EP3535044A1 - Structure à faible chute de pression d'un lit d'adsorption de particules pour un procédé amélioré de séparation de gaz par adsorption - Google Patents

Structure à faible chute de pression d'un lit d'adsorption de particules pour un procédé amélioré de séparation de gaz par adsorption

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Publication number
EP3535044A1
EP3535044A1 EP17791701.0A EP17791701A EP3535044A1 EP 3535044 A1 EP3535044 A1 EP 3535044A1 EP 17791701 A EP17791701 A EP 17791701A EP 3535044 A1 EP3535044 A1 EP 3535044A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
layers
range
metal
gas
layer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP17791701.0A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Jan André Wurzbacher
Nicolas REPOND
Tobias RÜESCH
Sebastian Sauerbeck
Christoph Gebald
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Climeworks AG
Original Assignee
Climeworks AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US15/667,399 external-priority patent/US10427086B2/en
Application filed by Climeworks AG filed Critical Climeworks AG
Publication of EP3535044A1 publication Critical patent/EP3535044A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • B01D53/04—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
    • B01D53/0407—Constructional details of adsorbing systems
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • B01D53/04—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
    • B01D53/0407—Constructional details of adsorbing systems
    • B01D53/0438—Cooling or heating systems
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2253/00—Adsorbents used in seperation treatment of gases and vapours
    • B01D2253/20—Organic adsorbents
    • B01D2253/206—Ion exchange resins
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2253/00—Adsorbents used in seperation treatment of gases and vapours
    • B01D2253/25—Coated, impregnated or composite adsorbents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2257/00—Components to be removed
    • B01D2257/50—Carbon oxides
    • B01D2257/504—Carbon dioxide
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2258/00—Sources of waste gases
    • B01D2258/02—Other waste gases
    • B01D2258/0283—Flue gases
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2258/00—Sources of waste gases
    • B01D2258/05—Biogas
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • B01D53/04—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
    • B01D53/0462—Temperature swing adsorption
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02C—CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG]
    • Y02C20/00—Capture or disposal of greenhouse gases
    • Y02C20/20—Capture or disposal of greenhouse gases of methane
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02C—CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG]
    • Y02C20/00—Capture or disposal of greenhouse gases
    • Y02C20/40—Capture or disposal of greenhouse gases of CO2

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to sorbent bed structures for gas separation processes and the use of such structures for gas separation, for example for the separation/capture of C02 from gas streams.
  • Gas separation by adsorption has many different applications in industry, for example removing a specific component from a gas stream, where the desired product can either be the component removed from the stream, the remaining depleted stream, or both. Thereby both, trace components as well as major components of the gas stream can be targeted by the adsorption process.
  • C02 carbon dioxide
  • DAC direct air capture
  • DAC can address emissions from the past and can therefore create truly negative emissions;
  • DAC systems do not need to be attached to the source of emission but are rather location independent and can for example be located at the site of further C02 processing; and
  • C02 that was captured from the atmosphere is used for the production of synthetic hydrocarbon fuels from renewable energy sources, truly non-fossil fuels for the transportation sector can be obtained, that create no or very few net C02 emissions to the atmosphere.
  • US 8,163,066 B2 discloses carbon dioxide capture/regeneration structures and techniques
  • US 2009/0120288 Al discloses a method for removal of carbon dioxide from air
  • US 2012/0174778 discloses a carbon dioxide capture/regeneration method using a vertical elevator
  • WO2010022339 discloses a carbon dioxide capture method and facility.
  • One particular approach is based on a cyclic adsorption desorption process on solid, chemically functionalized sorbent materials.
  • a structure based on amine functionalized solid sorbent materials together with a cyclic adsorption/desorption process using this material for the extraction of carbon dioxide from ambient air is disclosed. Therein, the adsorption process takes place at ambient conditions at which air is streamed through the sorbent material and a portion of the C02 contained in the air is chemically bound at the amine functionalized surface of the sorbent.
  • the material is heated to about 50 - 110 °C and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide surrounding the sorbent is reduced by applying a vacuum or exposing the sorbent to a purge gas flow. Thereby, the previously captured carbon dioxide is removed from the sorbent material and obtained in a concentrated form.
  • a sorbent material based on amine functionalized cellulose is disclosed, which can be used for the above described process.
  • Typical configurations include packed bed columns or fluidized beds with typical lengths of several ten centimeters to several meters, which typically impose pressure drops of several thousand Pascal up to several bars on the gas flow.
  • Such a structure is e.g. disclosed in WO 2014/170184.
  • Monolithic structures comprising sorbent materials were also developed in the context of gas separation and adsorption (e.g. WO2010/027929 Al, US 8,202,350 B2).
  • the loose particulate sorbent material for gas adsorption is a particulate material which at least at its surface is amine-functionalized, e.g. weak base ion exchange resins, for capture of the first gas, in particular in case the first gas is carbon dioxide. Examples of such materials are e.g. disclosed in WO2010091831 or WO2016005226.
  • the loose particular sorbent material is can e.g.
  • amine-modified particular material preferably based on a weak base ion exchange resin, specifically polystyrene matrix material modified with amine groups, specially primary amine groups, or based on cellulose, more preferably based one amine- modified nanofibrilated cellulose, in each case preferably with an average particle diameter in the range of 60 to 1200 ⁇ , for the adsorption of carbon dioxide.
  • It can however also be another material in particulate form, which is able to adsorb C02 upon passage of a gas stream through the material and able to release the C02 again if corresponding different conditions (mainly change in at least one of pressure, temperature, humidity) are chosen.
  • said particulate sorbent material is arranged in at least two stacked layers (forming a stack, typically of a plurality of such layers, normally at least 4, preferably at least 10, particularly preferably in the range of 25 - 40 or 25 - 60 layers are arranged in such a stack), wherein each layer comprises two sheets of a flexible fabric material which is gas permeable but impermeable to the loose particulate sorbent material, and which sheets are arranged essentially parallel defining an inlet face of the layer and an outlet face of the layer.
  • the layers in such a stack are arranged adjacent (but with a distance between) and neighboring, and their main planes are arranged parallel, essentially parallel or with a defined inclination angle of not more than 10° (angle between plane normals).
  • the orientation of such a stack can be such that the planes of the individual layers are essentially horizontal planes. Between the layers there are therefore in this case horizontal slots for the entry of the inflow of the gas mixture and horizontal slots for the outflow of the gas depleted in C02.
  • Such a substantially horizontal stack configuration can be selected to avoid the formation of holes in the layers due to the motion of the sorbent material during operation. Such holes can lead to bypassing of a large portion of the main airflow as they can form a significantly lower pressure drop region.
