Waste gas purification system

A waste gas purification system includes a gas container, a gas input unit, a gas output unit, and a contaminant capturing apparatus disposed in the gas container. The contaminant capturing apparatus includes a driver device, and a capturing device to be driven by the driver device. The driver device includes two rollers, and the capturing device includes a tape disposed to continuously move from one roller to another roller when the rollers are rotating. The tape has a surface coated with an adhesive to purify waste gas entering from the gas input unit by capturing particulate matter in the waste gas before being discharged via the gas output unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Invention Patent Application Nos. 109139064 and 109146685, respectively filed on Nov. 9 and Dec. 29, 2020.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to an apparatus for processing waste gas, and more particularly to a waste gas purification system.

BACKGROUND

With the development of industries, many factories will set up an apparatus that burns fuel to create a high temperature environment for high temperature processing. Such apparatus usually uses coals or fossil fuel, which will generate a large amount of waste gas. The waste gas usually contains harmful substances such as granular pollutants, sulfur oxides, hydroxides, etc. In addition to those used in factories, other machines such as transportation vehicles may also generate waste gas during operation. In order to prevent the waste gas generated during the operation of these apparatuses or machines from being directly emitted to the atmosphere and creating pollution, environmental protection regulations stipulate emission standards with respect to the waste gas or smoke generated by such apparatus or machine, so industries usually set up a waste gas processing system on the apparatus or machine to purify the waste gas.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a waste gas purification system that can effectively purify waste gas.

According to the disclosure, the waste gas purification system includes a gas container, a gas input unit for entrance of waste gas into the gas container, a gas output unit for discharge of the waste gas out of the gas container after the waste gas is purified, and a contaminant capturing apparatus that is disposed in the gas container. The contaminant capturing apparatus includes a driver device, and a capturing device to be driven by the driver device into continuous movement. The driver device includes a first roller and a second roller, and the capturing device includes a tape that is connected to the first roller and the second roller and that is configured to continuously move from the first roller to the second roller when the first roller and the second roller are rotating. The tape has a surface coated with an adhesive to purify the waste gas by capturing particulate matter in the waste gas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS.1and2, a first embodiment of a waste gas purification system according to this disclosure is adapted to be connected to a waste-gas-generating apparatus (not shown) that generates waste gas, receives and purifies the waste gas from the waste-gas-generating apparatus, and then discharges the purified waste gas from the waste gas purification system. The waste gas purification system includes a gas flow control apparatus1, a contaminant capturing apparatus2and a device control apparatus3.

The gas flow control apparatus1includes a gas container12that defines a purification space11, at least one gas input unit13to be connected to the waste-gas-generating apparatus for entrance of the waste gas into the purification space11of the gas container12, and at least one gas output unit for discharge of the waste gas from the gas container12after the waste gas is purified. In this embodiment, the gas flow control apparatus1includes two gas input units13and one gas output unit14, but this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

In this embodiment, each of the gas input units13includes a nozzle that is mounted to the gas container12and that is configured to allow for entrance of the waste gas (e.g., by injection) generated by the waste-gas-generating apparatus into the purification space11of the gas container12, continuously or periodically. In some embodiments, the gas input units13may include openings that are formed in the gas container12and that allow passage of the waste gas therethrough. In this embodiment, the gas output unit14includes an opening formed in the gas container12at an opposite side to the gas input units13(e.g., the gas input units13are disposed at the upper part of the gas container12, and the gas output unit14is disposed at the lower part of the gas container12inFIG.1), but this disclosure is not limited in this respect (i.e., it may also be that the gas input unit(s)13and the gas output unit(s)14are not disposed at opposite sides of the gas container12). In this embodiment, each of the gas input units13and the gas output unit14may include a valve (not shown) that is operable to make the corresponding one of the gas input units13and the gas output unit14open or closed. In some embodiments, the gas flow control apparatus1may further (but not necessarily) include an exhaust fan18mounted to the gas output unit14for assisting in discharging the purified waste gas from the gas container12.

The contaminant capturing apparatus2is disposed in the gas container12, and includes a driver device21, and a capturing device22to be driven by the driver device21into continuous movement. In this embodiment, the driver device21includes two rollers211that are spaced apart from each other, and a motor (not shown) connected to and controlling rotation of the rollers211.

