WO2018103896A1

WO2018103896A1 - Method, plant, and system for air improvement in a building

Info

Publication number: WO2018103896A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/025359
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benjamin Halde
Original assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2016-12-08
Filing date: 2017-12-06
Publication date: 2018-06-14
Also published as: EP3333494A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for air improvement in a building (20), wherein a gaseous fluid flow containing oxygen is supplied to the building (20) and distributed in the building (20). According to the invention, the gaseous fluid flow containing oxygen is formed at least in part using a fluid air product, which contains oxygen, is stored in a container (101, 114), and is taken from the container (101, 114), and air is extracted from the building (20), treated, and supplied back to the building (20) again, wherein the treatment comprises an adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide. The invention further relates to a corresponding plant (100, 200) and to a corresponding system (1, 2).

Description

description

Process, installation and system for air conditioning in a building

The invention relates to a method for air conditioning in a building, a corresponding system and a corresponding system according to the preambles of the independent claims.

State of the art

For air conditioning in buildings ventilation systems of various kinds are known. These are usually used to replace used air with ambient air. In the following, "air consumed" is used in particular to refer to air with a reduced level of atmospheric air, due to human respiration or the activity of machines, in particular internal combustion engines

Oxygen and elevated carbon dioxide content understood. By "ambient air" is meant air that is drawn in from the environment of the building. In

Conventional ventilation systems are thus made an exchange of air with the environment. This can be assisted by air circulation of the air in the building itself as well as suitable conditioning such as drying, humidification, heating, cooling or filtering.

Especially in heavily industrialized or motorized regions, the ambient air of a building may be so poorly contaminated that it is detrimental to human health or should not enter a building for other reasons such as odors people stay permanently. In such cases, treatment of the air, for example by means of suitable adsorbers or filters, in particular using activated charcoal, washes and the like, can be carried out while it is sucked in and / or before it is distributed in the building. However, this proves to be very expensive and expensive in practice. Also, by means of a suitable treatment, it is also possible, if appropriate, not to remove all unwanted components from the air.

For example, a reduced level of oxygen or an increase of

Carbon dioxide can not be compensated in this way. EP 1 574 195 A2 discloses a common room for humans or animals. This can be kept at a slight overpressure. By means of a

Room air system can be supplied to the room air automatically or manually nitrogen-containing gas with a nitrogen content of more than 90 percent by volume or oxygen-containing gas with an oxygen content of more than 60 percent by volume. In this way, either hyperoxic or hypoxic room air atmospheres can be set in the common room. EP 0 427 1 12 A1 proposes a process for producing a gaseous phase from a gas reservoir stored in its liquid phase. While conventionally the released refrigerant content is released in an evaporator to the ambient air, here the production of the gaseous phase to be coupled by a heat exchanger with a waste heat generating process, wherein the heat exchange over a phase transition exhibiting

Buffer medium takes place and the amount of heat exchanged is regulated as a function of the transition temperature of the phase transition.

EP 0 757 212 A2 proposes a device for controlling the temperature in a building for human or animal residence. It has a source of liquid oxygen and nitrogen as well as delivery means for distributing a vaporized mist of a life-supporting gas in the building. The distributed mist, which is at a much lower temperature than the ambient temperature, is expected to provide much faster and more effective cooling in the building than conventional systems.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved measures for improving the air quality. Disclosure of the invention

This object is achieved by a method for air conditioning in a building, a corresponding system and a corresponding system according to the features of the independent claims. Embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description. Before explaining the features and advantages of the present invention, its principles and the terms used will be explained. The production of air products in the liquid or gaseous state by cryogenic separation of air in air separation plants is known and

for example, at H.-W. Häring (ed.), Industrial Gas Processing, Wiley-VCH, 2006, especially Section 2.2.5, "Cryogenic Rectification". Air separation plants have distillation column systems which can be designed, for example, as two-column systems, in particular as classic Linde double-column systems, but also as three-column or multi-column systems. In addition to the

Distillation columns for the recovery of nitrogen and / or oxygen in the liquid and / or gaseous state, ie the distillation columns for nitrogen-oxygen separation, distillation columns for obtaining further air components, in particular the noble gases krypton, xenon and / or argon, can be provided.

The distillation columns of said distillation column systems are operated at different pressure levels. Known double column systems have a so-called high-pressure column (also referred to as a pressure column, medium-pressure column or lower column) and a so-called low-pressure column (also referred to as the upper column). The pressure level of the high pressure column is for example 4 to 6 bar, in particular about 5 bar. The low-pressure column is at a pressure level of, for example, 1, 3 to 1, 7 bar, in particular about 1, 5 bar operated. The pressures given here are in particular absolute pressures at the top of said columns.

The devices used in an air separation plant are described in the cited literature, for example in Haring in Section 2.2.5.6, "Apparatus". Insofar as the following definitions do not deviate from this, reference is expressly made to the cited technical literature for language use, which is used in the context of the present application.

