System and method for continuous gas adsorbate capture using adsorption/regeneration cycle
A system for gas adsorbate capture has an adsorption reactor(s) configured for receiving an adsorbate gas flow. A regeneration reactor(s) is configured for receiving a regenerative fluid flow. A plurality of individual sorbent cells are in a generally continuous cycle between the adsorption reactor and the regeneration reactor. A group of the individual sorbent cells may form an adsorption moving bed in the adsorption reactor to capture the adsorbate from the gas flow.
1 . A system for gas adsorbate capture comprising
an adsorption zone configured for receiving an adsorbate gas flow;
a regeneration zone configured for receiving a regenerative fluid flow; and
a plurality of individual sorbent cells in a generally continuous cycle between the adsorption zone and the regeneration zone;
wherein a group of the individual sorbent cells form an adsorption bed in the adsorption zone to capture the adsorbate from the gas flow; and
wherein the individual sorbent cells maintain a constant orientation while moving in the generally continuous cycle between the adsorption zone and the regeneration zone.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the individual sorbent cells move between the adsorption zone and the regeneration zone in a first-in-first-out order.
3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein a first heat-exchanger zone is between the adsorption zone and the regeneration zone for the sorbent cells moving from the adsorption zone to the regeneration zone to be heated.
4 . The system according to claim 3 , wherein a second heat-exchanger zone is between the regeneration zone and the adsorption zone for the sorbent cells moving from the regeneration zone to the adsorption zone to be cooled.
5 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein at least one heat-exchanger system is between the first heat-exchanger zone and the second heat-exchanger zone to heat a fluid flowing through the first heat-exchanger zone and the second heat-exchanger zone.
6 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein an outlet of the adsorption zone is in fluid communication with the second heat-exchanger zone for fluid to flow from the adsorption zone to the second heat-exchanger zone.
7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the adsorbate gas flow in the adsorption zone is a countercurrent flow.
8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the regenerative fluid flow in the regeneration zone is a countercurrent flow.
9 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein a liquid reservoir is in the regeneration zone and is configured to receive at least one of the sorbent cells to heat the at least one of the sorbent cells prior to an exposure to the regenerative fluid flow.
10 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein an airlock is provided at an inlet and/or an outlet of the regeneration zone.
11 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein an airlock is provided at an inlet and/or an outlet of the adsorption zone.
12 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system is enclosed in an ISO container.
13 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the adsorption zone is open to an environment for the adsorbate gas flow to be ambient air.
14 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the sorbent cells have internal channels extending between ends, a surface of the internal channels having adsorption capacity.
15 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the sorbent cells has a plurality of sub-sorbent cells interconnected to one another by at least one flexible connecting member.
16 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of sorbent cells has a plurality of sub-sorbent cells held by a holder.
17 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the sorbent cells is deformable in shear or in compression.
18 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein another group of the individual sorbent cells forms a desorption bed in the regeneration reactor to release the adsorbate to the regenerative fluid flow.
19 . A method for gas adsorbate capture comprising:
continuously displacing sorbent cells in constant orientation between at least one adsorption zone and at least one regeneration zone in at least one bed in the at least one adsorption zone,
exposing a group of the individual sorbent cells in the adsorption zone to an adsorbate gas flow for the individual sorbent cells of the group to capture the adsorbate, and
exposing an other group of the individual sorbent cells in the regeneration zone to a regenerative fluid flow for the individual sorbent cells of the other group to release the adsorbate.
20 . The system according to claim 1 , including at least two of the adsorption zone for a single one of the regeneration zone.
21 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the individual sorbent cells move individually between the adsorption zone and the regeneration zone.
22 . A system for gas adsorbate capture comprising at least one adsorption zone including an adsorption duct or conduit configured for receiving an adsorbate gas flow; at least one regeneration zone including a regenerative duct or conduit configured for receiving a regenerative fluid flow; a heat-exchanger system in which flows a heat-transfer fluid; and a plurality of individual sorbent cells in a generally continuous cycle between the adsorption zone and the regeneration zone; wherein a group of the individual sorbent cells form an adsorption bed in the adsorption duct or conduit of the adsorption zone to capture the adsorbate from the gas flow; and wherein the heat-exchanger system is used to transfer heat from some of the sorbent cells moving from the at least one regeneration zone to the at least one adsorption zone, to some of the sorbent cells moving from the at least one adsorption zone to the at least one regeneration zone, and wherein the individual sorbent cells maintain a constant orientation while moving in the generally continuous cycle between the at least one adsorption zone and the at least one regeneration zone.