The capturing device22includes a capture member221that has a surface coated with adhesive to capture particulate matter in the waste gas, thereby purifying the waste gas. In this embodiment, the capture member221is a tape that extends below the gas input units13from one roller211to another roller211, so the tape moves from one roller211to another roller211under the gas input units13when the rollers211rotate. A portion of the tape that extends between the rollers211and under the gas input units13has a sticky surface (i.e., the surface coated with adhesive) facing the gas input units13to be in contact with the waste gas, so as to purify the waste gas by adhering particulate matter in the waste gas. It is noted that a number of the contaminant capturing apparatus2included in the waste gas purification system is not limited to one, and can be two, three or more than three in other embodiments.

The device control apparatus3includes a timer31, and a controller32communicatively connected to the timer31, the gas input units13, the gas output unit14and the driver device21. The controller32controls the gas input units13to be open after controlling the gas output unit14to be closed for performing a gas entering process in which the waste gas enters the gas container12through the gas input units13. After completion of the gas entering process, the controller32controls the gas input units13to be closed and controls the timer31to start timing for a predetermined purification period. When the timing for the predetermined purification period is completed, the controller32controls the gas output unit14to be open for allowing discharge of the waste gas that has been purified by the contaminant capturing apparatus2from the gas container12.

In other words, the controller32controls operations (i.e., to be open or closed) of the gas input units13and the gas output unit14to direct the waste gas into the purification space11, and a gas purification process begins. In the gas purification process, the controller32controls the driver device21to drive operation of the capturing device22, so the capture member221(i.e., the tape in this embodiment) continuously adheres the particulate matter in the waste gas during the continuous movement. After the predetermined purification period, the gas purification process is completed, and the controller32controls operations of the gas input units13and the gas output unit14again to discharge the purified waste gas out of the gas container12. The above steps may be repeated to purify the waste gas that is continuously generated by the waste-gas-generating apparatus.

Referring toFIGS.1and3, a first variation of the first embodiment is provided. In the first variation, the device control apparatus3includes an air quality detector33(which may also be called air quality monitor or air quality detection system in the market) that is disposed within the purification space11of the gas container12and that is communicatively connected to the controller32, and the timer31inFIG.2is omitted. The air quality detector33is configured to detect air quality of the waste gas (e.g., concentration of particulate matter in the waste gas) in the purification space11of the gas container12, and to generate an air quality signal that indicates the air quality of the waste gas as detected thereby. The controller32receives and analyzes the air quality signal from the air quality detector33. Upon determining that the air quality of the waste gas as indicated by the air quality signal conforms to an emission standard, the controller32controls the gas output unit14to be open for discharging the purified waste gas out of the gas container12.

Referring toFIGS.1and4, a second variation of the first embodiment is provided to include both of the timer31inFIG.2and the air quality detector33inFIG.3. In this variation, the controller32controls the air quality detector33to detect air quality of the waste gas after completion of the timing for the predetermined purification period. Upon determining that the air quality of the waste gas as indicated by the air quality signal conforms to the emission standard, the controller32controls the gas output unit14to be open for discharging the purified waste gas out of the gas container12, so the air quality of the waste gas that has been purified for the predetermined purification period can be ensured. Upon determining that the air quality of the waste gas as indicated by the air quality signal does not conform to the emission standard, the controller32controls the timer31to time for a predetermined extra time period, so as to prolong the gas purification process. After completion of the timing for the predetermined extra time period, the controller32controls the air quality detector33to detect the air quality of the waste gas again, and determines whether the air quality of the waste gas as indicated by the air quality signal has become conforming to the emission standard. Upon determining that the air quality of the waste gas has become conforming to the emission standard, the controller32controls the gas output unit14to be open for discharging the purified waste gas out of the gas container12, and automatically adjusts/updates the predetermined purification period by adding the predetermined extra time period to the original predetermined purification period, so the next time the gas purification process is performed, the gas purification process will be performed for the updated predetermined purification period. If the controller32determines again that the air quality of the waste gas does not conform to the emission standard, the timing for the predetermined extra time period will be repeated to further prolong the gas purification process, and the above-mentioned relevant procedures of determining the air quality and updating the predetermined purification period will also be repeated.

