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
  • B01D53/047—Pressure swing adsorption
• • 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
  • 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
  • B01D53/047—Pressure swing adsorption
  • B01D53/053—Pressure swing adsorption with storage or buffer vessel
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J7/00—Apparatus for generating gases
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B13/00—Oxygen; Ozone; Oxides or hydroxides in general
  • C01B13/02—Preparation of oxygen
• • 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
  • B01D2253/10—Inorganic adsorbents
  • B01D2253/106—Silica or silicates
  • B01D2253/108—Zeolites
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2256/00—Main component in the product gas stream after treatment
  • B01D2256/12—Oxygen

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus for discharging or distributing heat for a gas generator.
• adsorption apparatuses are based on the principle of adsorption, with a gas mixture, for example air, being purified by contacting it with an adsorption agent, for example zeolite.
• a gas mixture for example air
• an adsorption agent for example zeolite
• temperature swing adsorption based on the periodical variation of the temperature of the adsorption agent and the pressure swing adsorption based on the periodical variation of the pressure of the gas mixture to be treated when it contacts the adsorption agent, are already known.
• the invention is specially intended for an apparatus based on the principle of pressure exchange adsorption.
• Such apparatuses are typically provided with pressure vessels in which an adsorption agent is provided.
• an adsorption agent is provided.
• the gas mixture is led through the pressure vessel and the adsorption agent under pressure, one of the components of the gas mixture will be adsorbed by the adsorption agent and purified gas will leave the apparatus.
• the pressure in the pressure vessel is reduced, so that the adsorbed component of the gas mixture is released and may be discharged from the adsorption agent.
• This process is what is called desorption in the following.
• such known apparatuses contain multiple pressure vessels, for example two, which adsorb and desorb alternately.
• This invention aims at solving at least one of the aforementioned and other disadvantages.
• the present invention has as its object an apparatus for discharging or distributing heat for a gas generator, the apparatus for discharging or distributing heat comprising:
• the adsorption agent of the gas generator is provided, for example zeolite.
• the heat transporting medium is intended to mean, for example water, air, ammonia, cooling agent or the like, but also for example metal or a phase changing material.
• the means for heat conduction comprise, for example, tubes, pipes, conduits, cooling fins and the like or a heat pipe.
• the heat transporting medium will contain a phase changing material.
• An advantage is that the apparatus will make it possible to discharge or redistribute the heat reprocessed during the adsorption phase of the vessel by having the heat transporting medium flow through or along the means for heat conduction.
• the apparatus may be used for both steel vessels and for (extruded) aluminum vessels.
• the said at least one vessel comprises one or more external tubes provided on the said outer surface.
• the said at least one vessel comprises one or more hollow structures integrated on or in the outer surface of the said vessel.
• the means for heat conduction may be provided or they may be the means for heat conduction themselves.
• a heat pipe will be provided in the external tubes or hollow structures, while, in the latter case, the heat transporting medium will flow through the external tubes or hollow structures.
• the said one or more means for heat conduction are mounted on the said inner surface of the said vessel.
• the invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a gas generator according to the invention using an extrusion process, where the method either:
• A. comprises the following steps:
• Figure 1 schematically shows a gas generator
• figures 2-5 schematically show an apparatus for discharging or distributing heat according to the invention for a gas generator.
• the gas generator 1 schematically shown in figure 1 substantially comprises two vessels 2, each with a gas entry 3 and a gas exit 4, filled with an adsorption agent 5.
• the said vessels 2 are provided with a removable element 7 at both ends 6.
• These elements 7 may be considered a type of bottom and lid of the vessels 2, the said gas entry 3 being provided in one element 7 and the said gas exit 4 being provided in another element.
• the adsorption agent is, for example, silica gel, but this might also be zeolite or the like.
• zeolite is always used.
• the gas generator 1 is provided with an inlet 8 for gas to be purified and an outlet 9 for purified gas.
• each vessel 2 is, with its gas entry 3 or gas exit 4, respectively, connected to the said inlet 8 or the said outlet 9, respectively.
• the valve system 10 will allow leading the gas to be purified to one of the two vessels 2 for adsorption, and also to split away a portion of the purified gas to lead it to the other vessel 2 for regeneration of saturated adsorption agent.
• the specific embodiment of the gas generator 1 is not limiting for the invention, and that the number of vessels 2 with adsorption agent 5, the embodiment of the valve system 10, the adsorption agent 5 itself and the like may be designed in many different ways.
• the gas generator 1 according to the invention is also provided with an apparatus 11 for discharging or distributing heat according to the invention.
• Figures 2-4 show different embodiments of this apparatus 11 .
• the apparatus 11 for discharging or distributing heat comprises at least one vessel 2 provided with an outer surface 12 and an inner surface 13.
• the vessels 2 of the gas generator 1 constitute the vessels 2 of the apparatus 1. So, in this case, there are two vessels 2 of the apparatus 11.
• the apparatus 11 is further provided with a number of means for heat conduction 14 configured to be provided to the said vessel 2.
• the said at least one vessel 2 comprises one or more external tubes 15 provided on the said outer surface 12.
• Figure 2 shows one of the two vessels 2 of the apparatus 11 , the second vessel 2 being designed identically.
• These external tubes 15 serve as the said means for heat conduction 14. However, it is also possible that, in the external tubes 15, the means for heat conduction 14 are provided; this will be elucidated hereinbelow. In the example shown, these external tubes 15 extend according to a longitudinal direction X-X’ of the vessel 2.
