Utilization of waste heat using fiber sorbent system and method of using same

Abstract

The disclosed subject matter relates to process modifications and apparatus designs that are conducive towards minimizing temperature swings (ΔT) useful to yield operating pressures that provide work and/or refrigeration (e.g., electricity and/or refrigeration) in sorption systems. Such process modifications and designs are particularly suited to make use of waste heat in industrial process, (e.g., a chemical processing or petrochemical refining operation) in which low grade heat source(s) are used to drive the sorption system.

1 . A fiber sorption system comprising:
 at least one vessel;   a working fluid;   at least one thermal fluid;   at least one hollow fiber located within the at least one vessel, wherein the hollow fiber including:   (a) a sorbent material and binder material forming an elongated body;   (b) the elongated body having a hollow interior;   (c) the elongated body having an inner surface adjacent the hollow interior and an outer surface;   (d) one of the inner surface and the outer surface having a coating layer formed thereon, wherein the coating layer being impermeable to both the working fluid and the thermal fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The fiber sorption system according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating layer is formed on the inner surface, wherein the thermal fluid passing flowing the hollow interior. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber sorption system according to  claim 2 , wherein the coating layer is selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylidene chloride), poly(vinyl floride), poly(vinylidene floride), ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, poly vinyl alcohol, polyamides, polyethylene (preferably high density), polypropylene (preferably high density), polyesters, polyimides, polyacrylonitrile, polysulfone, polyurethane, combinations thereof and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 2 , wherein the thermal fluid includes a heating fluid and a cooling fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 4 , wherein the heating fluid comprises steam. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 2 , wherein the sorbent material is a zeolite. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 6 , wherein the zeolite is zeolite 13X. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid comprises carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         9 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 8 , wherein the carbon dioxide is from a process stream within a petrochemical or chemical processing operation. 
     
     
         10 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 2 , wherein the working fluid is in fluid communication with the outer surface of the hollow fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The fiber sorption system according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating layer is formed on the outer surface, wherein the working fluid passing through the hollow interior such that it is capable of being adsorbed and desorbed by the sorbent material in the elongated body. 
     
     
         12 . The fiber sorption system according to  claim 11 , wherein the coating layer is selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylidene chloride), poly(vinyl floride), poly(vinylidene floride), ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, poly vinyl alcohol, polyamides, polyethylene (preferably high density), polypropylene (preferably high density), polyesters, polyimides, polyacrylonitrile, polysulfone, polyurethane, combinations thereof and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 11 , wherein the thermal fluid includes a heating fluid and a cooling fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 13 , wherein the heating fluid comprises steam. 
     
     
         15 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 11 , wherein the sorbent material is a zeolite. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 15 , wherein the zeolite is zeolite 13X. 
     
     
         17 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 11 , wherein the working fluid comprises carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         18 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 17 , wherein the carbon dioxide is from a process stream within a petrochemical or chemical processing operation. 
     
     
         19 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 11 , wherein the working fluid is in fluid communication with the inner surface of the hollow fiber. 
     
     
         20 . A fiber sorption system comprising:
 at least one vessel;   a working fluid;   at least one thermal fluid; and   at least one fiber located within the at least one vessel, wherein each fiber including a sorbent material and binder material forming an elongated body having an outer surface, wherein the working fluid flows past the outer surface and is capable of being adsorbed and desorbed by the sorbent material.   
     
     
         21 . The fiber sorption system according to  claim 20 , wherein the thermal fluid flows past the outer surface and is not wetting the fiber surface. 
     
     
         22 . The fiber sorption system according to  claim 20 , further comprising an outer coating on the outer surface, wherein the outer coating being permeable to the working fluid such that working fluid may pass through the outer coating for adsorption and desorption by the sorbent material, wherein the outer coating being impermeable to the thermal fluid, whereby the thermal fluid is prevented from passing through the outer coating to the sorbent material. 
     
     
         23 . The fiber sorption system according to  claim 22 , wherein the outer coating is formed from an organometallic compound. 
     
     
         24 . A fiber sorption system comprising:
 at least one vessel;   a working fluid;   a thermal fluid;   at least one hollow fiber located within the at least one vessel, wherein the hollow fiber including:   an inner coating defining a channel adapted to receive one of a supply of the thermal fluid and the working fluid therein;   an outer coating defining a chamber between the outer coating and the inner coating; and   a sorbent material and a binder material contained within the chamber,   wherein one of the inner coating and the outer coating is a generally impermeable membrane that is impermeable to a thermal fluid, and   wherein the other of the inner coating and the outer coating is a generally permeable coating that is permeable to a working fluid.   
     
     
         25 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 24 , wherein the thermal fluid includes a heating fluid and a cooling fluid. 
     
     
         26 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 25 , wherein the heating fluid comprises steam. 
     
     
         27 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 24 , wherein the sorbent material is a zeolite. 
     
     
         28 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 27 , wherein the zeolite is zeolite 13X. 
     
     
         29 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 24 , wherein the working fluid comprises carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         30 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 29 , wherein the carbon dioxide is from a process stream within a petrochemical or chemical processing operation. 
     
     
         31 . The fiber sorption system of  claim 24 , wherein the permeable coating is selected from a cellulose fiber, a polysulfone, a polyurethane and a polyimide.