Carbon dioxide capture systems and methods

Abstract

A carbon dioxide separation system includes a compressor for receiving an exhaust gas comprising CO2 and generate a compressed exhaust gas and a separator configured to receive the compressed exhaust gas and generate a CO2 lean stream. The separator includes a first flow path for receiving the compressed exhaust gas, a second flow path for directing a sweep fluid therethrough, and a material with selective permeability of carbon dioxide for separating the first and the second flow paths and for promoting carbon dioxide transport therebetween. The system further includes an expander coupled to the compressor for receiving and expanding the CO2 lean stream to generate power and an expanded CO2 lean stream.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 564,912, Docket Number 207795-1, entitled “CARBON DIOXIDE CAPTURE SYSTEMS AND METHODS,” filed Nov. 30, 2006, which application is herein incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] This invention relates generally to carbon capture and more specifically to methods and systems for capturing carbon dioxide.

[0003] Before carbon dioxide (CO2) gas can be sequestered from power plants and other point sources, it must be captured in a relatively pure form. On a mass basis, CO2 is the nineteenth largest commodity chemical in the United States, and CO2 is routinely separated and captured as a byproduct of industrial processes such as synthetic ammonia production, hydrogen (H2) production or limestone calcination.

[0004] Existing CO2 capture technologies, however, are not cost-effective when considered in the context of sequestering CO2 from power plants. Most power plants...

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