Direct contact liquid air contaminant control system

• US 20040265199A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: MacKnight, Al
• Granted Patent: US 7,252,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 423/220
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4566 for use in transportation means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4575 in aeroplanes or space ships
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0454 Controlling adsorption controlling temperature swing adsorption B01D53/0462, controlling pressure swing adsorption B01D53/047
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1412 Controlling the absorption process
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1475 Removing carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/18 Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor B01D3/16, B01D3/26, B01D3/30 take precedence; packing elements B01J19/30, B01J19/32
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/75 Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/78 with gas-liquid contact
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/36 Adaptations of ventilation, e.g. schnorkels, cooling, heating, or air-conditioning reconditioning air in sealed chambers A62B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/00 Arrangements or adaptations of air-treatment apparatus for aircraft crew or passengers, or freight space , or structural parts of the aircraft treatment rooms with artificial climate for medical purposes A61G10/02; respiratory apparatus in general A62B; for vehicles in general B60H
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/0651 comprising filters, e.g. dust filters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

The direct contact liquid air contaminant control system and method to revitalize air by removal of carbon dioxide and other trace gas contaminants use a direct contact air, liquid scrubber element and stripper element. The scrubber element has two rotor elements rotatably mounted in a housing first for centrifugal separation of an air flow and liquid absorbent mixture which liquid absorbent has absorbed carbon dioxide and trace gas contaminants. Then second for centrifugal separation of an air flow and acid water wash mixture which acid water wash has liquid absorbent and other contaminants. The processed air is then passed through a charcoal bed filter for further removal of contaminants. A rotary contact processor may also be used to reprocess contaminated liquid absorbent for reuse.

Claims

1. A contaminant control system for removal of carbon dioxide and other trace contaminants from air used for environmental control comprising:

an absorber element in communication with a stripper element, the combination communicable with a power source and a control and data processor;

said absorber element having an air inlet in communication with an air source, said inlet in communication with a scrubber;

a charcoal bed filter in communication with said scrubber to receive air flow output therefrom;

said charcoal filter having an air outlet in communication with said air source;

a liquid absorbent tank in communication with said absorber element, said stripper element and an a liquid absorbent heater; and

an acid water tank in communication with said absorber element and an acid water cooler.

2. The contaminant control system as in claim 1 wherein said scrubber is comprised of a rotary contact processor.

3. The contaminant control system as in claim 1 wherein said stripper element is comprised of a rotary contact processor.

4. The contaminant control system as in claim 2 wherein said scrubber is comprised of a carbon dioxide scrubber in fluid communication with a liquid absorbent scrubber.

5. The contaminant control system as in claim 2 wherein said rotary contact processor comprises:

a carbon dioxide scrubber rotor in serial communication with a liquid absorbent scrubber rotor connected by a rotor shaft rotatably assembled on a plurality of bearings in a housing;

said carbon dioxide scrubber rotor in communication with said air inlet and a liquid absorbent inlet wherein a liquid absorbent is introduced as a mist into an air flow through said air inlet, said air flow introduced into a carbon dioxide scrubber chamber having a first heat and mass transfer surface therein of said carbon dioxide scrubber rotor;

said air flow passing through said carbon dioxide scrubber rotor through a plurality of first air passage tubes and a plurality of first mist separators to be introduced downstream into an acid wash scrubber chamber separated therefrom by a baffle and having a second heat and mass transfer surface therein;

said baffle having an acid water wash inlet for introduction of a liquid acid water wash as a mist in said air flow;

said air flow passing through said liquid absorbent scrubber rotor through a plurality of second air passage tubes and a plurality of second mist separators to a fan causing said air flow to exit said rotary contact processor through an air exhaust;

a first pitot pump in said carbon dioxide scrubber chamber for liquid absorbent circulation and exit through an a liquid absorbent outlet; and

a second pitot pump in said acid wash scrubber chamber for liquid acid water circulation and exit through an acid water outlet.

6. The contaminant control system as in claim 5 wherein said liquid acid water wash is cold.

7. A contaminant control system for removal of carbon dioxide and other trace contaminants from air used for environmental control in a vehicle comprising:

an absorber element rotary contact processor in communication with a stripper element rotary contact processor, the combination communicable with a power source and a control and data processor;

said absorber element having an air inlet in communication with a vehicle air source, said inlet in communication with a scrubber;

a charcoal bed filter in communication with said scrubber to receive air flow output therefrom;

said charcoal filter having an air outlet in communication with said vehicle air source;

a liquid absorbent tank in communication with said absorber element, said stripper element and an a liquid absorbent heater; and

an acid water tank in communication with said absorber element and an acid water cooler.