  • the layers can be placed vertically - the complete stack is so to speak rotated 90° around the main horizontal axis of the whole unit.
  • this orientation between the layers there are vertical slots for the entry of the inflow of the gas mixture and vertical slots for the outflow of the gas depleted in C02.
  • a slat made preferably of aluminum can be affixed at the upper edge being oriented along the upper edge of the layer on the inflow and outflow face of the layer, in contact with the outer surface of the layer, covering and thereby blocking a portion of the layer - and any potentially formed holes - to inflow and thusly forcing all inflow through the sorbent material layer containing sufficient sorbent particles in this region.
  • the width of the slat can be in the range of 1 - 25 cm or 1 to 15 cm, preferably 2 - 15 or 2 to 10 cm.
  • the flexible fabric material layers are arranged with a distance in the range of 0.3- 5.0 cm or in the range of 0.5 - 2.5 cm, and are enclosing a cavity in which the particulate sorbent material is located.
  • the type of the flexible fabric material is chosen to be sufficiently gas/air permeable to allow optimum flow through of the gas or generally speaking the gas mixture (e.g. air), and are sufficiently tight so as to avoid that the particulate sorbent material can penetrate through these layers.
  • the layers of flexible fabric material are further mounted on a stiff rectangular circumferential frame structure, typically being fixed at opposite sides thereof.
  • Said stiff rectangular circumferential frame structure is formed by four metal profiles arranged pairwise mutually parallel, said metal profiles having pairs of legs arranged essentially parallel to said inlet face of the layer and said outlet face of the layer, respectively, and allowing for fixing said sheets circumferentially to said legs on each respective face.
  • a plurality of meandering tubes for a heat exchange fluid can be provided within said stiff rectangular circumferential frame structure and within said cavity, wherein the plurality of tubes over the non-bent portions thereof are all being arranged essentially parallel to one first pair of said mutually parallel metal profiles.
  • Said tubes are in thermal contact with a plurality of sheets of metal which are arranged parallel to each other and which are arranged essentially perpendicular to a main plane of the frame and perpendicular to said tubes (to the non-bent portions thereof), the tubes extend in a continuous manner between said first pair of mutually parallel metal profiles and are provided with a plurality of holes through which the plurality of tubes penetrate.
  • the tubes of the primary heat exchange element are preferably metal tubes, preferably aluminum or copper tubes. These tubes can be provided with an inner diameter in the range of 3-20 mm, preferably in the range of 5-12 mm, and/or with an outer diameter in the range of 4-24 mm, preferably in the range of 6.2-14 mm.
  • the tubes of the primary heat exchange element are typically, where running parallel, spaced by a distance (x) in the range of 10-168 mm, preferably in the range of 15.5 - 98 mm.
  • the sheets of metal if forming the secondary heat exchange elements according to a preferred embodiment have a thickness in the range of 0.1-0.4 mm, preferably in the range of 0.12-0.18 mm.
  • the sheets of metal if forming the secondary heat exchange elements according to another preferred embodiment have a height (h), measured perpendicular to the running direction of the tubes in the range of 3-50 mm, preferably in the range of 8-22 mm.
  • the sheets of metal if forming the secondary heat exchange elements have a length being less than 20 mm, preferably less than 5 mm shorter than the distance between the respective pair of metal profiles arranged pairwise mutually parallel forming said stiff rectangular circumferential frame structure.
  • the sheets of metal are made of aluminum.
  • the sheets of metal if forming the secondary heat exchange elements are spaced by a distance (d) in the range of 1-6 mm, preferably in the range of 3.5-5.5 mm.
  • the above mentioned values are an optimum compromise allowing for good interpenetration by the particulate sorbent material, also allowing filling of the structure in the manufacturing process, and on the other hand allowing for sufficient porosity for the air passing through the layer, and allowing for an efficient as possible heat transfer process for the heating and cooling steps in the cyclic temperature swing carbon dioxide capture process.
  • the tubing forming the primary heat exchange pipes can also have, at least in sections, a non-circular cross-section (flattened shape).
  • the first outer diameter of the cross section of the pipes in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the layer of the stiff frame structure can be at least twice as large as the second outer diameter of the cross section of the pipes in the longitudinal direction.
  • This design of the flattened pipes results in two substantial advantages over heat exchange pipes with a circular cross section: First, the area that is available for gas flow through the planes of the sheets of flexible fabric material is much larger since a smaller portion of this flow cross-section area is blocked by the pipes. This results in reduced pressure drop on the gas flow. Second, the pipes can be spaced closer to each other compared to prior art designs with circular pipe cross sections while the area available for gas flow still remains larger compared to those prior art designs. This results in an optimized heat transfer design since the distances for heat transfer through the sorbent material between the flattened pipes is reduced.
  • Said flattened pipes can further be in thermal contact with sheets of metal forming the secondary heat exchange element and which are arranged essentially perpendicular to the main plane of the stiff frame structure, and which extend oscillating between pairwise adjacent flattened pipes, thereby contacting them for thermal contact.
  • these metal sheets are either wavy oscillating between adjacent flattened pipes and contacting the flat small-diameter surfaces, or zigzagging between adjacent flattened pipes and contacting the flat small-diameter surfaces.
  • the unit has a gas inlet side or gas inlet manifold through which an inflow of gas mixture enters the unit and a gas outlet side or gas outlet manifold through which a gas outflow exits the unit, the gas pathway between the inflow and the outflow being confined in the unit to pass through at least one layer.
  • At least one further layer of filter fabric material can be mounted upstream of the stacked sorbent material layers, such that the inflow must pass through said filter fabric material.
  • the flexible fabric material layers or at least the upstream flexible fabric material layer can be selected to have the filter effect.
  • the layers are arranged in the unit such that the inflow passes through the inlet face, subsequently through the particulate sorbent material located in the cavity of the respective layer, subsequently to exit the respective layer through the outlet face to form the gas outflow, and the layers are arranged such that inlet faces of adjacent layer are facing each other enclosing gas inlet channels and such that outlet faces are facing each other enclosing gas outlet channels.
  • the mean distance between inlet faces and/or outlet faces defining said channels, measured in a direction essentially perpendicular to a main gas inflow direction and a main gas outflow direction, respectively, is in the range of 0.5 - 15 cm or 0.5-13 cm, including the situation where the layers at respective adjacent edges touch each other and are inclined relative to each other, preferably all the layers forming the stack have essentially the same distance between the respective flexible fabric sheets, so all the layers have the same height.
  • the total frame depth D f t is in the range of 0.5-1.8m or in the range of 0.75 - 1.25m or 0.9 - 1.1 m.
