Cooling of CO2 isolation transformers

Abstract

A cooling system (100) for CO2 sequestration and / or capture, comprising: a high-temperature adiabatic liquid heat transfer system (420) of a transformer (110) and / or a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) configured to 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), the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) being further configured to separate CO2 from ambient air received in the air inlet (130) of the cooling fan (120) and / or exiting the air outlet (140) of the cooling fan (120).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The embodiments described herein relate generally to the sequestration and / or capture of carbon dioxide ("CO2"). [Background technology]

[0002] An example of a commercial plant that captures carbon dioxide directly from the air involves a fan pushing air through a filter system that collects the CO. Once the filter is saturated, the CO is separated at high temperatures, such as over 100°C, and can then be used for a variety of purposes, such as growing vegetables or carbonated beverages. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] An aspect of the present disclosure involves a cooling system for CO2 sequestration and / or capture comprising 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 further configured to separate CO2 from ambient air received at least one of the air inlet of the cooling fan and exiting the outlet of the cooling fan.

[0004]

[0013] One or more implementations of the above aspects include one or more of the following: a housing having a housing air inlet and a housing air outlet 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 ambient air is received at the air inlet of the housing, and CO2-depleted air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is delivered to the air inlet of the cooling fan via the housing air outlet; a housing having a housing air inlet and a housing air outlet configured to be coupled to the air outlet of the cooling fan, wherein a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is disposed within the housing, and ambient air is delivered from the cooling fan through the air inlet of the housing, and CO2-depleted air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is delivered from the housing via the housing air outlet; a housing having a housing air inlet and a housing air outlet configured to be coupled to the air outlet of the cooling fan, wherein the ambient air delivered from the cooling fan to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is transformer heated ambient air, and the capture module is configured to be flushed of CO2 based at least in part on ambient air heated by the transformer; the transformer's cooling fan 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 a compact oil-air cooler; the housing air inlet is configured to be coupled to the cooling fan's air outlet via an upstream cooling element, and ambient air is delivered from the cooling fan through the cooling element and through the housing's air inlet, and CO2-depleted air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is delivered from the housing via the housing air outlet; one or more heater units configured to heat the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module, and a temperature control system configured to control the one or more heater units to heat the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module to a desired set temperature at which CO2 is flushed from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; the temperature control system is a control-loop temperature control system;the control loop temperature control system including a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature in the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; the control loop temperature control system including a controller configured to compare the sensed temperature in the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module with a desired set point temperature for flashing CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module to determine whether the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module requires further heating by one or more heater units to the desired set point temperature for flashing CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; and the control loop temperature control system configured to sense a temperature associated with a cooling element of the transformer. a temperature sensor, and the controller is configured to monitor the cooling element temperature sensor to determine whether the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module requires further heating by one or more heater units to a desired set point temperature for flashing CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module is one of a membrane or solid material CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; 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 and / or solid and / or chemical CO2 sequestration and / or capture module;

[0005] Another aspect of the present disclosure involves a method that includes receiving ambient air in 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 transformer cooling fan, and using the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module to separate CO2 from the ambient air that is received at at least one of the air inlet of the cooling fan and exiting the outlet of the transformer cooling fan.

[0006] One or more implementations of the immediately preceding aspects of the present disclosure include one or more of the following: receiving a temperature of a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; comparing the received temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module to a desired set point temperature for flashing CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; controlling one or more heater units to raise the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module to a desired set point temperature for flashing CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; delivering transformer heated ambient air to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; optionally, heating the delivered transformer heated ambient air to a desired set point temperature for flashing CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module; the CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system is adjacent to a transformer, and the method further includes receiving power from the adjacent transformer at one or more heater units; and / or optionally, transferring wasted energy from a transformer high temperature insulating liquid (e.g., mineral oil, natural esters, synthetic esters, silicone fluids, LFH (less flammable hydrocarbons)) to a high temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system. delivering heat from the CO2 capture module (170) to the CO2 capture module (170).

[0007] An additional aspect of the present disclosure involves a cooling system for CO2 capture comprising a transformer high temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system and a CO2 capture module configured to be coupled to at least one of an air inlet and an air outlet of a cooling fan of the transformer, the CO2 capture module further configured to separate CO2 from ambient air received at least one of the air inlet and the outlet of the cooling fan.

