CO2 sequestration transformer cooling

Abstract

A CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100) includes a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) configured to couple to a high temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system (420) of a transformer (110) and / or to at least one of an air inlet (130) and an air outlet (140) of a cooling fan (120) of the transformer (110), the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is further configured to separate CO2 from ambient air, which is at least one of ambient air received into the air inlet (130) of the cooling fan (120) and ambient air exiting from the outlet (140) of the cooling fan (120).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments described herein generally relate to carbon dioxide (“CO2”) sequestration and / or capture. Background Art

[0002] Examples of commercial facilities for directly capturing carbon dioxide from the air include fans that push air through a filter system that collects CO2. In the case of filter saturation, the CO2 is separated at a high temperature (such as above 100 degrees Celsius) and can then be used for various applications such as vegetable cultivation, beverage carbonation, etc. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system that includes a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module configured to be coupled to at least one of an air inlet and an air outlet of a cooling fan of a transformer. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is further configured to separate CO2 from ambient air, which is at least one of the ambient air admitted into the air inlet of the cooling fan and the ambient air exiting from the outlet of the cooling fan.

[0004] One or more embodiments of the above aspects include one or more of the following: a housing having a housing air inlet and a housing air outlet, the housing air outlet being configured to be coupled to an air inlet of a cooling fan, wherein a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is disposed within the housing, and wherein ambient air is received at the air inlet of the housing and CO2-reduced air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is conveyed via the housing air outlet to the air inlet of the cooling fan; a housing having a housing air inlet and a housing air outlet, the housing air inlet being configured to be coupled to an air outlet of a cooling fan, wherein a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is disposed within the housing, and wherein ambient air is conveyed from the cooling fan through the air inlet of the housing and CO2-reduced air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is conveyed from the housing via the housing air outlet; the ambient air conveyed from the cooling fan to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is ambient air heated by a transformer, and wherein the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is configured to perform CO2 flushing at least in part based on the ambient air heated by the transformer; the cooling fan of the transformer is part of a compact cooler, particularly a compact oil-air cooler, and the cooling fan is configured to draw air from the compact cooler, particularly the compact oil-air cooler; the housing air inlet is configured to be coupled via an upstream cooling element to the air outlet of the cooling fan, and wherein ambient air is conveyed from the cooling fan through the cooling element and through the air inlet of the housing and CO2-reduced air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is conveyed from the housing via the housing air outlet; one or more heater units and a temperature control system, the one or more heater units being configured to heat the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module, the temperature control system being configured to control the one or more heater units to heat the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module to a desired setpoint temperature for flushing CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; the temperature control system is a control loop temperature control system; the control loop temperature control system includes a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature at the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; the control loop temperature control system includes a controller configured to compare the temperature sensed at the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module with a desired setpoint temperature for flushing CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module to determine whether the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module needs to be further heated by the one or more heater units to the desired setpoint temperature to flush CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module;The control loop temperature control system includes a cooling element temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature associated with the cooling element of the transformer, and a controller configured to monitor the cooling element temperature sensor to determine whether the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module needs to be further heated to a desired set point temperature by one or more heater units to flush CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is one of a membrane or solid material form; the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is a chemical CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; and / or the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is a combined membrane, solid, and / or chemical CO2 sequestration and / or capture module.;

[0005] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method that includes: admitting ambient air into a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module configured to be coupled to at least one of an air inlet and an air outlet of a cooling fan of a transformer; and separating CO2 from the ambient air using the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module, where the ambient air is at least one of the ambient air admitted into the air inlet of the cooling fan of the transformer and the ambient air exiting from the outlet of the cooling fan of the transformer.

[0006] One or more embodiments of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure include one or more of the following: receiving the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; comparing the received temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module with a desired flushing set point temperature; controlling one or more heater units to raise the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module to the desired set point temperature to flush CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; transmitting the ambient air heated by the transformer to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; optionally, heating the transmitted ambient air heated by the transformer to the desired set point temperature to flush CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; wherein the CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system is adjacent to the transformer, and the method further includes receiving power from the adjacent transformer at one or more heater units; and / or optionally, transferring heat from a high-temperature insulating liquid carrying waste energy (e.g., mineral oil, natural ester, synthetic ester, silicone fluid, LFH (non-flammable hydrocarbon), bio-based hydrocarbon) of the transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system to the CO2 capture module (170).