  • the frame width is W f in the range of 0.5 - 1.9 or in the range of 0.57- 1.79m with a preferred dimension of 1.19- 1.58m.
  • the corresponding layer structure as proposed is an optimum compromise as concerns pressure drop across the layer and/or stack, as concerns mechanical stiffness and rigidity of each layer, and as concerns thermal mass. Only if these properties are optimized, can the carbon dioxide capture process be carried out in an economical manner.
  • a grid structure e.g. made of metal, such as aluminium, separating the flexible fabric material and the plurality of tubes and/or plurality of metal sheets.
  • Such a metal grid offers protection of the flexible fabric material and improves the stability of the layer surface.
  • the flexible fabric material needs to be sufficiently fine meshed so as to avoid the particulate sorbent material to pass through. It is therefore preferably some kind of a nonwoven material, and such materials are often rather vulnerable. This vulnerability can be a problem in case the metal sheets have sharp edges, so the grid structures make sure the plurality of metal sheets cannot damage the flexible fabric layers on each side of each layer.
  • a further grid structure is provided forming the outermost layer and sandwiching the respective flexible fabric material layer.
  • a sandwich is attached, where the central flexible fabric layer is sandwiched between 2 grid structures.
  • water and humidity can weaken and/or stretch and/or extend the flexible fabric layer, this can be an important additional aspect in order to provide for the possibility of using these units over an extended period of time.
  • the grid structure is provided by a preferably woven metal, in particular aluminium wire mesh with a mesh width which is typically in the range of 0.7 - 20 mm x 0.7 - 20 mm, preferably with a mesh width in the range of 1.0 - 2.5 mm x 1.0 - 2.5 mm or in the range of 1.0 - 1.5 mm x 1.0 - 1.5 mm.
  • Using aluminum inter alia has the advantage of good corrosion resistance while enabling lightweight construction.
  • the grid structure protects the flexible fabric layer from the sharp edges of the metal sheets of the heat exchange element on both sides thereof. As concerns the bottom further grid structure being the outermost layer this is provided to avoid sagging of the lower flexible fabric layer.
  • the flexible fabric material, and, if present, additional grid structures is/are fixed to the frame structure by means of slats, preferably metal slats (again preferably aluminum slats). These slats are preferably extending essentially over the full-length of the respective metal profile, and the flexible fabric material layer and, if present, additional grid structure layer(s), is/are sandwiched between the respective slat and the leg of the metal profile. Further preferably the respective slat is fixed to the respective leg by at least one, preferably a row of rivet joint connections penetrating through the slat, the layers fixed there with, and the corresponding leg of the metal profile.
  • This attachment provides for a tight connection in particular of the flexible fabric material over the full extension of the corresponding frame element which can be handled in production efficiently and which is also of low thermal mass.
  • the layers of the stack of at least two layers can be held in place in the housing by at least a pair of side walls which are either arranged pairwise vertically or pairwise horizontally, and on which side walls elements are provided, which allow individual layers to be shifted into the housing in a replaceable manner, wherein preferably the elements are provided as at least one of: U-shaped profiles attached to the side wall; wedges attached to the side wall; groove elements attached to the side wall cooperating with tongue elements attached to the layer, preferably to the lateral frame of the layer.
  • pairs of adjacent frame structures are provided, at facing edges on one side contacting in use (meaning that layers are inclined relative to each other) with in case of one layer thereof a tongue protrusion extending over the full width of the edge, and on the other layer thereof a corresponding counter profile providing a slot also extending over the full width of the edge.
  • a tongue protrusion extending over the full width of the edge
  • a corresponding counter profile providing a slot also extending over the full width of the edge.
  • said tongue protrusion is realized by means of a correspondingly structured wide slat extending over and beyond the corresponding leg of the frame profile and which is at the same time also used for fixing the flexible fabric material to said leg and, if present, additional grid structures to the leg of the corresponding metal profile.
  • said counter profile also comprises a slat which at the same time can be used for fixing the flexible fabric material and, if present, additional grid structures to the leg of the corresponding metal profile of the adjacent frame.
  • Another preferred embodiment is characterized in that within the stiff rectangular frame structure there is provided a separate heat exchange element comprising the tubes for the heat transfer fluid as well as the metal sheets and which in itself can be provided with frame elements holding the heat exchange element together.
  • the heat exchange element can be provided as a separate self-standing element which can be produced separately and which is then inserted into the stiff rectangular frame structure or around which the stiff rectangular frame structure is built in the manufacturing process.
  • the stiff rectangular circumferential frame structure can be formed by four metal profiles arranged pairwise mutually parallel, being U-shaped metal profiles having pairs of legs arranged essentially parallel to said inlet face of the layer and said outlet face of the layer, respectively.
  • One pair of metal profiles can be arranged with the groove portion of the respective U- shaped metal profile facing the inner side of the stiff rectangular circumferential frame structure and the other pair can be arranged with the groove portion of the respective U- shaped metal profile facing the outside of the stiff rectangular circumferential frame structure.
  • the latter orientation of the metal profile is the one which runs perpendicular to the running direction to the tubes.
  • the tubes of the heat exchange element are preferably metal tubes, preferably aluminum or copper tubes. These tubes can be provided with an inner diameter in the range of 3-20 mm, preferably in the range of 5-12 mm, and/or with an outer diameter in the range of 4-24 mm, preferably in the range of 6.2-14 mm.
  • the tubes of the heat exchange element are typically, where running parallel, spaced by a distance (x) in the range of 10-168 mm, preferably in the range of 15.5 - 98 mm.
  • the sheets of metal according to a preferred embodiment have a thickness in the range of 0.1-0.4 mm, preferably in the range of 0.12-0.18 mm.
  • the sheets of metal according to another preferred embodiment have a height (h), measured perpendicular to the running direction of the tubes in the range of 3-50 mm, preferably in the range of 8-22 mm.
  • the sheets of metal according to a preferred embodiment have a length being less than 20 mm, preferably less than 5 mm shorter than the distance between the respective pair of metal profiles arranged pairwise mutually parallel forming said stiff rectangular circumferential frame structure.
  • the sheets of metal are made of aluminum.
  • the sheets of metal are spaced by a distance (d) in the range of 1 - 15 or 1-6 mm, preferably in the range of 3.5-7 mm or 4 - 5.5 mm.
  • the above mentioned values are an optimum compromise allowing for good interpenetration by the particulate sorbent material, also allowing filling of the structure in the manufacturing process, and on the other hand allowing for sufficient porosity for the air passing through the layer, and allowing for an efficient as possible heat transfer process for the heating and cooling steps in the cyclic temperature swing carbon dioxide capture process.