[0008] One or more implementations of the immediately preceding 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 the 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 including 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 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 CO2 capture module are a combined CO2 capture and transformer adiabatic liquid heat exchanger system; the heat exchanger is a compact cooler; and / or the combined CO2 capture and transformer adiabatic liquid heat exchanger system includes one or more louvers for controlling air flow through the CO2 capture module.

[0009] The details of the disclosure, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cooling system for CO2 sequestration and / or capture configured to be coupled to a cooling fan of a transformer. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of an embodiment of a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module of a cooling system for CO2 sequestration and / or capture. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of an embodiment of a cooling system for a transformer. [Figure 2]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cooling system for CO2 sequestration and / or capture configured to be coupled to an air inlet of a cooling fan of a transformer. [Figure 3A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a CO2 capture refrigeration system configured to be coupled to the air inlet of a typical compact adiabatic liquid air cooler of a transformer, with the CO2 capture refrigeration system upstream of the compact cooler, and air flowing through a CO2 capture module at ambient temperature. [Figure 3B] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system configured to be coupled to the air outlet of a transformer cooling fan, specifically to the air outlet of a typical compact adiabatic liquid air cooler on the transformer, where the CO2 capture cooling system is downstream of the compact cooler and air at a higher temperature (e.g., typically 50-60°C) flows through a CO2 capture module. [Figure 4A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cooling system for CO2 sequestration and / or capture configured to be coupled to an air outlet of a transformer cooling fan via an upstream cooling element. [Figure 4B] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cooling system for CO2 sequestration and / or capture configured to be coupled to an air outlet of a transformer cooling fan via an upstream cooling element. [Figure 5] 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cooling system for CO2 sequestration and / or capture configured to be coupled to an air outlet of a transformer cooling fan via an upstream cooling element, and a simplified schematic diagram of an embodiment of a temperature control system configured to control one or more heater units to heat a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module to a desired set temperature at which CO2 is flashed from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of using a cooling system for CO2 sequestration and / or capture. [Figure 7]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a CO2 capture cooling system configured to be coupled to a transformer cooling fan, further including a CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system configured to be coupled to the transformer high temperature adiabatic liquid heat transfer system. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an additional perspective view of the CO2 capture cooling system of FIG. 7, showing the transformer high-temperature adiabatic liquid heat transfer system (e.g., a radiator-type cooling system) in more detail, with the CO2 capture module high-temperature adiabatic liquid heat transfer system removed for clarity. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the CO2 capture cooling system of FIG. 7, showing one embodiment of a CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system with high temperature insulating liquid utilized in the desorption process to remove CO2 from the sorbent material of the CO2 capture module. [Figure 10] FIG. 8 is a further perspective view of the CO2 capture cooling system of FIG. 7, where an additional embodiment of the CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system is shown with a fan and radiator type cooling system, although in an alternative embodiment, the fan and radiator type cooling system is replaced with a fan and mini-chiller type cooling system as shown in FIG. 3A or 3B. [Figure 11A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combined CO2 capture and transformer adiabatic liquid compact chiller. [Figure 11B] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the combined CO2 capture and transformer adiabatic liquid compact chiller of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Detailed Description 1A-5, an embodiment of a cooling system 100 for CO2 sequestration and / or capture for an electrical transformer ("transformer") 110 is described. The transformer 110 includes a cooling fan 120 having an air inlet 130 and an air outlet 140.

[0012] 1A, the cooling system 100 for CO2 sequestration and / or capture includes a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 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 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is further configured to separate CO2 from ambient air received at least one of the air inlet 130 of the cooling fan 120 and exiting the outlet 140 of the cooling fan 120.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 1B, CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is one of a membrane and / or solid material (e.g., granules, pellets) CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 172, a chemical CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 174, and a combined membrane, solid, and / or chemical CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 176 arranged within housing 150. The technical advantages of solid CO2 capture materials are ease of handling and encapsulation, and / or reduced air pressure drop due to imperfect stacking. The technical advantages of chemical CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 174 are that it is a single unit or component that can physically retain CO2 and enable flashing of CO2 through liquid splashing or a similar process, is easy to install in a container, is easy to operate and replace, and is easy to visually inspect for maintenance. The technical advantages of chemical CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 174 are its efficiency of CO2 retention and ease of circulation in the flashing process. The technical advantages of the combined membrane, solid and / or chemical CO 2 sequestration and / or capture module 176 compared to the other modules 172 , 174 include a combination of the above-mentioned technical advantages of the modules 172 , 174 .

