Device for directly capturing carbon dioxide in air by using cooling tower

Abstract

The utility model discloses a device for directly capturing carbon dioxide in air by using a cooling tower. The device comprises a circulating water cooling tower, a heat exchange system, an externally-hung capturing device and a CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration system, the external hanging type capturing device is mounted on the side wall above an air inlet of the circulating water cooling tower, the heat exchange system is connected with the circulating water cooling tower, and the CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration system is connected with the external hanging type capturing device. The device has the advantages that CO2 in the air can be captured by means of existing industrial facilities, the construction cost of DAC core equipment is greatly reduced, and the energy consumption is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of directly capturing carbon dioxide in the air, in particular to a device that utilizes a cooling tower to directly capture carbon dioxide in the air. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the new concept of direct air capture (DAC) has gradually attracted attention. As a "carbon sink" technology different from "carbon emission reduction", DAC can effectively remove existing CO2 in the atmosphere. Compared with traditional carbon emission reduction technology, it has the advantages of wide application scenarios, flexible site selection, and is not limited to emission sources.

[0003] Direct air capture technology is the main development trend of carbon sinks in the future. Large air contactors are the core equipment of DAC technology. Their function is to promote air flow to ensure the source of carbon dioxide. Compared with flue gas capture, the CO2 content in the air is lower, which means that in the same period of time, the difference in the amount of CO2 contacted by the two is nearly 380 times. Therefore, from an engineering perspective, in order to maintain a large amount of CO2 capture, the volume and quantity of air contactors cannot be effectively controlled. This large-scale facility that requires additional construction consumes a lot of resources and has a long cost recovery period, which is one of the important reasons restricting the development of DAC technology. Utility Model Content

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to provide a device for directly capturing carbon dioxide in the air by using a cooling tower in view of the above shortcomings, which can realize the capture of CO2 in the air by relying on existing industrial facilities, greatly reduce the construction cost of DAC core equipment (air contactor), and reduce energy consumption.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the utility model adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A device for directly capturing carbon dioxide in the air using a cooling tower, comprising a circulating water cooling tower, a heat exchange system, an external capture device, and a CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration system;

[0007] The external capture device is installed on the side wall above the air inlet of the circulating water cooling tower, the heat exchange system is connected to the circulating water cooling tower, and the CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration system is connected to the external capture device.

[0008] Furthermore, the circulating water cooling tower includes a cooling tower body, in which a water collecting tank, a packing layer, a spray system and a fan are arranged from bottom to top. The water collecting tank is arranged below the packing layer, the spray system is above the packing layer, and the fan is arranged at the air outlet at the top of the tower body.

[0009] Furthermore, a cooling tower air inlet is provided on the cooling tower body, and the cooling tower air inlet is arranged between the spray system and the water collection tank.

[0010] Furthermore, the heat exchange system is connected to the spray system and the water collection tank through a pipeline; a delivery centrifugal pump is provided on the pipeline between the heat exchange system and the water collection tank.

[0011] Furthermore, the external capture device includes an external device water collection tank, an external device filler layer and an external device spray system. The external device water collection tank is arranged below the external device filler layer, and the external device spray system is arranged above the external device filler layer.

[0012] Furthermore, the air inlet of the external capture device is located between the external device spray system and the external device water collection tank, and is flush with the external device filler layer.

[0013] Furthermore, the CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration system includes a CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration device, and the CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration device is connected to a carbon dioxide release pipeline.

[0014] Furthermore, the inlet of the CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration device is connected to the external device water collection tank through a liquid inlet pipeline, and the outlet of the CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration device is connected to the external device spraying system through a liquid outlet pipeline.

[0015] Furthermore, the liquid inlet pipeline is provided with a first valve, a first centrifugal pump and a pH detector, the liquid outlet pipeline is provided with a second centrifugal pump, and a second valve is provided between the liquid inlet pipeline and the liquid outlet pipeline.

[0016] The utility model adopts the above technical solution, and compared with the prior art, has the following technical effects:

[0017] 1. The external capture device of the utility model uses the same set of fans as the main tower, which reduces energy consumption.