As used herein, an "air product" is any product that, at least, is compressed and cooled by air and particularly, but not necessarily, can be prepared by a subsequent cryogenic rectification. In particular, these may be liquid or gaseous oxygen (LOX, GOX), liquid or gaseous nitrogen (LIN, GAN), liquid or gaseous argon (LAR, GAR), liquid or gaseous xenon, liquid or gaseous krypton, liquid or gaseous neon , liquid or gaseous helium, etc. but also, for example, liquid air (LAIR). The present invention uses oxygen-containing liquid air products, such as, for example, pure liquid oxygen, oxygen-enriched liquid air, or merely liquefied air. Also, several air products, such as liquid

Oxygen and liquid nitrogen are mixed in the context of the present invention as needed and used accordingly.

Under a "cryogenic" liquid, or a corresponding fluid,

Air liquefaction product, electricity, etc. is here understood to mean a liquid medium whose boiling point is significantly below the respective ambient temperature and, for example, 200 K or less, in particular 220 K or less.

Examples of cryogenic media are liquid air, liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen in the above sense, liquid propane, etc. Advantages of the invention.

The present invention is based on a method for improving the air quality in a building, in which an oxygen-containing, gaseous fluid stream is supplied to the building and distributed in the building. In that regard, the method is similar to known ventilation methods in which corresponding air flows from ambient air are fed into buildings and by means of suitable ventilation devices in these

Buildings, for example, in several rooms, be distributed.

According to the invention, however, it is provided that the oxygen-containing, gaseous fluid stream at least partially using one in a container

stored and removed from the container oxygenated, liquid

Air product is formed.

In this way, for the ventilation of the building no potentially unsuitable, for example because contaminated, ambient air is used. Instead, an oxygen-containing, liquid air product of defined purity and composition is used for the ventilation, and thus for improving the air quality. This can be kept in the form of suitable containers, for example gas cylinders or tanks. If the oxygen-containing, liquid air product is consumed, a suitable container can be replaced with suitable dimensioning and replaced by a new, full container. It is also possible to fill a corresponding container on site, for example using a tanker vehicle. Further, the invention proposes that the building air taken, processed and re-supplied to the building, the treatment comprises an adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide optionally further undesirable components. For the particular advantages of this proposed measures according to the invention, reference is made to the corresponding explanations below. As can be seen from these explanations, the treatment of the air taken from the building is made separately to provide the oxygen-containing, liquid air product stored in a container and taken from the container. This is understood to mean that the preparation of the air taken from the building and the provision of the oxygen-containing, liquid air product and its further processing, in particular its subsequent explained evaporation or conversion into a supercritical state, is carried out by means of separate devices.

In the context of the present invention, for example, liquid air can be used as the liquefied, oxygen-containing air product. This can be done in one

Air separation plant of the type described above, but also in a pure

Air liquefaction plant which does not have a distillation column system but only air-cooling facilities. With particular advantage is used as the liquefied, oxygen-containing air product enriched against atmospheric air oxygen, liquid air product. This may be at least 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90 mole percent oxygen. The content of oxygen may in particular also be 30 to 90, 40 to 80 or 50 to 70 mole percent. In particular, an oxygen-enriched liquid (English Enriched Liquid) from the (high) is suitable for this purpose. Pressure column of an air separation plant, which may have an oxygen content of 30 to 50 mole percent, in particular 35 to 40 mole percent. When using an oxygen-enriched, liquid air product may be consumed

Oxygen can be replaced faster and using lower feed amounts, so that smaller amounts of a corresponding liquid air product are needed. In this context, in particular, too

Oxygen sensors are used and it can be supplemented with oxygen based on a corresponding value. In principle, it is also possible within the scope of the present invention to set an oxygen content in the building air to a value above that in atmospheric air.

Furthermore, in the context of the present invention, liquid oxygen can also be used, ie a cryogenic liquid which has at least 90, 95, 98 or 99 mole percent oxygen. It is also possible to use several liquid air products. In particular, the oxygen-containing, gaseous fluid stream which is supplied to the building and distributed in the building, thereby using the stored in the container and the container extracted oxygen-containing, liquid air product and using a stored in another container and the other container removed further Air product, in particular a nitrogen-rich air product, for example, of pure

Nitrogen, to be formed. For example, in the context of the present invention, a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen with desired Sauerstoffbzw. Nitrogen content can be formed by means of which a reduced oxygen content in the building can be compensated. Also in this context, the mentioned oxygen sensors can be used

In the context of the present invention, the oxygen-containing, liquid air product used to form the oxygen-containing, gaseous fluid stream, in particular in a heat exchanger, is heated and thereby vaporized or transferred from the liquid into the supercritical state at a correspondingly high pressure. The heat exchanger may be in any suitable form, for example as

Flossenrohrwärmetauscher be designed for replacement with a gaseous environment or as a countercurrent heat exchanger. If an "evaporator" is mentioned below, all embodiments of heat exchangers which are suitable for evaporation are included here. This heat exchanger or evaporator can be operated at least partially using ambient heat, solar heat and / or electric heat. The effect of ambient heat and solar heat can be controlled for example by a suitable cover or shading of an evaporator. Other heat sources, such as burners, may be used in the present invention.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is also possible, at least partially under a corresponding heat exchanger or evaporator

Use of sensible heat to operate from building air of the building. This building air can be removed from the building and then returned to the building. It undergoes cooling during the heat exchange, so that energy savings can be achieved in existing air conditioning systems.