  • the flexible fabric material is preferably grid or a woven or nonwoven textile material, preferably based on metallic or polymeric fibres or yarns, respectively, most preferably based on fibres or yams, respectively based on PET and/or PE, or the flexible fabric material is made from a cellulose based material, preferably a paper material.
  • the flexible fabric material can have a thickness in the range of 0.1 -4 mm, preferably in the range of 0.15- lmm, this in particular if it is chosen to be a nonwoven polyethylene based material.
  • the flexible fabric material has, preferably in the form of a polyethylene grid or nonwoven, an air permeability in the range of 2500-5000 l/m2/s, preferably in the range of 3000-4000 l/m2/s.
  • the flexible fabric material or at least the upstream facing layer thereof, or a separate upstream filter fabric material layer has preferably the filtration properties of at least the filter class M5, preferably at least F6, more preferably F7 such that atmospheric solid particle pollutants in the PM10 and PM2.5 range can be effectively retained without entrainment into the sorbent material layer.
  • the classification of the filter material as used herein is according to DIN EN 779, October 2012.
  • the filter fabric material has, in particular in case of class M5 material, preferably an air permeability in the range of 50-600 l/m2/s, preferably in the range 200-400 l/m2/s.
  • the surface area of the filter fabric material can be increased by pleating such that the cumulative surface area of the filter fabric material exposed to the gas inflow can be at least 3 times, preferably at least 6 or at least 10 times the surface area of the individual layers exposed to gas inflow thereby maintaining a pressure drop across said filter fabric material which does not exceed an allowable pressure drop for an efficient direct air capture process.
  • the flexible fabric material can be pleated with pleat height of 1- 12mm, preferably 3-6mm.
  • the pleat spacing can be 0.5-5mm preferably l-3mm.
  • the filter fabric material can be mounted to the stiff rectangular circumferential frame structure of the individual sorbent material layers, preferably in a removable fashion such that it may be exchanged when fully charged with atmospheric particle pollutants.
  • the filter fabric material can be mounted on a rectangular frame structure such that said filter fabric material can be mounted and dismounted independently of the sorbent material layers when it needs to be exchanged.
  • a plurality of attachment elements preferably in the form of glue or welding or soldering orcenter rivet connections or transverse or longitudinal slats affixed with any of these means for holding at least the flexible fabric material layers together (if attachment elements penetrate across the heat exchange element) or the flexible fabric material layer attached to the metal sheets and/or the tubing.
  • said center rivet connections each comprise a rivet tube and a rivet pin, said rivet tube penetrating through the heat exchange element and between said metal sheets, said rivet tube and rivet pin each being provided with a head being located outside of the flexible fabric material, and, if present, and outermost wire grid layer.
  • first holes are generated through the structure provided by the parallel running metal sheets, and then into these holes the rivet tube is inserted from one side, and the rivet pin is inserted from the other side.
  • the outer diameter of the rivet tube of the center rivets is at least 10%, preferably at least 30% smaller than the distance (d) of the metal sheets.
  • d distance
  • the outer diameter of the rivet tube of the center rivets is at least 10%, preferably at least 30% smaller than the distance (d) of the metal sheets.
  • said plurality of center rivet connections are arranged in a staggered arrangement avoiding that more than one or more than two center rivets are located in the same interspace of two adjacent metal sheets.
  • Staggered in this sense means that said plurality of center rivet is not arranged along lines which run parallel to the corresponding running direction of the metal sheets, but along lines which are slightly tilted relative to the running direction of the metal sheets.
  • the center rivet connections are arranged along lines along the general direction of the metal sheets and are inclined under an angle of at least more than 2° thereto but not more than 10° thereto.
  • the center to center distance of neighboring rivets is preferably in the range of 2.5 - 20 cm or 5-20cm, preferably, 7-12 or 8-lOcm.
  • Mutually adjacent and contacting layers of the stack can be pairwise held by horizontally extending support elements in particular at contacting edges of adjacent layers, wherein preferably, in particular at the upstream edges of the stack, the support element is provided with an aerodynamically shaped nose portion facing upstream (with respect to the inflow), and wherein further preferably the support element comprises a pair of outer leg portions running essentially parallel to the outer plane of the respective layer, and a central leg portion located in between.
  • the mounting arrangement which will be further detailed below, in a carbon dioxide capture unit is as such and independent of the frame structure according to claim 1 an inventive aspect.
  • the distance between adjacent layers can be varied taking account of the pressure drop profile of the inflow along a direction parallel to the direction of inflow.
  • the distance (a) on the opening side between two adjacent layers of the stack is set at a given value (a) in the range of 8-230 mm, preferably in the range of 19.2-200 mm or 20 - 100mm.
  • the stack can be arranged such that the distance (a) between two adjacent layers increases outwardly to a value (c) within the range in the range of 8-230 mm, preferably in the range of 19-200 mm or 20 - 100.
  • this angle is gradually increasing from a value of around zero at the center to a value in the range of 0-20°, preferably in the range of 0.1 -5°.
  • the proposed unit is located in a housing, said housing being preferably provided with turbulence reducing elements in particular upstream of the stack of layers.
  • the present invention relates to the use of a unit as described above for extracting carbon dioxide from air and/or flue gases and/or biogas and/or other C0 2 -containing gas streams.
  • the layers of the stack of at least two layers are held together in a housing by at least a pair of side walls.
  • the sidewalls can either be arranged pairwise vertically (in which case the frame elements are arranged essentially horizontally) or pairwise horizontally (in which case the frame elements are arranged essentially vertically).
  • the lateral metal profiles are fixed by using a form fit connection, a force fit connection or by means of a closure by adhesive force.
  • the side walls are provided with a pattern of fixing elements to allow for fixing the lateral metal profiles on the respective side wall in the desired relative positions.
  • the corresponding patterning of the fixing elements is therefore adapted to the desired orientation of the frames in the stack. It is for example possible to structure the pattern such that the distance between adjacent frames varies along the stack, such that in the central portion the distance between adjacent frames is smaller than in the outside portions of the stack, as this is for example illustrated in figure 8 discussed further below.
  • the fixing elements provided on the sidewalls are preferably structured as holes, grooves, ribs, and/or studs.
  • the metal profiles themselves are provided with corresponding profile fixing elements, which can be distributed along the length of the metal profile.
  • profile fixing elements can be structured as holes, as blind rivet nuts, as studs, as a groove, or as a rib.
  • the sidewall is typically a metal plate with a thickness in the range of 2-10 mm.
