Parallel passage fluid contactor structure

Abstract

A parallel passage fluid contactor structure for chemical reaction processes has one or more segments, where each segment has a plurality of substantially parallel fluid flow passages oriented in an axial direction; cell walls between each adjacent fluid flow passages and each cell wall has at least two opposite cell wall surfaces. The structure also includes at least one active compound in the cell walls and multiple axially continuous conductive filaments either embedded within the cell walls or situated between the cell wall surfaces. The conductive filaments are at least one of thermally and electrically conductive, are oriented in axially, and are in direct contact with the active compound, and are operable to transfer thermal energy between the active material and the conductive filaments. Heating of the conductive filaments may be used to transfer heat to the active material in the cell walls. Methods of manufacturing the structure are discussed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temperature swing adsorption process for separating first and second fluid components, comprising:
 admitting said first and second fluid components into a parallel passage fluid contactor structure in an axial direction, said parallel passage fluid contactor structure comprising at least one segment having:
 a plurality of substantially parallel fluid flow passages oriented in said axial direction; 
 cell walls situated between each adjacent one of said fluid flow passages, each said cell wall comprising at least a first and a second cell wall surfaces, and additionally comprising at least one adsorbent material; and 
 a plurality of axially continuous conductive filaments either embedded in said cell walls or situated between said surfaces of said first and second cell walls, wherein said axially continuous conductive filaments are at least one of thermally and electrically conductive, are oriented in said axial direction, and are additionally in direct contact with said at least one adsorbent material of said cell walls and are operable to transfer thermal energy between said at least one adsorbent material and said conductive filaments. 
   adsorbing at least a portion of said first fluid component on said at least one adsorbent material comprised in said cell walls wherein at least a portion of a heat of adsorption of said adsorbing of said first fluid component is transferred axially along said filaments during said adsorbing step;   recovering a product fluid enriched in said second fluid component; and   desorbing at least a portion of said first fluid component adsorbed on said at least one adsorbent material by heating said conductive filaments.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said segment further having conductive filaments oriented in a transverse direction. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said heating of said conductive filaments comprise transferring thermal energy via said conductive filaments. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising during at least one of said adsorbing step and said desorbing step, transferring thermal energy via said conductive filaments from at least one of a first end to a second end, and said second end to said first end, of said parallel passage fluid contactor structure. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising during said desorbing step, transferring thermal energy into said conductive filaments and said parallel passage fluid contactor structure. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising during said desorbing step, passing an electric current through said conductive filaments. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , further comprising controlling said passing of said electric current. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said parallel passage fluid contactor structure further comprising a plurality of segments, and during said desorption step further comprising passing an electric current through said conductive filaments of each said segment independently. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said parallel passage fluid contactor structure further comprising a plurality of segments and during said desorption step further comprising heating said plurality of segments substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said parallel passage fluid contactor structure further comprising a plurality of segments having said conductive filaments in thermal communication between said plurality of segments, and further comprising transferring thermal energy between said plurality of segments. 
     
     
         11 . A catalytic reaction process for catalysis of a first fluid component, comprising:
 admitting said first fluid component into a parallel passage fluid contactor structure in a first axial direction, said parallel passage fluid contactor structure comprising:
 a plurality of substantially parallel fluid flow passages oriented in said axial direction; 
 cell walls situated between each adjacent one of said fluid flow passages, each said cell wall comprising at least two opposite cell wall surfaces, and additionally comprising at least one active catalytic compound either applied to or comprised within said cell walls; and 
 a plurality of axially continuous conductive filaments either embedded within said cell walls or situated between said surfaces of said cell walls, wherein said axially continuous conductive filaments are at least one of thermally and electrically conductive, are oriented in said axial direction, and are additionally in direct contact with said at least one active catalytic compound and are operable to transfer thermal energy between said at least one active catalytic compound and said conductive filaments. 
   contacting at least a portion of said first fluid component with said active catalytic compound to catalyze at least one reaction to produce a second fluid component;   recovering a product fluid comprising said second fluid component; and   
       regenerating at least a portion of said active catalytic compound by heating said conductive filaments. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein said segment further having conductive filaments oriented in a transverse direction. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein said heating of said conductive filaments comprise transferring thermal energy via said conductive filaments. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 11 , further comprising during at least one of said adsorbing step and said desorbing step, transferring thermal energy via said conductive filaments from at least one of a first end to a second end, and said second end to said first end, of said parallel passage fluid contactor structure. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 11 , further comprising during said desorbing step, transferring thermal energy into said conductive filaments and said parallel passage fluid contactor structure. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 11 , further comprising during said desorbing step, passing an electric current through said conductive filaments. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16 , further comprising controlling said passing of said electric current. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein said parallel passage fluid contactor structure further comprising a plurality of segments, and during said desorption step further comprising passing an electric current through said conductive filaments of each said segment independently. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein said parallel passage fluid contactor structure further comprising a plurality of segments and during said desorption step further comprising heating said plurality of segments substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein said parallel passage fluid contactor structure further comprising a plurality of segments having said conductive filaments in thermal communication between said plurality of segments, and further comprising transferring thermal energy between said plurality of segments.