In the context of the present invention can also be provided, a

form corresponding heat exchanger or evaporator with heat exchange structures, which are integrated in a ventilation or air conditioning of the building. For example, fin pipes or other suitable heat exchange structures can be integrated into ventilation ducts of the ventilation or air conditioning system of the building, so that in this way causes a cooling and, for example, a

Air conditioning can be supported.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, an amount of heating in the evaporator may be adjusted based on one or more temperatures in the building. This allows the use of the vaporized, oxygenated air product

Make building temperature, in particular a cooling. In addition, however, for example, existing air conditioners and heaters can be used.

Particularly in the case of a smaller building, air could be taken from the building in an amount that corresponds to an amount of the oxygen-containing, gaseous fluid flow supplied to the building, and be blown off into the surroundings. In this way, a particularly simple mass balance could be made. In particular, in a larger building, however, it may turn out to be more economical if the building air taken, processed and re-supplied to the building. This is therefore proposed according to the invention, as mentioned. However, the measures according to the invention may also be advantageous for smaller buildings such as single-family homes or small office buildings, which is why the present invention is not limited to large buildings. The preparation of such "circulating air" can in particular adsorption for drying and removal or reduction of undesirable components, for example, and in particular

Carbon dioxide, include. According to the invention, therefore, such adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide is proposed. In this way, unwanted components can be removed and, especially when using an oxygen-enriched liquid air product, the consumed oxygen can be replenished. If carbon dioxide is removed or reduced by the adsorption, only the reduced oxygen content needs to be compensated. For this purpose, in particular the aforementioned oxygen-rich air products such as liquid oxygen-enriched air and liquid oxygen can be used. The removal or reduction of carbon dioxide makes it possible, with smaller feed quantities in the form of

oxygen-containing liquid air product, so that, for example, supply and refill cycles for the corresponding containers can be reduced. The actual oxygen content in the building or the supplied fluid flow can be continuously monitored and adjusted accordingly. Also, the carbon dioxide content is preferably continuously monitored to a

Ensuring the functionality of the absorption system. If necessary, it can be shut down and the building can only be supplied with the air product (s) in the short term, or with ambient air in an emergency.

It is also possible to dissipate unwanted moisture as part of the adsorption. In this way too, it becomes possible to reduce the performance of an air conditioner in the building, as it is known that dry air requires less cooling than humid air. As Adsorber for the adsorption Molsiebadsorber can be used in particular, as they can be used from the field of air separation for the treatment of the feed air. Subsequent humidification allows the water content of the air in the building to be adjusted to an acceptable level. In particular, other gaseous components in the treatment can also be removed by adsorption as unwanted components of the air taken from the building. These may in particular be components which have a lower boiling point than water and in particular a higher boiling point than carbon dioxide. The adsorptive removal of such components has the particular advantage over, for example, condensing removal, that no low temperatures have to be used for removal. If an adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide is mentioned below, this does not preclude the removal of corresponding further gaseous components, even if they are not specifically mentioned in each case.

Corresponding further gaseous components may in particular include typical indoor pollutants, for example, in the building

used materials, in particular solvents or plasticizers, formaldehyde and benzene. Other indoor pollutants include, for example, components of tobacco smoke, such as aromatic hydrocarbons, which can also be eliminated from the air by adsorptive removal. By adsorptive removal can also air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, which in particular from the potentially contaminated ambient air enter the building, but can also be emitted within buildings, discharged. In addition to classic indoor pollutants, however, corresponding gaseous components can also only be perceived as troublesome substances such as odor carriers

Dining areas or lounges are removed. The other gaseous components may in particular comprise volatile organic hydrocarbons (TVOC). Also a removal of fine dust is possible.

With particular advantage, the adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide is under

Using an adsorber, the two or at least two in

Has alternating operation adsorber container. In particular, the adsorber containers may have an adsorption material suitable for adsorbing carbon dioxide and other undesired components, for example modified or unmodified activated carbon or molecular sieve. For the function of adsorbers operated in alternation, reference is made to the literature already cited with reference to air separation plants, for example Häring, FIG. 2.3A and associated explanations. In such a change operation is always one of the adsorber with the flows through the gas or fluid to be cleaned and the contained therein,

Adsorbable components adsorb to the adsorbent material until it is saturated or loaded so that the adsorption performance decreases to a no longer tolerable value. The adsorber vessel through which the gas or fluid to be purified has previously been fed is therefore regenerated, and instead a previously regenerated adsorber vessel is now filled with the

flows through to be cleaned gas or fluid. For regeneration, a gas or fluid, in particular after previous heating, is passed through the adsorber vessel to be regenerated and absorbs the adsorbed components. After a sufficient regeneration time, therefore, the corresponding adsorber is again available for use for purification.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, an adsorber container not used in each case for the adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide can be regenerated using further air taken from the building.

