Carbon dioxide capture and cooling system

Abstract

The carbon recovery cooling system comprises a refrigeration system equipped with an evaporator and configured to supply a liquid refrigerant to the evaporator, an air compressor configured to compress air containing gaseous carbon dioxide, and a compressed air storage container configured to receive the compressed air from the air compressor and equipped with an air outlet. The evaporator is configured to extract heat from the compressed air in the compressed air storage container by the evaporation of the liquid refrigerant, thereby cooling the compressed air and liquefying the gaseous carbon dioxide for recovery. The air outlet is configured to release the cooled and compressed air from the compressed air storage container to cool the external environment of the carbon recovery cooling system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a carbon recovery cooling system.

Background Art

[0002] Every year, human activities release more carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere than natural processes can remove, increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Due to the greenhouse effect, this increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide causes the temperature of the Earth to rise. This is strongly felt in densely populated cities where buildings, roads, and other expanses of concrete tend to retain heat.

[0003] Attempts have been made to recover and store carbon dioxide before it is released into the atmosphere. CO2 is typically recovered from large sources such as chemical plants and biomass power plants and then stored in underground geological formations. The aim is to mitigate the effects of climate change by preventing the release of CO2 from heavy industries. However, there is a risk that some of the CO2 will leak into the atmosphere over a long period. Dedicated systems for extracting CO2 from air have also been built, but the low concentration of CO2 in air compared to combustion sources complicates the technology and raises costs. Also, the problem of how to securely store CO2 after it has been recovered still remains.

[0004] The present invention aims to address these problems of carbon recovery and global warming.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a carbon recovery cooling system is provided, comprising a refrigeration system comprising an evaporator and configured to supply a liquid refrigerant to the evaporator; an air compressor configured to compress air containing gaseous carbon dioxide; and a compressed air storage container configured to receive compressed air from the air compressor and having an air outlet, wherein the evaporator is configured to extract heat from the compressed air in the compressed air storage container by evaporation of the liquid refrigerant, thereby liquefying the compressed air to cool it and recover gaseous carbon dioxide; and the air outlet is configured to release cooled and compressed air from the compressed air storage container to cool the external environment of the carbon recovery cooling system.

[0006] The present invention advantageously captures carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air while providing a cooling effect to the external environment, such as rooms within buildings or densely populated urban areas. In other words, the claimed system functions efficiently as both a carbon capture system and an air conditioning system. Returning the cooled air to densely populated areas such as downtown / city centers, major roads, and airports helps reduce the heat retained in these areas. This heat is a major contributor to climate change that tends to be ignored by conventional measures taken to address global warming.

[0007] Furthermore, the recovered liquid carbon dioxide can be used in a variety of industrial applications, such as a refrigerant for preserving chilled foods or for carbonating beverages.

[0008] The air entering a carbon capture cooling system may contain high concentrations of CO2, for example, exhaust gases from coal / gas-fired power plants / blast furnaces, gasoline or diesel internal combustion engines, or other industrial processes.

[0009] This carbon recovery cooling system can directly obtain liquid CO2, whereas known chemical carbon recovery systems cannot. The system of the present invention also does not require water, but rather amines (chemical The carbon capture system may require approximately 2.9 times the amount of process water used in the power plant.

[0010] The refrigeration system may include a refrigerant compressor configured to receive refrigerant gas evaporated from an evaporator and compress the refrigerant gas, and a system of refrigerant gas coolers and expanders configured to receive the compressed refrigerant gas from the refrigerant compressor, liquefy the compressed refrigerant gas, and supply liquid refrigerant to the evaporator.

[0011] A refrigerant gas cooler and expander system may include a refrigerant gas cooler configured to receive compressed refrigerant gas from a refrigerant compressor and cool the compressed refrigerant gas, and a refrigerant turbine configured to receive cooled and compressed refrigerant gas from the refrigerant gas cooler and expand the compressed refrigerant gas, thereby liquefying the compressed refrigerant gas and supplying liquid refrigerant to an evaporator.