  • the sidewalls can be provided with bent over portions which are directed to the outside of the stack for further stabilization.
  • the sidewalls it is possible to provide for a separate stack unit which in itself is self standing and can be removably and/or exchangeably put into the actual housing which provides for the corresponding structure to withstand the vacuum which is applied in the typical cycle for the carbon dioxide separation. If the sidewalls are supplemented by a bottom wall and the top wall or plate, such as stack unit can be made essentially gas tight and sealed except for the inlet cross section and the outlet cross section allowing for a simplified structure also within the housing.
  • Fig. 1 shows a schematic cut along a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the heat exchange tubes through a particulate sorbent structure layer element with heat exchange element;
  • Fig. 2 shows a schematic cut along a direction parallel to the running direction of the heat exchange tubes through the particulate sorbent structure layer element according to figure 1 ;
  • Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of a stack of layer elements with the corresponding airflow indicated
  • Fig. 4 shows in a) a top view onto a heat exchange element and in b) a cut perpendicular to the running direction of the tubes without the actual frame structure;
  • Fig. 5 shows a perspective view onto an edge portion of a particulate sorbent structure layer element
  • Fig. 6 in a) shows a cut in a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the metal sheets in the heat exchange element through a particulate sorbent structure layer element showing the center rivet arrangements penetrating the structure, in b) shows a perspective view onto one whole particulate sorbent structure layer element visualizing the placing of the center rivet elements, in c) shows the same as b) in a schematic representation from top and in d) shows a particulate sorbent material layer element with a denser rivet placing;
  • Fig. 7 shows a schematic cut through the mounting region of the layer elements at the upstream edge portion of a stack
  • Fig. 8 a shows a schematic illustration of a vertical cut through a whole stack with varying distance between the layer elements, b) a more detailed vertical cut through the inlet portion of the housing and c) a front view of the inlet portion of the housing;
  • Fig. 9 shows a schematic illustration of a vertical cut through a whole stack with varying angle of the layer elements
  • Fig. 10 shows a schematic illustration of a pleated filter material fabric attached to particulate sorbent layer element
  • Fig. 1 1 shows in a) a cut though an upstream nose profile, in b) a top view and in c) a front view thereof;
  • FIG. 1 shows a vertical axial cut through several different upstream nose profiles (left) and a stack with profiled upstream nose profiles in the outer regions of the stack (right);
  • FIG. 1 shows a more detailed representation of a whole frame structure, wherein in a) a side view from a first lateral side (filling side, right edge in top view b), to be attached to a side wall) is shown, in b) a top view is shown (with omission of the heat exchange metal sheets/lamella for better visibility of the other structural elements), in c) a side view from a second lateral side (left edge in top view b), to be attached to a sidewall), in d) the cut along B- B are shown;
  • FIG. 1 shows the right side wall of a whole stack in a) in a side view from the inside of the stack, in b) in a top view and in c) in a front view; shows a perspective representation of the whole stack from the outflow side with left sidewall and frames in a) and in b) a cut along the lines A-A in a); shows an embodiment in a) in which the particulate sorbent material layer elements can be shifted into the frame of the stack by way of U-shaped profiles and in b) and embodiment by way of wedges;
  • FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in a) in which the particulate sorbent material layer elements are in a horizontal position in the frame of the stack and can be shifted into the frame by way of a groove/tongue mechanism, in b) an embodiment in which within the frame of the stack in a transverse direction two particulate sorbent material layer elements are located next to each other, by way of a vertical separation wall, and in c) an embodiment in which the particulate sorbent material layer elements are in a vertical position in the frame of the stack and can be shifted into the frame by way of a groove/tongue mechanism.
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic cut through a particular absorbent structure layer element 5 in the horizontal orientation with heat exchange element, said cut being along a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the heat exchange tubes 1 1.
  • Figure 2 shows the corresponding cut in a direction perpendicular to the one as shown in figure 1.
  • the running direction of the heat exchange element tubes 11 can also be different, i.e. it is also possible that the heat exchange element 22 is rotated by 90 degrees within the frame structure.
  • a rigid rectangular frame structure formed by two pairs of mutually parallel frame profiles 7 and 7".
  • One first pair 7 is each provided as a U-shaped aluminum profile with the groove of the corresponding U-shape facing outwardly (see Fig. 1). So the two legs 8 of the corresponding profile 7 are facing outwardly and are arranged parallel to the main plane of the corresponding layer 5.
  • the other pair of frame profiles 7" as illustrated in figure 2 is located perpendicular to the first pair of profiles T is arranged such that the corresponding groove of the U-shaped profile is facing inwardly and is partly enclosing the heat exchange element 22 located in the interspace between the two pairs of frame profiles 7 and 7".
  • This heat exchange element 22 in itself is a self- standing heat exchange element provided with a plurality of thermal transfer medium tubes 1 1 which are running parallel to each other and which are spaced from each other. Running perpendicular to these tubes 1 1 there is provided a plurality of metal sheets 9, which essentially extend over the full width and bridging almost the distance between the respective frame profiles 7 , as can be seen in figure 1. These metal sheets 9 are provided each with a plurality of holes 10 through which the tubes penetrate.
  • Each layer 5 comprises on its top side first a layer of wire grid 12 which is essentially touching the heat exchange element 22, or rather the edges of the plurality of metal sheets 9 thereof.
  • a sheet of flexible fabric material typically a non-woven PE material, which avoids that the sorbent material, which is also located in the interspace and surrounding the heat exchange element 22 is contained within the layer 5 but nevertheless the whole structure is air permeable.
  • the aluminum tubes 1 1 are running parallel to each other, and at the terminal portions they are forming a U-shape in U-turns so that the thermal transfer medium is contained and guided in these tubes 1 1 in a meandering manner.
  • the heat exchange element 22 in itself comprises a frame structure 21.
  • This can be again a U-shaped frame structure as illustrated in figures 1 and 2 and indicated with reference 21, however, in particular in the dimension as illustrated in figure 2 it is not necessary to have such a U-type structured frame element for the heat exchange element. It can there be sufficient to have on each side of the tubes 1 1 1 a slat which is directly contacting and attached to the corresponding tube 11.
  • the U-shaped bent portions 23 of the tubes 1 1 are not located within the corresponding frame structure 21 but penetrate through such that the bent portions of the tubes 1 1 are located outside of the corresponding frame structure 21 of the heat exchange element.
  • the layers 6, 12 and 13 are attached to the legs 8 of the respective U-shaped frame profile by means of slats 14 and rows of rivets 15.
  • the slats 14 extend over essentially the length of the corresponding U-shaped profile and between the respective slat and the leg 8 of the profile there is located the respective part of the flexible fabric layer 6 and of the wire grid layer 13 or 12/13.