In this case, air can advantageously be discharged from the building in a predetermined amount and processed to a first fraction in one of the adsorber containers of the adsorber and thereby freed from carbon dioxide. This first share is then returned to the building. In particular, in this case the first fraction after the removal of the carbon dioxide, the oxygen-containing, liquid

Air product are added after its evaporation or transfer from the gaseous to the supercritical state. In other words, in such an embodiment, at least a portion of the oxygen-containing, liquid

Air product that is vaporized in the evaporator or transferred from the liquid to the supercritical state, then with a part of the building taken and treated air, here the first share, united, and fed together with this the building. For a second share, the air taken from the building for the regeneration of each not adsorptive

Removal of carbon dioxide used adsorber can be used.

Alternatively or in addition to the use of air taken out of the building, it can not be used for the adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide

Adsorberbehälter be regenerated using ambient air. This ambient air can be prepared for this purpose, for example, brought to a suitable pressure level and heated. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the air taken from the building and subsequently treated, ie freed of carbon dioxide, can also be exposed to ambient air. This is preferably done before the treatment and the removal of carbon dioxide. In this way, corresponding unwanted components from the ambient air can be removed. In particular, this ambient air can be freed from carbon dioxide in this way and thus does not lead to a further entry of carbon dioxide into the building. The advantage of this embodiment is that no or only a smaller number of additional devices for conditioning the ambient air are required for the treatment of the ambient air.

In all cases, a predetermined amount of additional air can be taken from the building and dissipated to the environment. This portion and all other portions of the air taken from the building and supplied to the building may be heat exchanged with any other streams to either cool or heat further streams. Further advantages of such heat integration have already been explained. Before adsorption, the air taken from the building is supplied in particular to one or more blowers and / or one or more compressors. The blower or blowers and / or the compressor (s) can thereby be driven by using an electric motor and / or by using a relaxation machine, in which in turn at least part of the oxygen-containing air product vaporized in the evaporator is expanded. In the latter case, in particular released relaxation work can be used in an energy-saving manner for a compression.

If, as explained above, each one not for adsorptive removal of

Carbon dioxide used Adsorberbehälter using other, the building air removed is regenerated, this additional air in one or more corresponding compressors or blowers can be subjected to a pressure increase. As mentioned, air can be discharged from the building in a predetermined amount and treated to a first portion in one of the adsorber of the adsorber and thereby freed from carbon dioxide and a second portion can be used to regenerate the adsorber not used for the adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide.

The first and the second portion of the air taken from the building can in principle together increase the pressure, in particular in the or

Blowers, subjected and then divided into partial streams corresponding to the first and the second portion. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the first and second portions are subjected to separate pressure increases, in particular in several separate blowers. In the first embodiment specified only one fan is required. In the last-mentioned embodiment, two blowers are required, although the first and the second portion of the feed air can each be brought to specifically adapted to the respective task pressure levels and can be performed on these for carbon dioxide removal or regeneration. This can be a preferred one

Adsorption or regeneration performance lead, which can justify the additional effort for another blower.

In any event, irrespective of the fluid used to regenerate the adsorbent not used for the adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide, at least a portion of the oxygen-containing, liquid, air product contained in the

Evaporator is vaporized or transferred from the liquid to the supercritical state, then combined with at least part of the building removed and treated air and fed together with this the building. An example of this has already been explained above.

The present invention may in particular comprise the use of an air conditioning system, which may advantageously be designed as an integrated unit for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, that is to say as a so-called HVAC unit (heating, ventilating and air conditioning). Such air conditioning system building air is supplied and conditioned in the air conditioning, for example, dried and / or tempered (ie cooled or heated). The conditioned building air or a part of it can be returned to the building. The oxygen-containing, gaseous fluid stream, which is formed in the context of the present invention, at least partially using the stored in a container and the container withdrawn oxygen-containing, liquid air product can, in this case of the Air conditioning supplied building air supplied and conditioned together with this. Alternatively, it is also possible, the oxygen-containing, gaseous fluid stream, which is formed in the context of the present invention, at least partially using the stored in a container and the container removed oxygen-containing liquid air product, the already conditioned in the air conditioning building air or their in the Building returned part

feed, especially if additional conditioning is applied. Also, a separate supply of the building taken, processed and thus freed of carbon dioxide and a vaporized or in the

supercritical state transferred liquid air product to the air conditioning supplied and conditioned there building air or to the conditioned in the air conditioning building air is basically possible.

A "compressor" is understood to mean a device which is set up for compressing at least one gaseous stream from at least one inlet pressure at which it is fed to the compressor to at least one final pressure at which it is taken from the compressor. The compressor forms a structural unit, which, however, can have a plurality of "compressor stages" in the form of known piston, screw and / or Schaufelrad- or turbine assemblies.

In particular, these compressor stages are driven by means of a common drive, for example via a common shaft.

