Ammonia-water refrigeration
Written by John Tyson

Ammonia-Water Refrigeration

Those who are new to this concept would be surprised to know that this is one of the oldest forms of refrigeration. Though it is old, industries don’t see Ammonia-water refrigeration as an outdated method; it is being used extensively. 

Most average consumers don’t know that all that the food and drinks we consume are kept under ammonia refrigeration technology. Now that explains how reliable and effective this technology is. There’s not a thing to worry about or be skeptical about it.

 

Ammonia-Water Refrigeration: The Definition

The definition is pretty simple. As the name suggests, it’s a refrigeration system that uses ammonia. For those who don’t know, ammonia is a chemical used to absorb heat from one surface and transfer it to the other. On the other hand, Concentrated ammonia is much colder and a better option to keep things cold for a longer period. 

The refrigerators that we have in our homes use chemicals like CFCs and Freon. Both chemicals are proven to be pretty destructive for our environment and don’t come in cheap. 

Ammonia-water refrigeration is quite an old concept that goes back to 1850s France. Later, the system was brought to the United States in 1860. With time things changed, and by the 1900s, ammonia-powered refrigerators got a green flag for commercial usage. The system was especially used to create ice blocks, keep food and beverage cold, and chemical production. 

Later the chemical started being a crucial element in air conditioner solutions for both industrial and household settings. Though it was used globally back then, ammonia is no longer being used these days. However, it is still under operation in many industries as an ultimate cooling solution. 

 

Some Hazards to Keep In Mind

You got to have proper safety equipment while using ammonia-powered refrigerators since that stuff is pretty cold. If you get exposed to it as little as 300 parts per million in the air, you are most likely to end up with disastrous health issues. Ammonia is a highly corrosive chemical that can leave long-term problems on the skin and eye. 

 

Benefits of Ammonia-Water Refrigeration

It works exactly like every other vapor-compression refrigeration system. The only difference is the presence of ammonia, as it helps to remove the heat from the area and transfers it to others. Consider investing in acid gas removal solutions for better results. 

With proper safety measures, you can expect things to run butter-smooth. These refrigeration units offer so many advantages compared to those that are powered with CFC and HFC. Here’s a list of some benefits that are worth checking out. 

Pocket friendly 

There’s much less need for piping – making it less expensive to make. You can expect to pay 10-20% less for ammonia-powered refrigeration solutions. 

Ozone friendly

Unlike HFCs and CFCs responsible for ozone depletion, ammonia is not harmful to the ozone layer. 

Energy efficient 

Compared to CFCs, ammonia refrigerators consume much less energy – resulting in lower electricity bills. 

Cheaper Chemical 

Ammonia is less expensive than chemicals like CFCs, which explains the reason why industries prefer using Ammonia-water refrigeration 

 

In the End

If you feel like you’ve learned something of value from this post, do let us know by leaving a comment down below. And if you are looking forward to purchasing ammonia-powered refrigerators and acid gas removal solutions, make sure to check us out at Sep-Pro Systems. 

 

Biomass processing
Written by John Tyson

Biomass Processing: A Major Breakthrough You Should Lookout For

Biomass, for those who don’t know, is an organic material directly from animals and plants. You’d be surprised to know that back in the 1800s, it was said to be the most crucial element for the U.S.A energy consumption. Though times have changed, biomass continues to be a major part of energy in many countries worldwide. It is being used extensively for cooking and heating, mostly in developing countries.

Biomass processing has made itself a crucial aspect in developed countries as it is being used for transportation and electricity generation. Now, you must be thinking, “what makes it an exceptional source of energy?” Well, the answer to that question is pretty simple and straightforward. You see, biomass acts like storage that contains chemical energy from the sun. Having such property in its arsenal makes it quite versatile, which is why it can be burned directly for heat or converted into gaseous fuels through a handful of processes.

Thermal conversion 

This process involves heating the biomass to stabilize and dehydrate it. Feedstocks like lumber mills and paper scrap are often used in this process. Different types of energy are created from different methods.

Here are some biomass processing techniques you should know about:

–       Pyrolysis

This is a heating biomass method at temperatures as high as 200 to 300 degrees Celsius and that too without oxygen. The motive is to keep it from combusting. The process produces a dark liquid called pyrolysis oil, syngas, and biochar. All three of these components can be used to produce energy.

Pyrolisis oil is related to tar, which can be combusted to create electricity.

Syngas is mostly converted into methane and a replacement for natural gas.

As the name suggests, Biochar is charcoal used in the agricultural industry. It helps to enrich the soil, acting as a repellent against pests.

