Adsorption Device for Adsorbing CO2, Elemental Analyzer and Method for Removing CO2 From a Fluid Stream

Abstract

An adsorption device for adsorption of CO.sub.2 for an elemental analyzer includes a filter having an inlet for a fluid, an outlet for the fluid, and an adsorbent material through which the fluid can flow, and a heating device for heating the adsorbent material. The adsorption device is characterized in that the heating device extends along a longitudinal axis and the filter is arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis and at least partially radially surrounds the heating device. In addition, an elemental analyzer includes a combustion reactor for burning a sample, an optional reduction reactor, an optional water separator, and a detector. The elemental analyzer further includes the adsorption device for adsorbing CO.sub.2 and a valve control for alternately passing an analysis fluid from the combustion reactor through the adsorption device for adsorbing CO.sub.2 and to the detector, or a flushing fluid through the adsorption device for adsorbing CO.sub.2.

Claims

1. An adsorption device for adsorption of CO.sub.2 for an elemental analyzer, the adsorption device comprises a filter having an inlet for a fluid, an outlet for the fluid, and an adsorbent material through which the fluid can flow, and a heating device for heating the adsorbent material, wherein the heating device extends along a longitudinal axis, and the filter is arranged coaxially to the longitudinal axis and at least partially radially surrounds the heating device.

2. An adsorption device according to claim 1, wherein the filter is arranged along a longitudinal direction in a spiral around the heating device.

3. An adsorption device according to claim 2, wherein the inlet and the outlet are arranged on opposite sides of the filter with respect to the longitudinal axis.

4. An adsorption device according to claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a first chamber, the adsorbent material being arranged in the first chamber, the first chamber surrounding a cavity extending along the longitudinal axis, and the heating device being arranged in the cavity.

5. An adsorption device according to claim 4, wherein the filter further comprises a second chamber fluidically connected to the first chamber, surrounding the cavity and arranged between the first chamber and the cavity, wherein the adsorbent material is arranged in the first chamber and/or the second chamber.

6. An adsorption device according to claim 1, wherein the adsorption device further comprises a cooling device for cooling the adsorbing material.

7. An adsorption device according to claim 6, wherein the cooling device formed by a fan.

8. An adsorption device according to claim 1, wherein the heating device formed by an electric heating wire arranged spirally around a rod-shaped base.

9. An adsorption device according to claim 8, wherein the rod-shaped base comprises a temperature sensor.

10. An adsorption device according to claim 1, wherein the adsorption device comprises a first valve which is connected to the inlet and by means of which a first and a second fluid can be alternately directed into the filter.

11. An elemental analyzer comprising a combustion reactor for burning a sample, an optional reduction reactor, an optional water separator, and a detector, wherein the elemental analyzer comprises an adsorption device for adsorbing CO.sub.2 according to claim 1, and the elemental analyzer comprises a valve control for alternately passing an analysis fluid from the combustion reactor through the adsorption device for adsorption of CO.sub.2 and to the detector or a flushing fluid through the adsorption device for adsorption of CO.sub.2.

12. The elemental analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the flushing fluid can also be passed through the detector or through a separate detector for detecting CO.sub.2 or carbon in the flushing fluid.

13. The elemental analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the elemental analyzer comprises at least two adsorption devices for adsorption of CO.sub.2 and the valve control is configured such that the analysis fluid can be passed in parallel over two or more adsorption devices.

14. The elemental analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the elemental analyzer comprises at least two adsorption devices for adsorption of CO.sub.2 and the valve control is configured such that the analysis fluid of similar samples can be passed over the same adsorption devices.

15. A method for removing CO.sub.2 from a fluid stream, comprising the steps of: providing an adsorption device for adsorbing CO.sub.2 according to claim 1; passing a fluid stream containing CO.sub.2 through the adsorbent device so that CO.sub.2 is adsorbed from the fluid stream by the adsorbent material; stopping the CO.sub.2-containing fluid stream; heating the adsorbent material by means of the heating device and passing a flushing fluid stream through the adsorption device so that adsorbed CO.sub.2 is flushed out of the adsorbent material again; and stopping the flow of flushing fluid.

16. The adsorption device according to claim 1, wherein the filter forms a receptacle extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein the heating device extends along a straight longitudinal axis and is configured to be removable insertable into the receptacle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0077] The terms Fig., Figs., Figure, and Figures are used interchangeably in the specification to refer to the corresponding figures in the drawings.

[0078] Further features of the disclosure are illustrated with reference to the drawings described below:

[0079] FIG. 1 Perspective view of an adsorption device according to a first embodiment.

[0080] FIG. 2 Perspective sectional view of an adsorption device according to the first embodiment.

[0081] FIG. 3 Side sectional view of an adsorption device according to a second embodiment.

