TSA Air Purifier Restart Using Valve Isolation and Pre-Pressurization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryogenic air separation plants face challenges in quickly restarting after a stop, leading to increased impurity concentrations in purified air due to diffusion and insufficient regeneration of adsorbents, which results in delayed production and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the closure of specific valves during the stoppage of a TSA apparatus, followed by pressurization and switching of processes in adsorption columns to facilitate immediate restart, allowing for continuous regeneration and adsorption processes without the need for self-regeneration operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the TSA apparatus is stopped for a period of time, then maintenance or shutdown requirements are met, but impurity concentrations in purified air increase due to diffusion and insufficient regeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by closing specific valves (atmosphere-releasing valve, inlet valve, outlet valve) during the stoppage period before restart. This pre-positioning of valves maintains the adsorbent in a ready state, preventing impurity diffusion and eliminating the need for time-consuming self-regeneration operations after restart, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining purification quality and minimizing restart time
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service through automatic valve control that maintains the adsorption column in a standby state during stoppage. The control unit automatically manages valve positions to preserve adsorbent effectiveness without requiring external intervention or additional regeneration cycles, enabling immediate restart while maintaining purification standards
2Reliability
If self-regeneration operations are performed after restart, then adsorbent effectiveness is restored, but production time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary valve closure actions during the stoppage period that preserve adsorbent effectiveness without requiring post-restart regeneration. By pre-positioning valves to maintain adsorbent readiness, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming self-regeneration operations after restart, thus restoring adsorbent performance while avoiding production delays
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the skipping principle by eliminating the self-regeneration step entirely after restart. Through proper valve management during stoppage, the system rushes through the restart process directly to production mode without the intermediate regeneration phase, thereby maintaining adsorbent performance while maximizing productivity
3Ease of operation
If valves are not closed during stoppage, then system is easier to restart, but impurity diffusion occurs in adsorption column
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary action by closing specific valves (atmosphere-releasing valve, inlet valve, outlet valve) during the stoppage period. This pre-positioning prevents impurity diffusion in the adsorption column while maintaining simple restart procedures, as the valves are already in the correct position for immediate resumption of operation without requiring additional manual intervention
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 rapid restart of the TSA apparatus, maintaining low impurity concentrations in purified air and reducing the time before resuming operation, thus enhancing the efficiency and economy of cryogenic air separation plants.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature swing adsorption method alternately performs an adsorption process in which impurities such as moisture and carbon dioxide are removed by adsorption at low temperature
Implementation Method 2
After being heated to 150° C. to 250° C., the purge gas flows in the adsorption column 5b through the valve 14b. The inflow of the heated purge gas heats the adsorbent; therefore, the impurities such as moisture and carbon dioxide adsorbed to the adsorbent are desorbed from the adsorbent
Implementation Method 3
In the cooling step, the valve 12 is closed, and the valve 15 is opened. The purge gas does not flow in the heater 13 and directly flows in the adsorption column 5b at a low temperature. This purge gas cools the adsorbent.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of restarting a TSA apparatus includes, in the case where the TSA apparatus was stopped when or after when a temperature of a purge gas which flows out from a first adsorption column (5a) during a regeneration process became a peak temperature, in the first adsorption column (5a), closing an entrance valve, an exit valve, and an atmosphere-releasing valve; in a second adsorption column (5b) during an adsorption process, closing an entrance valve and an exit valve and opening an atmosphere-releasing valve so as to release a gas in the opposite direction to feed air flow, followed by closing the atmosphere-releasing valve; pressurizing, just before a restart, the second adsorption column (5b) with feed air to a pressure necessary for the adsorption process; and performing, after the restart, the regeneration process and the adsorption process continuously from the time point of stopping the TSA apparatus.