Vent Plate TSA Adsorber for Faster CO2 Desorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing TSA units for carbon dioxide capture in vehicles face inefficiencies in heat transfer, leading to long desorption cycles and large size, weight, and cost, especially when using indirect heating methods with gas heat exchangers, which dilute the purity of captured CO2 and are not suitable for mobile applications.
Innovation Solution
A TSA unit with stacked container bodies filled with sorbent material and vent plate structures that channel hot exhaust gas for desorption and cold exhaust gas for adsorption, optimizing heat transfer and reducing unit size and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If indirect heating with gas heat exchanger is used, then CO2 purity is maintained, but heat transfer efficiency is low and system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sorbent bed is divided into multiple segments or zones with different heating requirements. The vent plate structure creates distinct flow paths that allow differential heating - with some regions receiving more intense heat transfer than others, optimizing both purity and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The vent plate introduces a new dimensional aspect to heat transfer by creating vertical flow paths through the sorbent bed. This allows heat to be transferred from multiple directions simultaneously, dramatically improving heat transfer efficiency while maintaining the indirect heating mechanism that preserves CO2 purity
2Reliability
If indirect heating with gas heat exchanger is used, then CO2 purity is maintained, but system weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vent plate structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a heat transfer enhancement device, a flow distribution mechanism, and a structural support element. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components, reducing overall system weight and cost while maintaining CO2 purity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the exhaust gas itself as the heating medium, eliminating the need for external fuel sources or separate heating systems. The exhaust gas from the vehicle's engine directly provides the thermal energy needed for desorption, making the system self-sufficient and reducing auxiliary components
3Reliability
If conventional indirect heating is used, then CO2 purity is maintained, but desorption cycle time is long
Solution Approach 1:
The vent plate structure is pre-configured within the adsorber vessel to create optimal flow paths before the desorption cycle begins. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when hot exhaust gas is introduced, heat transfer occurs immediately and efficiently throughout the sorbent bed, reducing the time required for desorption while maintaining CO2 purity through the indirect heating mechanism
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 solution enables efficient use of waste heat from exhaust gas for desorption, reducing cycle times and system size, while maintaining high CO2 purity without the need for additional components, suitable for mobile applications.
Implementation Method 1
Convection heating is therefore the main source of heat transfer through the particles
Implementation Method 2
each vent plate structure being configured to channel a hot heat transfer gas therethrough to act as heat exchanger structure and transfer heat to the sorbent material
Implementation Method 3
When the sorbent material is cold, it adsorbs or captures gas molecules of a select size. When the sorbent material is warmed, the captured gas is desorbed or released.
Implementation Method 4
enables efficient use of waste heat from exhaust gas for desorption
Data Source
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AI summary
There is described a temperature-swing adsorber unit (TSA) comprising a plurality of container bodies (CB) filled with sorbent material (SP) and extending essentially in a vertical direction, each container body (CB) being configured to be flowed through by a gas to be treated during an adsorption cycle of the temperature-swing adsorber unit (TSA). The container bodies (CB) are stacked side by side, with a vent plate structure (VT) being interposed between adjacent pairs of container bodies (CB). Each vent plate structure (VT) is configured to channel a hot heat transfer gas therethrough to act as heat exchanger structure (HEX) and transfer heat to the sorbent material (SP) during a desorption cycle of the temperature-swing adsorber unit (TSA).