[0007] Additional aspects of the present disclosure relate to a CO2 capture cooling system that includes a CO2 capture module configured to be coupled to a high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system of a transformer and to at least one of an air inlet and an air outlet of a cooling fan of the transformer. The CO2 capture module is further configured to separate CO2 from ambient air, which is at least one of the ambient air admitted into the air inlet of the cooling fan and the ambient air exiting the outlet of the cooling fan.

[0008] One or more embodiments of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure include one or more of the following: a CO2 capture module high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system configured to be coupled to a transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system and configured to transfer heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid of the transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system to the CO2 capture module for CO2 desorption; the CO2 capture module high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system includes a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid of the transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system to the CO2 capture module for CO2 desorption; the CO2 capture module high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system further includes a high-temperature heat transfer liquid bath coupled to the heat exchanger for transferring additional heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid of the transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system to the CO2 capture module for CO2 desorption; the heat exchanger and the CO2 capture module are a CO2 capture and transformer insulating liquid heat exchange combined system; the heat exchanger is a compact cooler; and / or the CO2 capture and transformer insulating liquid heat exchange combined system includes one or more air windows to control air flow through the CO2 capture module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Details regarding both the structure and operation of the present disclosure can be gathered, in part, by studying the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:

[0010] Figure 1A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system configured to be coupled to a cooling fan of a transformer;

[0011] Figure 1B is a simplified schematic view of an embodiment of a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system;

[0012] Figure 1C is a simplified schematic view of an embodiment of a cooling system of a transformer;

[0013] Figure 2Is a perspective view of an embodiment of a CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system configured to be coupled to the air inlet of a cooling fan of a transformer;

[0014] Figure 3A Is a perspective view of an embodiment of a CO2 capture cooling system configured to be coupled to the air inlet of a typical compact insulated liquid-air cooler of a transformer, where the CO2 capture cooling system is upstream of the compact cooler and air flows through the CO2 capture module at ambient temperature;

[0015] Figure 3B Is a perspective view of an embodiment of a CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system configured to be coupled to the air outlet of a cooling fan of a transformer, particularly the air outlet of a typical compact insulated liquid-air cooler of a transformer. In particular, the CO2 capture cooling system is downstream of the compact cooler and air flows through the CO2 capture module at a higher temperature (e.g., typically 50 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius);

[0016] Figure 4A Is a perspective view of an embodiment of a CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system configured to be coupled to the air outlet of a cooling fan of a transformer via an upstream cooling element;

[0017] Figure 4B Is a perspective view of another embodiment of a CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system configured to be coupled to the air outlet of a cooling fan of a transformer via an upstream cooling element;

[0018] Figure 5 Is a perspective view of an embodiment of a CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system and a simplified schematic diagram of an embodiment of a temperature control system. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system is configured to be coupled to the air outlet of a cooling fan of a transformer via an upstream cooling element, and the temperature control system is configured to control one or more heater units to heat the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module to a desired set point temperature for flushing CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module;

[0019] Figure 6 Is a flowchart of an exemplary method of using a CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system;

[0020] Figure 7Is a perspective view of an embodiment of a CO2 capture cooling system configured to be coupled to a cooling fan of a transformer and further including a CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system configured to be coupled to a high temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system of the transformer;

[0021] Figure 8 Is Figure 7 An additional perspective view of the CO2 capture cooling system of , where the high temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system of the transformer (e.g., radiator type cooling system) is shown in more detail and the CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system is removed for clarity;

[0022] Figure 9 Is Figure 7 Another perspective view of the CO2 capture cooling system of , where an embodiment of the CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system is shown, which utilizes high temperature insulating liquid to remove CO2 from the adsorption material of the CO2 capture module during the desorption process;

[0023] Figure 10 Is Figure 7 Another perspective view of the CO2 capture cooling system of , where an additional embodiment of the CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system is shown, which shows a fan and radiator type cooling system, but in an alternative embodiment, the fan and radiator type cooling system is replaced by a fan and compact cooler type cooling system (such as Figure 3A Or Figure 3B The cooling system shown);

[0024] Figure 11A Is a perspective view of a combination of CO2 capture and a compact cooler for transformer insulating liquid;

[0025] Figure 11B Is an exploded perspective view of the combination of CO2 capture and a compact cooler for transformer insulating liquid of FIG. 11. Detailed Description

[0026] Generally referring to Figures 1A to 5 , embodiments of a CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system 100 for a power transformer (“transformer”) 110 will be described. The transformer 110 includes a cooling fan 120 having an air inlet 130 and an air outlet 140.

