Development of a semi-automated ZLC system for rapid screening of adsorbents for carbon capture

U.S. Department of Energy and the National Energy Technology Laboratory led by UOP (Award No. DEFC26- 07NT43092).In this dissertation a novel ZLC setup has been developed as part of a DOE-funded grant in collaboration with UOP, to provide rapid screening of novel adsorbent materials for carbon capture (CC). The key features of the new apparatus that was developed are: the use of 5-15 mg of sample and a dual detector system – a thermal conductivity detector (TCD) for single component measurements and a mass spectrometer for studying the influence of water and other impurities. Improvements over previous ZLC apparatuses include: 1. Extension to lower flowrates, i.e. < 3 cc/min, thereby reducing consumption of gases and allowing to run the system under equilibrium control conditions; 2. A new gas dosing system that allows the use of vapours without a chilled bath and bubbler system; 3. A new switching valve system, which prevents leakages; 4. Automated series of experiments, which are implemented using Labview. The new ZLC technique was first applied to provide rapid screening capacity ranking of more than 15 MOF materials from the open literature and three typical zeolites for carbon capture. At the point of interest for flue gas application (38°C, 0.1 bar CO2 partial pressure), Mg/DOBDC was found to outperform significantly all other MOFs and benchmark zeolites at the point of interest in low pressure physisorption of CO2. The ZLC was also used to investigate steaming on Ni/DOBDC as well as see the effect of forming powders into pellets. The new ZLC system also enables one to measure micropore and macropore diffusivity. Experiments were carried out on both powders and pellets of typical MOFs and zeolites. For Co/DOBDC crystals, since the system is close to equilibrium control even at the highest flow rate, a low limit of diffusivity can be estimated. For all the formed samples of Ni/DOBDC and 13X pellets, the results indicate that mass transfer is controlled by macropore diffusion. The ZLC technique can also estimate realistic void fraction and tortuosity values for the pellets. The new ZLC technique was applied to study the stability on the MOF M/DOBDC series. The preliminary water tests showed that all M/DOBDC samples are highly hydrophilic. Therefore in a process design using these MOFs, we conclude that there is a needs to use a guard bed layer to adsorb water or use a gas drying unit before the CO2 capture section of the plant. The ZLC system appears to be extremely useful to accelerate the deactivation of samples due to SOX and NOX impurities. The key advantages are based on the fact that the treatment can be repeated in situ, in a relatively simple way using a very small sample. The results show that in the presence of impurities and water the candidate MOFs undergo significant deactivation. The Ni based material shows the best resistance to degradation. This result indicates further that there would be a need for a drying unit prior to the carbon capture adsorption process

Development of a Semiautomated Zero Length Column Technique for Carbon Capture Applications:Rapid Capacity Ranking of Novel Adsorbents

A novel zero length column (ZLC) apparatus has been developed to provide rapid screening of CO₂ capacities of adsorbent materials. The key features of the new apparatus are the use of 5–15 mg of sample, a purposely designed gas-dosing system, and low flow rates that extend the use of the ZLC to test adsorbents for postcombustion for carbon capture applications. The new ZLC system was first applied to provide rapid screening capacity ranking of more than 15 MOF materials and three representative zeolites. At the point of interest for flue gas application (38 °C, 0.1 bar CO₂ partial pressure), Mg/DOBDC was found to outperform significantly all other MOFs and the benchmark zeolites

Analysis of geothermal potential in Hangjiahu area based on remote sensing and geographic information system

Geothermal resources are one of the most valuable renewable energy sources because of their stability, reliability, cleanliness, safety and abundant reserves. Efficient and economical remote sensing and GIS (Geographic Information System) technology has high practical value in geothermal resources exploration. However, different study areas have different geothermal formation mechanisms. In the process of establishing the model, which factors are used for modeling and how to quantify the factors reasonably are still problems to be analyzed and studied. Taking Hangjiahu Plain of Zhejiang Province as an example, based on geothermal exploration and remote sensing interpretation data, the correlation between the existing geothermal hot spots and geothermal related factors was evaluated in this paper, such as lithology, fault zone distance, surface water system and its distance, seismic point distance, magmatic rock and volcanic rock distance, surface water, farmland, woodland temperature and so on. The relationship between geothermal potential and distribution characteristics of surface thermal environment, fault activity, surface water system and other factors was explored. AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) and BP (Back Propagation) neural network were used for establishing geothermal potential target evaluation models. The potential geothermal areas of Hangjiahu Plain were divided into five grades using geothermal exploration model, and most geothermal drilling sites were distributed in extremely high potential areas and high potential areas. The results show that it is feasible to analyze geothermal potential targets using remote sensing interpretation data and geographic information system analysis databased on analytic hierarchy process analytic hierarchy process and back propagation neural network, and the distribution characteristics of surface thermal environment, fault activity, surface water system and other related factors are also related to geothermal distribution. The prediction results of the model coincide with the existing geothermal drilling sites, which provides a new idea for geothermal exploration

Development of a semi-automated ZLC system for rapid screening of adsorbents for carbon capture

