Thermal Wave Adsorption for Gas Separation Cycle Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal swing adsorption (TSA) processes face challenges such as long cycle times, large equipment requirements, heat integration issues, and dilution of products due to heat management difficulties, making them economically unattractive and inefficient for gas separation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a thermal wave adsorption process using a temperature swing adsorption unit with adsorbent contactors featuring parallel open flow channels and a heat exchanger system, where a thermal wave is generated during desorption to enhance separation efficiency and recover heat, allowing for rapid temperature changes without significant heat loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional TSA processes are used for gas separation, then gas separation can be achieved, but the cycle times are long and equipment size must be very large
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorbent bed is segmented into multiple zones with different adsorbent materials having varying selectivities. This segmentation allows different components to be separated at different locations along the bed, enabling faster cycle times and reducing the overall equipment size required for effective separation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the adsorbent bed are assigned different adsorbent materials with specific local qualities (selectivities). The first zone has high selectivity for the first component, the second zone has high selectivity for the second component, allowing optimized separation performance with reduced bed depth and volume.
2Loss of energy
If conventional TSA processes are used, then gas separation can be achieved, but heat integration is difficult and products are diluted
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal wave generation mechanism is extracted and implemented as a separate heating system that creates temperature gradients independent of the main adsorption process. This allows precise control of temperature profiles to enhance heat integration while maintaining product concentration through selective adsorption zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic temperature swings and thermal waves to cycle between adsorption and desorption phases. This periodic action enables efficient heat integration by using waste heat from one zone to pre-heat another, while maintaining high product concentration through controlled periodic regeneration.
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 separation of target gases with high purity and recovery rates, reducing equipment size and operational costs by maintaining continuous product flow and effectively recycling heat energy, thus improving the commercial viability of TSA processes.
Implementation Method 1
passing said gas mixture through at least a fraction of said flow channels thereby resulting in the adsorption of at least a portion of said first target gas component from the gas mixture onto said adsorbent material
Implementation Method 2
heating said at least one adsorbent contactor having said first target gas component adsorbed thereon with a heat transfer fluid to an effective temperature that will result in the desorption of at least a fraction of said first target gas component
Implementation Method 3
a thermal wave is generated in the adsorbent contactor in the desorption step d) thereby creating a thermal wave temperature gradient, which thermal wave temperature gradient moves along the length of the at least one adsorbent contactor
Data Source
AI summary
The separation of a target gas from a mixture of gases using a thermal swing adsorption process wherein a thermal wave is used, primarily in the desorption step. The process of this invention enables one to separately remove multiple contaminants from a treated gaseous stream.