[0014] Referring to FIG. 1C, the cooling fan 120 may be part of a compact adiabatic liquid-air cooler 180, particularly an oil-air cooler 180, or a radiator fan type 182 of a cooling system 184 that includes a transformer cooling element (e.g., a radiator) 190 through which ambient air passes to generate transformer-heated ambient air. The transformer-heated ambient air may be used to partially raise the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to a desired setpoint temperature (e.g., approximately 100-120°C) for flashing CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. While 100-120°C is provided as an example of a desired setpoint temperature, the desired setpoint temperature may vary with adsorbent efficiency. The hot air at the entry point of the capture module 170 may also minimize the impact of moisture, which is more prevalent in air than CO2, thus reducing the need to separate the captured CO2 from the captured moisture. As used herein, hot air is air above ambient temperature (e.g., above 15-25°C).

[0015] 2, one embodiment of a cooling system 100 for CO2 sequestration and / or capture includes a housing 150 having an air inlet 160 configured to be coupled to the air inlet 130 and an air outlet 162 of the cooling fan 120 of the transformer 110, where ambient air is received into the air inlet 160 of the housing 150 and CO2-depleted air from a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is delivered to the air inlet 130 of the cooling fan 120 via the housing air outlet 162. CO2 is flashed from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 by raising the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to a desired flashing setpoint temperature, for example, but not by way of limitation, by methods described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 5. The flashed CO2 may be supplied and / or directed to a CO2 storage / sequestration system, as shown at the bottom of FIG. 2, which is represented schematically by a cylinder in FIG. 2. The flashed CO2 may be, for example, but not limited to, mixed with water and buried in the ground, compressed and / or bottled for commercial use (e.g., chemical industry, carbonated beverages, pharmaceuticals), used in stone formation / growth through carbon mineralization (e.g., CO2 reactive rocks), used in CO2 optimized greenhouses for growing plants, etc. A technical advantage of this embodiment is that the already operating cooling fan 120 is used to generate airflow through the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to sequester and / or capture CO2.

[0016] 3A and 3B, an additional embodiment of a cooling system 100 for CO2 sequestration and / or capture is described.

[0017] 3A, housing air outlet 162 is configured to be coupled to air inlet 130 of cooling fan 120 such that air flows through housing 150 at ambient temperature and CO2-depleted air from CO2 capture module 170 at ambient temperature exits housing air outlet 162. The ambient temperature CO2-depleted air may be heated by transformer cooling element 190 of transformer 110 and exit cooling fan 140 at air outlet 140.

[0018] 3B, housing air inlet 160 is configured to be coupled to air outlet 140 of cooling fan 120, ambient air is delivered from cooling fan 120 through air inlet 160 of housing 150, and CO2-depleted air from CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is delivered from housing 150 via housing air outlet 162. In this embodiment, the ambient air delivered from cooling fan 120 to CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is transformer-heated ambient air that has been heated by transformer cooling element 190 of transformer 110, typically to 50-60°C, and then exhausted or drawn away from transformer 110 by cooling fan 120. The CO2 is optionally first captured from the air, and then, after saturation of the material, is more efficiently flashed from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 by raising the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to a desired flashing setpoint temperature based at least in part on transformer-heated ambient air and / or by already raising the temperature of the high-temperature insulating liquid to the desired setpoint temperature, as described in more detail below with respect to Figure 5, and particularly Figures 5-11B. A technical advantage of this embodiment is that the ambient air delivered from the cooling fan 120 to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 and / or the high-temperature insulating liquid from the cooling system's inlet point is at a temperature significantly higher than ambient temperature, reducing the need for additional energy to raise the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to the desired flashing setpoint temperature, particularly the desired CO2 capture and flashing setpoint temperature.