A "blower" is characterized in contrast to a compressor essentially by the fact that its main task is not the compression of a gas stream but primarily the conveying of a corresponding gas stream, for example by a heat exchanger or an adsorber. A certain pressure ratio between inlet pressure and final pressure, for example a pressure ratio of 1.3 to 3.0 (compared to a pressure ratio of more than 3.0 in a typical compressor), also arises on a fan. A "fan" is a fan that is itself

typically characterized by a further lower pressure ratio, in particular in the range of 1, 0 to 1, 3, characterized.

The inventive method can be used in particular in a small building or a large building. In particular, a small building is a single or smaller apartment building or a small one Commercial operation. In particular, a large building is an office building of appropriate size, a skyscraper, a factory, a railway station, an airport, etc. The above-described measures are not limited to a specific type of building or a specific size of a building.

The present invention further relates to a facility for air conditioning in a building, with means adapted to the building

supply oxygen-containing gaseous fluid stream and distribute it in the building. According to the invention, the plant is adapted to at least partially store the oxygen-containing, gaseous fluid stream using an oxygen-containing liquid which is stored in a vessel and removed from the vessel

Air product to form. The system according to the invention is further adapted to remove air from the building, reprocess and re-supply the building, wherein the treatment comprises an adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide.

A system for improving the air, which is also proposed according to the invention, comprises a building and the installation just described according to different embodiments. A corresponding system and a corresponding system are arranged according to a particularly preferred embodiment for carrying out a method, as explained above. The features and advantages explained above are therefore expressly referred to. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in the preferred embodiments of the invention schematically

are illustrated.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for improving air in accordance with a noninventive embodiment in the form of a schematic diagram.

FIG. 2 illustrates an air improvement system according to an embodiment of the invention in the form of a schematic diagram. FIG. 3 illustrates a system for improving air in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention in the form of a schematic diagram. FIG. 4 illustrates a system for improving air in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention in the form of a schematic diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following figures, systems for air improvement according to an embodiment not according to the invention and according to particularly preferred

Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated and described based on the figures. Identical reference symbols are used for identical or identically acting elements and are not explained repeatedly for the sake of clarity.

If air-conditioning systems are described below, the corresponding explanations apply mutatis mutandis to corresponding devices and systems and methods for improving the air, wherein in each case method steps can be implemented by the components shown in corresponding methods, as they were previously explained in detail.

In Figure 1 is a system for improving the air in the form of a schematic

Diagram illustrated and designated overall by 1. The system 1 is for the improvement of air in a small building 10, in particular a single or

Multi-family house, a smaller business enterprise and the like provided and includes such a small building 10. Further, the system 1 comprises an air conditioning system, which is designated in Figure 1 as a whole with 100. In the air conditioning plant 100 is a liquid, oxygen-containing

Air product, in particular under pressure and in the cryogenic state, provided in a container 101. The container 101 may in particular be a gas cylinder of conventional type. The use of thermally insulated containers 101 is possible. In particular, the container 101 has dimensions that allow it to be transported in the usual way. In particular, the container 101 is formed so that it can be replaced after consumption of the contained liquid, oxygen-containing air product by a filled container 101, which can be supplied to the small building 10. In the context of the present invention, a further air product stored in a further container 151 and taken from the further container 151, for example a nitrogen-rich air product, can furthermore be used. The following explanations concerning the container 101 and the corresponding oxygen-rich air product also apply correspondingly to the container 151. The connection of the container 151 is not shown in detail.

For example, via an optionally provided pressure reducer 102, the container 101 is connected to a line 103, which in turn is coupled to an evaporator 104. In the evaporator 104, as also explained below, the liquid, oxygen-containing air product can be evaporated from the container 101. It is then supplied to the small building 10 and distributed here via an existing or provided as part of the system 1 ventilation system (not shown), for example, in different rooms of the small building 10. For discharging spent air and for mass balance to the air supplied via the line 105, a line 106 is provided, which may be coupled to a fan 107, for example one or more tube fans. Alternatively, it may also be provided a discharge of spent air and mass balance on one or more air vents, ventilation grille and the like. It can also be provided a plurality of corresponding lines 106 and blower 107. The exhausted air via the line (s) 106 and the blower or blowers 107 can be blown off via a line 108 into the environment.

As mentioned, the liquid, oxygen-containing air product is evaporated from the container 101 in the evaporator 104. At the same time, the temperature of the

vaporized, oxygen-containing air product can be adjusted so that the air freshening system 1 can be set up at the same time to set a certain room temperature in the small building 10. For this purpose, a temperature controller 109 is provided, which is detected on the basis of one or more in the small building 10 Temperatures via a control line 1 10 can regulate the action of heat sources on the evaporator 104.

