming step, the cooling occurs concurrently with charging the thermal energy storage bed, ensuring the adsorbent is ready for the next adsorption cycle without idle time. This continuous operation reduces the operating cycle time while maintaining adsorbent performance.
3Device complexity
If the number of adsorbent beds is reduced to two, then capital costs and device complexity are reduced, but heat recovery capability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal energy storage bed performs multiple functions: it stores thermal energy during the cooling phase, releases thermal energy during the heating phase, and enables heat recovery in a two-bed configuration. This multi-functional component replaces the need for a third adsorbent bed, allowing the system to achieve heat recovery capability with reduced device complexity. The universal thermal storage bed compensates for the reduced number of adsorbent beds.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal energy storage bed acts as an intermediary that enables heat recovery functionality in a two-bed system. By introducing this mediator, the system achieves the heat recovery capability that would otherwise require three or more adsorbent beds. The thermal storage bed facilitates energy exchange between cycles, allowing two adsorbent beds to perform the work that would require three beds in a conventional system.
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 decreases the operating cycle time and capital costs by eliminating the need for additional adsorbent beds and simplifying the equipment, while maintaining the effectiveness of contaminant removal from the feed gas, as demonstrated by simulations with silica gel adsorbent and various hydrocarbons.
Implementation Method 1
implementation of a thermal sink to absorb and store thermal energy from the product gas
Implementation Method 2
adsorption of the undesired component onto a solid adsorbent by passing the feed gas through an adsorbent bed
Implementation Method 3
the first adsorbent bed is exposed to a hot regeneration gas at a high temperature which strips the adsorbed materials from the first adsorbent bed
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal sink is used to recover heat from a product gas leaving an adsorption vessel in a thermal swing adsorption process. Heat that is recovered from the product gas is used to heat a regeneration gas during the subsequent regeneration of the adsorbent material within the adsorption vessel. The step in which the regenerated bed of adsorbent material is cooled prior to returning to adsorption mode is eliminated.