Rotary fluid processing systems and associated methods

Abstract

Rotary fluid processing systems and associated methods are disclosed. A purification system in accordance with the particular embodiment includes a rotatable adsorbent-containing heat/mass transfer element that is generally symmetric about a rotation axis, and includes multiple radial flow paths oriented transverse to the rotation axis and multiple axial flow paths oriented transverse to the radial flow paths. The axial flow paths and radial flow paths are in thermal communication with each other, and are generally isolated from fluid communication with each other at the heat transfer element. Particular embodiments can further include a housing arrangement having multiple manifolds with individual manifolds having an entry port and an exit port, and with individual manifolds having different circumferential locations relative to the rotation axis. Still further embodiments can include a seal arrangement positioned between the heat transfer element and the housing arrangement to expose the radial flow paths, but not the axial flow paths, to the entry and exit ports of one of the manifolds, and expose the axial flow paths, but not the radial flow paths, to the entry and exit ports of another of the manifolds.

1 . A gas processing system, comprising:
 a housing arrangement having multiple manifolds, with individual manifolds having an entry port and an exit port, and with individual manifolds having different circumferential locations relative to a rotation axis;   a heat/mass transfer element containing an adsorbent, positioned within the housing arrangement and rotatable relative to the housing arrangement about the rotation axis, the heat/mass transfer element including:
 multiple radial flow paths oriented transverse to the rotation axis; and 
 multiple axial flow paths oriented transverse to the radial flow paths, the axial flow paths being in thermal communication with the radial flow paths, the axial flow paths being generally isolated from fluid communication with the radial flow paths at the heat/mass transfer element; and 
   a seal arrangement positioned between the heat/mass transfer element and the housing arrangement to expose the radial flow paths but not the axial flow paths to the entry and exit ports of one of the manifolds, and expose the axial flow paths but not the radial flow paths to the entry and exit ports of another of the manifolds.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the housing arrangement includes a first manifold, a second manifold, a third manifold and a fourth manifold, and wherein the seal arrangement is positioned between the heat/mass transfer element and the housing arrangement to expose the radial flow paths but not the axial flow paths to the first and second manifolds as the heat/mass transfer element rotates, and expose the axial flow paths but not the radial flow paths to the third and fourth manifolds as the heat/mass transfer element rotates. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the third manifold is positioned between the first and second manifolds, and wherein the fourth manifold is positioned between the first and second manifolds opposite the second manifold, and wherein a point on the heat/mass transfer element is sequentially exposed to the first, third, second and fourth manifolds as the heat/mass transfer element rotates about the rotation axis. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a first fluid channel connected between the second and third manifolds to equalize a pressure between the second and third manifolds, and a second fluid channel connected between the first and fourth manifolds to equalize a pressure between the first and fourth manifolds. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the heat/mass transfer element includes an adsorbent processing medium positioned along the axial flow paths or the radial flow paths, and wherein the processing medium includes zeolite. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the heat/mass transfer element includes an adsorbent material positioned along the axial flow paths or the radial flow paths. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the axial flow paths include axially extending tubes, and wherein the adsorbent material is positioned on outer surfaces of the tubes. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the housing arrangement includes a housing having a generally torroidal shape with a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the housing arrangement includes a continuous circular element disposed around the rotation axis. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid channel connected between the individual manifolds to equalize a pressure between the individual manifolds. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the heat/mass transfer element has a generally torroidal shape with a rectangular or square cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the heat/mass transfer element includes a first ring-shaped side at a first radial distance from the rotation axis, a second ring shaped side generally parallel to the first side and located at a second radial distance from the rotation axis, a third ring-shaped side oriented transverse to the first and second sides at a first axial location, and a fourth ring-shaped side oriented transverse to the first and second sides at a second axial location spaced apart from the first axial location, and wherein the radial flow paths extend from the first surface to the second surface, and wherein the axial flow paths extend from the third surface to the fourth surface. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the radial flow paths are distributed in a generally uniform, continuous manner around the rotation axis. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the axial flow paths are distributed in a generally uniform, continuous manner around the rotation axis. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein individual manifolds are in fluid communication with the heat/mass transfer element over unequal circumferential extents. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a driver coupled to the heat/mass transfer element to rotate the heat/mass transfer element about the rotation axis. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the heat/mass transfer element includes a rack, and wherein the driver is coupled to a pinion that is rotatably meshed with the rack. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat transfer loop coupled between one manifold and another manifold, the heat transfer loop being positioned to direct a heat transfer fluid through the heat/mass transfer element at the one manifold and direct the heat transfer fluid exiting the one manifold to the other manifold and through the heat/mass transfer element at the other manifold. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the heat transfer loop is positioned to direct the heat transfer fluid through the axial flow paths but not the radial flow paths. 
     
