Control of electrothermal heating during regeneration of activated carbon fiber cloth

Environ Sci Technol. 2011 Jan 15;45(2):738-43. doi: 10.1021/es103303f. Epub 2010 Dec 15.

Abstract

Electrothermal swing adsorption (ESA) of organic gases generated by industrial processes can reduce atmospheric emissions and allow for reuse of recovered product. Desorption energy efficiency can be improved through control of adsorbent heating, allowing for cost-effective separation and concentration of these gases for reuse. ESA experiments with an air stream containing 2000 ppm(v) isobutane and activated carbon fiber cloth (ACFC) were performed to evaluate regeneration energy consumption. Control logic based on temperature feedback achieved select temperature and power profiles during regeneration cycles while maintaining the ACFC's mean regeneration temperature (200 °C). Energy requirements for regeneration were independent of differences in temperature/power oscillations (1186-1237 kJ/mol of isobutane). ACFC was also heated to a ramped set-point, and the average absolute error between the actual and set-point temperatures was small (0.73%), demonstrating stable control as set-point temperatures vary, which is necessary for practical applications (e.g., higher temperatures for higher boiling point gases). Additional logic that increased the maximum power application at lower ACFC temperatures resulted in a 36% decrease in energy consumption. Implementing such control logic improves energy efficiency for separating and concentrating organic gases for post-desorption liquefaction of the organic gas for reuse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Air Pollutants / chemistry*
  • Air Pollution / prevention & control
  • Butanes / chemistry
  • Carbon / chemistry*
  • Carbon Fiber
  • Electrochemical Techniques / economics
  • Electrochemical Techniques / instrumentation
  • Electrochemical Techniques / methods*
  • Heating*
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Waste Management / economics
  • Waste Management / instrumentation
  • Waste Management / methods

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Butanes
  • Carbon Fiber
  • Volatile Organic Compounds
  • Carbon