–       Direct firing 

As the name suggests, it involves the burning of charcoal directly; the steam produced in this process is used to power up turbines, which helps in electricity production.

Speaking of energy, Naphtha Reformer is being used quite extensively to produce high-octane gasoline.

Biomass is often co-burned with fossil fuel. This process is pretty substantial as it eases the need for more coal, reducing the carbon footprint and other greenhouse gases.

–       Gasification 

Gasification is the only process through which biomass can be converted into energy directly. In this process, the biomass is heated at 700 degrees Celsius with a limited amount of oxygen. The heat leads to the breakdown of molecules, producing slag and Syngas.

Syngas is a combination of carbon monoxide and hydrogen for those who don’t know, which later gets cleaned off from sulfur, mercury, and other pollutants during gasification.

–       Anaerobic decomposition 

Anaerobic Decomposition is one of the most important and complex aspects of landfills and biomass processing. In this process, instead of oxygen, bacteria do the job of breaking down materials. It is where biomass is crushed and compressed, producing an anaerobic environment.

In this environment, the decaying process begins, which leads to the production of methane, a valuable energy source. It is expected that methane will replace fossil fuels in the coming times.

 

In the End

Being one of the most crucial aspects of energy production, biomass processing has made itself a topic. With such importance latched to it, companies like Sep-Pro Systems are doing their best to offer the world best-in-class and cost-effective solutions that provide nothing but accuracy and reliability.

We hope this article helped you understand the basic aspect of biomass. If you feel like you’ve learned something of value, do let us know.

 

 

CO2 removal from natural gas
Written by John Tyson

How To Do CO2 Removal From Natural Gas Using Membrane Based Systems?

 

CO2 is contained in natural gas and has to be separated to satisfy requirements to supply the gas to the pipeline in certain areas. It is extremely beneficial to have a simple process technology available to be deployed in rural, unattended, or offshore situations. In addition to competitive capital and operational costs, ease of operation, rapid start-up, and high on-stream variables are needed. Don’t worry; we are here to help you with CO2 removal from natural gas methods.

Membrane gas treatment systems offer a safe and effective alternative for removing water vapor and carbon dioxide from natural gas, especially in remote areas. Membrane structures are highly adaptable to the requirements of varying gas quantities, CO2 concentrations, and/or product-gas.

Membrane-based systems from MTR give a simple, affordable, lightweight approach to lessen the CO2 content of natural gas. These novel membranes’ unique polymer chemistry is better than conventional membranes in evading natural gas’s diverse components. The membranes require the least gas pretreatment and create a very definite separation response, with higher than 95% hydrocarbon recovery.

 

Advantage of using Membrane For Carbon Dioxide:

  • Reduction Membranes (CO2):
  • Versatility Availability
  • Customizability
  • Pleasant with the world
  • Quick to run

 

Use of Membrane Separation for CO2 removal from natural gas:

  • Pressures over 450 PSIG running
  • Presence of Electricity
  • Restraints on room and weight

 

Process of CO2 Removal:

Carbon dioxide membranes run on the principle of selective permeation. Each gas element has a particular permeation rate. The movement of permeation is defined by the rate at which a component dissolves into the membrane surface and the rate at which it spreads through the membrane.

Components with more eminent diffusion rates (such as CO2, H2, and H2S) filter quicker than components with lower diffusion rates by the membrane module including N2, C1, C2, and more complex hydrocarbons. For example, carbon dioxide is a “fast” gas that is more porous than methane. The carbon dioxide will penetrate through the fiber as a stream composed of these two gases touches the membrane. We also manufacturers the devices for the Absorption refrigeration process.

Absorption refrigeration

These membranes are employed to provide pipeline CO2 specifications of 4 mol percent or more limited or bulk CO2 elimination. Using the membrane method of MTR minimizes needed deck space and weight in offshore installations due to these membranes’ high fluxes and effective module packing.

 

Benefits:

  • Restricted pretreatment due to the robust chemistry of the membrane
  • Special concept of a process to optimize complete recovery of hydrocarbons
  • Decreased CO2 content to the appropriate requirements (<2 mol percent or optimal levels)
  • The robust, proven efficiency of the membrane at high CO2 levels
  • No periodic repairs, no moving parts, planned for remote unmanned service.
  • High-efficiency packaging decreases weight and space, making the units suitable for offshore applications.
  • Easy installs that are low-cost. In certain cases, the construction of single skid systems will take hours.
  • Elevated on-stream periods maximize sales.

 

Endings!

Sep-Pro Systems are the best contractor and creator for CO2 removal from natural gas. Contact us for any such help as we create corresponding dehydration units.