[0019] 4A and 4B, a further embodiment of a cooling system 100 for CO2 sequestration and / or capture includes 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, with ambient air being delivered from the cooling fan 120 through the transformer cooling element 190 and through the air inlet 160 of the housing 150, and CO2-depleted air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 being delivered from the housing 150 via the housing air outlet 162. CO2 is flashed from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 by raising the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to a desired flashing setpoint temperature based at least in part on transformer-heated ambient air and / or transformer high-temperature insulating liquid in a manner described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 5, and particularly FIGS. 5-11B. 4A, cooling fan 120 may be positioned laterally / horizontally relative to CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 and / or radiator, while in FIG. 4B, cooling fan 120 may be positioned vertically (e.g., downward) relative to the radiator and CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. A technical advantage of this embodiment, and particularly these embodiments, is that the air, particularly ambient air, delivered from cooling fan 120 to CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is at a temperature significantly higher than ambient temperature, minimizing the effect of capturing moisture along with the CO2 and / or reducing the need for additional energy to raise the temperature of sequestration and / or CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to the desired flushing setpoint temperature.

[0020] 5, a cooling system 100 for CO2 sequestration and / or capture, which may be any of the embodiments of FIGS. 1A-4B, includes a temperature control system 200 configured to control the heating of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to a desired setpoint temperature 214 at which CO2 is to be flashed from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. The illustrated temperature control system 200 is a control-loop type temperature control system 200 that includes a temperature sensor 210 configured to sense the actual temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 (CO2 flashing system actual temperature 212) and / or a cooling element temperature sensor 220 configured to sense a temperature associated with the transformer cooling element 190 of the transformer 110 (e.g., the temperature of the insulating liquid, particularly the relatively high temperature insulating liquid). The controller 230 is configured to compare the sensed temperature at the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to the desired flushing setpoint temperature 214 and / or monitor the cooling element temperature sensor 220 to determine whether the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 requires further heating by one or more heater units 232 (e.g., electric heaters such as resistive heating units, immersion heaters and control systems, and / or thermal tracers and control systems) to the desired setpoint temperature 214 to flush CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. The controller 230 may include one or more electrical circuits, one or more processors, and / or one or more electrical elements (e.g., relays 234, comparators 236) to control the one or more heater units 232 to heat the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 to the desired flushing setpoint temperature 214. In examples where the heater units 232 are electrical, power is supplied to the one or more heater units 232 from an adjacent transformer 110.3A-4B , because the temperature of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 may be raised to the desired flashing setpoint temperature 214 based at least in part on transformer-heated ambient air and / or high-temperature insulating liquid, less heat or power needs to be provided 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 flashing setpoint temperature 214. A technical advantage of the temperature control system 200 is that it optimizes the method 240, described below, such that the CO2 sequestration and / or capture and CO2 flashing processes occur at the desired flashing setpoint temperature 214. A method 240 of using the CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system 100 will now be described with reference to FIG. 6 . In block 250, the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 receives ambient air received into the air inlet 130 of the cooling fan 120 of the transformer 110 and / or exits the outlet 140 of the cooling fan 120 (or the compact chiller of FIG. 3A or 3B). In block 260, the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 separates CO2 from the ambient air received into the air inlet 130 of the cooling fan 120 of the transformer 110 and / or exits the outlet 140 of the cooling fan 120 (or the compact chiller of FIG. 3A or 3B). In other embodiments, one or more of the operations depicted in blocks 270-320 may be performed. In block 270, the temperature 212 of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is received by the controller 230. In block 280, the received temperature 212 of the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170 is compared to the desired flushing setpoint temperature 214 by the controller 230. 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 for flashing the CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170.In block 300, the transformer heated ambient air and / or high temperature insulating / heat transfer liquid is delivered to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. In block 310, the delivered transformer heated ambient air and / or high temperature insulating / heat transfer liquid is heated to a desired setpoint temperature 214 for flashing the CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module 170. In block 320, one or more heater units 232 receive power from an adjacent transformer 110.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 7, another embodiment of a CO2 capture cooling system 400 for a transformer 110 for removing CO2 from air is described. Similar to the CO2 capture cooling system 100, the CO2 capture cooling system 400 includes a CO2 capture module 170 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 the transformer cooling system or the transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system (“T HTS”) 420 of the transformer 110. As used herein, high-temperature insulating liquid includes mineral oil, natural esters, synthetic esters, silicone fluids, LFH (less flammable hydrocarbons), bio-based hydrocarbons, or other insulating liquids above ambient temperatures (e.g., above 15-25°C). The description of the CO2 capture cooling system 100 and temperature control system / method with respect to Figures 1A-6 is incorporated herein.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 8, the transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system 420 is shown in more detail. The transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system 420 includes a heat exchanger 430, a high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440, and a low-temperature oil outlet 450. The high-temperature insulating liquid used to transfer heat from the transformer 110 to cool it enters the heat exchanger 430 at the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 (e.g., at approximately 80-90°C (176-194°F)) and exits 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, cooling the high-temperature insulating liquid passing through the heat exchanger 430 and heating the air delivered to the CO2 capture module 170. As shown in FIG. 7, in an alternative embodiment, the CO2 capture module 170 may 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 (or the compact cooler of FIG. 3A or 3B).

