CO2 Absorbent Regeneration system for Vessel

Abstract

The present invention provides a regeneration system for a carbon dioxide adsorbent for ships, comprising: an adsorption unit for adsorbing carbon dioxide; an ejector that generates low pressure to desorb carbon dioxide adsorbed in the adsorption unit and uses carbon dioxide as a motive fluid; a first guide unit that forms a flow path connecting the adsorption unit to the ejector; and a second guide unit that forms a flow path through which the motive fluid is discharged from the ejector; wherein the carbon dioxide inside the adsorption unit moves to the ejector through the first guide unit, and then moves to the second guide unit via the ejector.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a carbon dioxide adsorbent regeneration system for ships, and more specifically, to a carbon dioxide adsorbent regeneration system for ships capable of efficiently separating carbon dioxide in an adsorption section to regenerate the carbon dioxide adsorbent. Background Technology

[0002] Generally, engines installed on ships generate power by burning fuel, and the exhaust gases produced during the combustion process include nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon dioxide, and unburned methane. As air pollution increases, regulations on various hazardous substances contained in exhaust gases are becoming stricter, and not only nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides but also carbon dioxide are subject to emission regulations by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN agency. In fact, the IMO is currently pursuing a goal to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, by 70% by 2040 and by 100% by 2050, based on 2008 figures.

[0003] The Vacuum Pressure Swing Absorption (VPSA) method, a carbon dioxide capture process using an adsorbent, requires creating near-vacuum pressure conditions in the adsorption tower to desorb the adsorbed carbon dioxide; a typical method involves using a vacuum pump. However, while the application of a vacuum pump has minimal impact on the existing system's process, it leads to an excessive increase in the amount of energy required by the system.

[0004] In addition to vacuum pumps, there is also a method of using ejectors, but ejectors require the introduction of a separate driving fluid, which significantly affects the process. Prior art (Republic of Korea Registered Patent: 253155) discloses a technology using ejectors. Taking the commonly used steam ejector as an example, not only is a separate system for steam supply required, but there is also a problem that a separate component must be used to remove steam because a large amount of steam is mixed in the product discharged from the ejector. The problem to be solved

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and provides a regeneration system for a ship's carbon dioxide adsorbent capable of efficiently desorbing carbon dioxide from the adsorption section. means of solving the problem

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a regeneration system for a carbon dioxide adsorbent for ships, comprising: an adsorption unit in which carbon dioxide is adsorbed; an ejector that generates a low pressure to desorb the carbon dioxide adsorbed in the adsorption unit and uses the carbon dioxide as a motive fluid; a first guide unit that forms a flow path connecting the adsorption unit to the ejector; and a second guide unit that forms a flow path through which the motive fluid is discharged from the ejector; wherein the carbon dioxide inside the adsorption unit moves to the ejector through the first guide unit, and then moves to the second guide unit via the ejector.

[0007] It is possible to further include a gas-liquid separator connected to the second guide section, and to separate the liquid and gas in the gas-liquid separator to reduce the contained moisture.

[0008] It is possible to further include a storage tank in which carbon dioxide separated from the adsorption unit is stored.

[0009] It is possible to further include a third guide that supplies the boil-off gas (BOG) generated in the storage tank to the ejector.

[0010] It further includes a compressor that supplies carbon dioxide compressed in the ejector as a driving fluid, and carbon dioxide discharged from the second guide can be guided to the compressor and compressed.

[0011] It is possible to further include a cooling device for cooling the carbon dioxide compressed in the above compressor.

[0012] The above adsorption unit may include a first adsorption unit and a second adsorption unit, and may include a first valve that opens and closes a flow path connected to the first guide unit by the first adsorption unit, and a second valve that opens and closes a flow path connected to the first guide unit by the second adsorption unit.

[0013] If either of the first valve or the second valve opens the flow path, the other can close the flow path.

[0014] When carbon dioxide is adsorbed in either the first adsorption part or the second adsorption part, it is possible to desorb carbon dioxide in the other.

[0015] It is possible to further include a vacuum pump disposed in the path connecting the first guide section and the second guide section without passing through the above-mentioned ejector.

[0016] It is possible to supply carbon dioxide as a driving fluid to the above-mentioned ejector and to further include an auxiliary tank in which carbon dioxide is stored. Effects of the invention

[0017] The present invention can improve the regeneration efficiency of a carbon dioxide adsorbent by creating an environment in which carbon dioxide can be efficiently desorbed from the adsorption section.