In this dissertation a novel ZLC setup has been developed as part of a DOE-funded grant in collaboration with UOP, to provide rapid screening of novel adsorbent materials for carbon capture (CC). The key features of the new apparatus that was developed are: the use of 5-15 mg of sample and a dual detector system – a thermal conductivity detector (TCD) for single component measurements and a mass spectrometer for studying the influence of water and other impurities. Improvements over previous ZLC apparatuses include: 1. Extension to lower flowrates, i.e. < 3 cc/min, thereby reducing consumption of gases and allowing to run the system under equilibrium control conditions; 2. A new gas dosing system that allows the use of vapours without a chilled bath and bubbler system; 3. A new switching valve system, which prevents leakages; 4. Automated series of experiments, which are implemented using Labview. The new ZLC technique was first applied to provide rapid screening capacity ranking of more than 15 MOF materials from the open literature and three typical zeolites for carbon capture. At the point of interest for flue gas application (38°C, 0.1 bar CO2 partial pressure), Mg/DOBDC was found to outperform significantly all other MOFs and benchmark zeolites at the point of interest in low pressure physisorption of CO2. The ZLC was also used to investigate steaming on Ni/DOBDC as well as see the effect of forming powders into pellets. The new ZLC system also enables one to measure micropore and macropore diffusivity. Experiments were carried out on both powders and pellets of typical MOFs and zeolites. For Co/DOBDC crystals, since the system is close to equilibrium control even at the highest flow rate, a low limit of diffusivity can be estimated. For all the formed samples of Ni/DOBDC and 13X pellets, the results indicate that mass transfer is controlled by macropore diffusion. The ZLC technique can also estimate realistic void fraction and tortuosity values for the pellets. The new ZLC technique was applied to study the stability on the MOF M/DOBDC series. The preliminary water tests showed that all M/DOBDC samples are highly hydrophilic. Therefore in a process design using these MOFs, we conclude that there is a needs to use a guard bed layer to adsorb water or use a gas drying unit before the CO2 capture section of the plant. The ZLC system appears to be extremely useful to accelerate the deactivation of samples due to SOX and NOX impurities. The key advantages are based on the fact that the treatment can be repeated in situ, in a relatively simple way using a very small sample. The results show that in the presence of impurities and water the candidate MOFs undergo significant deactivation. The Ni based material shows the best resistance to degradation. This result indicates further that there would be a need for a drying unit prior to the carbon capture adsorption process.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceU.S. Department of Energy and the National Energy Technology Laboratory led by UOP (Award No. DEFC26- 07NT43092)GBUnited Kingdo

Clinical Application of CT-guided Preoperative Pulmonary Nodule Localization Technique

Background and objective It’s difficult to localize the accurate position for some pulmonary nodules in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) wedge resection. The aim of this study is to retrospectively analyze the clinical significance of CT-guided preoperative pulmonary nodule localization technique. Methods Between Jan 2010 and Apr 2011, 20 patients of the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Zhejiang University underwent preoperative pulmonary nodule localization technique before performing VATS wedge resection of the pulmonary nodule. Diameter of the lesion ranges from 0.5 cm to 2 cm (average 9.8 cm±5.3 cm). It was evaluated with the success rate in localization technique, rate of localization related complications, and rate of transferring thoracotomy. Results Eighteen patients underwent successful CT-guided Hookwire localization, with the average time of 14.5 minutes. There was no serious complications. Conclusion CT-guided preoperative pulmonary nodule localization is a promising technique for small solitary pulmonary nodules. It could play an important role in accurate localization of small pulmonary nodules, and it is a safe technique with less postoperative complications

Applications of Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Small Pulmonary Nodules

Background and objective Chest computed tomography (CT), particularly thin-slice high resolution CT, has low sensitivity and specificity for detecting pulmonary nodules <10 mm in size. This limitation leads to challenges in clinical diagnosis and treatment of small pulmonary nodules. This study introduces the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for the diagnosis and treatment of small pulmonary nodules. Methods From November 2009 to May 2012, 64 patients with small pulmonary nodules without prior preoperative pathologic diagnosis were treated by pulmonary wedge resection through VATS. The diagnosis of small pulmonary nodules was established from rapid frozen section. The type of operation depends on the pathology and the condition of the patients. Twenty patients with primary lung cancer were subjected to lobectomy and radical resection of the lymph nodes by complete thoracospic lobectomy or video-assisted thoracoscopic invasive lobectomy. Pulmonary wedge resection was performed in 44 patients, among whom 21 have benign nodule, 18 have precancerous lesion, 3 have metastatic nodule, and 2 have primary lung cancer for which lobectomy was not fit. Results Confirmative diagnosis is difficult to obtain among patients with small pulmonary nodules. VATS is effective in the diagnosis and treatment of small pulmonary nodules. With VATS, patients with benign small pulmonary nodules can be cured, and patients with primary lung cancer can receive definite diagnosis and effective treatment in time. Conclusion CT-guided hook-wire fixation is useful in precise lesion localization for surgical resection