DE-102024210877-A1 - Device with vertical gravity conveying for granular material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device with vertical gravity conveying for granular material, comprising an inlet, an outlet arranged vertically below the inlet, wherein in particular a first cross-sectional area of the inlet is larger than a second cross-sectional area of the outlet, a process chamber arranged between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the process chamber is configured to receive the granular material and to carry out a process on the granular material in the process chamber, and at least one disturbance element arranged in the process chamber, wherein the disturbance element is configured to set a flow velocity of the granular material in the process chamber.

Inventors

• Friedrich Kneule
• Bernd Stuke
• Harald Bauer

Assignees

• Robert Bosch Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20241113

Claims (15)

1. Device (1) for gravity conveying of granular material (6) at an inclination relative to the horizontal, in particular vertically, comprising: - an inlet (2), - an outlet (3), which is arranged, in particular vertically, below the inlet (2), wherein in particular a first cross-sectional area (A1) of the inlet (2) is larger than a second cross-sectional area (A2) of the outlet (3), - a process chamber (4) arranged between the inlet (2) and the outlet (3), wherein the process chamber (4) is configured to receive the granular material (6) and to carry out a process on the granular material (6) in the process chamber (4), and - at least one disturbance element (5) which is arranged in the process chamber (4), wherein the disturbance element (5) is configured to set a flow velocity of the granular material (6) in the process chamber (4).
2. Device (1) according Claim 1 , wherein the disturbance element (5) is arranged immovably in the process chamber (4).
3. Device (1) according Claim 1 , wherein the disturbance element (5) is arranged in a movable, in particular rotatable, manner in the process chamber (4).
4. Device (1) according Claim 3 , wherein the disruptive element (5) can be driven, in particular rotated, by granular material (6) falling by means of gravity.
5. Device (1) according Claim 3 or 4 , wherein the disturbance element (5) can be driven, in particular rotatable, by an external drive (11).
6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interference element (5) comprises a toothed shaft (50) which has a shaft (52) and teeth (51).
7. Device (1) according Claim 6 , wherein the toothed shaft (50) has a hollow shaft (52') and the teeth (51) have openings (53), wherein the hollow shaft (52') is in fluid communication with the openings (53) to supply a gas from the toothed shaft (50) into the process chamber (4).
8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a fan (8) to ventilate an interior area of the process chamber (4).
9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of interference elements (5) which are arranged in the process chamber (4).
10. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a measuring device (9) which is configured to detect a flow velocity of the granular material (6) in the process chamber (4), in particular further comprising controlling the disturbance element (5) depending on the detected flow velocity in order to adjust and/or control the flow velocity of the granular material (6).
11. Adsorption device for adsorbing a gas, in particular CO2, comprising a device according to one of the preceding claims to convey a granular adsorption material (6) through the process chamber (4) designed as an adsorption chamber (4).
12. Gas separation system for separating a gas, in particular CO2, from air, in particular ambient air, with a device according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 or an adsorption device Claim 11 .
13. Gas separation system according to 12 with a desorption system which is fluidically connected to the adsorption system for the circulation of the granular adsorption material (6).
14. Method for gravity conveying of granular material (6) inclined relative to the horizontal, in particular vertically, wherein a flow velocity of the granular material (6) in the process chamber (4) is set by means of at least one disturbance element (5) which is arranged in a process chamber (4) arranged between an inlet (2) and an outlet (3).
15. Procedure according to Claim 14 , characterized in that a flow velocity of the granular material (6) in the process chamber (4) is detected by means of a measuring device (9) and in particular the disturbance element (5) is controlled depending on the detected flow velocity in order to adjust and/or control the flow velocity of the granular material (6).

Description

State of the art The present invention relates to a device, in particular a trickle tower, with vertical gravity conveying for granular material, in particular for an adsorption material. To achieve climate goals, strategies for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are also being discussed. One possible technology is the direct removal of carbon dioxide from the ambient air, also known as Direct Air Capture (DAC). The extracted carbon dioxide can then be used in other processes or stored underground in caverns. For example, the carbon dioxide can be bound in an adsorption unit using an adsorbent such as zeolite or similar material, and then separated in a desorption device. For example, the US 10,279,306 B2 A process for separating carbon dioxide. In this process, an adsorbent material is alternately exposed to carbon dioxide-containing gas and steam. However, such a system requires an expensive and complex construction. Disclosure of the invention The device according to the invention for gravity conveying of granular material inclined relative to the horizontal, in particular vertically, with the features of claim 1, has the advantage that the residence time of the granular material can be easily controlled. This makes the device suitable, for example, for use as an adsorption unit, ensuring that the granular material has sufficient time to adsorb carbon dioxide. Furthermore, clogging, particularly at an outlet of the device, can be prevented or completely avoided. Loosening of the granular material can also be enabled, thereby improving the desired processes within the device. In particular, the flow velocity can also be adjusted depending on external boundary conditions such as temperature, moisture content of the granular material, and/or possible aeration processes. According to the invention, this is achieved by the device having an inlet and an outlet for gravity conveying at an inclination relative to the horizontal, particularly vertically. The outlet is arranged vertically below the inlet. The cross-sectional area of the outlet is preferably smaller than the cross-sectional area of the inlet. The cross-sectional area of the outlet is preferably much smaller than that of the inlet. Preferably, the outlet includes an orifice or a shut-off device. Furthermore, a process chamber is arranged between the inlet and the outlet, which is configured to receive the granular material and to carry out a process on the granular material, for example, the absorption of carbon dioxide. At least one flow restrictor is also arranged in the process chamber, the flow restrictor being configured to reduce the flow velocity of the granular material. Thus, the residence time of the granular material in the process chamber can be adjusted by means of flow restrictors. Preferably, the material is throttled exclusively by means of flow restrictors. The granular material is free-flowing or pourable. The granular material is preferably a sorption or adsorption material. The granular material can comprise or be configured as a granular ion exchange resin. The granular material can, for example, comprise or consist of granular Lewatit VP OC 1065 or Zeolite X13. The granular material can have a grain size in the range of 0.1 mm to 3 mm, in particular 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm, and/or a bulk density of 500 g/l to 800 g/l, preferably 600 g/l to 750 g/l. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention. Preferably, the interfering elements are arranged immovably. That is, the interfering elements are fixed in place and, for example, cannot be rotated or moved. Alternatively, the obstructions are arranged to be movable. In particular, the obstructions can be moved axially and/or rotated. Preferably, the disruptive elements are driven by the granular material falling under gravity. The disruptive elements preferably comprise a shaft or the like, which is operatively connected to a generator. Then, an electric current can also be generated by the disruptive elements driven by the granular material. Alternatively, the disruptive elements can preferably be driven or rotated by an external drive, for example an electric motor. This has the advantage that the residence time of the granular material in the process chamber can be adjusted very easily, for example by increasing or decreasing the rotational speed or switching off individual disruptive elements. Preferably, the obstruction element is a toothed shaft with a shaft and a plurality of teeth arranged on the shaft. In a top view, the toothed shaft preferably has a star shape. The toothed shaft can be used as a stationary or a movable obstruction element. Particularly preferably, several toothed shafts are arranged on different levels within the process chamber. This makes it possible, in particular, to achieve different flow velocities of the granular material in different areas of the process chamber. Preferably, the residence time near the center of the process