[0018] In addition, the present invention utilizes an ejector and uses carbon dioxide as the driving fluid. Since the carbon dioxide desorbed from the adsorption section within the ejector is mixed with the driving fluid (carbon dioxide) and discharged, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the fluid discharged from the ejector is high, making it easy to process when storing carbon dioxide.

[0019] In addition, by utilizing the boil-off gas (BOG) generated from the carbon dioxide storage tank as a motive fluid, it is possible to secure additional motive fluid flow while simultaneously processing the boil-off gas. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the carbon dioxide adsorption process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the process of carbon dioxide being desorbed from the adsorption section and the adsorbent being regenerated according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the process of increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide inside the adsorption unit by supplying carbon dioxide to the adsorption unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the process of adsorption and desorption at each of the adsorption parts according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the process of operation in a situation where the driving fluid is insufficient in the first or second embodiment. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0021] A preferred embodiment of the present invention capable of specifically realizing the above objectives will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0022] In this process, the size or shape of components depicted in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. Additionally, terms specifically defined in consideration of the configuration and operation of the present invention may vary depending on the intent or convention of the user or operator. Definitions of such terms should be based on the content throughout this specification.

[0023] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the carbon dioxide adsorption process according to the first embodiment.

[0024] First, the entire system according to the first embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 1.

[0025] A marine carbon dioxide adsorbent regeneration system comprises an adsorption section (10) in which carbon dioxide is adsorbed, an ejector (20) that generates low pressure to desorb carbon dioxide adsorbed in the adsorption section (10) and uses carbon dioxide as a motive fluid, a first guide section (30) that forms a flow path connecting the adsorption section (10) to the ejector (20), and a second guide section (40) that forms a flow path through which the motive fluid is discharged from the ejector (20).

[0026] The above adsorption unit (10) may include two adsorption units (12, 16), and it is also possible to have two or more adsorption units.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, the process of carbon dioxide being adsorbed on the adsorption part (10) is explained.

[0028] Exhaust gas discharged from an engine, etc., is provided with a movable path in each adsorption part, and each path includes a valve (14, 18), and the valve (14, 18) can open and close the path.

[0029] The valve (14, 18) opens the path through which the exhaust gas travels so that the exhaust gas can be moved to the adsorption unit (12, 16). The exhaust gas contains carbon dioxide, which is supplied to the adsorption unit (12, 16), and through a reaction with the adsorbent provided in the adsorption unit, the carbon dioxide can be adsorbed onto the adsorbent.

[0030] carbon dioxide adsorbents

[0031] At this time, the valve (121, 161) opens the flow path so that carbon dioxide is adsorbed in the adsorption section (12, 16) and exhaust gas from which carbon dioxide has been removed is discharged from the adsorption section (12, 16).

[0032] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the process in which carbon dioxide adsorbed on the adsorbent in the adsorption section is desorbed from the adsorbent and the adsorbent is regenerated according to the first embodiment.

[0033] The process of regenerating the adsorbent may mean that carbon dioxide captured in the adsorbent of the adsorption unit (10) is desorbed, thereby restoring the ability of the adsorbent to capture carbon dioxide again.

[0034] The present embodiment includes a compressor (60) that supplies carbon dioxide compressed in the ejector (20) as a driving fluid, and a storage tank (70) in which carbon dioxide separated from the adsorption unit (10) is stored. Carbon dioxide discharged from the second guide unit (40) is guided to the compressor (60) and compressed.

[0035] Additionally, a cooling device (80) for cooling the carbon dioxide compressed in the compressor (60) is provided. The cooling device (80) may include a separate compressor, a separate heat exchanger, and a separate gas-liquid separator as detailed components. With such a configuration, the carbon dioxide discharged from the compressor (60) can be cooled and stored in the storage tank (70).

[0036] Referring to FIG. 2, the process of carbon dioxide being desorbed from the adsorption unit (10) and the adsorbent being regenerated is explained.

[0037] The carbon dioxide compressed in the compressor (60) is supplied to the ejector (20), and as its speed increases, it can become the motive fluid of the ejector (20). At this time, a valve (13, 17) that opens and closes the flow path connecting the adsorption unit (10) and the first guide unit (30) opens the flow path, thereby creating an environment in which carbon dioxide is desorbed from the adsorbent inside the adsorption unit (10). Inside the adsorption unit (10), a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, preferably a pressure similar to a vacuum, is formed by the ejector (20), and the carbon dioxide from the adsorption unit (10) is mixed with the carbon dioxide, which is the motive fluid, through the first guide unit (30) and guided to the ejector (20). The carbon dioxide used as the motive fluid and the carbon dioxide desorbed from the adsorption unit (10) are mixed with each other, discharged from the ejector (20), and guided to the second guide unit (40).

