EP0787028A4

EP0787028A4 - Prevention of air pollution by noxious gases and vapours

Info

Publication number: EP0787028A4
Application number: EP94922187A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Van Thoi Phung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-09-21
Filing date: 1994-07-28
Publication date: 1997-10-15
Also published as: EP0787028A1; WO1995008383A1; AU659961B2; AU4747393A; JPH10508241A

Abstract

The prevention of pollution by noxious gases and vapours is effected by condensing the condensable gas, dust, tar, soot and ash in a vertical compartment and collecting them at the base of the structure. The remaining gases if noxious are passed out of the compartment and into an absorption unit and if harmless are vented to the atmosphere. Noxious gases remaining after the absorption unit are passed downstream to a further absorption unit, if harmless are also vented to the atmosphere. Noxious gases and vapours from a factory stack (5) are passed off through a side pipe (7) by means of an ejector (8) into a distributor, which includes plates (11) and then into a number of compartments or chambers (C1, C2, C3, ..., etc.) in cylinder (1) with a set period of distribution to each compartment or chamber. The condensable such as tar, as well as the dust, ash, soot, etc., gravitate to the bottom of each compartment (C1, C2, C3, ...) where they are collected in traps, each trap consisting of a sealed window (4) and drawer (3), which is periodically removed and replaced. Gases such as CO2, SOx and NOx as well as CO if present, are passed out of the chamber via exit (12) by tube or pipe to absorption units downstream as described above. An absorption unit for CO2, SOx, and NOx with a rotary perforated Archimedean screw and recycling arrangements which include a micro filter is also disclosed.

Description

Invention Title: PREVENTION OF AIR POLLUTION BY NOXIOUS GASES AND

VAPOURS

DESCRIPTION:

The prevention of air pollution by noxious gases and vapours i effected by two methods as following:

I. Without Air method

II. With Water or Liquid Chemicals method.

Both methods above can be applied together to make the prevention of the air pollution as complete and efficient as possible.

I.Without Air method:

The Without Air method is a condensation and separation of th noxious gases and vapours which utilises a way to trap th noxious gases, vapours, dust, ash ...etc escaping from th pollution sources (chimney stacks of plants, incinerators an other manufacturing industries etc..) . Then for a limite period, the noxious vapours will separate from the incondensabl gases without intervention outside or inside. The air pollutio which is caused by these sources is a serious problem of al people. This problem is overcome by the present method whic provides a simple way to trap the tar, dust ash, ...etc... an absorb the incondensable gases. For example, the gases may b separated from dust, ashes etc. in separated compartments or i compartments integrated in a simple circular structure.

Broad description of the apparatus:

To assist with understanding the system reference will now b made to the accompanying drawings which show the gener physical aspect of the Without Air method system. In the drawings following:

FIG.l. shows the general physical aspect of the Without Air method system,

FIG.2. shows the schematic diagram of the Without Air method system.

The apparatus consists of a large cylinder 1 dividing into 1 chambers Cl to C16 with 16 holes 12 having 16 covers 2 fo exhausting the gases, each of the chambers being efficient i containing the condensable gases, dust ashes within 300 second and the bottom having one drawer 3 for containing the tar ashes, etc.. , and one window 4 for taking out the drawer 3 The condensation system may be used with cylinders of differen sizes, depending on the space required by plans or the quantit of the pollution gases, the incinerators and manufacturin industries. The cylinder's sizes are as follows:

Period of the receiving The number of cylinders and chambers depend on the period of the pollution gases

(1) 300 seconds 1 Cy times 16 C, or 2 Cy times 8 C, or 4 Cy times 4 C

(2) 240 seconds 1 Cy times 20 C, or 2 Cy times 10 C, or 4 Cy times 5 C

(3) 180 seconds 1 Cy times 26 C, or 2 Cy times 13 C

(4) 120 seconds 1 Cy times 38 C, or 2 Cy times 19 C, or 19 Cy times 2 C

(5) 60 seconds 1 Cy times 76 C, or 2 Cy times 38 C, or 4 Cy times 19 C

foot note: Cy = Cylinder

C = Chamber

The cylinder may be made of metal or any suitable material,

Referring to FIG.l, the general physical aspect of the syste according to this invention: !• The lid 6 : The plant stack 5 is closed by a lid 6 on t top. The lid 6 is not only acts as a cover but also is t security lid of the system. When the ejector 8 is troubl (eg. the gas can not enter the chamber), the lid 6 wi automatically open for the fumes to exhaust to t atmosphere.

