Enhancing temperature-swing adsorption processes through desorption stage heat transfer fluid selection

摘要

Models of the desorption stage of a temperature-swing adsorption process using microchannels with an adsorbent layer coated on the inner wall of each microchannel are developed for liquid- and gas-phase heat transfer fluids. These models are applied to a methane purification process to determine the effects of the heat transfer fluid phase, thermophysical properties, and selectivity on desorption stage performance. The liquid-phase heat transfer fluid performs better, allowing the impurity to be completely removed from the adsorbent layer while leaving over 30% of the initial methane in the adsorbent layer after three seconds, compared to under 10% of the initial methane and over 25% of the initial impurity for a gas-phase heat transfer fluid. This improved behavior is due to the differences in driving forces for liquid and gas flow and due to the selectivity of the liquid.