Method for removal of a foulant from a carrier gas in a single vessel using recycled cold solids
A method for removal of a foulant from a carrier gas is disclosed. A solids conveyance device that spans a vessel and a solids coolant system are provided. A cold solid foulant is provided to the solid inlet of the vessel. The carrier gas containing the foulant is provided to the carrier gas inlet of the vessel. The foulant condenses or desublimates onto the recycled solid foulant, forming a foulant-depleted carrier gas and a solid foulant product. The solids conveyance device passes the solid foulant product out of the vessel. The foulant-depleted carrier gas leaves the vessel. The solid foulant product is split into a final solid foulant product and a recycled solid foulant. The recycled solid foulant is cooled through the coolant system to produce the cold solid foulant. In this manner, the foulant is removed from the carrier gas.
1. A method for removal of a foulant from a carrier gas, the method comprising:
providing a solids conveyance device that spans a vessel, the vessel comprising a solid inlet, a carrier gas inlet, a depleted gas outlet, and a solid outlet;
providing a solids coolant system;
providing a cold solid foulant to the solid inlet of the vessel;
providing the carrier gas containing a feed foulant to the carrier gas inlet of the vessel, wherein the feed foulant condenses or desublimates onto the cold solid foulant, forming a foulant-depleted carrier gas and a solid foulant product; and,
causing the solids conveyance device to advance the solid foulant product through the vessel, wherein the foulant-depleted carrier gas leaves the vessel through the depleted gas outlet and the solid foulant product leaves through the solid outlet;
splitting the solid foulant product into a final solid foulant product and a recycled solid foulant; and,
cooling the recycled solid foulant through the solids coolant system to produce the cold solid foulant.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises aluminum, stainless steel, polymers, ceramics, or combinations thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feed foulant comprises carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, water, hydrocarbons with a freezing point below a freezing point of the carrier gas, or combinations thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier gas comprises combustion flue gas, syngas, producer gas, natural gas, steam reforming gas, any hydrocarbon that has higher volatility than the foulant, light gases, or combinations thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solids conveyance device comprises an auger.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the auger and the vessel are oriented at an angle comprising angles between 0 and 90 degrees versus horizontal.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein any surface of the auger exposed to the carrier gas comprises ceramics, polytetrafluoroethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, natural diamond, man-made diamond, chemical-vapor deposition diamond, polycrystalline diamond, or combinations thereof.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solids conveyance device comprises a conveyor belt.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the conveyor belt comprises a perforated belt.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein any surface of the perforated belt exposed to the carrier gas comprises ceramics, polytetrafluoroethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, natural diamond, man-made diamond, chemical-vapor deposition diamond, polycrystalline diamond, or combinations thereof.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the final solid foulant product is provided to a melting device that produces a final product comprising a liquid foulant.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the feed foulant comprises carbon dioxide and the melting device is operated at a pressure above a pressure at which liquid carbon dioxide can exist.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the final solid foulant product is warmed against the solid coolant system to provide a portion of refrigeration in the solid coolant system.