[0027] In Figure 1AIn the illustrated embodiment, the CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system 100 includes a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 that is configured to be coupled to at least one of an air inlet 130 and an air outlet 140 of a cooling fan 120 of a transformer 110. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is further configured to separate CO2 from ambient air, which is at least one of the ambient air admitted into the air inlet 130 of the cooling fan 120 and the ambient air exiting from the outlet 140 of the cooling fan 120.

[0028] Reference Figure 1B , the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is one of the following disposed within a housing 150: a membranous and / or solid material (e.g., particulate, pellet) CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 172; a chemical CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 174; and a membranous, solid, and / or chemical combined CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 176. The technical advantages of the solid CO2 capture material are easy handling, easy encapsulation, and / or a relatively small air pressure drop (due to imperfect stacking). The technical advantages of the chemical CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 174 are that it is a single unit or component capable of physically retaining CO2 and allowing CO2 flushing through a liquid splash or similar process, easy attachment to a container, easy manipulation and replacement, and easy visual inspection for maintenance. The technical advantages of the chemical CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 174 are high CO2 retention efficiency and easy cycling during the flushing process. Compared with other modules 172, 174, the technical advantages of the membranous, solid, and / or chemical combined CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 176 are that it includes a combination of the above technical advantages of modules 172, 174.

[0029] Reference Figure 1C, the cooling fan 120 can be part of a compact insulated liquid - air cooler 180 (in particular, an oil - air cooler 180) of the cooling system 184, or part of a radiator - fan type 182. The cooling system includes a transformer cooling element (e.g., a radiator) 190 through which ambient air is passed, thereby generating transformer - heated ambient air. The transformer - heated ambient air can be partially used to raise the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to a desired set - point temperature (e.g., about 100 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius) in order to flush CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. Although 100 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius is provided as an example of the desired set - point temperature, the desired set - point temperature can fluctuate with the adsorbent efficiency. The hot air at the inlet point of the capture module 170 can also minimize the effect of moisture in the air, which is more prevalent than CO2, thereby reducing the need to separate the captured CO2 from the captured moisture. As used herein, hot air is air that is above ambient temperature (e.g., above 15 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius).

[0030] Specific reference Figure 2 , an embodiment of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system 100 includes a housing 150 having an air inlet 160 and an air outlet 162 configured to be coupled to the air inlet 130 of a cooling fan 120 of a transformer 110. Ambient air is received in the air inlet 160 of the housing 150, and the CO2 - reduced air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is conveyed through the housing air outlet 162 to the air inlet 130 of the cooling fan 120. In a manner described, for example but not limited to, in more detail below with respect to Figure 5 , CO2 is flushed out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 by raising the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to a desired flush set - point temperature. The flushed - out CO2 can be supplied and / or directed to a CO2 storage / sequestration system, as Figure 2 indicated schematically at the bottom by a cylinder in Figure 2 . The flushed - out CO2 can be used, for example but not limited to, the following purposes: buried in the ground after mixing with water; compressed and / or bottled for commercial use (e.g., chemical industry, carbonated beverages, pharmaceuticals); used for stone shaping / growth through carbon mineralization (e.g., rocks that react with CO2); and CO2 - optimized greenhouses for plant growth. The technical advantage of this embodiment is the use of an already - operating cooling fan 120 to pass air through the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 and sequester and / or capture CO2.

[0031] Reference Figure 3A andFigure 3B , additional embodiments of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system 100 will be described.

[0032] In Figure 3A , the housing air outlet 162 is configured to be coupled to the air inlet 130 of the cooling fan 120 such that air flows through the housing 150 at ambient temperature and the CO2-reduced air at ambient temperature from the CO2 capture module 170 flows out of the housing air outlet 162. The CO2-reduced air at ambient temperature can be heated by the transformer cooling element 190 of the transformer 110 and leave the cooling fan 140 at the air outlet 140.