  • they In order to have a sufficiently stiff slat structure, they have a thickness in the range of 0.5-2.5 mm and a width in the range of 5-15 mm in cross-section, and the rivet spacing along the profile is in the range of 3-15 cm, preferably in the range of 2-7 cm.
  • this fine particulate sorbent material is completely filling the cavity within the 2 outer flexible fabric layer 6 and the frame structure.
  • this sorbent material is introduced through at least one hole in the vertical wall joining the legs 8 of one of the profiles, typically of a profile of the type 7'.
  • this filling process normally the whole frame is tilted such that this opening for the filling is facing upwards, and then under application of pressurized air carrying the sorbent material this is blown into the into spaces between the metal sheets 9 and the tubes 11.
  • a careful filling process is important, as the packing of the metal sheets is quite dense.
  • the width of such a frame W f is in the range of 1.4 m, and the depth D ft is in the range of 1 m, while the height of the frame is in the range of 20 mm, so the spacing between the flexible fabric layer 6 is in the range of 19 to 20 mm.
  • the distance between adjacent tubes where they are running parallel is around 25 mm, and the distance between the metal sheets running parallel is around 5 mm.
  • the thickness of the metal sheets is normally about 0.15 mm.
  • the outer diameter of the tubes is normally around 10 mm, so that typically in the heat exchange element 22 there is a void fraction of 18-20%.
  • the residual free flow through area is in the range of 55 to 60%.
  • the thermal mass of an exchange element is in the range of 0.8-0.9 kJ/(K kg sor bent).
  • the maximum free heat length in the sorbent material is then around 5 mm.
  • a nonwoven polyester material of a thickness in the range of 0.15-0.2 mm is used, with an air permeability of around 3300 L/m2/s.
  • a wire grid of aluminum is used with a wire spacing of around 1.15 x 1.35 mm.
  • both the inner and the outer metal grid 12 and 13, respectively the same type can be used.
  • FIG. 1 One particular feature providing for optimum sealing and mechanical connection for adjacent layers 5 touching along one edge is also illustrated in figure 1. It is possible to have slats 16 of extended width (in a direction of the legs 8) extending beyond the edge of the legs 8 of the frame profile 7 . Likewise, it is possible to have also such wide slats which are however in addition to that provided with a sealing protrusion 17 having a groove 20 for receiving the protruding portion of the larger width slat 16.
  • FIG 3 How this can be used for sealing and attaching adjacent rigid frame structure or layers 5 is illustrated in figure 3.
  • a whole stack of such layers 5 is illustrated and it can be seen in the bottom arrangement of the lowermost tube layers that the protruding tongue of the wide slat 16 can be inserted into the groove 20 for easy sealing and mechanical attachment of adjacent layers.
  • the gas inflow 1 enters the inlet gas channel 3 and subsequently the air penetrates through each of the layers and therefore through the heat exchange element and in particular through the bed of sorbent particles located in the interspace. Under the correspondingly chosen conditions of pressure, temperature and humidity, the carbon dioxide is captured normally by the amine functionalities located on the surface and/or in the porosity of the sorbent particles. It is to be noted again that the sorbent material is not specifically illustrated in figures 1-3. After having passed through the corresponding layer under depletion of carbon dioxide, the air enters the downstream side of the respective layer, i.e. the gas outlet channel 4 before it is then exiting the system as the gas outflow 2.
  • a heat exchange element 22 is illustrated in a top view schematically in figure 4a and in a cut view in 4b.
  • the frame structure 21 of this heat exchange element 22 is arranged such that the U-turns 23 of the tubes 1 1 are located outside of the frame structure 21.
  • the protruding length z of these U-turns of the tubes 1 1 is in the range of 5-30mm.
  • the distance between adjacent metal sheets 9 of the pack of parallel metal sheets in the heat exchange element is in the range of typically 4.8 mm, so these metal sheets are rather closely spaced in order to reach a low maximum free heat length in the sorbent material.
  • the distance between adjacent metal sheets and also in the tubing is further carefully chosen such that the sorbent material can penetrate in the interspace and is still not pressed therein in a manner avoiding flow through of the air.
  • the tubes are spaced by distance x, which is typically in the range of 25 mm.
  • the height of the corresponding metal sheets h is normally in the range of 3-50 mm, a good flow through can be made possible by having a height in the range of around 15-20 mm at the same time maintaining an optimum heat transfer and low thermal mass.
  • FIG. 5 An edge portion of a corresponding layer 5 is illustrated in figure 5.
  • the details of the protrusion 17 and of the wide slat 16 are shown and also how, according to this different embodiment, at the end the U-shaped profiles 7 and 7 are attached to each other.
  • the above mentioned center rivet connections are shown.
  • the central rivet connections each comprise a rivet tube 25 which fully penetrates the whole structure i.e. the flexible fabric sheet 6, the wire grid 12 on the top side, the metal sheets 9, and on the bottom side the layers 6, 12 and 13.
  • the outer diameter of this rivet tube 25 is preferably chosen such that it is sufficiently smaller than the distance between adjacent metal sheets.
  • the important aspect to watch out for is that the outer diameter of the rivet tube 25 is sufficiently small compared to the distance between metal sheets and compared to the average particle diameter of the particulate sorbent material so that the filing of the structure with particulate sorbent is possible without any blocking of the channels between adjacent metal sheet and the central rivet connections.
  • rivet tubes 25 are inserted after an initial "drilling" or widening of a hole in a first manufacturing step, then the rivet tube 25 is inserted into these pretreated openings, and then from the other side a rivet pin 26 is inserted into the opening of the tube 25 and the rivet is fixed.
  • Each, rivet tube 25 and rivet pin 25, are provided with a rivet head 27 and 28, respectively having a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the rivet tube, so that these head portions 27 and 28 provide a safe form fit connection of the layers 6, 12 and 13.
  • the length of the rivet tube 25 should be adapted to essentially match the height h of the metal sheets.
  • Figure 6c shows the particulate sorbent material 5 in a perspective view illustrating the rivet distribution.
  • Figure 6c shows the same in a schematic representation and illustrating the spacing y" of the rivets 24 in the longitudinal direction (essentially parallel to the main flow 100), and the spacing y' in the transverse direction (essentially perpendicular to the main flow 100).
  • the values for y' and y" in this exemplary embodiment are set to 10 cm.
  • An alternative and denser rivet pattern is illustrated in figure 6d. in this embodiment the y' and y" spacing of the rivets 24 is set at 10 cm as in previous Figure.