[0012] The refrigerant gas cooler and expander system may include a refrigerant turbine configured to receive compressed refrigerant gas from a refrigerant compressor, cool and expand the compressed refrigerant gas, thereby liquefying the compressed refrigerant gas and supplying the liquid refrigerant to an evaporator.

[0013] The refrigerant turbine may include a boundary layer turbine.

[0014] The carbon recovery cooling system may include a generator connected to a refrigerant turbine to generate electricity.

[0015] A generator connected to a refrigerant turbine may be configured to generate power to drive a refrigerant compressor.

[0016] The generator connected to the refrigerant turbine may be configured to generate power at 400 Hz.

[0017] The carbon capture cooling system may include an air turbine configured to receive cooled and compressed air from the outlet of a compressed air storage container and to expand the cooled and compressed air to cool the external environment of the carbon capture cooling system.

[0018] The air turbine may also be equipped with a boundary layer turbine.

[0019] The carbon capture cooling system may include a generator connected to an air turbine to generate electricity.

[0020] A generator connected to an air turbine may be configured to generate electricity to drive an air compressor.

[0021] The generator connected to the air turbine may be configured to generate power at 400 Hz.

[0022] The carbon capture cooling system may include filters to remove contaminants from the cooled and compressed air.

[0023] The carbon capture cooling system may include a carbon dioxide storage container configured to receive liquefied carbon dioxide.

[0024] The evaporator may be located at least partially inside the compressed air storage container.

[0025] The evaporator may be entirely located inside the compressed air storage container.

[0026] The refrigerant may contain carbon dioxide.

[0027] According to another aspect of the present invention, a carbon recovery cooling system is provided, the carbon recovery cooling system comprising a refrigeration system configured to supply a liquid refrigerant to a plurality of evaporators, an air compressor configured to compress air containing gaseous carbon dioxide, and a plurality of compressed air storage containers each having an air outlet, wherein a first compressed air storage container among the compressed air storage containers is configured to receive compressed air compressed by the air compressor, a second compressed air storage container among the compressed air storage containers is configured to receive compressed air compressed from the air outlet of the first compressed air storage container among the compressed air storage containers, and by evaporation of the liquid refrigerant, a first evaporator among the evaporators is configured to extract heat from the compressed air in the first compressed air storage container among the compressed air storage containers, a second evaporator among the evaporators is configured to extract heat from the compressed air in the second compressed air storage container among the compressed air storage containers, thereby cooling the compressed air and liquefying gaseous carbon dioxide for recovery, and the air outlet of the second compressed air storage container, or a further compressed air storage container located downstream of the second compressed air storage container, is configured to discharge the cooled and compressed air from the second or further compressed air storage container to cool the external environment of the carbon recovery cooling system.

[0028] The refrigeration system may comprise a refrigerant compressor configured to receive the refrigerant gas evaporated from the evaporator and compress the refrigerant gas, and a refrigerant gas cooler and expander system configured to receive the refrigerant gas compressed by the refrigerant compressor and liquefy the compressed refrigerant gas to supply liquid refrigerant to the evaporators.

[0029] The refrigerant gas cooler and expander system may comprise a refrigerant gas cooler configured to receive the refrigerant gas compressed by the refrigerant compressor and cool the compressed refrigerant gas, and a plurality of refrigerant turbines each configured to receive the cooled and compressed refrigerant gas from the refrigerant gas cooler, expand the compressed refrigerant gas, and thereby liquefy the compressed refrigerant gas to supply liquid refrigerant to each of the evaporators.

[0030] The system of the refrigerant gas cooler and the expander may include a plurality of refrigerant turbines each configured to receive the compressed refrigerant gas from the refrigerant compressor, cool the compressed refrigerant gas, expand it, and thereby liquefy the compressed refrigerant gas and supply the liquid refrigerant to each of the evaporators.

[0031] The refrigerant turbine may include a boundary layer turbine.

[0032] The carbon recovery cooling system may include a generator connected to each of the refrigerant turbines to generate electricity.

[0033] The generator connected to each of the refrigerant turbines may be configured to generate electricity for driving the refrigerant compressor.