[0082] FIG. 4 Perspective sectional view of an adsorption device according to the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION

[0083] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of an adsorption device 1. The adsorption device 1 comprises a filter 11, a heating device 12 and a cooling device 13.

[0084] The filter 11 has the shape of a tube that is spirally wound around the rod-shaped heating device 12. The filter 11 completely surrounds the rod-shaped heating device 12 in the radial direction. At both ends of the tube, the filter 11 has an inlet 111 and an outlet 112.

[0085] The adsorbent material, which is not itself shown in the drawings, is disposed in the lumen 113 of the tube.

[0086] The heating device 12 extends along a longitudinal axis x. It is a straight, rod-shaped heating device, so that the spiral-shaped filter 11 can be plugged onto the rod-shaped heating device 12 in a simple manner. The heating device 12 is thus accommodated in the axial cavity of the spiral-shaped filter 11.

[0087] The heating device 12 comprises a heating wire 121 spirally wound around a rod-shaped base 122. The rod-shaped base 122 consists of a tube, preferably a mica tube, inside which a temperature sensor 123 is arranged. By means of the temperature sensor 123, the temperature of the heating device 12 can be determined and controlled.

[0088] The cooling device 13 is arranged below the heating device 12 and the filter 11 in the axial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis x. The cooling device 13 is a fan 13. The fan 13 has an outlet opening 131 by means of which air used for cooling can be discharged in the axial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis x. The fan 13 is arranged below the heating device 12 and the filter 11 in the axial direction.

[0089] The adsorption device 1 further comprises a housing 14, in which the heating device 12 and the filter 11 are arranged. The fan 13 is connected to the housing 14 on the outside of the housing 14. The housing 14 does not completely surround the heating device 12 and the filter 11, but is open on the side facing the viewer in FIGS. 1 and 2. On the rear side, the housing 14 has an outer wall 142. Inside the housing, a plurality of lamellar inner walls 141 are formed through which a plurality of flow channels 143 are formed. Through the flow channels 143, the air discharged from the fan 13 is directed to the filter 11 such that the air impinges on the filter 11 in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis x.

[0090] Connecting means 144 are formed on each of the inner walls 144. These connecting means 144 can be used to couple the housing 14 to a second adsorption device. For this purpose, the projections 144 can engage in corresponding receptacles in the outer wall 142 of a second adsorption device. In this way, several adsorption devices 1 can be mechanically coupled to each other.

[0091] In the embodiment shown, the inlet 111 and the outlet 112 of the filter 11 are each equipped with connection means. By means of these connection means, the inlet 111 and the outlet 112 can each be connected in a fluid-tight manner to a valve device that is not shown.

[0092] FIGS. 3 and 4 show another adsorption device 2 according to a second embodiment.

[0093] The adsorption device 2 has a filter 21 and a rod-shaped heating device not shown individually in FIGS. 3 and 4. The heating device may comprise a rod-shaped base and a heating wire arranged spirally around the rod-shaped base, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0094] The filter 21 includes an outer, first chamber 214 and an inner, second chamber 213. The first chamber 214 and the second chamber 213 surround an axial cavity 25 in which the heater can be disposed. The cavity 25 is open at the bottom so that the rod-shaped heating device can be inserted into the cavity 25.

[0095] The heating device as well as the filter 21 both extend along a longitudinal axis x. The first chamber 214 and the second chamber 213 are each arranged coaxially with respect to this longitudinal axis x. At the upper end of the filter 21 with respect to the longitudinal axis x, the filter 21 has an inlet 211 and an outlet 212. The inlet 211 forms the upper opening of the inner, second chamber 213. The outlet 212 forms the upper opening of the outer, first chamber 214. The inner, second chamber 213 is fluidically connected to the outer, first chamber 214 at the lower end 215 of the filter via a gap. In this manner, a fluid can be passed through the inlet 211 and the inner, second chamber 213 into the outer, first chamber 214 and ultimately through the outlet 212.

[0096] In this embodiment, the adsorbent material may be disposed in either the outer, first chamber 214 and/or the inner, second chamber 213. Preferably, the adsorbent material is disposed in the outer, first chamber 214.

[0097] In this embodiment, the inlet 211 and the outlet 212 are each provided with connection means by means of which the inlet 211 and the outlet 212 can each be connected to valves in a fluid-tight manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0098] 1, 2 Adsorption device [0099] 11, 21 Filter [0100] 111, 211 Inlet [0101] 112, 212 Outlet [0102] 113 Lumen [0103] 213 Second chamber [0104] 214 First chamber [0105] 12 Heating device [0106] 121 Heating wire [0107] 122 Rod shaped base [0108] 123 Temperature sensor [0109] 13 Cooling device [0110] 131 Outlet opening [0111] 14 Housing [0112] 141 Interior walls [0113] 142 Exterior wall [0114] 143 Flow channels [0115] 144 Connecting means [0116] 25 Cavity [0117] x Longitudinal axis