  • FIG 7 the tip portion of a stack of layers 5 is illustrated and in particular the corresponding support element 30 for attaching a layer 5 to a large frame structure of a housing in which the corresponding unit is arranged.
  • These support elements 30 are provided as aerodynamic as well as mechanical construction elements. They comprise a round nose portion 31 which avoids turbulence and makes sure that the inflow and/or outflow, depending on the side, is essentially free from turbulences leading to a lower pressure drop across the whole structure.
  • these support elements 30 are provided with a pair of outer legs 32, adapted to interact with a corresponding wide slat 16 of the corresponding layer.
  • a central inner leg portion 33 which can be used to abut with protrusion 17.
  • the respective arrangement of the wide slat 16 and of the extended portions 17 can also be different from the situation illustrated in figure 1 and 3, so frame structures can be provided with pairs of wide slats on one side, as given in each of the top layers in the representation in figure 7.
  • Aerodynamic optimization of such a stack of layers 5 is important for making sure there is not too high a pressure drop across the whole structure.
  • the layers 5 are arranged as illustrated in figure 8a.
  • the distance between adjacent layers 5 is chosen to be smaller (value a) than in the outer regions, so the value of a is smaller than the value of b and the value of b is smaller than the value of c.
  • a pressure drop i.e. the pressure drops as a function of the distance to the axis of the structure.
  • turbulence reducing elements 36 provided as smooth bulging elements with round edges.
  • the distance a varies from small values of around 35 mm to large values c of 80 mm.
  • a stack typically has 25-60 layers . Around 30 layers have been shown to be particularly efficient for direct air capture.
  • the upstream contact regions of the layers 5 can also be aerodynamically structured in that an upstream nose profiles 39 are provided. These can be combined with the structural elements holding the upstream edges of the layers 5 in place.
  • the turbulence reducing elements 36 can be arranged so as to provide a smooth transition between the inflow duct 34 and the widening wall portion 35.
  • the transition between 34 is such that the turbulence reducing elements 36 is tangential to the inflow duct 34.
  • the downstream edge 50 of the shield 36 is not tangential to a radial portion 50 of the shield 36.
  • the radius of the bent portion of the shield 36 is in the range of 100 - 300 mm, preferably around 200 mm.
  • FIG. 9 Another possibility for optimizing the efficiency and use of the corresponding layers 5 is schematically illustrated in figure 9. Apart from or in addition to changing the spacing between adjacent layers it is also possible to adapt their inclination angle relative to a central inflow direction 100. So the angle of the layer 5 relative to the central axis 35 of the arrangement can be chosen to increasingly larger outwardly.
  • the implementation of a filter fabric material 38 is illustrated.
  • the filter material is pleated to increase the flow through area and reduce pressure drop and is attached to the inlet faces of the particulate sorbent layer elements 5.
  • the spacing of the pleats it is also possible to change their height and thusly influence the effective flow through area and correspondingly the pressure drop.
  • Fig. 11 shows the upstream nose profile 39, having a rounded nose portion 40 facing the incoming air flow and two outer lateral legs 41 and a central leg 42.
  • the radius of the nose profile is about twice the thickness of the frame construction.
  • recesses 44 in the legs 41 For improved fixing and smooth transitions between the frames and the profile 36 there can be provided recesses 44 in the legs 41.
  • the profiles 39 can be provided with recesses 45 and 46.
  • the profiles 39 are fastened to the housing by means of the outer fastening means 47.
  • rounded portions 40 can be, as given in the left portion of figure 12, of successively increasing or decreasing length, wherein the length of B can be around 40mm, the length of C can be around 50 mm and the length of D can be around 58 or 60 mm.
  • the lateral frame elements 7" on the left and on the right side, respectively are structured differently: For the filling of the frame with the sorbent one needs a sufficiently large number of holes in the corresponding frame element 7", while for fixing the whole frame on the sidewall of the stack (see figure 14), a smaller number is required. Therefore, the frame element 7" on the left side in the representation according to b), which is illustrated in figure 13 c), is only provided with 5 openings, into which closed blind rivet nuts 52 are inserted for fixing the frame on the respective sidewall.
  • the frame element 7" on the right side in the representation according to b), which is illustrated in figure 13a), is provided with 8 holes at the positions indicated with the reference 53 in the bridging part of the U-profile. These holes are used for filling the cavity of the frame with the sorbent. Due to the fact that the heat exchange metal sheets 9 do not extend fully up to the frame element 7", in an interspace parallel to the running direction of the frame element 7" the sorbent can be distributed over the various interspaces between the heat exchange metal sheets 9 by using a number of openings in the frame element 7" which is much smaller than the number of interspaces between the heat exchange metal sheets 9. Once the frame is filled with sorbent particles, the holes are closed with closed blind rivet nuts 53 as illustrated in figure 13a).
  • blind rivet nuts 53 can now be used for fixing the frame on the respective sidewall, which in this case will be the right side wall for the profile illustrated on the left side of figure 13b), since the upper side of the illustration in figure 13 is the inlet side and the lower side of the illustration in figure 13 is the outlet side of the usual frame mounting.
  • Figure 14 shows a sidewall for putting together a whole stack of frames.
  • the sidewall illustrated in this figure is the right side wall of the stack, looking in the travel direction of the air, and in a) it is illustrated in view from the inside of the stack, in b) in a bottom view, and in c) in a view from the left side in figure a).
  • the frame elements 7" which are illustrated in figure 13 b) on the right side, and in a), are being attached to this sidewall plate 54.
  • corresponding holes 56 are provided in the respective positions. Not all of the blind rivet nuts 53 are used for the fixing of the frame on the sidewall.
  • Schematic lines 57 indicate how the frame elements are mounted on the sidewall in a manner which is also illustrated in figure 3.
  • the orientation and the spacing of the frame elements is structured such that in the center portion the stacking distance a as illustrated in figure 8 is smaller than in the top region and the bottom region of the stack (corresponding to the distance c illustrated in figure 8).
  • the sidewall plate 54 is also provided with bent over edges 59 on the two lateral sides and on the bottom side (bent over edge 60) for better stabilization of the side wall structure.
  • the bent over edges 59 are pointing in an outward direction seen from the actual stack of frames.
  • the width of these edges 59/60 is in the range of 20 mm.
  • rivet nuts 55 are provided in the sidewall.
  • the corresponding sidewall on the left side is basically a mirror image of the sidewall illustrated in figure 14, however since the pattern of the attachment closed blind rivet nuts 52 is different on that side (see figure 13 c), the bore pattern is slightly different from the one illustrated in figure 14.