[0033] In Figure 3B , the housing air inlet 160 is configured to be coupled to the air outlet 140 of the cooling fan 120, and wherein ambient air is conveyed from the cooling fan 120 through the air inlet 160 of the housing 150 and the CO2-reduced air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is conveyed from the housing 150 via the housing air outlet 162. In this embodiment, the ambient air conveyed from the cooling fan 120 to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is ambient air heated by the transformer, which is heated by the transformer cooling element 190 of the transformer 110, particularly to a temperature typically between 50 degrees Celsius and 60 degrees Celsius, and is discharged or sucked out of the transformer 110 by the cooling fan 120. Optionally, CO2 is first captured from the air, and then, after the material is saturated, in the manner described in more detail below with respect to Figure 5 , particularly Figures 5 to 11B , the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is raised to a desired flush setpoint temperature by at least partially based on the ambient air heated by the transformer, and / or more efficiently by raising the temperature of the already hot insulating liquid to the desired setpoint temperature, to flush CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. The technical advantage of this embodiment is that the ambient air conveyed from the cooling fan 120 to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 and / or the hot insulating liquid at the entry point of the cooling system is at a temperature significantly higher than the ambient temperature, thereby reducing the need for additional energy to raise the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to the desired flush setpoint temperature, particularly the desired CO2 capture and flush setpoint temperature.

[0034] Refer to Figure 4A and Figure 4B, Further embodiments of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system 100 include a housing air inlet 160 configured to be coupled to the air outlet 140 of the cooling fan 120 via an upstream transformer cooling element 190 of the transformer 110, and wherein ambient air is conveyed from the cooling fan 120 through the transformer cooling element 190 and through the air inlet 160 of the housing 150, and the CO2-reduced air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is conveyed from the housing 150 via the housing air outlet 162. In the manner described in more detail below with respect to Figure 5 , in particular Figures 5 to 11B , the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is raised to a desired purge setpoint temperature by at least partially basing on ambient air heated by the transformer and / or transformer high-temperature insulating liquid, to purge CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. In Figure 4A , the cooling fan(s) 120 may be disposed laterally / horizontally with respect to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 and / or the radiator, while in Figure 4B , the cooling fan 120 may be disposed vertically with respect to the radiator and the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 (e.g., disposed below). The technical advantage of this embodiment, in particular these embodiments, is that the air conveyed from the cooling fan 120 to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170, in particular ambient air, is at a temperature significantly higher than the ambient temperature, thereby minimizing the effect of moisture captured with the CO2 and / or reducing the need for additional energy to raise the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to the desired purge setpoint temperature.

[0035] Referring to Figure 5 , the CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system 100 (which the CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system may be Figures 1A to 4BAny embodiment) includes a temperature control system 200 configured to control heating of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to a desired setpoint temperature 214, where CO2 is flushed out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. The illustrated temperature control system 200 is a control loop temperature control system 200 that includes a temperature sensor 210 and / or a cooling element temperature sensor 220 configured to sense the actual temperature at the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 (the actual temperature 212 in the system where CO2 is flushed out), and the cooling element temperature sensor is configured to sense the temperature associated with the transformer cooling element 190 of the transformer 110 (e.g., the temperature of the insulating liquid, particularly a relatively high-temperature insulating liquid). The controller 230 is configured to compare the temperature sensed at the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 with the desired flush setpoint temperature 214 and / or monitor the cooling element temperature sensor 220 to determine whether the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 needs to be further heated to the desired setpoint temperature 214 by one or more heater units 232 (e.g., electric heaters such as resistance heating units, immersion heaters and control systems, and / or heat tracing and control systems, etc.) to flush CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. The controller 230 may include one or more circuits, one or more processors, and / or one or more electrical components (e.g., relay 234, comparator 236) to control one or more heater units 232 to heat the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to the desired flush setpoint temperature 214. In an example where the heater unit 232 is an electric heater unit, electrical power is supplied from the adjacent transformer 110 to one or more heater units 232. In Figures 3A to 4B In an embodiment of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system 100, since the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 can be raised to the desired flush setpoint temperature 214 at least in part based on the transformer-heated ambient air and / or based on the high-temperature insulating liquid, less heat or electrical power is required to be supplied from the transformer 110 to one or more heater units 232 to raise the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to the desired flush setpoint temperature 214. The technical advantage of the temperature control system 200 is that it optimizes the method 240 described below such that both the CO2 sequestration and / or capture and the CO2 flushing process are carried out at the desired flush setpoint temperature 214. Referring to Figure 6 , a method 240 of using the CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system 100 will now be described. In block 250, the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 receives ambient air, which is received by the cooling fan 120 of the transformer 110 (or Figure 3A or Figure 3Bat least one of ambient air in the air inlet 130 of the compact cooler) and ambient air exiting the outlet 140 of the cooling fan 120 of the transformer. In block 260, the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 separates CO2 from ambient air that is admitted to the cooling fan 120 of the transformer 110 (or Figure 3A or Figure 3B at least one of ambient air in the air inlet 130 of the compact cooler) and ambient air exiting the outlet 140 of the cooling fan 120 of the transformer. In other embodiments, one or more of the operations shown in blocks 270 through 320 may be performed. In block 270, the controller 230 receives the temperature 212 of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. In block 280, the controller 230 compares the received temperature 212 of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 with a desired flush setpoint temperature 214. In block 290, the controller 230 controls one or more heater units 232 to raise the temperature 212 of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to the desired setpoint temperature 214 to flush CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. In block 300, the transformer-heated ambient air and / or high-temperature insulating liquid / heat transfer liquid is transferred to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. In block 310, the transferred transformer-heated ambient air and / or high-temperature insulating liquid / heat transfer liquid is heated to the desired setpoint temperature 214 to flush CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. In block 320, one or more heater units 232 receive power from the adjacent transformer 110.

