Wick Structure for Gas Dispensing Vessel Pressure Drop Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current SDS gas storage and dispensing systems face challenges with increased pressure drops and longer desorption times due to the use of stub filters, which hinder gas diffusion and prolong the adsorption and desorption processes.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a wick structure within the storage vessel that extends from the top head to below the sorbent medium bed, reducing pressure drop and enhancing gas collection and dispensing efficiency by allowing gas to flow through a larger surface area, thereby shortening adsorption and desorption times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a porous centered tube (stub filter) is used to prevent particulate solids from being entrained in dispensed gas, then gas filtration is improved, but pressure drop increases and gas diffusion is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The single stub filter is segmented into multiple filtration zones: a wick structure extending into the sorbent bed provides initial filtration, while a secondary filter at the valve head provides final filtration. This distributed segmentation reduces the pressure burden on any single filter element while maintaining overall filtration reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wick structure acts as an intermediary element between the sorbent medium and the gas flow path. It facilitates gentle gas collection from the sorbent bed while providing preliminary filtration, mediating between the need for particulate removal and the need to minimize pressure drop before gas reaches the final filter.
2Reliability
If a porous centered tube (stub filter) is used to prevent particulate solids from being entrained in dispensed gas, then gas filtration is improved, but desorption time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration function is segmented across multiple components and time phases: the wick provides continuous gentle collection during desorption, while the secondary filter provides final filtration only at dispensing. This allows desorption to proceed rapidly through the wick's low-resistance path without particulate contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The wick structure performs preliminary gas collection and filtration action during the entire desorption process before gas reaches the final filter. This preliminary action allows the main gas flow to bypass long diffusion paths while still achieving filtration, reducing overall desorption time.
3Reliability
If a porous centered tube (stub filter) is used to prevent particulate solids from being entrained in dispensed gas, then gas filtration is improved, but adsorption time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorption path is segmented into a short path through the wick structure and a longer path through the sorbent bed. Gas can be adsorbed efficiently through the accessible surfaces of the wick and surrounding sorbent, eliminating the need to diffuse through the entire length of a stub filter during the adsorption charging process.
4Area of stationary object
If the wick extends to the bottom of the sorbent medium bed, then gas collection surface area is maximized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wick structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides gas collection surface area, acts as a filter, and serves as a structural support within the sorbent bed. This multi-functionality justifies the additional installation steps, as a single component accomplishes what would otherwise require multiple separate elements.
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 wick structure significantly reduces pressure drop across the filter, enhances gas flow, and uniformly collects gas from the sorbent medium, resulting in faster desorption and recharging times compared to traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
a wick that extends from the top head to below the head or a top surface of the bed. The wick collects the sorbable gas for discharge of the gas through the dispensing valve
Implementation Method 2
since the path length is long, diffusion from remote parts of the bed, such as from the bottom of the bed, is hindered
Implementation Method 3
A solid-phase physical sorbent medium is packed into the storage and dispensing vessel at an interior gas pressure and a sorbate gas is physically introduced to be adsorbed by the solid-phase physical sorbent medium
Implementation Method 4
A dispensing assembly is coupled in gas flow communication with the storage and dispensing vessel and constructed and arranged to provide, exteriorly of the storage and dispensing vessel, a pressure below the interior pressure, to effect desorption of the sorbate gas from the solid-phase physical sorbent medium
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided for the storage and dispensing of a sorbable gas. The apparatus includes a storage and dispensing vessel constructed and arranged for containing a solid-phase physical sorbent medium having a sorbable gas adsorbed by said sorbent medium. The dispensing vessel includes a top head having a dispensing valve coupled to the vessel for discharging the sorbable gas therefrom. The dispensing valve is in fluid flow communication with a wick that extends below the upper third of the vessel top head. The wick collects the sorbable gas for discharge of the gas through the dispensing valve.