2. The fume pipe 7 : The diameter of this pipe 7 is 3/4 equal to the diameter of the plant stack 5 and leads fr near the top of the stack 5 to the cylinder 1 . the head the pipe 7 fixed to the cylinder 1 is quadrupled wi mouthed of the diameter of the pipe 7 .

3. The ejector 8 : This ejector is installed inside the pipe near the joint of the stack 5 . It extracts the gas a vapour from stack 5 and propels them to the chamber of t cylinder 1 . Its power depends on how much in the way fumes that the plant stack 5 is required to exhaust.

4. The plate 11 : The diameter of the plate 11 is equal to t wide mouthed part of the pipe 7 . This plate 11 installed on the centre of the top of the cylinder 1 . has 16 equal holes 12 but 15 of them are closed and only o is empty for the gases and vapours which can pass it a enter the chamber. It turns clockwise at 5 minutes/sector machine 9 automatically.

5. The fume cylinder 1 : The fume cylinder 1 is divided into equal chambers which are numbered from Cl to C16, each of t ■ chambers being efficient in containing the noxious gases a vapours etc... within 5 minutes (300 seconds).

For example : if every second, the plant stack 5 ejects 5 litres then the chamber's volume will be:

5 litres times 300 seconds = 1500 litres and the cylinder 1 's volume will be:

1500 litres times 16 = 24000 litres.

Supposing the Cylinder 1 's height = 3 meters, the cylinder's radius will be

R square = 24000 litres / 3.1416 * 3 meters

R = 1.59 meters (round off = 1.6 meters)

Besides that the cylinder 1 also has a bottom which tape to a smaller radius. the taper is about 45 degrees and i bottom is about 0.8 meter diameter, its height is 1. meters, so that the total height of the cylinder 1 is 3m 1.2m = 4.2m.

To avoid the pressure inside of the cylinder 1 , the bott is not included in the cylinder's volume calculation. Th means the chamber's volume is a bit bigger than the gas' volume entering the chamber as calculated above.

6. The holes 12 with the covers 2 : On the upper side of ea chamber Cl to C16 has a hole 12 to exhaust the real gase This cover 2 is worked by an automatic machine. It ope only 30 seconds then closes. It opens at the 4740th secon and closes at the 4770th seconds to calculate from the fir second of the receiving the pollution gases of the chambe This means, it closes 30 seconds earlier of the ne receiving the pollution gases of the chamber.

7. The inlet pipe 10 : Every chamber Cl to C16 has an inl pipe 10 which is about 1 meter long. The overhead of t inlet pipe 10 joints to the plate 11 . Therefore its sha is an isosceles triangle. Their sides are equal to t radius of the plate 11 and its base is a curve whi occupies 1/16 of the plate's circumference. The other he of the pipe 10 is round, it curves 90o to the midd direction of the chamber. This curve part is about 20 c long.

8. The windows 4 : There are 16 equal windows 4 which ar installed near the cylinder's bottom about 1 cm. The encircle the cylinder's 1 bottom and their heights are abou 15 cm. They may be opened at anytime to take out the drawer 3 which contained the condensable noxious gases and vapour etc... They are made of transparent materials.

9. The drawers 3 : There are 16 equal drawers 3 for containin the_condensable noxious gases and vapours. They are put int the bottom of the cylinder 1 by 16 operable windows 4 . Th shape of the drawers are isosceles triangles. Their sides ar shorter than the radius of the cylinder's bottom by about cm. Their bases are 1/16 of the cylinder's bottom circle an their heights are 10 cm. They are made of transparen materials.

The Without Air method system can be controlled by a computer o a suitable mechanism controller depend on where it is applied.

Referring to Fig.2, shows the schematic diagram of the system:

The noxious gases and vapours are pushed into an appropriat chamber Cl to C16 . Then 79 minutes later the noxious gases an vapours are completely condensed and separated from the mixtur and fall gently down into the drawers 3. The cover 2 i opened for the clean air exhaust to the atmosphere in 30 second by passing the hole 12 on the top of the chamber Cl to C16, o if substantial amounts of noxious gases are present, these ar reticulated to absorbers down the line.