[0036] Reference Figure 7 , another embodiment of a CO2 capture cooling system 400 for a transformer 110 to remove CO2 from air will be described. Similar to the CO2 capture cooling system 100, the CO2 capture cooling system 400 includes a CO2 capture module 170 that is configured to be coupled to at least one of the air inlet 130 and the air outlet 140 of the cooling fan 120 of the transformer 110. The CO2 capture module 170 is also configured to be coupled to a CO2 capture module high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system ("CO2 HTS") 410, which is configured to be coupled to a transformer cooling system or a transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system ("T HTS") 420 of the transformer 110. As used herein, high-temperature insulating liquids include mineral oil, natural esters, synthetic esters, silicone fluids, LFH (non-flammable hydrocarbons), bio-based hydrocarbons, or other high-temperature insulating liquids that are above ambient temperature (e.g., above 15 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius). Incorporated herein is the description of Figures 1A to 6 the CO2 capture cooling system 100 and the temperature control system / method.

[0037] Reference Figure 8 shows, in more detail, a high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system 420 of a transformer. The high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system 420 of the transformer includes a heat exchanger 430, a high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440, and a low-temperature oil outlet 450. The high-temperature insulating liquid for transferring heat from the transformer 110 to cool the transformer 110 enters the heat exchanger 430 at the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 (e.g., at about 80 degrees Celsius to 90 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit to 194 degrees Fahrenheit)), and then leaves the heat exchanger 430 at the low-temperature insulating liquid manifold 450. One or more cooling fans 120 blow air through the heat exchanger 430, thereby cooling the high-temperature insulating liquid passing through the heat exchanger 430 and heating the air that will be conveyed to the CO2 capture module 170. As Figure 7 shown, in an alternative embodiment, the CO2 capture module 170 may be coupled to at least one of an air inlet 130 and an air outlet 140 of a cooling fan 120 (or Figure 3A or Figure 3B a compact cooler) of the transformer 110.

[0038] Reference Figure 9, which more particularly shows an embodiment of the CO2 capture module high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 460. The CO2 capture module high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 460 includes a CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 and a conduit 480 that couples to ports 490, 500 of the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440. High-temperature insulating liquid carrying waste energy (e.g., at about 80 degrees Celsius to 90 degrees Celsius) from the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 is transferred via the conduit 480 to the CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 and transferred from the CO2 capture module heat exchanger. The CO2 capture module high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 460 transfers heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid of the transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system 420 to the CO2 capture module 170 via the CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 and the conduit 480 for CO2 desorption. The high-temperature insulating liquid carrying waste energy in the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 can leave the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440, then enter the CO2 capture module high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 460 at port 490, and then return from the CO2 capture module high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 460 to the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 at port 500. By using the high-temperature insulating liquid carrying waste energy from the transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system 420 to heat the CO2 capture module 170 to a setpoint temperature desired for CO2 capture material desorption (e.g., about 100 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit to 248 degrees Fahrenheit)) to flush CO2 out of the CO2 capture module 170, there is less need for energy from other sources (the energy used to raise the temperature of the CO2 capture module 170 to the desired setpoint temperature to release CO2 for storage for CO2 desorption and thus flush CO2 out of the CO2 capture module 170). The use of waste heat transforms the CO2 capture cooling system 400 into an economically viable investment. In a conventional system, the "typical" energy consumption per ton of CO2 ranges from about 1500 kilowatt-hours per ton, while using the CO2 capture cooling system 400 reduces the energy consumption per ton of CO2 to 360 kilowatt-hours per ton (a reduction of about 75%). The CO2 capture module 170 needs to operate at near ambient temperature (or at a temperature far below the desorption temperature (e.g., in the range of 100 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius)) to capture CO2. The flushed CO2 can leave the CO2 capture module 170 at the outlet 510 and pass through one or more conduits 520 for storage in a container 530 (e.g., for future use) or for other applications.