[0034] The generator connected to the refrigerant turbine may be configured to generate electricity at 400 Hz.

[0035] The carbon recovery cooling system receives the cooled and compressed air from the outlet of the first compressed air storage container and partially expands the cooled and compressed air to let it enter the second compressed air storage container. and may include an air turbine configured to do so.

[0036] The air turbine may include a boundary layer turbine.

[0037] The carbon recovery cooling system may include a generator connected to the air turbine to generate electricity.

[0038] The generator connected to the air turbine may be configured to generate electricity for driving the air compressor.

[0039] The generator connected to the air turbine may be configured to generate electricity at 400 Hz.

[0040] The carbon capture cooling system may include filters to remove contaminants from the cooled and compressed air.

[0041] The carbon capture cooling system may include one or more carbon dioxide storage containers configured to receive liquefied carbon dioxide.

[0042] At least one of the evaporators may be located at least partially inside each compressed air storage container.

[0043] At least one of the evaporators may be entirely located inside each compressed air storage container.

[0044] The refrigerant may contain carbon dioxide.

[0045] Next, an example will be described with reference to the attached Figures 1 and 2, which are schematic diagrams of the carbon recovery cooling system according to the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0046] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the carbon recovery cooling system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of the carbon recovery cooling system according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0047] Referring to Figure 1, the carbon recovery cooling system 100 comprises a refrigerant section or refrigerant system 200 and an air section or air system 300. The main elements of the refrigerant section 200 are a refrigerant compressor 202, a refrigerant gas cooler 204 located downstream of the refrigerant compressor 202, a refrigerant turbine or refrigerant expander 206 located downstream of the refrigerant gas cooler 204, and an evaporator 208 located downstream of the refrigerant turbine 206. These elements are connected to each other by piping sections PR1 to PR4. The refrigerant section 200 also contains a working fluid refrigerant. In this example, the working fluid refrigerant is carbon dioxide. As used herein, the term “downstream” will be understood to refer to the direction of movement of the fluid refrigerant through the refrigerant section 200, as will be discussed later herein.

[0048] The main elements of the air section 300 are an air compressor 302 and a compressed air storage tank 304 located downstream of the air compressor 302, which includes an air outlet 304a. In this example, an evaporator 208 is located inside the compressed air storage tank 304. In this example, the air section 300 also includes a carbon dioxide storage tank 306 connected to the compressed air storage tank 304. In this example, the air section 300 further includes an air turbine 308 located downstream of the air outlet 304a. In this example, the air section 300 further comprises an air filter 310 located downstream of the air turbine 308. These elements are connected to each other by piping sections PA1 to PA5. The term “downstream” as used herein will be understood to refer to the direction of air movement through the air section 300, as will be discussed later herein.

[0049] In this example, the carbon recovery cooling system 100 also includes an electrical system 400 which comprises a power generation and power supply system 400a, a battery loop storage system 400b, a refrigerant generator 400c connected to the output shaft of a refrigerant turbine 206, an air generator 400d connected to the output shaft of an air turbine 308, and a controller 400e.

[0050] Next, the operation of the carbon recovery cooling system 100 will be described. Terms such as low temperature, warm, high temperature, low pressure, and high pressure will be used in the description. These will be understood to be relative terms used to facilitate understanding of the fluid state at different stages of the refrigerant section 200 and the air section 300 of the carbon recovery cooling system 100. This description also includes approximations of the fluid temperature, pressure, and mass flow rate. These values ​​are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the claimed invention.

[0051] Referring to the refrigerant section 200, piping section PR1 contains a warm, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant, carbon dioxide in this example. The pressure may be approximately 39 bar, and the temperature may be approximately 5°C.

[0052] A warm, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant is received and compressed by the refrigerant compressor 202, thereby increasing the pressure and temperature of the gaseous refrigerant to produce a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. For example, the compressed refrigerant may have a pressure of about 60 to 80 bar and a temperature of about 60 to 90°C. The mass flow rate through the refrigerant compressor 202 may be about 795 kg / hour. In this example, the refrigerant compressor 202 is driven by the main power supply via the power generation and supply system 400a.