  • FIG 15 a a perspective representation is given of a stack of frames now seen facing the flow direction of the air through the stack, so from the downstream side.
  • the sidewall 54 visible on that representation is therefore the left side wall, which is also provided with bent over edges 59 and 56.
  • FIG 15 b a cut along the line A-A in figure a) is illustrated.
  • the actual attachment screw usually including a washer
  • the heat exchange metal sheet 9 does not extend fully to the bottom of the U-profile of the frame element 7", providing for the above mentioned possible distribution on filling with sorbent.
  • the blind rivet not 52 is located essentially parallel to the legs 8 of the profile 7", and provides an inside threading for attachment through the bore 56 on the sidewall 54.
  • the arrangement given and shown in figure 15 using a sidewall according to figure 14 is for mounting a stack where the frames are arranged in an essentially horizontal direction.
  • the frames can also be mounted in a vertical direction, and in this case the sidewalls become top and bottom walls, respectively.
  • different attachment mechanisms for arranging the frame elements to form a stack are possible.
  • the inverse is possible, so it is possible to provide a groove in the respective frame elements 7" and a corresponding rib on the respective top and bottom plate.
  • the bottom plate and the top plate with studs in the respective positions, and the frame elements 7" are provided with rivet nuts, with or without internal threading. These rivet nuts can then be put onto the studs for attaching the respective frame to the top and bottom plate, respectively. Also the inverse is possible, so to have studs in the frame elements and bores or blind hole rivets in the top and bottom plate, respectively.
  • the particulate sorbent material layers 5 are removably mounted in the stack frame structure. This is illustrated in figures 16 and 17.
  • FIG 16 a an embodiment of a drawer system, in which the particulate sorbent material layers 5 can be shifted into the frame like a drawer, is shown, where the sidewalls 54 are provided with U-shaped profiles firmly attached to the lateral walls 54 and providing for insertion grooves 63.
  • the width of these insertion grooves 63 in a vertical direction is essentially the same or somewhat larger than the height of the corresponding particulate sorbent material layer 5.
  • the layers 5 are oriented under inclination angles, so that inflow and outflow are optimized.
  • FIG 16 b an embodiment is shown, in which the interchangeable mounting of the layers 5 is realized by way of wedges 62 attached to the sidewalls 54.
  • the wedges which, in the longitudinal direction, are of opposite orientation, again provide for an arrangement of the layers 5 under inclination angles.
  • FIG. 17 an embodiment of a drawer system for the particulate sorbent material layers 5 is shown in a horizontal a) and a vertical c) orientation.
  • the drawer tongue 64 is fixed to the particulate sorbent material layer 5 and slides in an element forming a drawer groove 66 fixed to the side wall of stack 54 enabling individual particulate sorbent material layers to be inserted and removed.
  • the particulate sorbent material layer 5 is further equipped with a covering plate 67 on the face of said sorbent material layer 5 facing the inflow gas stream 1 and affixed to the upper portion of said layer.
  • a physical barrier is realized which forces air flow through the sorbent material even in the event of compacting of the sorbent material and hole formation. In this manner bypassing can be prevented, maintaining a consistent flow and adsorption behavior.
  • FIG 17b two particle sorbent material layers 5 are shown in horizontal orientation placed on the same level of the stack each with a width W f half of the width W f of previous embodiments and held in placed by a supplementary separation wall 68 in addition to the side walls of the stack 54, each wall possessing in this case the same drawer tongue 64 and groove 66 allowing for insertion and removal of individual particlulate sorbent material layers 5.
  • the same structure can be placed in the vertical orientation with the corresponding covering plates 67 (as illustrated in c) placed on the face of the particulate sorbent material layer element 5 facing the inlet gas stream 1.
  • lamella 27 head of 25 head of 26 55 rivet nut in wall 54 inlet/outlet tubing for heat 56 bores in side wall for 55 for exchange element fastening of frames on side support element wall
  • round nose portion of 30 57 lines to indicate the mounting outer leg portion of 30 scheme of the frames on the inner leg portion of 30 side wall
  • inflow duct 58 cut-out for top cover plate widening wall portion of 34 59 bent-over edge on lateral side turbulence reducer at 35 60 bent-over edge on bottom main horizontal axis of the side
  • portion 102 inflow into stack at outer downstream edge of 36 portions

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  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
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Abstract

L'invention concerne une unité de séparation de gaz pour la séparation d'un premier gaz présent dans un mélange contenant ledit premier gaz ainsi que d'autres gaz en utilisant un procédé d'adsorption/désorption cyclique utilisant un matériau de sorption de particules en vrac pour l'adsorption de gaz, ledit matériau de sorption de particules étant agencé dans au moins deux couches empilées (5), qui sont montées sur une structure de cadre circonférentiel rectangulaire rigide (7) formé par quatre profilés métalliques (7', 7") agencés par deux parallèlement l'un à l'autre, lesdits profilés métalliques présentant des paires de pattes agencées sensiblement parallèlement à ladite face d'entrée (18) de la couche (5) et ladite face de sortie (19) de la couche (5), respectivement, et permettant la fixation de feuilles de matériau souple tenant le matériau de sorption de manière circonférentielle auxdites pattes sur chaque face respective (18, 19). De plus, une pluralité de tubes (11) de préférence sinueux est prévue pour un fluide d'échange de chaleur à l'intérieur de ladite structure de cadre circonférentiel rectangulaire rigide (7) et à l'intérieur de ladite cavité, sur les parties non incurvées de celles-ci, toutes étant agencées sensiblement parallèlement à une première paire (7') desdits profilés métalliques mutuellement parallèles, et lesdits tubes (11) étant en contact thermique avec une pluralité de feuilles (9) de métal qui sont agencées sensiblement perpendiculairement à un plan principal du cadre (7) et perpendiculairement auxdits tubes (11), et qui s'étendent de manière continue entre ladite première paire de profilés métalliques mutuellement parallèles (7') et sont dotés d'une pluralité de trous (10) à travers lesquels pénètre la pluralité de tubes (11).
EP17791701.0A 2016-11-04 2017-11-01 Structure à faible chute de pression d'un lit d'adsorption de particules pour un procédé amélioré de séparation de gaz par adsorption Withdrawn EP3535044A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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EP16197203 2016-11-04
US15/667,399 US10427086B2 (en) 2013-04-18 2017-08-02 Low-pressure drop structure of particle adsorbent bed for adsorption gas separation process
PCT/EP2017/077945 WO2018083109A1 (fr) 2016-11-04 2017-11-01 Structure à faible chute de pression d'un lit d'adsorption de particules pour un procédé amélioré de séparation de gaz par adsorption

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