Patent EP-1923121-B1 (EP)
Inventor: ROLAND ULF
IPC: B01D53/86
Filed: 2007-11-12
Granted: 2011-10-05
Abstract: The procedure for warming a solid material bed (11) having inflow and outflow areas for initiating thermochromatographic pulses, comprises introducing electromagnetic radiation in the bed, bringing a transmission medium in the outflow area/another area of the bed and simultaneously flowing the bed with carrier gas, lingering the transmission medium in the bed, heating the bed based on the increased energy absorption of the bed, desorption of the transmission medium based on the warming of the bed and transporting the desorbed transmission medium through the bed by carrier gas stream. The procedure for warming a solid material bed (11) having an inflow area for flowing a carrier gas and an outflow area for discharging the carrier gas from the solid bed for initiating thermochromatographic pulses, comprises introducing an electromagnetic radiation in the solid material bed, bringing a transmission medium in the outflow area or another area of the bed and simultaneously flowing the solid material bed with the carrier gas, lingering the transmission medium in the bed, heating the bed based on the increased energy absorption of the bed, desorption of the transmission medium based on the warming of the bed and transporting the desorbed transmission medium through the bed by carrier gas stream. The transmission medium absorbs a portion of the electromagnetic radiation and initiates an increased energy absorption of the bed having a component adsorbing the transmission medium, which is adsorbed partially at the bed and is periodically subjected into the bed for 2-60 minutes. The carrier gas is continuously supplied into the bed. The transmission medium is brought again into the bed, when the medium is completely tramped based on repeated adsorption, warming, desorption and transportation by the carrier gas. The introduction of the transmission medium is carried out within a time period of 90 seconds over the inrushing carrier gas or through direct injection in the bed, which consists of NaY type zeolite. The water is used as transmission medium. The heating of the bed is carried out by radio waves or microwaves. The quantity of the transmission medium is selected such a way that an initial adsorption of 50%, 80%, 90% and 99% of the transmission medium is carried out in an area that corresponds to less than 80%, 50%, 30% and 15% of the length of the bed along the flow area respectively. The bed consists of porous material, whose average pore size is below the micro meter. The quantity of the transmission medium and the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation coupled in the bed are selected such a way that the bed is heated in the area in which the transmission medium is adsorbed, at a temperature during the desorption of 60% or 80% of adsorbed transmission medium. The bed is heated before introducing the transmission medium by electromagnetic radiation in such a way that an adsorption of 90% of the transmission medium in an area corresponds to less than 30% of the length of the bed along the flow area. The given speed of the transmission medium is controlled based on the repeated adsorption, warming, desorption and transportation through material of the bed and the transmission medium, quantity of the transmission medium and intensity of the electromagnetic radiation. The speed of the transmission medium is adjusted between 1-100 mm/min. A temperature pulse migrating through the bed is initiated through the introduction of the medium and based on the repeated adsorption, warming, desorption and transportation of the medium. An exothermic reaction is initiated through the temperature pulse in the corresponding area of the bed. The intensity of the electromagnetic field for dielectric heating is reduced after initiating the exothermic reaction. A reaction product is planted from the bed with the temperature pulse. The total selectivity and/or the total volume of the reaction are changed. The decomposition of the thermally unstable product is partially prevented. A material separation in the bed is carried out through the temperature pulse. High local temperature gradients of 10 K/cm and high heating rate of 5 K/min are produced in the bed. The high cooling rate of 5 K/min is obtained in the bed through the adsorption of the medium and/or another material. The concentration of the material is carried out by the temperature pulse. The temperature elevation of the bed is used during the transition of the temperature pulse for the activation of a catalyst or for increasing the efficiency of the catalyst. The durability of the catalyst is increased by the temperature regulation by the temperature pulse and/or deactivation of the catalyst is partially prevented. The reactive zones are temporarily produced by the temperature pulse. An independent claim is included for a device for warming a solid material bed.