By way of example, ambient heat 1 1 1, solar heat 1 12, electrical heat 1 13 are illustrated as heat sources in FIG. These and other heat sources,

For example, a burner and the like, can be brought to act on the evaporator 104 alternatively to each other or in any combination together to varying degrees. As a further heat source, for example, sensible heat 152 of the building air of the small building 10 can be used, which can be led out for this purpose, for example, from the small building 10. However, as also mentioned, it is also possible to integrate suitable heat exchange structures of the evaporator 104 into a ventilation system of the small building 10. Although not shown in detail, the use of the sensible heat 152 of the building air of the small building 10 may be under the control of the temperature controller 109. For example, in a solar heater by variable shading or adjustment with respect to a direction of incidence of the sunlight, a variable heating can be effected, or by means of different heating levels of

electric heater, an adjustable heating can be achieved. It is understood that additional control and regulating devices can be provided for a corresponding heating. For example, a can also

Temperature of the vaporized, oxygen-containing air product in or directly downstream of the evaporator 104 are detected, so that optionally a faster

Control is possible.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system for improving the air in accordance with an embodiment of the invention in the form of a schematic diagram and denoted overall by 2. In contrast to the system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, the system 2 is set up, in particular, to supply a large building 20, for example an office complex, a larger residential building or a larger commercial enterprise. However, those in Figure 2 and the following figures

Measures not limited to use with a large building 20. The air conditioning system is designated 200 for better distinctness. To supply the large building 20 may be provided, in addition to or as an alternative to the relatively small container 101 a container 1 14 for the

use oxygenated, liquefied air product. This is in particular a thermally insulated large tank, for example

For example, can be periodically filled by a tanker with the oxygen-containing, liquefied air product. There can also be several

appropriate large tanks be present. For reasons of redundancy, smaller containers 101 can continue to be present and be used, for example, when the container 1 14 is refilled via a tanker vehicle as explained. The container 1 14 can be filled via a line 1 15. The oxygenated, liquefied

Air product can be removed from the container 1 14 via a line 1 16 and also fed to the evaporator 104.

As explained with reference to FIG. 1 and the further smaller container 151, it is also possible to use a further larger container 153 to which a further air product, for example a nitrogen-rich air product, can be taken. Again, the corresponding explanations concerning the containers 101, 151 and 1 14 apply mutatis mutandis. The connection of the container 152 is not shown in detail. The temperature control, which has already been explained with reference to Figure 1 with reference to the elements 109 to 1 13, may also be present in the air conditioning system 2 for the large building 20. As a further heat source, sensible heat 152 of the building air of the large building 20 can also be used here. The vaporized, oxygen-rich air product in the line 105 is at least partially fed via a line 1 17 a relaxation machine 1 18, for example, a turboexpander, and there relaxed. An amount of vaporized, oxygen-rich air product carried in line 105 can be adjusted via a valve 19. For this purpose, a flow rate regulator 120 can be used, which can be connected via a control line 121 to a ventilation regulator 120a. For example, the ventilation controller 120a may sense air quality or one or more air parameters of the air in the large building 20.

The vaporized, oxygen-containing air product expanded in the expansion machine 118 can be fed by means of a line 121 to a heat exchanger 122, in FIG This heated, and over a line 123 with circulating air (see below) are combined in a line 124. After an optional humidification in a humidifier 125, the air can be fed via a line 126 into the large building 20 and distributed there, for example, via a ventilation system in several rooms.

Exhausted air (hereinafter referred to as the "circulating air" already mentioned above because it is returned to the large building 20) can be discharged from the large building 20 via a duct 127. This is fed to a compression in a mechanically coupled to the expansion machine 1 18 compressor 128. It is alternatively also possible to provide, for example, an electric drive for driving the compressor 128. In this case, it is possible to dispense with the expansion machine 1 18 and the vaporized, oxygen-containing

Air product from the line 1 17 are fed directly to the heat exchanger 122. Via a line 129, the compressed circulating air is supplied to the heat exchanger 122, where in particular the heat of compression can be dissipated. Subsequently, a portion of the circulating air is fed via a line 130 to an adsorber 131 and treated there in a suitable manner, for example, freed of water and carbon dioxide. The adsorber 131 has a pair of adsorbent containers which are filled with a suitable adsorbent material and operated in alternating operation.

For regeneration of the adsorber tank not used in each case to treat the circulating air from the line 130, a further part of the circulating air can be used, which is supplied via a line 132 to an electric heater 133, where it is heated and fed to the adsorber via a further line 134. For the function of a corresponding adsorber 131, reference should be made to the literature cited with reference to air separation plants, for example Häring, FIG. 2.3A and associated explanations.

The circulating air treated in the adsorber 131 is combined via the already mentioned line 124 with the vaporized, oxygen-containing air product in the line 123 and fed to the moistening in the moistener 125.

Via a bypass 135 and a valve 136, the vaporized, oxygen-containing air product can also be transferred in part directly from the line 105 into the line 132 and thus used for the regeneration of the adsorber 131. FIG. 3 illustrates a system for improving the air in accordance with an embodiment of the invention in the form of a schematic diagram and denoted by 3. In contrast to the system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 and the system 2 illustrated in FIG. 2, the system 3 illustrated in FIG. 3 is set up to supply a large building 20 in particular. The air conditioning system is designated 300 in FIG. 3 for better distinctness. The large building 3 has, for example, five offices of 30 square meters each and is usually occupied by 10 to 15 people.