[0053] High-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant is supplied from the refrigerant compressor 202 to the refrigerant gas cooler 204 via piping section PR2. The refrigerant gas cooler 204 is a heat exchanger configured to lower the temperature of the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant to yield a low-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant while maintaining a substantially constant fluid pressure. For example, the compressed refrigerant may be cooled to a temperature of about 20 to 30°C, and the pressure may be about 60 to 80 bar. The mass flow rate through the refrigerant gas cooler 204 may be about 795 kg / hour. The refrigerant gas cooler 204 may have a cooling capacity of about 47 kW. Those skilled in the art will understand that the refrigerant gas cooler 204 can take any suitable structural form, for example, a double-tube (or tube and shell) arrangement for heat transfer to another fluid, such as ambient air. A fan may be provided to blow ambient air over the refrigerant gas cooler 204 to facilitate heat loss from the compressed refrigerant inside.

[0054] Low-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant is supplied from the refrigerant gas cooler 204 to the refrigerant turbine 206 via piping section PR3. In this example, the refrigerant turbine 206 includes a boundary layer turbine (BLT), also known as a "Tesla turbine." Generally, in a boundary layer turbine, the gas is compressed into the turbine by a compressor and pushed across the surface of the turbine disks. Due to the boundary layer effect, nearby fluids pull on the surface of each disk, transferring energy to the disks and causing them to rotate. As the fluid loses energy, it moves in a spiral toward the center of the disk where the exhaust port is located. The amount of work produced from a boundary layer turbine is significantly greater than that from a conventional bladed turbine. This is because energy is transferred over the entire length of the disk spiral, which is sufficiently long (for a turbine of a given size) compared to the distance the fluid travels when passing over the blades of a bladed turbine. Higher rotational speeds result in a larger spiral radius and, therefore, increased axial torque. Furthermore, Unlike turbines with a diaphragm, the performance of a boundary layer turbine is not substantially impaired by the phase transition of the working fluid between gas, steam, and liquid.

[0055] The low-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant expands as it passes through the refrigerant turbine 206, and the force of the fluid flow rotates the refrigerant turbine 206. This rotates the refrigerant generator 400c, which is connected to the output shaft of the refrigerant turbine 206, to generate electricity. For example, the power output of the refrigerant generator 400c may be around 5 to 7 kW. As the low-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant expands as it passes through the refrigerant turbine 206, it undergoes a phase change into vapor and low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant. For example, the low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant may have a temperature of about -4.5°C and a pressure of about 30 bar. The low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant is supplied from the refrigerant turbine 206 to the evaporator via the piping section PR4. The mass flow rate of the low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant leaving the refrigerant turbine 206 may be about 795 kg / hour.

[0056] Now, turning our attention to the air section 300 of the carbon recovery cooling system 100, the piping section PA1 allows ambient air containing gaseous carbon dioxide to enter. For example, the ambient air may have a pressure of about 1 bar and a temperature of about 20°C. The air is received by the air compressor 302 and compressed, thereby increasing the pressure and temperature of the air to produce high-temperature, high-pressure air. For example, the pressure of the compressed air may be about 20 to 30 bar and the temperature may be about 40°C. The mass flow rate through the air compressor 302 may be about 25 kg / hour. In this example, the air compressor is driven by the mains power supply via the power generation and supply system 400a.

[0057] High-temperature, high-pressure air is supplied from the air compressor 302 to the compressed air storage tank 304 via piping section PA2. Heat is transferred from the high-temperature, high-pressure air in the compressed air storage tank 304 to the low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant in the evaporator 208, thereby causing the liquid refrigerant to evaporate (boil). For example, the temperature of the liquid refrigerant can be raised by about 9.5°C to an evaporation (boiling) temperature of about 5°C. As a result, the warm, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant (or refrigerant vapor) is returned to piping section PR1 to enter the refrigerant compressor 202, as described above in this specification. The mass flow rate of the warm, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant (or refrigerant vapor) leaving the evaporator 208 may be about 25 kg / hour.