II. With Water or Liquid Chemicals method.

The With Water or Liquid Chemicals method is the separation o absorption of the noxious gases and vapours etc... by using way to absorb the noxious gases and vapours etc... in water o liquid chemicals, then release the clean air to the atmosphere After that the mixture of water or chemicals will be arreste by a micro filter and other chemicals depend on the noxiou gases and the water mixture to allow the water recycled. Example: CO2 + H2O = H2CO3

The method in this invention uses the normal water to absorb th noxious gases like C02, but in other special cases, the liqui chemicals can be exploited instead, depending on the toxic gase of the pollution sources.

The With Water or Liquid Chemicals method system consists o two cylinders 25A,25B to receive the noxious gases and vapour alternatively, each cylinder being efficient in containing th noxious gases and vapours within 60 seconds, inside of i ready have about a quarter of water, a roller with a scre blade rolling inside the body of the cylinder 25A,25B, one basi for containing the water mixture ( like carbonic acid produce by the process etc...), one micro filter for arresting the soli particles in the mixture such as carbon, dust ash and vapours t allow the mixture recycled.

The blade of the roller may be used 6 or 8 propellers instead. The cylinder 25A,25B may be made of metal or any suitabl material such as plastics to avoid the oxidation of the acids i the water mixture

To assist with understanding the system reference will now b made to the accompanying drawings which show the genera physical aspect of the With Water or Liquid Chemicals metho system. In the drawings following:

FIG.3. shows the general physical aspect of the With Water or Liquid Chemicals method system, FIG.4. shows the schematic diagram of the With Water or Liquid Chemicals method system,

FIG.5. shows the working period and non working period of parts in the With Water or Liquid Chemicals method system.

Referring to FIG.3, the general physical aspect of the system according to this invention:

1. The lid 14 : The plant stack 21 is closed by a lid 14 o the top. The lid 14 is not only for the cover but it is als the security lid of the system. When any part in the syste is troubled, the lid 14 will automatically open fo exhausting fume to the atmosphere.

2. The fume pipe 23 : The diameter of this pipe 23 is about 3/ or equal to the diameter of the plant stack 21 . One end the pipe 23 is fixed to the plant stack 21 and the other e is divided off two branches. One branch is fixed to t cylinder 5A , and the other branch is fixed to the cylind 25B .

3. The locks 24A and 24B : These two locks are installed the two branches of the pipe 23 , the lock 24A is in t branch to the cylinder 25A , and the lock 24B is in t branch to the cylinder 25B. These two locks will alternatively opened and closed, if the lock 24A is opene the lock 24B is closed and on the contrary. The opening a closing period of these two locks is about 60 seconds. Th are opened and closed to satisfy the operation of the t cylinders 25A and 25B .

4. The ejector 22 : This ejector 22 is installed in the pipe near the joint of the plant stack 21 . It extracts t noxious gases and vapours etc... from the plant stack 21 a propels them to the two cylinders 25A or 25B . Its pow depends on how much in a way of fumes that the plant stack 2 is required to exhaust.

5. The fume cylinders 25A and 25B : All parts of these tw cylinders 25A and 25B are similar. On the two ends of th cylinder 25A or 25B there are two entries fixing the branc of the pipe 23 and the branch of the water tube 30 . At th cylinder's bottom, there is a hole fixing the pipe 8 leadin to the basin 31 to allow flowing the water mixture (noxiou acid...) into the basin 31. On the top of the cylinder, ther is a hole 15A or 15B for exhausting the oxygen (cleane air). Both cylinder 25A,25B must be efficient in containin the noxious gases and vapours within 60 seconds.

For example: the ejector 22 propels into the cylinder 25A,25B 3 litres/second, then:

The cylinder 25A,25B's volume should be :

3 litres times 60 seconds = 180 litres

Beside that, the cylinder 25A,25B already contains a quantit of water which is equal to about 1/3 of the cylinder' volume, therefore the efficient volume for the cylinde 25A,25B would be:

180 litres plus (180 litres / 3 ) = 240 litre

Supposing the cylinder's height is 1.2 meters, then the cylinder's radius will be: Square root of (240 / 3.14 * 1.2 ) = 0.2523 meters

(round off = 0.26 m) so that, the cylinder's dimension is: 1.2 metres height and 0.52 meters diameter.