[0038] That is, carbon dioxide inside the adsorption unit (10) moves to the ejector (20) through the first guide unit (30), and then moves to the second guide unit (40) via the ejector (20).

[0039] In the gas-liquid separator (50) connected to the second guide section (40), the liquid and gas are separated to reduce the contained moisture. The fluid guided to the gas-liquid separator (50) may contain moisture, but as it passes through the gas-liquid separator (50), the liquid is drained, and the moisture in the gas discharged from the gas-liquid separator (50) can be reduced.

[0040] Unlike an ejector that uses steam as the driving fluid, the present invention uses carbon dioxide as the driving fluid, so a separate process for separating steam may not be required. Since an additional process for separating carbon dioxide and steam is not required, the size of the gas-liquid separator (50) can be reduced compared to the size of the gas-liquid separator connected to the steam ejector.

[0041] The carbon dioxide discharged from the above gas-liquid separator (50) is guided to the above compressor (60), and compression is performed by the above compressor (60).

[0042] The compressor (60) may be a general compressor used in the ship's liquefaction process. The ship's liquefaction process may include a process for generating high-pressure carbon dioxide. Since high-pressure carbon dioxide is generated in the ship's liquefaction process, the high-pressure carbon dioxide produced in the liquefaction process can be used as the driving fluid for the ejector. By using the high-pressure carbon dioxide as the driving fluid for the ejector (20), the concentration of carbon dioxide in the liquefaction process increases, thereby increasing the efficiency of carbon dioxide treatment in the desorption process and the liquefaction process.

[0043] Some of the carbon dioxide compressed by the compressor (60) is cooled by the cooling device (80) and then stored in the storage tank (70). The cooling device (80) is driven by a separate refrigerant, and the carbon dioxide can be cooled as the heat exchanger of the cooling device (80) and the carbon dioxide discharged from the compressor (60) exchange heat with each other.

[0044] Meanwhile, some of the carbon dioxide compressed by the compressor (60) is supplied to the ejector (20) rather than the storage tank (70). The carbon dioxide supplied to the ejector (20) functions as a driving fluid, and the internal pressure of the ejector (20) is lowered so that carbon dioxide can be desorbed from the adsorption unit (10).

[0045] In addition, a third guide section (72) is provided to supply the boil-off gas (BOG) discharged from the storage tank (70) to the ejector (20). Through the third guide section (72), the boil-off gas is moved to the ejector (20) and can be used as the driving fluid of the ejector (20). Since the pressure of the storage tank (70) is high, the speed of movement of the discharged boil-off gas can be fast. For example, the speed of movement of the boil-off gas can be fast enough to be sufficiently utilized as the working fluid of the ejector (20). The boil-off gas discharged from the storage tank (70) can be supplied to the ejector (20) at a high pressure even without being compressed by a compressor or the like.

[0046] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the process of increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide inside the adsorption unit by supplying carbon dioxide to the adsorption unit according to the first embodiment.

[0047] Before performing a regeneration process as shown in Fig. 2, the carbon dioxide concentration inside the adsorption unit can be increased to increase the concentration of carbon dioxide extracted during the desorption process, thereby improving the carbon dioxide storage efficiency.

[0048] This embodiment includes a supply unit (90) that supplies gaseous carbon dioxide discharged from the gas-liquid separator (50) to the adsorption unit (10).

[0049] When the process shown in Fig. 3 is performed, the flow path of the supply unit (90) is opened so that carbon dioxide gas is supplied to the adsorption unit (10). Additionally, the valve (121, 161) that discharges gas from the adsorption unit (10) closes the flow path so that gaseous carbon dioxide is supplied to the adsorption unit (10).

[0050] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the process of adsorption and desorption on a plurality of adsorption parts according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, parts that are identical or similar to those in the first embodiment are omitted, and the technical details that differ are explained mainly.

[0051] Figure 1 describes a process in which carbon dioxide adsorption occurs simultaneously at two adsorption units (12, 16) or carbon dioxide desorption occurs simultaneously at two adsorption units (12, 16).

[0052] In FIG. 4, unlike FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the two adsorption parts are divided into a first adsorption part (12) and a second adsorption part (16), and the first valve (13) that opens and closes the flow path connected to the first guide part (30) of the first adsorption part (12) and the second valve (17) that opens and closes the flow path connected to the first guide part (30) of the second adsorption part (16) are explained separately.

