ELECTROOXIDATION AT ELEVATED PRESSURES

• US 20190047881A1
• Filed: 02/03/2017
• Published: 02/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lummus Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: KUMFER, Bryan J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,513,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46128 Bipolar electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46142 Catalytic coating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46147 Diamond coating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/30 Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/34 containing oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/365 from petrochemical industry (e.g. refineries)
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/005 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4611 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4614 Current
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46145 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46155 Heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/03 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/046 Recirculation with an external loop
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/066 Overpressure, high pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/26 Reducing the size of particles, liquid droplets or bubbles, e.g. by crushing, grinding, spraying, creation of microbubbles or nanobubbles
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/73 of the filter-press type

Abstract

There are provided electrooxidation systems and processes which provide an elevated pressure at which components are oxidized in an electrooxidation cell. The elevated pressure reduces power consumption for the cell at least in part by reducing the formation of gas bubbles, which typically leads to increased resistance and an increased power output.

Claims

1. A process for treating a fluid comprising at least one oxidizable component comprising:

delivering the fluid to an electrooxidation cell for treatment of the at least one oxidizable organic component;

increasing pressure within an electrooxidation zone of the electrooxidation cell to provide an elevated pressure of at least 0.69 bar; and

oxidizing the oxidizable component within the electrooxidation cell at the pressure;

wherein the oxidizing is done at a current density of from 10,000 amps/m² and 40,000 amps/m²; and

wherein the electrooxidation cell comprises at least an anode, a cathode, a bipolar electrode between the anode and the cathode, and a power source for the cell, the bipolar electrode further comprising a diamond material doped with a conductive dopant material.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the elevated pressure is from 0.69 bar to 3.45 bar.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the elevated pressure is from 1.38 bar to 3.10.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing is done at a current density of from 25,000 amps/m² and 35,000 amps/m².

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the dopant material is selected from the group consisting of lithium, beryllium, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur, chlorine, arsenic, selenium, and boron.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the dopant material comprises boron.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein the increasing pressure within the electrooxidation cell is done by at least one of:

providing an orifice plate having a plurality of openings within a flowpath of the fluid;

regulating a flow of the fluid with a flow control valve (V) at an inlet or an outlet to the electrooxidaiton cell;

or

increasing a height of a source of the fluid relative to a flowpath leading to and from the electrooxidation cell a height of a source of the fluid or to the cell.

4. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

12. A system for treating a fluid comprising at least one oxidizable component comprising:

a source of the fluid comprising at least one oxidizable organic component;

an electrooxidation cell for treatment of the at least one oxidizable component therein, wherein the electrooxidation cell comprises at least an anode, a cathode, at least one bipolar electrode between the anode and the cathode a power source for the electrooxidation cell, and an electrooxidation zone within which electrooxidation takes place, wherein the electrooxidation cell is configured to operate at a current density of 10,000 amps/m² and 40,000 amps/m², and wherein the at least one bipolar electrode comprises a diamond material doped with a conductive dopant material;

a pump (P) for delivering the fluid from the source to the electrooxidation cell; and

means for maintaining a pressure within the electrooxidation zone at a pressure of at least 0.69 bar.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the pressure is from 0.69 bar to 3.45 bar.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the pressure is from 1.38 bar to 3.10 bar.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the dopant material is selected from the group consisting of lithium, beryllium, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur, chlorine, arsenic, selenium, and boron.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the means (35) for maintaining a pressure comprises an orifice plate having a plurality of openings disposed in a flowpath of the fluid.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for maintaining a pressure comprises one or more flow control valves (V) at an inlet or an outlet to the electrooxidaiton cell.

15. (canceled)