SBIR Phase II: Modular Oxygen Enrichment Device to Improve Combustion Efficiency

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目将开发一种创新的模块化富氧系统。可以接受的是，周期时间的缩短可以导致吸附分离系统的质量同时减少。然而，超快循环系统总是会带来机械和物理上的挑战。具体地说，限制因素是机械部件的使用寿命和吸附系统的微扩散速度。该项目将通过用电动泵取代机械阀，并利用从根本上提高扩散速率的微型吸附结构来消除这些限制。传统的空分设备质量/产量比较低，这导致成本较高。含氧空气燃烧提供了显著节省燃料和其他环境效益的可能性。这项研究的广泛影响不仅是提高燃烧效率可以节省燃料，而且还适用于氧气是速度限制因素的其他过程。燃料电池、水产养殖、生物质转化和水处理也将从这项可出口的技术中受益。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop an innovative modular oxygen enrichment system. It is accepted that the reduction of cycle time can lead to a concurrent decrease in the mass of a sorptive separation system. However, ultra-rapid-cycle systems invariably create mechanical and physical challenges. Specifically, limiting factors are the operational lifetime of the mechanical components, and the micro diffusion rate of the adsorbent system. This project will remove these limitations by replacing mechanical valves with electro-kinetic pumps, and by utilizing microscale adsorbent structures that radically improve diffusion rates.Conventional air separation units exhibit a poor mass/output ratio, which contributes to high cost. Oxy-air combustion offers the possibility of significant fuel savings and other environmental benefits. The broad impact of this research is not only fuel savings attainable from improved combustion efficiency, but also application to other processes where oxygen is the rate limiting factor. Fuel cells, aquaculture, biomass conversion, and water treatment will also profit from this exportable technology.