[0018] 2. In the utility model, the external capture device is separated from the circulating water circuit used by the main tower. The absorption liquid is sprayed down through the nozzle inside the external capture device, and contacts with the air that passes through the filler in the countercurrent, thereby absorbing carbon dioxide in the air. Because it is separated from the main circulating water circuit, the concentration and pH value of the absorption liquid can be freely adjusted as needed, and the ion concentration in the main circulating water will not be affected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific implementation of the utility model or the technical solution in the prior art, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for the specific implementation or the prior art description. In all the drawings, similar elements or parts are generally identified by similar reference numerals. In the drawings, each element or part is not necessarily drawn according to the actual scale.

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a device for directly capturing carbon dioxide in the air by using a cooling tower in the utility model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Embodiment 1, as Figure 1 As shown, a device for directly capturing carbon dioxide in the air using a cooling tower includes a circulating water cooling tower, a heat exchange system 7, an external capture device, and a CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration system.

[0022] The circulating water cooling tower comprises a cooling tower body 1, in which a water collecting tank 2, a packing layer 3, a spray system 4 and a fan 5 are arranged from bottom to top. The water collecting tank 2 is arranged below the packing layer 3, the spray system 4 is above the packing layer 3, and the fan 5 is arranged at the air outlet at the top of the tower body.

[0023] The cooling tower body 1 is provided with a cooling tower air inlet, which is arranged between the spray system 4 and the water collecting tank 2. The packing layer 3 has a good gas-liquid exchange function to promote circulating water cooling.

[0024] The heat exchange system 7 is a circulating water system served by a circulating water cooling tower. The cooling tower body 1 cools the circulating water in the heat exchange system. The heat exchange system 7 is connected to the spray system 4 and the water collection tank 2 through a pipeline. A delivery centrifugal pump 6 is provided on the pipeline between the heat exchange system 7 and the water collection tank 2.

[0025] The external capture device relies on a circulating water cooling tower to capture CO2 in the air. The external capture device includes an external device water collection tank 8, an external device packing layer 9 and an external device spray system 10. The external device water collection tank 8 is arranged below the external device packing layer 9, and the external device spray system 10 is arranged above the external device packing layer 9.

[0026] The external device water collection tank 8 is used to collect carbon dioxide absorption liquid, the external device filler layer 9 allows the air and the absorption liquid to fully contact, and the external device spray system 10 sprays the liquid; the air inlet of the external capture device is located between the external device spray system 10 and the external device water collection tank 8, and is flush with the external device filler layer 9, that is, the gas enters the cooling tower through the external device filler layer 9 and is discharged from the air outlet; the external capture device is installed on the side wall above the air inlet of the cooling tower, and does not affect the normal air intake of the cooling tower.

[0027] The CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration system includes a CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration device 15, which is connected to a carbon dioxide release pipeline 17. The inlet of the CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration device 15 is connected to an external device water collection tank 8 through an inlet pipeline 18. The inlet pipeline 18 is provided with a first valve 14, a first centrifugal pump 12 and a pH detector 11. The outlet of the release and absorption liquid regeneration device 15 is connected to an external device spray system 10 through an outlet pipeline 19. The outlet pipeline 19 is provided with a second centrifugal pump 16. A second valve 13 is provided between the inlet pipeline 18 and the outlet pipeline 19.

[0028] The pH of the absorption liquid loaded with CO2 is measured by a pH detector, and the centrifugal pump transports the absorption liquid loaded with CO2 through a valve to the CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration device 15. The absorption liquid releases CO2 and is regenerated in the device 15 and is transported to the spray system 10.

[0029] The specific process of CO2 capture is as follows:

[0030] Step 1, open the first centrifugal pump 12 and the first valve 14, the carbon dioxide capture liquid is sprayed through the external device spray system 10, and flows through the external device packing layer 9 from top to bottom under the action of gravity; at the same time, turn on the cooling tower fan 05, the air enters the cooling tower body from the cooling tower air inlet, and flows through the packing layer 03 from bottom to top, at the same time, another part of the air will enter from the external device air inlet and flow horizontally through the external device packing layer 9.