[0039] In an alternative embodiment, the CO2 capture module 170 can be coupled to at least one of an air inlet 130 and an air outlet 140 of a cooling fan 120 of the transformer 110.

[0040] Reference Figure 10, which more particularly shows additional embodiments of the high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 550 of the CO2 capture module. The high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 550 of the CO2 capture module includes a high-temperature heat transfer liquid bath type heat transfer circulation system 560 and a CO2 capture module heat exchanger circulation system 570.

[0041] The high-temperature heat transfer liquid bath type heat transfer circulation system 560 includes a high-temperature heat transfer liquid bath 580 and conduits 480 that are coupled to ports 490, 500 of the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 and are coupled to the CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470.

[0042] The CO2 capture module heat exchanger circulation system 570 includes a CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 and conduits 480 that are coupled to the end port 590 of the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 and the end port 600 of the low-temperature insulating liquid manifold 450.

[0043] The high-temperature insulating liquid carrying waste energy from the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 (e.g., at about 80 degrees Celsius to 90 degrees Celsius) is transferred to the CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 (which can be a conventional cooler and includes a fan 605), and returns to the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 via the conduit 480. The high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 550 of the CO2 capture module transfers heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid of the transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system 420 to the CO2 capture module 170 via the CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 and the conduit 480 until the desired set point temperature for CO2 desorption (e.g., about 100 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius) is reached. If additional heat is needed to raise the CO2 capture module 170 to the desired set point temperature (e.g., about 100 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius) for CO2 release / for CO2 desorption, the high-temperature insulating liquid from the high-temperature heat transfer liquid bath 580 (e.g., at 100 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius) is transferred to the CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 via the high-temperature heat transfer liquid bath type heat transfer circulation system 560.

[0044] The flushed-out CO2 can be withdrawn from the CO2 capture module 170 via a vacuum pump 620, leave the CO2 capture module 170 at the outlet end 510, pass through one or more conduits 520 to a condenser 630 to remove moisture, and then be conveyed via a compressor 640 for various applications (e.g., connection to a CO2 pipeline, underground injection, bottled transportation, local storage tank storage). In an alternative embodiment, the CO2 capture module 170 can be coupled to at least one of the air inlet 130 and the air outlet 140 of the cooling fan 120 of the transformer 110.

[0045] Although the CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 550 is shown associated with a fan and radiator, in alternative embodiments, the CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 550 is applied to Figure 3A and / or Figure 3B the compact cooler shown.

[0046] Reference Figure 11A and Figure 11B will describe embodiments of a CO2 capture and transformer insulating liquid heat exchanger combined system 650 including a CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 and a CO2 capture module 170. The CO2 capture and transformer insulating liquid heat exchanger combined system 650 includes a housing 660 having sidewalls 670 and end walls 680. The housing 660 houses the CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 (which may be a compact cooler), and includes an inlet 690 along one of the end walls 680 of the CO2 capture module heat exchanger circulation system 570, and also includes an inlet 710 and an outlet 720 along one of the end walls 680 of the high temperature heat transfer liquid bath type heat transfer circulation system 560. The CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 transfers heat from the transformer insulating liquid (e.g., high temperature insulating liquid) to a separate heat transfer liquid which in turn circulates through the adsorbent material of the CO2 capture module 170 for CO2 desorption. A vacuum connection 730 for withdrawing CO2 from the CO2 capture module 170 via a vacuum pump 620 is located along the opposite end wall 680. The sidewalls 670 may include control perforations / air inlets 740 for supplying air to a transformer cooling system to remove heat from the insulating liquid. The inner wall is a metal structure or a mechanical rolling shutter provided with louvers 750 on both sides to control the air inlet 740 and seal a chamber 760 for the vacuum and CO2 extraction / desorption phases. The louvers 750 allow a vacuum to be established in the CO2 capture module 170 when closed, while taking advantage of the high temperature brought by the circulation of the high temperature heat transfer liquid around the adsorbent material to assist in extracting CO2 from the adsorbent material.