     
         20 . A gas purification system, comprising:
 a torroidal housing having a first manifold, a second manifold opposite the first manifold, a third manifold between the first and second manifolds, and a fourth manifold opposite the third manifold, each manifold having an entry port and an exit port;   a torroidal heat/mass transfer ring positioned within the housing and rotatable relative to the housing about a rotation axis, the heat/mass transfer ring including:
 multiple radial flow paths oriented along radii extending outwardly from the rotation axis; 
 multiple axial flow paths oriented generally parallel to the rotation axis, the axial flow paths being in thermal communication with the radial flow paths, the axial flow paths being generally isolated from fluid communication with the radial flow paths at the heat/mass transfer ring; and 
 an adsorbent material positioned within or along the radial flow paths; 
   a seal arrangement positioned between the heat/mass transfer ring and the housing to expose the radial flow paths but not the axial flow paths to the entry and exit ports of the first and second manifolds as the heat/mass transfer ring rotates, and expose the axial flow paths but not the radial flow paths to the entry and exit ports of the third and fourth manifolds as the heat/mass transfer ring rotates;   a driver operatively coupled to the heat/mass transfer ring to rotate the heat/mass transfer ring relative to the housing about the rotation axis;   a process gas supply coupled to the entry port of the first manifold to direct process gas through the adsorbent;   a purge gas supply coupled to the entry port of the second manifold to direct purge gas through the adsorbent; and   a heat transfer loop coupled between the third and fourth manifolds to heat the adsorbent at the third manifold as the adsorbent rotates from the first manifold to the second manifold, and cool the adsorbent at the fourth manifold as the adsorbent rotates from the second manifold to the first manifold.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a heater positioned in the heat transfer loop to heat fluid entering the third manifold; and;   a cooler positioned in the heat transfer loop to cool fluid entering the fourth manifold.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the heat/mass transfer ring includes a rack, and wherein the driver includes a motor coupled to a pinion that is rotatably meshed with the rack. 
     
     
         23 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for processing a gas, comprising:
 at a first region, directing a process gas through an adsorbent processing medium along one of a radial axis and an axial axis;   rotating the adsorbent processing medium about a rotation axis from the first region to a third region and directing a heat transfer fluid along the other of the radial axis and the axial axis to be in thermal contact with the adsorbent processing medium at the third region;   rotating the adsorbent processing medium about the rotation axis from the third region to a second region and directing a purge fluid through the adsorbent processing medium along the one of the radial axis and the axial axis at the second region;   rotating the adsorbent processing medium about the rotation axis from the second region to a fourth region and directing the heat transfer fluid along the other of the radial axis and the axial axis to be in thermal contact with the adsorbent processing medium at the fourth region; and   rotating the adsorbent processing medium about the rotation axis from the fourth region to the first.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein rotating the adsorbent processing medium includes rotating the adsorbent processing medium in a generally continuous manner. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein directing a heat transfer fluid includes directing a heat transfer fluid that includes the process gas as a constituent. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising simultaneously maintaining portions of the adsorbent processing medium at the first, second, third and fourth regions at approximately the same pressure. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the pressure is from about 80 psi to about 150 psi. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising equalizing a pressure difference between the third and second regions, caused by different temperatures in the third and second regions, by allowing a controlled amount of fluid to pass between the third and second regions. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising equalizing a pressure difference between the first and fourth regions, caused by different temperatures in the first and fourth regions, by allowing a controlled amount of fluid to pass between the first and fourth regions. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28  wherein directing the process gas through the adsorbent processing medium includes directing a methane-containing process gas through the adsorbent processing medium to remove impurities from the methane. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising exposing the adsorbent processing medium to environments in individual ones of the regions for different periods of time, while rotating the adsorbent processing medium at a generally constant rate. 
     
     
         37 - 48 . (canceled)