Global warming, mining and drilling, the greenhouse effect – they’re in the news all the time. The environment is something that's at the forefront of politics and our future, and efforts are being made in response. Countries are adopting stringent emission reductions and energy product development companies are always working to improve operations to meet not only federal regulations but society's expectations.
Where does engineering come in?
Engineering is at work for the environment in many ways. For example, for years, CO2 separation has been applied in oil and coal gasification and natural gas processing to reduce this greenhouse gas to levels acceptable by countries and regulatory agencies.
Sorbates can be used to “scrub” gaseous products, removing the unwanted CO2. However, naturally found sorbates have their limitations. Sorbates are defined as a material that has been or is capable of being taken up by another substance through absorption or adsorption. Those that are adsorbates are known as zeolites. They form as crystalline deposits along alkaline groundwater where volcanic rock and ash layers are found. As a result, they are often contaminated by other metals or minerals that hinder their separation abilities, leaving them with little industrial value.
Man-made zeolites?
Is it possible to synthesize zeolites that do not contain contaminants and impurities? Yes, it is. Pure synthesized zeolites can be created to separate CO2 gas, without the issues. However, the zeolite discovery process is often done in a manual process that can be time consuming and cumbersome.
Scientists must combine elements in various proportions, coordinating the mixing with timed rinsing operations to ensure the zeolite is pure.
Introducing automation
For one client, Tecnova was able to hasten this process using automated technology.
Through electronics prototyping and electronic product development, we automated a zeolite discovery process that consists of measurement and control of baths, heaters, analyzers, and various control devices. Off-the-shelf National Instruments products were chosen to communicate with external instrumentation to add speed and precision to the chemical process.
The benefits:
- The process is highly repeatable. The management of process valves and flows, and the setting of temperatures and pressures, can be easily replicated for ongoing production.
- The process is faster. With less human involvement, more zeolites can be created at once, ultimately allowing for more zeolites to be in use scrubbing the greenhouse gases.
- The process is automated. Small adjustments in the chemical makeup can be made automatically to ensure the purity of the zeolites, without user interaction.
Using National Instruments and third-party devices, we created a highly precise automated system for creating synthetic zeolites that can remove greenhouse CO2 from natural gases and meet stringent emission standards. This innovative technology allows this client to keep pace with environmental watchdogs, industry demands, and government regulations.
How could automated processes improve the environment for your industry?