[0053] In FIG. 4, an adsorption reaction for adsorbing carbon dioxide is performed in the first adsorption unit (12), and a desorption reaction for desorbing carbon dioxide is performed in the second adsorption unit (16). To perform this process, the first valve (13) can close the flow path, and the second valve (17) can open the flow path.

[0054] That is, if either the first valve (13) or the second valve (17) opens the flow path, the other can close the flow path.

[0055] By implementing the system so that an adsorption reaction takes place in one of the two adsorption units and a desorption reaction takes place in the other, the desorption and adsorption reactions of carbon dioxide can be carried out continuously within the vessel. If only the adsorption reaction is performed continuously, the carbon dioxide adsorption efficiency of the adsorbent equipped in the adsorption unit decreases over time. Therefore, in this embodiment, different reactions are implemented in multiple adsorption units so that each reaction can be carried out continuously without interruption.

[0056] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the process of operation in a situation where the driving fluid is insufficient in the first or second embodiment.

[0057] Since the ejector (20) uses carbon dioxide as the driving fluid, in order to achieve a sufficiently low pressure in the ejector (20), the driving fluid, i.e., carbon dioxide, must be supplied in sufficient quantities. However, in the initial stages of driving the ejector (20), the amount of carbon dioxide compressed from the compressor (60) may be insufficient.

[0058] In this case, it is possible to use a vacuum pump (100) placed in a path connecting the first guide section (30) and the second guide section (40) without passing through the ejector (20).

[0059] Alternatively, it is also possible to supply carbon dioxide as a driving fluid to the ejector (20) and use an auxiliary tank (110) in which carbon dioxide is stored.

[0060] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and as can be seen from the appended claims, modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, and such modifications fall within the scope of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0061] 10: Adsorption part 12: First adsorption part 16: Second adsorption section 20: Ejector 30: 1st Information Department 40: 2nd Information Department 60: Compressor 70: Storage tank

Claims

Claim 1 A regeneration system for a carbon dioxide adsorbent for a ship, comprising: an adsorption section for adsorbing carbon dioxide; an ejector that generates low pressure to desorb carbon dioxide adsorbed in the adsorption section and uses carbon dioxide as a motive fluid; a first guide section that forms a flow path connecting the adsorption section to the ejector; and a second guide section that forms a flow path through which the motive fluid is discharged from the ejector; wherein the carbon dioxide inside the adsorption section moves to the ejector through the first guide section, then moves to the second guide section via the ejector, and further comprises a compressor that supplies the carbon dioxide compressed in the ejector as a motive fluid, and wherein the carbon dioxide discharged from the second guide section is guided to the compressor and compressed. Claim 2 A shipboard carbon dioxide adsorbent regeneration system according to claim 1, further comprising a gas-liquid separator connected to the second guide section, wherein the gas-liquid separator separates liquid and gas to reduce the contained moisture. Claim 3 A shipboard carbon dioxide adsorbent regeneration system, further comprising a supply unit that guides the gas separated in the gas-liquid separator to the adsorption unit in paragraph 2. Claim 4 A shipboard carbon dioxide adsorbent regeneration system according to claim 1, further comprising a storage tank in which carbon dioxide separated from the adsorption unit is stored. Claim 5 A shipboard carbon dioxide adsorbent regeneration system according to claim 4, further comprising a third guide section for supplying boil-off gas (BOG) generated in the storage tank to the ejector. Claim 6 delete Claim 7 A shipboard carbon dioxide adsorbent regeneration system according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling device for cooling carbon dioxide compressed in the compressor. Claim 8 A shipboard carbon dioxide adsorbent regeneration system according to claim 1, wherein the adsorption unit comprises a first adsorption unit and a second adsorption unit, and the first adsorption unit comprises a first valve that opens and closes a flow path connected to the first guide unit, and the second adsorption unit comprises a second valve that opens and closes a flow path connected to the first guide unit. Claim 9 A shipboard carbon dioxide adsorbent regeneration system according to claim 8, characterized in that when either the first valve or the second valve opens the flow path, the other closes the flow path. Claim 10 A ship carbon dioxide adsorbent regeneration system according to claim 8, characterized in that when carbon dioxide is adsorbed in either the first adsorption unit or the second adsorption unit, carbon dioxide is desorbed in the other. Claim 11 A shipboard carbon dioxide adsorbent regeneration system according to claim 1, further comprising a vacuum pump disposed in a flow path connecting the first guide section and the second guide section without passing through the ejector. Claim 12 A shipboard carbon dioxide adsorbent regeneration system according to claim 1, wherein carbon dioxide is supplied as a driving fluid to the ejector and further comprises an auxiliary tank in which carbon dioxide is stored.

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