Sorbent Screening and Optimization of an Oxygen Purification Process****

氧气净化工艺的吸附剂筛选和优化****

• 批准号: 536768-2018
• 负责人: Rajendran, Arvind
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Engage Grants Program
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=662935
• 关键词: Sorbent; Screening; Optimization; Oxygen; Purification

Benchmark International Inc. is an Edmonton based company involved in the manufacture of oxygen concentrators under the brand name of Oxygen solutions Inc. These units concentrate oxygen from atmospheric air using a physical separation process called adsorption. The units are typically installed in remote locations where bottled oxygen is not available or expensive, such as aquaculture, waste water treatment and mining facilities. In order to gain market share in this competitive business, the company is seeking to improve the performance of their oxygen concentrators with the ultimate goal of reducing unit size and energy consumption. This translates into reduction of both cost of oxygen and the associated CO2 footprint (through reduction of energy consumption). To achieve these goals, Benchmark seeks to collaborate with researchers at the University of Alberta (UofA) with expertise in adsorption process design. The UofA group will apply sophisticated mathematical tools to model a small-scale oxygen concentrator to be constructed by Benchmark exclusively to support this project. Using these mathematical models, we will test three commercial materials that are claimed to improve process performance. The unique aspect of this project will be the development and deployment of machine-learning-based optimization tools that are capable of exploring the operating space to identify operating conditions that reduce the overall costs. This will save 1000s of hours of engineering labor and associated costs in testing the different materials. The results from the modeling efforts will be validated first on the small-scale system and then scaled-up for a commercial instrument. The use of machine-learning tools for optimizing such systems will be "first-of-a-kind" and will provide Benchmark with a competitive edge and benefit Canada in key areas such as energy-efficient processes, reduction of CO2 footprint and artifical intelligence. The project also seeks assistance through the Alberta Innovates Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement Program.******

Benchmark International Inc. 是一家总部位于埃德蒙顿的公司，主要生产 Oxygen Solutions Inc. 品牌的氧气浓缩器。这些装置使用称为吸附的物理分离过程从大气中浓缩氧气。这些装置通常安装在无法获得或昂贵的瓶装氧气的偏远地区，例如水产养殖、废水处理和采矿设施。为了在这一竞争激烈的行业中获得市场份额，该公司正在寻求提高制氧机的性能，最终目标是减少单位尺寸和能耗。这意味着氧气成本和相关二氧化碳足迹的减少（通过减少能源消耗）。为了实现这些目标，Benchmark 寻求与阿尔伯塔大学 (UofA) 具有吸附工艺设计专业知识的研究人员合作。澳大利亚大学团队将应用复杂的数学工具对 Benchmark 专门建造的小型氧气浓缩器进行建模，以支持该项目。使用这些数学模型，我们将测试三种据称可以提高工艺性能的商业材料。该项目的独特之处在于开发和部署基于机器学习的优化工具，这些工具能够探索操作空间，以确定降低总体成本的操作条件。这将节省数千小时的工程劳动力以及测试不同材料的相关成本。建模工作的结果将首先在小规模系统上进行验证，然后扩大到商业仪器。使用机器学习工具来优化此类系统将是“同类首创”，将为 Benchmark 提供竞争优势，并使加拿大在节能流程、减少二氧化碳足迹和人工智能等关键领域受益。该项目还通过艾伯塔省创新园区艾伯塔省小企业参与计划寻求帮助。******