The embodiment of the system 3 or of the system 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 represents a variant of the system 2 illustrated in FIG. 2 or of the system 200 illustrated there, which is also illustrated in greatly simplified form. Apart from the differences explained below, all of the components illustrated and explained in relation to the system 2 or the system 200 in FIG. 2 can also be present in the system 2 or the system 300.

Also in the system 3 or the system 300, the "circulating air" already mentioned above from the large building 20 can be executed via a line 127 ', which can essentially correspond to the line 127 of the system 2 or the system 200 according to FIG , In contrast to the system 2 or the system 200 according to FIG. 2, however, an upstream compressor or blower 128 ', which otherwise can correspond to the compressor 128 of the system 2 or the system 200 according to FIG Partial flow of the circulating air is branched off via a line 132 'and further compressed by means of a compressor or a blower 128 ". In a line 127", the remainder is passed to the adsorber designated here by 131'. The partial flow in the line 132 'is used for regeneration of the adsorber tank, which is not used in each case for the treatment of the air in the line 127 " Line 127 'used

Adsorberbehälter designated 131 a. Following an optional supply of atmospheric air via line 324 (see also below), the air from line 127 "is fed to adsorption via line 127". In contrast to the system 2 shown in Figure 2, two compressors or fans 128 ', 128 "are used here, the advantage being that they are each individually adapted to the required slight overpressures for adsorption (for example, approximately 1.1 Absolute pressure) and for regeneration (for example, about 1.05 bar absolute pressure) Generally, a "compression" in a fan is understood to mean only a slight pressure increase in the scope explained at the outset for fans.

As is well known and previously mentioned, an appropriate one is used

Operating phase in which the adsorber 131 a used for air purification and the adsorber tank 131 b is regenerated, a switching. After switching, the adsorber 131 a is then regenerated and the adsorber 131 b used for air purification. A corresponding alternating operation can be made possible by valves which are not separately illustrated in FIG. 3 and suitable control. It is understood that in addition to the two illustrated in Figure 3

Adsorber containers 131 a and 131 b and other adsorber used and can be subjected to a corresponding alternating operation.

After use for the regeneration of the adsorbent container 131 b, the portion of the circulating air diverted via the line 132 'can be used

Regeneration of desorbed components from the adsorber tank 131 b is charged, for example, to be blown off to the environment via a line 132. Another use and in particular heat recovery may be provided, but is not separately illustrated for reasons of clarity in FIG Regeneration, a corresponding proportion of the circulating air can also be additionally heated, in particular if the compression heat generated in the compressor or blower 128 "is insufficient.

The in the adsorber tank 131 a of unwanted components freed portion of the circulating air is via a line 124 ', which is substantially the line 124 of the

Systems 2 and the plant 200 according to Figure 2 may correspond, discharged. It is carried out via a line 124 ', which may essentially correspond to the line 124 of the system 2 or the system 200 according to FIG. 2, from the adsorber 131 and via a line 123', which is essentially the line 123 of the system 2 or can correspond to the plant 200 of Figure 2, with oxygen or vaporized applied to liquid air product. For the sake of simplicity, here are the

Evaporation of the liquid air product used in the components

Substantially may correspond to those of Figure 2, here designated 310. An evaporator, which may in principle be designed comparable to the evaporator 104 according to FIG. 2, is illustrated in simplified form and indicated by 104 '.

In the system 3 according to FIG. 3, there is furthermore an air conditioning system 310, which can be designed, in particular, as an integrated unit for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, that is to say as a so-called HVAC unit (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). The air conditioner 310 is via a vent line 321 air from the

Large building 20 supplied and the air conditioner 310 leads via a ventilation line 322 processed, in particular cooled, air to the large building 20. The total of the vent line 321, which may also consist of several lines, is only partially supplied to the air conditioner 310. Another part, as the circulating air already mentioned, passes the line 127 'for adsorption or adsorber regeneration to the adsorption unit 131'.

In the illustrated example, the oxygen-enriched air is fed via a line 126 ', which in turn may correspond substantially to the line 126 of the system 2 shown in Figure 2, in the vent line 321 and thus passed through the air conditioner 320. In this way, in particular excess heat of the oxygen-enriched air can be dissipated if the temperature of the oxygen-enriched air from the line 126 'is above a desired temperature. If the temperature of the oxygen-enriched air from the line 126 'below the target temperature, this heat can be supplied. With others

Words can be adjusted by means of the air conditioner 320, the temperature of the oxygen-enriched air from the line 126 'to the respective target temperature, wherein, depending on the temperature, the required cooling or heating power of the air conditioner 320 may optionally be lowered accordingly.

Alternatively to the embodiment of the system 3 illustrated in FIG. 3, however, the oxygen-enriched air from the conduit 126 'may also be supplied to the system

Ventilation strand 322 are fed. In this case can be separate

Be provided tempering. According to a further embodiment of the invention can also be provided, which via the line 127 'from the Execute large building 20 executed circulating air separately to the vent line 321 of the air conditioner 320 from the large building 20 and / or supplied via the line 126 'provided oxygen-enriched air separately to the ventilation line 322 of the air conditioner 320 the large building 20.