• the external tubes 15 are uniformly distributed along the circumference of the vessel 2.
• the external tubes 15 are individually equidistantly placed along the circumference. Also, the number of external tubes 15 is not limiting for the invention.
• the means for heat conduction 14 are configured to allow continuous heat discharge during the operating of the gas generator 1 to be able to extract heat from the said vessel 2. This is, among others, made possible by the fact that the means for heat conduction 14 are provided to the vessel 2.
• the at least one vessel 2 of the apparatus, or more in particular the means for heat conduction 14, are adapted to contain a heat transporting medium, which heat transporting medium is configured to allow heat discharge during an adsorption phase.
• the heat transporting medium is also intended to mean a medium such as water, air, ammonia, cooling agent or another phase changing material.
• the heat transporting medium and the one or more means for heat conduction 14 cooperate to make discharging heat from the gas generator 1 or distributing heat in the gas generator 1 possible.
• the means for heat conduction 14 may then comprise tubes, pipes, conduits, or the like, but also a heat pipe which is slid into the external tubes 15. This is particularly used in an embodiment as shown in Figure 3, as will be elucidated hereinbelow.
• the heat exchanging medium is then located in these said tubes, pipes, or conduits or, as known, in the heat pipe.
• the means for heat conduction 14, i.e. the external tubes 15, are provided on the outer surface 12 of the vessel 2.
• Figure 3 shows a variant of the said at least one vessel 2 comprising one or more hollow structures 16 integrated on or in the outer surface 12 of the said vessel 2.
• the hollow structures 16 and the vessel 2 are one integrated whole.
• the said means for heat conduction 14 are placed inside the one or more hollow structures 16.
• the means for heat conduction 14 may then comprise tubes, pipes, conduits, or the like, but also a heat pipe which may be slid into the hollow structures 16.
• hollow structures 16 serve as the means for heat conduction 14 themselves.
• the hollow structures 16 also extend according to a longitudinal direction X-X’ of the vessel 2. Moreover, the hollow structures 16 are uniformly distributed along the circumference of the vessel 2, just like in the embodiment of figure 2.
• the apparatus 11 for discharging or distributing heat is therefore designed as one integrated structure.
• the said vessel 2 and the one or more means for heat conduction 14, i.e. the hollow structures 16 are formed as one single structure by means of an extrusion process.
• the means for heat conduction 14 are provided on the outer surface 12 of the vessel 2.
• the said one or more means for heat conduction 14 in this case being located inside the vessel 2, amid the adsorption agent 5.
• tubes 17, pipes or conduits are provided, extending according to the longitudinal direction X-X’ of the vessel 2. They are uniformly distributed over the circumference of the inner surface 13. Just like in the above-described embodiments, in these tubes 17, pipes or conduits, a heat transporting medium will flow.
• Figure 5 shows yet another embodiment of an apparatus 11 for discharging or distributing heat.
• the means for heat conduction 14 are designed as one or more cooling fins 16 provided on the outer surface 12 of the vessel 2.
• the heat conducting medium will be air or another cooling gas.
• the operation of the gas generator 1 and in particular of the apparatus 11 for discharging or distributing heat is very simple and is as follows.
• the gas generator 1 will purify the gas to be purified in the known way by adsorption.
• One of the vessels 2 will adsorb, while the other vessel 2 will desorb gas.
• This heat is led away from the respective vessel 2 by the apparatus 11 for discharging or distributing heat.
• the heat transporting medium will be sent through the means for heat conduction 14.
• the heat transporting medium will discharge or distribute the heat generated by the adsorption process and discharge the heat produced at the top of the vessel 2 to the bottom of the vessel 2.
• cooling air or cooling gas will be sent along the cooling fins 18.
• the heat transporting medium By sending the heat transporting medium through or along the means for heat conduction 14 in a direction going from the high to the low temperature of the vessel 2, it will be possible to redistribute the heat in the vessel 2 without it being necessary to effectively discharge the heat. This is because, when going through multiple cycles, a temperature gradient will be created in the vessel 2, which adversely affects the performance. By redistributing the heat, the temperature gradient may be smoothed.
• the adsorption agent 5 in the vessel 2 When the adsorption agent 5 in the vessel 2 is completely saturated, the other vessel 2 will adsorb, while the first vessel 2 will undergo a desorption.
• the vessel 2 with adsorption agent 5 is first completely finished, before mounting the means for heat discharge 14.
• the bottom lid and the top lid are the said elements 7.
• the following method is used:
• Filling the hollow structures 16 may be done with either the heat transporting medium itself or with, for example, a heat pipe with phase changing material.
• the present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described as examples and shown in the figures, but an apparatus for discharging or distributing heat for a gas generator and method for manufacturing such a gas generator according to the invention may be realized according to various variants without going beyond the scope of the invention.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
• Separation Of Gases By Adsorption (AREA)
• Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)
• Sorption Type Refrigeration Machines (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=84785362

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2022
  • 2022-12-14 BE BE20226014A patent/BE1031133B1/nl active IP Right Grant
• 2023
  • 2023-12-06 EP EP23821744.2A patent/EP4633768A2/de active Pending
  • 2023-12-06 WO PCT/IB2023/062299 patent/WO2024127165A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2023-12-12 TW TW112148279A patent/TWI891161B/zh active
  • 2023-12-13 CN CN202311715780.3A patent/CN118179202A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-12-13 CN CN202323387594.XU patent/CN222034167U/zh active Active

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events