[0023] 9, one embodiment of a CO2 capture module high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 460 is shown in more detail. 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 coupled to ports 490, 500 of a high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440. Waste energy high-temperature insulating liquid (e.g., approximately 80-90°C) from the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 is transferred to and from the CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 via conduit 480. 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 conduit 480 for CO2 desorption. The wasted energy high-temperature insulating liquid in the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 may exit the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 and enter the CO2 capture module high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 460 at port 490, and 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 wasted energy high-temperature insulating liquid from the transformer high-temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system 420 to heat the CO2 capture module 170 to a desired set temperature for desorption of the CO2 capture material (e.g., approximately 100-120°C (212-248°F)) to flash the CO2 from the CO2 capture module 170, less energy is required from other sources to raise the temperature of the CO2 capture module 170 to the desired set temperature for flashing the CO2 from the CO2 capture module 170 and releasing the CO2 for storage for CO2 desorption. The use of waste heat makes the CO2 capture cooling system 400 an economically viable investment. While the "typical" energy consumption per ton of CO2 in conventional systems is in the range of approximately 1500 kWh / ton, using the CO2 capture cooling system 400 reduces the energy consumption per ton of CO2 to 360 kWh / ton (a reduction of approximately 75%). The CO2 capture module 170 needs to operate near ambient temperature (or at a temperature significantly below the desorption temperature, e.g., in the range of 100-120°C)) to capture the CO2.The flashed CO2 exits the CO2 capture module 170 at outlet 510 and passes through one or more conduits 520 to be stored in a vessel 530 (e.g., for future use) or may be stored for other uses.

[0024] In an alternative embodiment, the CO 2 capture module 170 may 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 .

[0025] 10, an additional embodiment of a CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 550 is shown in more detail. The CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 550 includes a high temperature heat transfer liquid bath heat transfer circulation system 560 and a CO2 capture module heat exchanger circulation system 570.

[0026] The high temperature heat transfer liquid bath heat transfer circulation system 560 includes a high temperature heat transfer liquid bath 580 and a conduit 480 coupled to ports 490 , 500 of the high temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 and to the CO 2 capture module heat exchanger 470 .

[0027] The CO2 capture module heat exchanger circulation system 570 includes the CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 and a conduit 480 coupled to an end port 590 of the hot insulating liquid manifold 440 and an end port 600 of the cold insulating liquid manifold 450.

[0028] The wasted energy high temperature insulating liquid (e.g., approximately 80-90°C) from high temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 is transferred to CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470, which may be a conventional cooler and include fan 605, and returned to high temperature insulating liquid manifold 440 via conduit 480. CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 550 transfers heat from the high temperature insulating liquid in transformer high temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system 420 to CO2 capture module 170 via CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 and conduit 480 to the desired set temperature for CO2 desorption (e.g., approximately 100-120°C). If additional heat is required to raise the CO2 capture module 170 to a desired set temperature (e.g., approximately 100-120°C) for CO2 release / CO2 desorption, high temperature insulating liquid (e.g., 100-120°C) from the high temperature heat transfer liquid bath 580 is transferred to the CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 via the high temperature heat transfer liquid bath heat transfer circulation system 560.

