Erosion Testing - Pilot Design Optimisation of a Porous Liquid Biogas Plant

我们的项目集中在利用多孔液体(PL)--在各种化学分离中显示出巨大前景的先进材料。PL配方由一种像沸石或MOF一样的多孔固体组成，分散在无法渗透到孔内的液体载体中。这些材料具有选择性吸附和分离能力，能够将特定成分从气体或液体中分离出来。与传统的碳捕获方法相比，这大大减少了能源消耗并提高了环境的可持续性。我们最先进的项目涉及使用PL进行沼气升级，其中它有效地从沼气中去除二氧化碳(CO2)，产生高纯度的生物甲烷流-一种可再生的天然气形式。在这项技术的进步中，我们的目标是建造一个以150 Nm~3/h的速度运行的便携式PL-沼气厂，以展示与传统的碳捕获技术相比的运营效率。通过模拟，我们预计将实现显著的能源节约，与传统升级技术并列时，预计可节省约80%的能源。这一进步确保了高分离效率、纯度和最小的温室气体排放。为了实现这一目标，考虑到它们与我们的化学物质的相互作用，必须对建造中试工厂所使用的材料进行评估。鉴于PL的分散性和沸石固有的硬度，人们开始关注对金属部件的长期潜在侵蚀影响。为了解决这一关键问题，我们将与国家工程实验室(NEL)建立合作伙伴关系。这次合作的重点是研究我们的沼气PL对不同候选金属的侵蚀影响，特别是对工厂设计。这项研究的结果将直接有助于设计工厂的材料，以确保最佳的性能和成本效益。引入计算流体动力学(CFD)模型将进一步确保中试工厂的长期和高效运行。这项研究确保中试工厂的设计优先考虑可负担性和资产完整性，同时将PL诱人的运营成本与经济的资本投资结合起来。通过我们的创新方法，我们的目标是彻底改变沼气技术，提供一条可持续和高效的道路，迈向更绿色的未来。

Our project centres on leveraging porous liquids (PL) -- advanced materials exhibiting significant promise in diverse chemical separations. PL formulations consist of a porous solid like zeolites, or MOFs, dispersed within a liquid carrier which is unable to permeate the pore. These materials offer selective adsorption and separation capacities, enabling the isolation of specific components from gas or liquid streams. This results in substantially curtailed energy consumption and heightened environmental sustainability, in comparison to traditional carbon capture methodologies.Our most advanced project involves the utilisation of PL for biogas upgrading, where it effectively removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from biogas, producing a stream of high-purity biomethane -- a renewable form of natural gas. In progressing this technology, our objective is to construct a portable PL-biogas plant operating at 150 Nm3/h, to showcase operational efficiencies over conventional carbon capture technology. Through simulations, we anticipate achieving remarkable energy savings, projected at approximately 80% when juxtaposed with conventional upgrading technologies. This advancement ensures high separation efficiency, purity, and minimal greenhouse gas emissions.To attain this goal, an imperative step involves an assessment of the materials utilised in constructing the pilot plant, considering their interaction with our chemistry. Given PL's dispersible nature and the inherent hardness of zeolites, concerns have emerged about long-term potential erosive impacts on metal components. To address this critical aspect, we will establish a collaborative partnership with the National Engineering Laboratory (NEL). This collaboration focuses on studying the erosive influence of our biogas PL on different candidate metals, particularly for plant design. The findings from this study will directly contribute to designing the plant with materials that ensure both optimal performance and cost-effectiveness. The incorporation of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling will further ensure the prolonged and efficient operation of the pilot plant.This research ensures pilot plant designs prioritise affordability and asset integrity while uniting the attractive operational expenses of PL with an economical capital investment. Through our innovative approach, we aim to revolutionise biogas technology, providing a sustainable and efficient path towards a greener future.