Hybrid Direct-Contact Exchanger
A process and device for separating a vapor from a gas is disclosed. A direct-contact exchanger comprising a droplet-generating apparatus in a top portion of the exchanger and a bubbling apparatus in a bottom portion of the exchanger is provided. An inlet gas, comprising a vapor, is passed through the bubbling apparatus, forming bubbles in a bottoms liquid. The bottoms liquid strips a portion of the vapor and exchanges heat with the bubbles, producing a product liquid and a middle gas. A barren liquid is passed through the droplet-generating apparatus to form droplets of the barren liquid in the top portion. The droplets descend against the middle gas and strip a second portion of the vapor from and exchange heat with the middle gas, producing the bottoms liquid, which collects in the bottom portion, and a product gas.
1 . A direct-contact exchanger for separating a vapor from a gas comprising:
a droplet-generating apparatus in a top portion of the exchanger and a bubbling apparatus in a bottom portion of the exchanger, wherein:
a bubbling apparatus passes bubbles of an inlet gas into a bottoms liquid, the inlet gas comprising a vapor, wherein the bottoms liquid strips a first portion of the vapor from and exchanges heat with the bubbles, producing a product liquid and a middle gas; and,
the droplet-generating apparatus passes droplets of a barren liquid into the top portion, the droplets descending against the middle gas and stripping a second portion of the vapor from and exchanging heat with the middle gas, producing the bottoms liquid, which collects in the bottom portion, and a product gas.
2 . The exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the droplet-generating apparatus comprises one or more nozzles, drip trays, perforated plates, or combinations thereof.
3 . The exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the bubbling apparatus comprises one or more bubble trays, bubble plates, bubble caps, spargers, nozzles, or combinations thereof.
4 . The exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the barren liquid comprises water, hydrocarbons, liquid ammonia, liquid carbon dioxide, cryogenic liquids, or combinations thereof.
5 . The exchanger of claim 4 , wherein the inlet gas comprises flue gas, syngas, producer gas, natural gas, steam reforming gas, hydrocarbons, light gases, refinery off-gases, organic solvents, steam, ammonia, or combinations thereof.
6 . The exchanger of claim 5 , wherein the vapor comprises carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, water, mercury, hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, or combinations thereof.
7 . The exchanger of claim 6 , wherein the inlet gas further comprises entrained solids, the entrained solids comprising salts, biomass, dust, ash, or combinations thereof.
8 . The exchanger of claim 7 , wherein the bottoms liquid is a slurry, comprising the entrained solids and solid forms of the vapor.
9 . The exchanger of claim 1 , wherein a supplemental stream of the barren liquid is added to the bottoms liquid in the bottom portion.
10 . A direct-contact exchanger for separating a vapor from a gas comprising:
a droplet-generating apparatus in a top portion of the exchanger and a bubbling apparatus in a bottom portion of the exchanger, wherein:
the droplet-generating apparatus comprises one or more nozzles, drip trays, perforated plates, or combinations thereof;
the bubbling apparatus comprises one or more bubble trays, bubble plates, bubble caps, spargers, nozzles, or combinations thereof;
a bubbling apparatus passes bubbles of an inlet gas into a bottoms liquid, the inlet gas comprising a vapor, wherein the bottoms liquid strips a first portion of the vapor from and exchanges heat with the bubbles, producing a product liquid and a middle gas;
the droplet-generating apparatus passes droplets of a barren liquid into the top portion, the droplets descending against the middle gas and stripping a second portion of the vapor from and exchanging heat with the middle gas, producing the bottoms liquid, which collects in the bottom portion, and a product gas;
the barren liquid comprises water, hydrocarbons, liquid ammonia, liquid carbon dioxide, cryogenic liquids, or combinations thereof;
the inlet gas comprises flue gas, syngas, producer gas, natural gas, steam reforming gas, hydrocarbons, light gases, refinery off-gases, organic solvents, steam, ammonia, or combinations thereof;
the vapor comprises carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, water, mercury, hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, or combinations thereof.
11 . A process for separating a vapor from a gas comprising:
providing a direct-contact exchanger comprising a droplet-generating apparatus in a top portion of the exchanger and a bubbling apparatus in a bottom portion of the exchanger;
passing an inlet gas, comprising a vapor, through the bubbling apparatus, forming bubbles in a bottoms liquid, the bottoms liquid stripping a first portion of the vapor and exchanging heat with the bubbles, producing a product liquid and a middle gas; and,
passing a barren liquid through the droplet-generating apparatus to form droplets of the barren liquid in the top portion, the droplets descending against the middle gas and stripping a second portion of the vapor from and exchanging heat with the middle gas, producing the bottoms liquid, which collects in the bottom portion, and a product gas.
12 . The process of claim 11 , providing the droplet-generating apparatus comprising one or more nozzles, drip trays, perforated plates, or combinations thereof.
13 . The process of claim 11 , providing the bubbling apparatus comprising one or more bubble trays, bubble plates, bubble caps, spargers, nozzles, or combinations thereof.
14 . The process of claim 11 , wherein the barren liquid comprises water, hydrocarbons, liquid ammonia, liquid carbon dioxide, cryogenic liquids, or combinations thereof.
15 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the inlet gas comprises flue gas, syngas, producer gas, natural gas, steam reforming gas, hydrocarbons, light gases, refinery off-gases, organic solvents, steam, ammonia, or combinations thereof.
16 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the vapor comprises carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, water, mercury, hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, or combinations thereof.
17 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the inlet gas further comprises entrained solids, the entrained solids comprising salts, biomass, dust, ash, or combinations thereof.
18 . The process of claim 17 , wherein the bottoms liquid is a slurry, comprising the entrained solids and solid forms of the vapor.
19 . The process of claim 11 , further comprising providing a supplemental stream of the barren liquid to the bottoms liquid in the bottom portion.
20 . A process for separating a vapor from a gas comprising:
providing a direct-contact exchanger comprising a droplet-generating apparatus in a top portion of the exchanger and a bubbling apparatus in a bottom portion of the exchanger, wherein:
the droplet-generating apparatus comprises one or more nozzles, drip trays, perforated plates, or combinations thereof;
the bubbling apparatus comprises one or more bubble trays, bubble plates, bubble caps, spargers, nozzles, or combinations thereof;
passing an inlet gas, comprising a vapor, through the bubbling apparatus, forming bubbles in a bottoms liquid, the bottoms liquid stripping a first portion of the vapor and exchanging heat with the bubbles, producing a product liquid and a middle gas, wherein:
the inlet gas comprises flue gas, syngas, producer gas, natural gas, steam reforming gas, hydrocarbons, light gases, refinery off-gases, organic solvents, steam, ammonia, or combinations thereof;
the vapor comprises carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, water, mercury, hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, or combinations thereof and,
passing a barren liquid through the droplet-generating apparatus to form droplets of the barren liquid in the top portion, the droplets descending against the middle gas and stripping a second portion of the vapor from and exchanging heat with the middle gas, producing the bottoms liquid, which collects in the bottom portion, and a product gas, wherein:
the barren liquid comprises water, hydrocarbons, liquid ammonia, liquid carbon dioxide, cryogenic liquids, or combinations thereof.