⁶« The holes 15A .15B and the covers 16A,16B: On the top o each cylinder 25A,25B has a hole 15A, 15B to allow th cleaned air to exhaust. These holes (15A, 15B, about 10 c diameter) are closed or opened by the covers 16A,16B. Th cover 16A of the cylinder 25A will be opened at the 91 s second and closed at the 110 th second, to calculate from th first second receiving the fumes of the cylinder 25A. I opens for only 20 seconds and then closes. This means, i closes in 10 seconds earlier before the next receiving fume of the cylinder 25A. The cover 16B of the cylinder 25B ha the same function.

7. The rollers 27A,27B: These two rollers are the same shape an function. The roller 27A or 27B is fixed inside of th cylinder 25A,25B, and fit in between two ends of the cylinde by bearings. The body of the roller is cylindrical an hollow, its diameter about 5 cm. It has a blade 17 mounte on it and looks like a drill. The length of this blade 17 i shorter than the length inside of the cylinder 25A,25B abou 1 cm on every ends. It is about 2 mm in thickness and 23 c width (depend on the diameter of the cylinder 25A,25B). I has many small hole about 1 cm diameter. These small hole are among about 4 cm distance. The roller's speed can b about between 1000 R.P.M and 1500 R.P.M. It is rolled by a automatic machine within 30 seconds, beginning at the 61 s second and stopping at the 90th second. This means, afte the cylinder 25A receives the gases within 60 seconds the the lock 24A closes and the roller 27A begins to roll withi 30 seconds then stops. After that, the cover 16A opens fo 20 seconds to allow the cleaned air to exhaust to th atmosphere, then closes. The roller 27B of the cylinder 25 also has the same function and process.

8. The valves 28A,28B: The valve 28A is fixed at the bottom o the cylinder 25A and the valve 28B of the cylinder 25B i the same. After the cylinder 25A works in 3570 seconds (o 59 minutes and 30 seconds) then the valve 28A opens for th mixture(carbonic acid...) flowing into the basin 31. Th valve 28A opens only 20 seconds then closes, it opens at th 3571 st second and closes at the 3590 th second. The valv 28B of the cylinder 25B has the same function, this means th valve 28B opens at the 3631 st second and closes at the 365 th second. They are worked by an automatic machine.

9. The locks 26A and 26B: The lock 26A will be opened at th 3601 st second for the water flowing into the cylinder 25 and it closes at the 3630 th second. This means, after th valve 28A closes, then 10 seconds later the lock 26A open for the water flowing into the cylinder 25A, the lock 26 opens within 30 seconds then closes. It continues with th cycle of 60 minutes. It opens for 30 seconds and then closes. The lock 26B of the cylinder 25B has the same function, thi means the lock 26B opens at the 3661 st second and closes a the 3690 th second. They are worked by an automatic machine.

10. The basin 31; The basin 31 is divided to 3 storeys:

• the first storey 19 contains the water mixture which i exhausted by two cylinders 25A and 25B A clean air ven 29 is set on the top of the basin 31

• the second storey is a micro filter 13 for arresting th solid particles in the mixture. This filter can b cleaned at anytime if necessary

• the third storey 18 contains the clean water whic filtered by the micro filter 13 to allow recycling o the water.

Referring to FIG.4 shows the schematic diagram of the With Water or Liquid Chemicals method.

The noxious gases (for example C0,C02...) are pushed into th cylinder 25A,25B within 60 seconds. Then they are immersed an absorbed in the water within 30 seconds by the turning of th roller 27A,27B. At this stage the chemical reaction is: For the carbon dioxide react with water

After that, the mixture (tars, hydrocarbons, dust, CO ...) i filtered by the micro filter 13 to make the water in the thir storey ready to recycle.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Method for the prevention of air pollution by noxious gas and vapours which comprises, passing the mixture into plurality of compartments in rotation ,with a set period f distribution to each compartment, allowing the condensab gases and vapour to condense and any particles to settle, a reticulating the remaining gases to the atmosphere or to liquid absorption unit.

2. Method according to Claim 1, in which the plurality compartments are constituted by a radially divided vertic cylinder.

3. Method according to Claim 1, in which the plurality compartments are separated, segregated cylinders of variab size and shape.

4. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which t liquid absorption unit consists of two driven perforat Archimedean screws enclosed in two sealed cylinder and bearings in the centre of both ends of the cylinders, wi two overhead inlets for each cylinder, one at either end, o for incoming untreated gases and the other for liqu absorbent.

5. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which t noxious gases and vapours gases consists of , amongst other CO, C02, SOx, NOx, vaporised tars together with dust, so and other particles. 6. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, where in the noxious vapours and gases are derived from the following sources:

- manufacturing industries stacks,

- motor vehicle exhausts,

- train exhausts,

- maritime steam and smoke emissions,

- aeroplane emissions,

- incinerator emissions,

- static engine emissions,

- ship emissions,

- in house, stove and furnace pipes,

- air conditioning systems.

7. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the set period is 5 minutes.

8. Method according to Claim 1, in which the set period is calculated according to the following table:

(1) 300 seconds 1 Cy times 16 C, or 2 Cy times 8 C, or 4 Cy times 4 C

(2) 240 seconds 1 Cy times 20 C, or 2 Cy times 10 C, or 4 Cy times 5 C

(3) 180 seconds 1 Cy times 26 C, or 2 Cy times 13 C

(4) 120 seconds I Cy times 38 C, or 2 Cy times 19 C, or 19 Cy times 2 C

(5) 60 seconds 1 Cy times 76 C, or 2 Cy times 38 C, or 4 Cy times 19 C

foot note: Cy = Cylinder

C = Chamber

9. Method according to Claim 5, in which the dust soot, an other particles are allowed to settle at the bottom of th cylinder into a sealed repository consisting of retractabl drawers and windows. 10. Method according to claim 4, in which the remaining gases can be reticulated to the liquid absorption area by means of pipes and pumps.

11. Method according to claim 5, in which the liquid absorbent, after use is dusted into cylinder, filtered through a micro filter, and the resultant micro filtrate is recycle back to the absorbers.

12. Apparatus for carrying out the method of any one of Claims 1 to 11 which comprising a plurality of compartments, each compartment being closed at the top with the exception of a vent hole for reticulation of gas to the absorber, each compartment being terminated at its bottom by a vertical trap, each compartment being associated with a circular distribution valve, said circular distribution valve being so structured and controlled as to pass the gases into each compartment equally in turn, an inlet pipe for each compartment associated with said valve, said inlet pipe being connected to the source of the polluting gases and vapours.

13. Apparatus for carrying out the method of any one of Claims 1 to 9 which comprises a vertical cylinder, radially divided into a plurality of compartments, each compartment being closed at the top with the exception of a vent hole for reticulation of gas to the absorber, the compartments at the bottom of the cylinder converging by means of a taper to smaller radii, the compartments being terminated at their bottom end by a series of vertical traps, a circular distribution valve, so structured and controlled as to pass the gases and vapours into each compartment equally in turn, an inlet pipe for each compartment associated with said valve, said inlet pipe being curved radially outwards in the form of a "J", said inlet pipe being connected to the source of the polluting gases and vapours. 14. Apparatus according to Claim 12 or Claim 13, where in th inlet pipe for the cylinder is associated with a pump

15. Apparatus according to Claim 12 or Claim 13, where in eac vertical trap consists of a fluid tight sealed chamber, wit retractable drawers and observation windows.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 12 or Claim 13, in which th vent holes are connected to pipes for reticulation o noxious gases to at least one absorption unit.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, where in the absorption uni consists of at least one driven perforated Archimedean scre enclosed in a sealed cylinder and set in bearings in th centre of both ends of the cylinder 1, with two inlets, on at either end, one for incoming untreated gases and the othe for liquid absorbent.

18. Apparatus according to Claim 16 or Claim 17, where in ther are two absorption units connected in parallel and operatin in alternately.

19. Apparatus according to Claim 17 or Claim 18, whic additionally incorporates a cylinder fitted with a micr filter at its half-full level connected to the absorptio unit with return pipes to the absorption unit(s) , for th purpose of recycling clean absorbent liquid.

20. Apparatus according to Claim 17 or Claim 18, in which th absorption units are fitted with an outlet on the top of th cylinder 1 for emergency pressure release.

21. Apparatus according to Claim 20, in which the outlets ar connected by tubes or pipes to a downstream carbon monoxid (CO) absorber. 22. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 12 to 21, fo application to any one of the following pollution sources:

- manufacturing industries stacks,

- motor vehicle exhausts, - train exhausts,

- maritime steam and smoke emissions,

- aeroplane emissions,

- incinerator emissions,

- static engine emissions, - ship emissions,

- in house, stove and furnace pipes,

- air conditioning systems.

23. Apparatus according to Claim 17, where in one drive perforated Archimedean screw be used 6 to 8 propeller instead.