8. A rotary contact processor for direct contact liquid absorbent and gas contaminant processing comprising:

a first scrubber rotor in serial communication with a second scrubber rotor each assembled on a rotor shaft rotatably mounted on a plurality of bearings in a housing;

said first scrubber rotor in communication with a gas inlet and a liquid absorbent inlet wherein a liquid absorbent is introduced as a mist into a gas flow through said gas inlet, said gas flow introduced into a first scrubber chamber having a first heat and mass transfer surface therein of said first scrubber rotor;

said gas flow passing through said first scrubber rotor through a plurality of first gas passage tubes and a plurality of first mist separators to be introduced downstream into a second scrubber chamber in fluid communication therewith and having a second heat and mass transfer surface therein;

said second scrubber chamber having a liquid absorbent wash inlet for introduction of a liquid absorbent wash as a mist in said gas flow;

said gas flow passing through said liquid absorbent scrubber rotor through a plurality of second gas passage tubes and a plurality of second mist separators to a fan causing said gas flow to exit said rotary contact processor through a gas exhaust;

a first pitot pump in said first scrubber chamber for liquid absorbent wash circulation and exit through a liquid absorbent outlet; and

a second pitot pump in said second scrubber chamber for liquid absorbent wash circulation and exit through a liquid absorbent water outlet.

9. A rotary contact processor for direct contact liquid absorbent air contaminant processing comprising:

a carbon dioxide scrubber rotor in serial communication with an liquid absorbent scrubber rotor connected by a rotor shaft rotatably assembled on a plurality of bearings in a housing;

said carbon dioxide scrubber rotor in communication with an air inlet and a liquid absorbent inlet wherein a liquid absorbent is introduced as a mist into an air flow through said air inlet, said air flow introduced into a carbon dioxide scrubber chamber having a first heat and mass transfer surface therein of said carbon dioxide scrubber rotor;

said air flow passing through said carbon dioxide scrubber rotor through a plurality of first air passage tubes and a plurality of first mist separators to be introduced downstream into an acid wash scrubber chamber separated therefrom by a baffle and having a second heat and mass transfer surface therein;

said baffle having an acid water wash inlet for introduction of a liquid acid water wash as a mist in said air flow;

said air flow passing through said liquid absorbent scrubber rotor through a plurality of second air passage tubes and a plurality of second mist separators to a fan causing said air flow to exit said rotary contact processor through an air exhaust;

a first pitot pump in said carbon dioxide scrubber chamber for liquid absorbent circulation and exit through a liquid absorbent outlet; and

a second pitot pump in said acid wash scrubber chamber for liquid acid water circulation and exit through an acid water outlet.

10. The rotary contact processor as in claim 9 wherein said liquid absorbent inlet and said liquid absorbent outlet are in communication with a liquid absorbent tank, a liquid absorbent heater and a stripper element.

11. The rotary contact processor as in claim 9 wherein said acid water wash inlet and said acid water wash outlet are in communication with an acid water tank and an acid water cooler.

12. A method for removal of carbon dioxide and other trace contaminants from air used in environmental control, comprising the steps of:

introducing an air flow into a carbon dioxide scrubber rotor and spraying a liquid absorbent mist into said air flow;

rotating said carbon dioxide scrubber rotor to separate said liquid absorbent containing absorbed carbon dioxide and trace contaminants from said air flow;

accumulating said liquid absorbent on a first heat and mass transfer surface for extraction from said carbon dioxide scrubber rotor;

passing said airflow downstream of said carbon dioxide scrubber rotor through a plurality of first air passages and a plurality of first mist separators to a liquid absorbent scrubber rotor;

spraying a liquid acid wash into said air flow;

rotating said liquid absorbent scrubber rotor to separate said liquid acid wash containing liquid absorbent, carbon dioxide and trace contaminants from said air flow;

accumulating said liquid acid wash on a second heat and mass transfer surface for extraction from said liquid absorbent scrubber rotor; and

passing air flow downstream of said liquid absorbent scrubber rotor through a fan to an air exhaust.

13. The method as in claim 12 wherein said extracted liquid absorbent is processed in a stripper element for reuse.

14. A method for reconditioning a contaminated liquid absorbent, comprising the steps of:

heating a liquid absorbent containing a carbonate to a decomposition temperature in a liquid absorbent heater;

communicating said liquid absorbent into a scrubber;

spraying said liquid absorbent onto a rotating heat and mass transfer surface for separation of said liquid absorbent from an absorbed carbon dioxide;

accumulating said liquid absorbent for extraction from said scrubber; and

passing said carbon dioxide through a plurality of mist separators for output from said scrubber.

15. The method as in claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

communicating said carbon dioxide into a second scrubber;

washing said carbon dioxide using a spray of a cold liquid absorbent;

spraying said cold liquid absorbent onto a rotating mass and heat transfer surface for separation of said cold liquid absorbent from said carbon dioxide;

accumulating said cold liquid absorbent for extraction from said second scrubber; and

passing said carbon dioxide through a plurality of mist separators for output from said second scrubber.

16. The method as in claim 14 wherein said liquid absorbent is processed through a subsequent scrubber.

17. The method as in claim 15 wherein said cold liquid absorbent is processed through a subsequent scrubber.