In the example shown, exhaust air from the large building 20 is also carried out via a line 323, which is optionally present, and in particular discharged to the environment. Again, a heat integration can be made. Furthermore, optionally introduced via a line 324 to compensate for losses and in particular, if necessary, ambient air, which can be brought to a slightly superatmospheric pressure level of, for example, about 1, 10 bar absolute pressure. This is advantageously, as shown here, processed in the adsorber 131 'while guided by the compressor or the blower 128'. The system 3 illustrated in FIG. 3 can in particular be based on an oxygen and / or carbon dioxide measurement by means of an oxygen and / or

Carbon dioxide sensors 325 work. A control unit, here illustrated in a highly simplified manner at 330, which may be in signal communication with any components of the system 3 via not shown wired and / or wireless communication links may in particular adjust an amount of vaporized air product metered in via the line 123 'based on a corresponding sensor signal , A setpoint is, for example, 21% oxygen and 600 ppm carbon dioxide. All percentage and ppm data refer to a molar fraction in the following explanations.

Only in order to illustrate the function of the system 3 shown in FIG. 3, but in no way limit the scope of the invention, in the following Table 1, mass flows M (in standard cubic meters per hour),

Absolute pressures p (in bar), temperatures T (in K) and carbon dioxide levels C0 ₂ (in ppm, exemplary data) in selected lines of the system 3 are illustrated. These are data from a pilot plant. These are therefore given by way of example only and are not necessarily directly transferable to larger systems. The oxygen content is advantageously, but not necessarily, adjusted to a value corresponding to the content in atmospheric air by the metered addition of the vaporized air product. The temperature of the Large building 20 via the line 323 running air is not regulated and also depends on unimpressable factors such as sunlight, insulation and the number of people in the large building 20 from.

Table 1 Line 124 '126' 127 '127 "127"' 132 '323 324

M 550 550 500 370 550 130 50 180 p 1, 00 1, 00 1, 00 1, 00 1, 1 1 1, 05 1, 00 1, 1

T 290 286 285 285 290 290 n.d. 286

C0 ₂ 0 0 600 600 550 600 600 450

FIG. 4 illustrates a system for improving the air in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention in the form of a schematic diagram and denoted by 4. The system 4 essentially comprises the components of the system 3 illustrated in FIG. 3, which are therefore provided with identical reference symbols.

As an alternative to the regeneration of the adsorber 31 with the air from the line 132 'illustrated in FIG. 3, ambient air is used here for regeneration, which is made available via a line 132 "and processed accordingly as required 324 branch off. In this way, losses of already partially purified circulating air can be reduced.

Claims

claims

1 . A method of improving air in a building (20) in which the building (20) is supplied with an oxygen-containing, gaseous fluid stream and distributed in the building (20), characterized in that the oxygen-containing, gaseous fluid stream is at least partially using one in one

Container (101, 1 14) stored and the container (101, 1 14) removed oxygen-containing, liquid air product is formed, and that the building (20) air taken, processed and the building (20) is fed again, the preparation of a adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide using an adsorber (131) is performed, the two in the

Alternating adsorber container operated (131 a, 131 b).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each not used for the adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide adsorbent container (131 b) using other, the building (20) removed air is regenerated.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein a not used for adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide adsorbent container (131 b) using

Ambient air is regenerated.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein liquid air, an atmospheric air enriched with oxygen, liquid air product or liquid oxygen is used as the liquid, oxygen-containing air product.

A process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the oxygen-containing liquid air product used to form the oxygen-containing gaseous fluid stream is vaporized in an evaporator (104) or transferred from the liquid to the supercritical state.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the oxygen-containing, liquid air product which evaporates in the evaporator (104) or from the liquid is transferred into the supercritical state, then combined with at least part of the building (20) taken and treated air and fed together with this the building (20).

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the evaporator (104) at least partially using ambient heat (1 1 1), solar heat (1 12),

Electric heat (1 13) and / or sensible heat from building air of the building

Building (20) is operated.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the treatment further comprises an adsorptive drying and / or moistening.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air taken from the building in the context of processing at least one compressor (128, 128 ') and / or at least one fan is supplied.

1 1. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one compressor (128, 128 ') and / or the at least one blower is driven using an electric motor and / or using a relaxation machine (118), which is made using at least a portion of the in the evaporator (104) vaporized, oxygen-containing air product is driven.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the building is a small building or a large building (20).

13. Air conditioning plant in a building (20), with funds for it

are adapted to the building (20) to supply an oxygen-containing, gaseous fluid stream and in the building (20) to distribute, characterized

characterized in that the apparatus is adapted to at least partially convert the oxygen-containing gaseous fluid stream using one in one

Container (101, 1 14) and formed to the container (101, 1 14) removed oxygen-containing, liquid air product, and that the system is further adapted to the building (20) to extract air, recycle and the building (20) recycle, wherein the treatment comprises adsorptive removal of carbon dioxide.

14. Plant according to claim 13, which is adapted to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 12.

15. An air freshening system (2, 3, 4) comprising a building (20),

characterized by a system according to claim 13 or 14.