[0031] Step 2: The air flow and the carbon dioxide capture liquid flow are fully contacted in the packing layer 9 of the external device to capture CO2 in the air; after repeating this process for 12 to 48 hours, the absorbent aqueous solution has basically reached the capture saturation state.

[0032] Step 3. Continue the capture reaction process for 48 hours, take 10 mL samples at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours, and use a pH detection system and an ion chromatograph to measure the pH and CO2 loading of the samples, respectively; if either the CO2 loading or the pH value is met, it can be judged that the absorbent aqueous solution is saturated.

[0033] Depending on the absorbent concentration, the CO2 load after saturation is different.

[0034] CO2 release and capture liquid regeneration include the following steps:

[0035] Step 4: Transport the captured liquid saturated with carbon dioxide to the CO2 release and absorbent regeneration device

[0036] When the pH detection system detects that the pH is less than or equal to 10.5, the first valve 14 on the CO2 capture liquid input pipeline is opened, and the second valve 13 leading to the spray system is closed. The carbon dioxide saturated capture liquid (rich liquid) is transported to the CO2 release and absorbent regeneration system 15 through the first centrifugal pump 12;

[0037] Step 5, capture solution regeneration

[0038] After the capture liquid is regenerated, the first valve 14 and the second valve 13 are opened, and the liquid is transported to the spray system 10 through the second centrifugal pump 16 for a second reaction. When all the liquid in the CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration device 15 is transported to the external device, the second centrifugal pump 16 is closed and waits for the next capture cycle.

[0039] The description of the present invention is given for the purpose of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the disclosed form. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments are selected and described in order to better illustrate the principles and practical applications of the present invention and to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the present invention and thereby design various embodiments with various modifications suitable for specific uses.

Claims

1. A device for directly capturing carbon dioxide in the air using a cooling tower, characterized in that: It includes a circulating water cooling tower, a heat exchange system (7), an external capture device and a CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration system; The external capture device is installed on the side wall above the air inlet of the circulating water cooling tower, the heat exchange system (7) is connected to the circulating water cooling tower, and the CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration system is connected to the external capture device; The circulating water cooling tower comprises a cooling tower body (1), wherein a water collecting tank (2), a packing layer (3), a spray system (4) and a fan (5) are arranged in the cooling tower body (1) from bottom to top, wherein the water collecting tank (2) is arranged below the packing layer (3), the spray system (4) is arranged above the packing layer (3), and the fan (5) is arranged at the air outlet at the top of the tower body; The cooling tower body (1) is provided with a cooling tower air inlet, and the cooling tower air inlet is arranged between the spray system (4) and the water collection tank (2); The external capture device comprises an external device water collection pool (8), an external device filler layer (9) and an external device spray system (10), wherein the external device water collection pool (8) is arranged below the external device filler layer (9), and the external device spray system (10) is arranged above the external device filler layer (9); The air inlet of the external-mounted capture device is located between the external-mounted device spray system (10) and the external-mounted device water collection tank (8), and is flush with the external-mounted device filler layer (9).

2. A device for directly capturing carbon dioxide from the air using a cooling tower as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The heat exchange system (7) is connected to the spray system (4) and the water collection tank (2) through a pipeline; a delivery centrifugal pump (6) is provided on the pipeline between the heat exchange system (7) and the water collection tank (2).

3. A device for directly capturing carbon dioxide from the air using a cooling tower as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration system comprises a CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration device (15), and the CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration device (15) is connected to a carbon dioxide release pipeline (17).

4. A device for directly capturing carbon dioxide in the air using a cooling tower as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The inlet of the CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration device (15) is connected to the external device water collection tank (8) through a liquid inlet pipeline (18), and the outlet of the CO2 release and absorption liquid regeneration device (15) is connected to the external device spray system (10) through a liquid outlet pipeline (19).

5. A device for directly capturing carbon dioxide from the air using a cooling tower as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: The liquid inlet pipeline (18) is provided with a first valve (14), a first centrifugal pump (12) and a pH detector (11), the liquid outlet pipeline (19) is provided with a second centrifugal pump (16), and a second valve (13) is provided between the liquid inlet pipeline (18) and the liquid outlet pipeline (19).

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