In some implementations of the first or second variation (seeFIG.3or4) of the first embodiment, the controller32may control an operation speed of the driver device21based on the air quality signal received from the air quality detector33. In detail, the controller32may control the driver device21to increase the operation speed of the driver device (so the rotational speed of the rollers211as shown inFIG.1may increase) when the air quality of the waste gas as indicated by the air quality signal is worse than a first predetermined level, and control the driver device21to reduce the operation speed of the driver device21(so the rotational speed of the rollers211as shown inFIG.1may decrease) when the air quality of the waste gas as indicated by the air quality signal is better than a second predetermined level that represents a better air quality than that represented by the first predetermined level. As a result, the contaminant capturing apparatus2can efficiently and effectively capture the particulate matter in the waste gas without incurring excessive waste material from use of the capture member221.

In some implementations of the first or second variation (seeFIG.3or4) of the first embodiment, the controller32may adjust a gas flow in the gas input units13based on the air quality of the waste gas as indicated by the air quality signal. Upon determining that the air quality of the waste gas as indicated by the air quality signal is worse than the first predetermined level, the controller32may reduce a length of time the gas input units13allow for entrance of the waste gas into the gas container12, reduce a gas flow rate in the gas input units13, or control the gas input units13to be closed immediately, so as to reduce influence of incoming waste gas on particulate capturing performance and to thus provide sufficient time for the particulate matter in the purification space11to fall onto the sticky surface of the capture member221. When the air quality of the waste gas as indicated by the air quality signal is better than the second predetermined level, the controller32may prolong a length of time the gas input units13allow for entrance of the waste gas into the gas container12, or increase a gas flow rate in the gas input units13, so as to promote the efficiency of gas purification.

In some implementations of the first embodiment, the controller32may compare the air quality of the waste gas when the waste gas initially entered the gas container12and the air quality of the waste gas when the waste gas is being discharged out of the gas container12, and output an air pollution index (API) signal that indicates air pollution indices of the waste gas before and after purification by the contaminant capturing apparatus2. The device control apparatus3may further include a display (not shown) that is communicatively connected to the controller32for receiving the API signal therefrom, and that displays the air pollution indices of the waste gas before and after purification according to the API signal, so users can become aware of improvement on the air quality of the waste gas.

Referring toFIG.5, a second embodiment of a waste gas purification system according to this disclosure is similar to the first embodiment, and further includes an environmental parameter control apparatus4. The environmental parameter control apparatus4includes a temperature control device41and a humidity control device42. The temperature control device41is disposed to adjust the waste gas to having a predetermined temperature before the waste gas enters the gas container12through the gas input units13, and may be realized as a fan that blows wind toward sidewalls of the gas input units13to lower the temperature of the waste gas in the gas input units13, an air conditioner that blows cold or warm air toward sidewalls of the gas input units13, or electric heating tubes that are embedded in the sidewalls of the gas input unit13, etc. The humidity control device42is disposed to adjust the waste gas to having a predetermined humidity before the waste gas enters the gas container12through the gas input units13, and may be realized as a dehumidifier and/or a humidifier. By virtue of adjusting the temperature and the humidity of the waste gas, the stickiness of the adhesive on the capture member221may be optimized, so as to enhance the purification efficiency of the contaminant capturing apparatus2adhering the particulate matter in the waste gas. In some variations of the second embodiment, the environmental parameter control apparatus4may use only one of the temperature control device41and the humidity control device42, or may further include other devices that can adjust environmental parameters. Since positioning and structures of the devices for environmental parameter control should be known to one skilled in the art, details thereof are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

FIG.6illustrates a third embodiment of a contaminant capturing apparatus according to this disclosure, which is similar to the first embodiment as shown inFIG.1. In the third embodiment, the capturing device22further includes a release paper223that is detachably attached to the capture member221. The release paper223is disposed to be detached from the capture member221before the capture member221moves to below the gas input units13. In this embodiment, a roller may be used to roll up the detached release paper223, but this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

To sum up, the embodiments of the waste gas purification system can effectively purify the waste gas by using adhesive to stick the particulate matter in the waste gas. In some embodiments, the use of the air quality detector33can ensure the air quality of the purified waste gas before the same is discharged into the atmosphere.