ADSORPTION SYSTEM WITH CIRCULATING ADSORBENT ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A reactor system for conducting an adsorption/desorption swing process comprising of at least o adsorption reactor; at least one desorption reactor and means for transporting a particulate adsorbent material between the at least one adsorption reactor and the at least one desorption reactor.

Claims

1. A reactor system for conducting an adsorption/desorption swing process comprising: a. at least one adsorption reactor; b. at least one desorption reactor; c. means for transporting a particulate adsorbent material between the at least one adsorption reactor and the at least one desorption reactor.

2. The reactor system of claim 1 comprising at least two adsorption reactors for every desorption reactor.

3. The reactor system of claim 2 comprising at least three adsorption reactors for every desorption reactor.

4. The reactor system of any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for transporting comprises a conveying gas.

5. The reactor system of any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for transporting comprises a means for removing fines from the particulate adsorbent material.

6. The reactor system of any one of the preceding claims comprising a means for replenishing particulate adsorbent material.

7. The reactor system of any one of the preceding claims wherein the adsorption/desorption swing process is a carbon dioxide adsorption/desorption swing process.

8. The reactor system of claim 7 wherein the swing process comprises a temperature swing, a pressure swing, a moisture swing, or a combination thereof.

9. The reactor system of claim 7 or 8 wherein the carbon dioxide adsorption swing process comprises adsorption of carbon dioxide from atmospheric air.

10. The reactor system of any one of claims wherein the particulate adsorbent comprises an oxide or salt capable of forming a carbonate or a bicarbonate upon contact with carbon dioxide.

11. The reactor system of claim 10 wherein the particulate adsorbent comprises potassium carbonate.

12. The reactor system of claim 11 wherein the particulate adsorbent comprises potassium carbonate sesquihydrate.

13. The reactor system of any one of claims 10 through 12 wherein the oxide or salt is present on a particulate support.

14. The reactor system of claim 13 wherein the support is selected from activated carbon, alumina, and silica

Description

[0009] An additional embodiment may be the addition of water vapor adsorbing particles (desiccant) either as a separate contacting/regenerating step, or mixed in directly with the CO.sub.2 adsorbing particles, to shift the equilibrium towards more CO.sub.2 adsorbed. In the FIGS. 1 and 2 the “Small particles, contact with air during transport” is illustrated.

[0010] Small particles, contact with air during transport, pre-drying particles and CO.sub.2 adsorbing particles in series (buffer vessels and regenerating vacuum pump not shown) is illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0011] In an alternate embodiment, the “fixed bed air contact”, two vessel types filled with solid particles, for example pill size are employed. In the first vessel type, CO.sub.2 is adsorbed from ambient air. When the sorbent is saturated, it is conveyed to a separate vessel, where it is regenerated. After regeneration is complete, the sorbent is conveyed back to the adsorbing vessel. When more adsorbing vessels are present than desorbing vessels (for example, 10 adsorbing vessels for every one desorbing vessel), the difference in cycle time for the two stages can be compensated for.

[0012] Again, there is the option of adding a desiccant to the adsorbing material, or having a separate drying step prior to CO.sub.2 adsorption.

[0013] Fixed bed air contact is illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0014] Fixed bed air contact, with pre-drying bed is illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0015] The invention optimizes the use of the equipment, and confines the need for a vacuum resistant construction to only a relatively small portion of the equipment, being the desorber and its associated conduits. This significantly reduces the capital investment costs.