[0047] The method of using the CO2 capture cooling system 400 and controlling the heating of the CO2 capture module 170 to a desired set point temperature 214 is the same as that described herein with respect to the CO2 capture cooling system 100 and Figure 5 and Figure 6The method described and shown, which is incorporated herein by reference. A high-temperature heat transfer liquid circulates in the high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer systems 460, 550 of the CO2 capture module, and heat is transferred from the circulating high-temperature heat transfer liquid to the CO2 capture module 170. Since the high-temperature insulating liquid operates in the range of 70 degrees Celsius to 90 degrees Celsius, the CO2 capture module 170 requires much less energy to reach the exemplary range of 100 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius for removing CO2 during the desorption process compared to simply delivering transformer-heated ambient air to the CO2 capture module 170. After flushing out CO2 from the CO2 capture material, the circulation of the high-temperature heat transfer liquid in the high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer systems 460, 550 of the CO2 capture module is stopped until the CO2 capture module 170 is heated to the desired set point temperature for the next cycle after flushing out CO2 from the CO2 capture module 170 and removing CO2 from the CO2 capture module 170. In some applications, the CO2 capture material may need to operate at ambient temperature to remove CO2 from the air (adsorption process), while other materials may need to operate at about 50 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius during the capture phase. All systems require a higher temperature (e.g., 100 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius) to remove the captured CO2 from the material (desorption process).

[0048] The foregoing description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Thus, it should be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent the current preferred embodiments of the present invention and thus represent the subject matter broadly contemplated by the present invention. It should be further understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may be obvious to those skilled in the art, and thus the scope of the present invention is not limited.

[0049] Combinations described herein, such as "at least one of A, B, or C", "one or more of A, B, or C", "at least one of A, B, and C", "one or more of A, B, and C", and "A, B, C, or any combination thereof", include any combination of A, B, and / or C and may include multiple A's, multiple B's, or multiple C's. Specifically, combinations such as "at least one of A, B, or C", "one or more of A, B, or C", "at least one of A, B, and C", "one or more of A, B, and C", and "A, B, C, or any combination thereof" can be A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, and any such combination can include one or more members of its constituent elements A, B, and / or C. For example, the combination of A and B can include one A and multiple B's, multiple A's and one B, or multiple A's and multiple B's.

Claims

1. A CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400), comprising: A CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170), the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module being configured to be coupled to at least one of an air inlet (130) and an air outlet (140) of a cooling fan (120) of a transformer (110), and optionally coupled to a high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system (420) of the transformer (110), the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) further being configured to separate CO2 from ambient air, the ambient air being at least one of the ambient air admitted into the air inlet (130) of the cooling fan (120) and the ambient air exiting from the outlet (140) of the cooling fan (120).

2. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to claim 1, further comprising: A housing (150), the housing having a housing air inlet (160) and a housing air outlet (162), the housing air outlet being configured to be coupled to the air inlet (130) of the cooling fan (120), wherein the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is disposed within the housing (150), and wherein the ambient air is admitted into the housing air inlet (160) of the housing (150), and the CO2-reduced air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is conveyed to the air inlet (130) of the cooling fan (120) via the housing air outlet (162).

3. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to claim 1, further comprising: A housing (150), the housing having a housing air inlet (160) and a housing air outlet (162), the housing air inlet being configured to be coupled to the air outlet (140) of the cooling fan (120), wherein the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is disposed within the housing (150), and wherein the ambient air is conveyed through the housing air inlet (160) of the housing (150) from the cooling fan (120), and the CO2-reduced air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is conveyed from the housing (150) via the housing air outlet (162).

4. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to claim 3, wherein, The ambient air conveyed from the cooling fan (120) to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is ambient air heated by the transformer, and wherein the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is configured to perform CO2 flushing at least partially based on the ambient air heated by the transformer.

5. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to claim 3, wherein, The cooling fan (120) of the transformer (110) is part of a compact cooler (180), and the cooling fan (120) is configured to draw air from the compact cooler (180).

6. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to claim 3, wherein, The housing air inlet (160) is configured to be coupled to the air outlet (140) of the cooling fan (120) via an upstream cooling element (190), and wherein the ambient air is conveyed from the cooling fan (120) through the cooling element (190) and through the air inlet (160) of the housing (150), and the CO2-reduced air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is conveyed from the housing via the housing air outlet (162).

7. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to claim 1, further comprising: One or more heater units (232) and a temperature control system (200), the one or more heater units being configured to heat the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170), the temperature control system being configured to control the one or more heater units (232) to heat the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) to a desired setpoint temperature for flushing CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170).

8. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to claim 7, wherein, The temperature control system (200) is a control loop temperature control system (200).

9. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) as claimed in claim 8, wherein, The control loop temperature control system (200) includes a temperature sensor (210) configured to sense the temperature at the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170).

10. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to claim 9, wherein, The control loop temperature control system (200) includes a controller (230) configured to compare the temperature sensed at the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) with the desired setpoint temperature for flushing CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) to determine whether the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) needs to be further heated by the one or more heater units (232) to the desired setpoint temperature for flushing CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170).

11. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to claim 10, wherein, The control loop temperature control system (200) includes a cooling element temperature sensor (220) configured to sense the temperature associated with the cooling element (190) of the transformer (110), and the controller (230) is configured to monitor the cooling element temperature sensor (220) to determine whether the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) needs to be further heated by the one or more heater units (232) to the desired setpoint temperature for flushing CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170).

12. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (172) that is either membranous or solid.

13. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is a chemical CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (174).

14. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is a membranous, solid, and / or chemically combined CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (176).

15. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: A high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system (460, 550) for the CO2 capture module, configured to be coupled to the high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system (420) of the transformer, and the high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system (460, 550) for the CO2 capture module is configured to transfer heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid of the high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system (420) of the transformer to the CO2 capture module (170) for CO2 desorption.

16. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to claim 15, wherein, The high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system (460, 550) for the CO2 capture module includes a heat exchanger (470), configured to transfer heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid of the high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system (420) of the transformer to the CO2 capture module (170) for CO2 desorption.

17. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to claim 16, wherein, The high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system (460, 550) for the CO2 capture module further includes a high-temperature heat transfer liquid bath (580), coupled to the heat exchanger (470), for transferring additional heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid of the high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system (420) of the transformer to the CO2 capture module (170) for CO2 desorption.

18. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to claim 16 or 17, wherein, The heat exchanger (470) and the CO2 capture module (170) are a combined system (650) of a CO2 capture and transformer insulating liquid heat exchanger.

19. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein, The heat exchanger (470) is a compact cooler.

20. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) as described in claim 18 or claim 19 when dependent on claim 18, wherein, The combined system (650) of a CO2 capture and transformer insulating liquid heat exchanger includes one or more air vents (750) to control the flow of air over the CO2 capture module (170).

21. A method, comprising: Admitting ambient air into a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170), the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module being configured to be coupled to at least one of an air inlet (130) and an air outlet (140) of a cooling fan (120) of a transformer (110); And Using the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) to separate CO2 from the ambient air, the ambient air being at least one of the ambient air admitted into the air inlet (130) of the cooling fan (120) of the transformer (110) and the ambient air exiting from the outlet (140) of the cooling fan (120) of the transformer.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: Receiving the temperature (212) of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170); Comparing the received temperature (212) of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) with a desired flushing set point temperature (214); Controlling one or more heater units (232) to raise the temperature (212) of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) to the desired set point temperature (214) to flush CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170).

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising: Transmitting transformer-heated ambient air to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170), and optionally heating the transmitted transformer-heated ambient air to the desired set point temperature (214) to flush CO2 out of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170).

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein, The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) is adjacent to the transformer (110), and the method further comprises: Receiving power at the one or more heater units (232) from the adjacent transformer (110).

25. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 24, further comprising: Transferring the heat of the high-temperature insulating liquid carrying waste energy from the transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system to the CO2 capture module (170).

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