[0029] The flashed CO2 is drawn from the CO2 capture module 170 via vacuum pump 620, exits the CO2 capture module 170 at outlet 510, passes through one or more conduits 520 to a condenser 630 to remove moisture, and may be delivered via compressor 640 for various uses (e.g., connection to a CO2 pipeline, underground injection, bottle transport, local storage in a tank). In an alternative embodiment, the CO2 capture module 170 may be coupled to at least one of the air inlet 130 and air outlet 140 of the cooling fan 120 of the transformer 110.

[0030] Although the CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 550 is shown with respect to a fan and radiator, in an alternative embodiment, the CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 550 is applied to a compact cooler as shown in Figures 3A and / or 3B.

[0031] 11A and 11B, one embodiment of a combined CO2 capture and transformer adiabatic liquid heat exchanger system 650 is described, including a CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 and a CO2 capture module 170. The combined CO2 capture and transformer adiabatic liquid heat exchanger system 650 includes a housing 660 having a side wall 670 and an end wall 680. The housing 660 houses the CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470, which may be a compact cooler, and includes an inlet 690 for the CO2 capture module heat exchanger circulation system 570 along one side of the end wall 680. The housing 660 also includes an inlet 710 and an outlet 720 for the high-temperature heat transfer liquid bus heat transfer circulation system 560 along one side of the end wall 680. The CO2 capture module heat exchanger 470 transfers heat from the transformer adiabatic liquid (e.g., high-temperature adiabatic liquid) to a separated heat transfer liquid, which is circulated through the adsorbent material of the CO2 capture module 170 for CO2 desorption. A vacuum connection 730 for drawing CO2 from the CO2 capture module 170 via a vacuum pump 620 is located along the opposite end wall 680. The side wall 670 may include controlled perforations / air inlets 740 for supplying air to the transformer cooling system to remove heat from the insulating liquid. The interior wall is a metal structure or mechanical blind adjacent to louvers 750 to control the air inlets 740 and seal chamber 760 for the vacuum and CO2 extraction / desorption phases. When closed, the louvers 750 allow a vacuum to be established within the CO2 capture module 170, which, together with the high temperature from the high-temperature heat transfer liquid circulating around the sorbent material, aids in extracting CO2 from the sorbent material.

[0032] The method of using the CO2 capture cooling system 400 to control the heat of the CO2 capture module 170 to the desired setpoint temperature 214 is the same as that described and illustrated herein with respect to the CO2 capture cooling system 100 and Figures 5 and 6, which are incorporated herein by reference. A high-temperature heat transfer liquid is circulated within the CO2 capture module high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 460, 550, and heat is transferred from the circulated high-temperature heat transfer liquid to the CO2 capture module 170. Because the high-temperature insulating liquid operates in the 70-90°C range, much less energy is required to bring the CO2 capture module 170 to an exemplary temperature range of 100-120°C for CO2 removal in the desorption process compared to delivering only transformer-heated ambient air to the CO2 capture module 170. After the CO2 has been flashed from the CO2 capture material, the circulation of the high-temperature heat transfer liquid in the CO2 capture module high-temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system 460, 550 is stopped until the next cycle after heating the CO2 capture module 170 to the desired set temperature for flashing the CO2 from the CO2 capture module 170 and removing the 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 approximately 50-60°C during the capture phase. All systems require higher temperatures (e.g., 100-120°C) to remove the captured CO2 from the material (desorption process).

[0033] The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any 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 may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. It should therefore be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent presently preferred embodiments of the present invention and, therefore, represent the subject matter broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is further understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become apparent to those skilled in the art, and therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited.

[0034] 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 also include multiple As, multiple Bs, or multiple Cs. 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" may be A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A, B, and C, and any such combination may include one or more members of its components A, B, and / or C. For example, a combination of A and B may include one A and multiple Bs, multiple A and one B, or multiple A and multiple Bs.

Claims

1. a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) 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 to a high-temperature adiabatic liquid heat transfer system (420) of said transformer (110), said CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) further configured to separate CO2 from ambient air received in at least one of the air inlet (130) of said cooling fan (120) and exiting from said outlet (140) of said cooling fan (120). A cooling system (100, 400) for CO2 sequestration and / or capture comprising:

2. a housing (150) having a housing air inlet (160) and a housing air outlet (162) 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 the ambient air is received at the air inlet (160) of the housing (150), and CO2-depleted air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is delivered to the air inlet (130) of the cooling fan (120) via the housing air outlet (162).

