Energy Environmental Sciences and Materials

The University's Vapor Phase Removal and Recovery System (VaPRRS) is a patented long-lasting filter that effectively removes dilute volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from gas streams and recovers them as pure liquids. The technology can be integrated into a variety of manufacturing facilities and air pollution control (APC) systems to make them more effective. VaPRRS is a VOC/HAP recovery system that uses an activated carbon fiber cloth and electrothermal desorption (ED) to inexpensively and selectively remove vapors from gas streams. The system rapidly adsorbs and then efficiently regenerates the sorbent and allows for condensation of the sorbate gas all within one control volume.

This portfolio of four patented technologies is available for ready-to-sign licensing. The technologies within this bundle can also be licensed individually.

Thermal Swing Adsorption Based on Electrical Properties of the Adsorbent (TF11145)

A method for indirectly monitoring and controlling an electrically resistive adsorption system. Adsorption of a predetermined adsorbate is conducted while indirectly monitoring electrical resistance of a unified adsorbent element. Breakthrough is predicted based upon the indirectly monitored electrical resistance and a previously measured mass loading relationship between the resistance of the unified adsorbent element and the loading of the unified resistance element with the predetermined adsorbate. Adsorption, regeneration, and cooling cycles are controlled by a controller without any direct measurement of temperature or resistance of the element and characterizations of mass loading and temperature. Systems of the invention can have no sensors that contact the element, are in an adsorption vessel, and/or are downstream adsorption vessel.

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Gas Purification Device with Liquefaction of Dilute Gas Components (TF09117)

Many manufacturing processes currently emit large quantities of gas effluent into the atmosphere or dispose of by techniques such as thermal oxidation or bio-filtration. These are usually carrier gases that contain dilute concentrations of organic gas. This invention is a new device process for separating dilute gas(es) from gas streams for reuse as a liquid or other useful purposes.

The invention provides gas purification methods and systems for the recovery and liquefaction of low boiling point organic and inorganic gases, such as methane, propane, CO.sub.2, NH.sub.3, and chlorofluorocarbons. Many such gases are in the effluent gas of industrial processes and the invention can increase the sustainability and economics of such industrial processes. In a preferred method of the invention, low boiling point gases are adsorbed with a heated activated carbon fiber material maintained at an adsorption temperature during an adsorption cycle. During a low boiling point desorption cycle the activated carbon fiber is heated to a desorption temperature to create a desorption gas stream with concentrated low boiling point gases. The desorption gas stream is actively compressed and/or cooled to condense and liquefy the low boiling point gases, which can then be collected, stored, re-used, sold, etc. Systems of the invention include an active condensation loop that actively cools and/or compresses a desorption gas stream from said vessel to liquefy low boiling point gases.

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A System and Method to Integrate Adsorption, Steady-State Electrothermal Desorption, and Subsequent Destruction of Air Pollutants (TF05053)

A preferred embodiment steady state tracking desorption system achieves steady tracking of either a fixed sorbate output set point, or a set point that changes over time. The system includes an electrically heated thermal adsorption/desorption device. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of an adsorbent material within the adsorption/desorption device. A sorbate sensor senses a sorbate level from an outlet of the adsorption/desorption device. A power sensor senses the power supplied by the desorption device. A controller interprets levels sensed by the temperature sensor, the sorbate sensor and the power sensor and provides a signal to achieve steady set point tracking of a sorbate level from the outlet of the adsorption/desorption device.

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Selective Sorption, Desorption, and Liquefaction of Vapors from Gas Streams (TF00018)

This technology uses activated-carbon fiber cloth (ACFC) as an alternative adsorbent to traditional granular activated carbon (GAC) to remove and recover organic vapors from gas streams. The ACFC is microporous, has up to 250% of the adsorption capacity of GAC, has faster mass and heat transfer properties than GAC, and is ash free to inhibit chemical reactions between the ACFC and the adsorbed vapors. Electrothermal desorption can be used to rapidly regenerate the ACFC with lower energy requirements than steam- or heated nitrogen-based regeneration. ED also eliminates the need for an adsorbent drying step and the recovered solvent/water separation processes usually required with conventional steam regeneration technology.

This technology consists of two adsorption/desorption units that enclose hollow elements containing ACFC and provide gas ports at either end. The compounds are adsorbed onto ACFC cartridges that are electrothermally regenerated at a very rapid rate, causing the adsorbate to condense within the adsorption vessel itself and produce two-phase flow of the effluent during regeneration. The ACFC elements provide controlled electrical resistance, allowing for direct electrothermal heating and rapid regeneration of the ACFC and recovery of the VOCs/HAPs. Rapid ED with in-vessel condensation results in significant reductions in system complexity, cycle times, and nitrogen consumption. This new system also operates without the use of steam, heated inert gas, vacuum, or a refrigeration system. The pilot-scale system regenerates the ACFC within 40 minutes.

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