10. The cooling system (100, 400) for CO2 sequestration and / or capture of claim 1, further comprising:

3. a housing (150) having a housing air inlet (160) configured to be coupled to the air outlet (140) of the cooling fan (120) and a housing air outlet (162), wherein the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is disposed within the housing (150), and the ambient air is delivered from the cooling fan (120) through the air inlet (160) of the housing (150), and CO2-depleted air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is delivered from the housing (150) via the housing air outlet (162).

10. The cooling system (100, 400) for CO2 sequestration and / or capture of claim 1, further comprising:

4. 4. The cooling system for CO2 sequestration and / or capture (100, 400) of claim 3, wherein the ambient air delivered from the cooling fan (120) to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is transformer heated ambient air, and the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is configured to flush CO2 based at least in part on the transformer heated ambient air.

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

6. 4. The cooling system for CO2 sequestration and / or capture (100, 400) of 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 the ambient air is delivered from the cooling fan (120) through the cooling element (190) and through the air inlet (160) of the housing (150), and CO2-depleted air from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is delivered from the housing via the housing air outlet (162).

7. one or more heater units (232) configured to heat the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170); and a temperature control system (200) configured to control the one or more heater units (232) to heat the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) to a desired set point temperature at which CO2 is flashed from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170).

10. The cooling system (100, 400) for CO2 sequestration and / or capture of claim 1, further comprising:

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

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

10. 10. The cooling system for CO2 sequestration and / or capture (100, 400) of claim 9, wherein the control loop temperature control system (200) includes a controller (230) configured to compare the sensed temperature at the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) with the desired set point temperature for flashing CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) to determine whether the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) requires further heating by the one or more heater units (232) to the desired set point temperature for flashing CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170).

11. 11. The cooling system for CO2 sequestration and / or capture (100, 400) of claim 10, wherein the control loop temperature control system (200) includes a cooling element temperature sensor (220) configured to sense a temperature associated with a 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) requires further heating by the one or more heater units (232) to the desired set point temperature for flashing CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170).

12. 10. The cooling system (100, 400) for CO2 sequestration and / or capture according to any preceding claim, wherein the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is one of a membrane or a solid CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (172).

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

14. 10. The cooling system (100, 400) for CO2 sequestration and / or capture according to any preceding claim, wherein the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) is a combined membrane, solid, and / or chemical CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (176).

15. a CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system (460, 550) configured to be coupled to the transformer high temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system (420) and configured to transfer heat from the high temperature insulating liquid of the transformer high temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system (420) to the CO2 capture module (170) for CO2 desorption.

10. The cooling system (100, 400) for CO2 sequestration and / or capture according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising:

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

17. 17. The cooling system for CO2 sequestration and / or capture (100, 400) of claim 16, wherein the CO2 capture module high temperature heat transfer liquid heat transfer system (460, 550) further comprises 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 transformer high temperature insulating liquid heat transfer system (420) to the CO2 capture module (170) for CO2 desorption.

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

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

20. 20. The cooling system (100, 400) for CO2 capture according to claim 18 or claim 19 when dependent on claim 18, wherein the combined CO2 capture and transformer adiabatic liquid heat exchanger system (650) includes one or more louvers (750) for controlling airflow through the CO2 capture module (170).

21. receiving ambient air at a CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) configured to 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); using the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170) to separate CO2 from the ambient air received at the air inlet (130) of the cooling fan (120) and / or exiting the transformer (110) through the outlet (140) of the cooling fan (120); A method comprising:

22. receiving a 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 setpoint 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) for flashing CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170); 22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

23. delivering transformer heated ambient air to the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170), and optionally heating the delivered transformer heated ambient air to the desired set point temperature (214) for flashing CO2 from the CO2 sequestration and / or capture module (170); 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

24. The CO2 sequestration and / or capture cooling system (100, 400) is adjacent to the transformer (110), and the method comprises: receiving power from the adjacent transformer (110) at the one or more heater units (232); 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

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

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