[0058] As a result, the temperature of the compressed, high-pressure air in the compressed air storage tank 304 decreases, and low-temperature, high-pressure air is introduced into it. For example, the low-temperature, high-pressure air may have a temperature of approximately -3.2 to -22°C and a pressure of approximately 18 to 30 bar. As a result of this temperature decrease, the carbon dioxide contained in the compressed air liquefies. In this example, the liquefied carbon dioxide is discharged from the compressed air storage tank 304 to the carbon dioxide storage tank 306 through the piping section PA3.

[0059] The pressure of the compressed air in the compressed air storage tank 304 can be maintained at a desired level by the control of the air compressor 302, thereby ensuring the correct conditions for the liquefaction of carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the heat generated by the air compressor 302 can be used to remove moisture from the high-pressure air. The compressed air storage tank 304 may be insulated for thermal efficiency.

[0060] The following table shows exemplary values ​​for the air pressure in the compressed air storage tank 304 and the temperature in the corresponding evaporator 208. [Table 1]

[0061] The air outlet 304a is controlled to open (for example, by the operation of a valve) to release cold, high-pressure air (with carbon dioxide removed from it) from the compressed air storage tank 304. The cold, high-pressure air is supplied from the air outlet 304a to the air turbine 308 via the piping section PA4. In this example, the air turbine 308 includes a boundary layer turbine (BLT), the operating principle of which has already been described herein.

[0062] Low-temperature, high-pressure air is received by the air turbine 308, expands as it passes through the turbine, and rotates the air turbine 308 by the force of the airflow. This causes the air generator 400d, which is connected to the output shaft of the air turbine 308, to rotate and generate electricity. For example, the power output of the air generator 400d may be around 3 to 5 kW. The mass flow rate through the air turbine 308 may be about 25 kg / hour. The expansion of the low-temperature, high-pressure air passing through the air turbine 308 generates low-temperature, low-pressure air. For example, the low-temperature, low-pressure air may have a temperature of about -2 to -15°C and a maximum pressure of about 3 bar.

[0063] Low-temperature, low-pressure air is supplied from the air turbine 308 to the air filter 310 via the piping section PA5. As the air flows through the air filter 310, all contaminants, such as dust particles, bacteria, and biological pathogens including viruses, are removed.

[0064] The low-temperature, low-pressure air that has passed through the air filter 310 enters the piping section PA6, from where it exits the carbon recovery cooling system 100 and enters the external environment. The temperature of the outlet air may be approximately -2 to -12°C. Examples of the external environment include, but are not limited to, rooms inside a building, storage areas such as food storage areas, or outdoor environments such as city streets. The temperature of the environment is higher than the temperature of the low-temperature, low-pressure air exiting the carbon recovery cooling system 100. Therefore, the colder air has a cooling effect against a warmer environment.

[0065] In this example, piping section PA5 includes an optional air inlet to allow ambient air to enter piping section PA5. Since the ambient air has a higher temperature than the low-temperature, low-pressure air in piping section PA5, the ambient air warms the low-temperature, low-pressure air in piping section PA5. The air inlet may be controlled to allow a desired amount of ambient air into piping section PA5 depending on the temperature of the ambient air. In this way, the low-temperature, low-pressure air in piping section PA5 is finally discharged into the environment. By controlling the temperature of the air, it is possible to adjust the temperature of rooms within a building, for example.

[0066] In the example described above, the refrigerant fluid circulates through the refrigerant section 200 of the carbon recovery cooling system 100 in a closed refrigeration circulation path. Conversely, the air section 300 operates in an open circulation path, with warm ambient air entering the air section 300 and cold air exiting the air section 300.

[0067] The table below summarizes the state of each of the two working fluids in the carbon recovery cooling system 100, across all stages of their respective circulation paths.

[0068] Refrigerant section 200 [Table 2]

[0069] Air section 300 [Table 3]

[0070] In the example described above, the refrigerant generator 400c and the air generator 400d each provide power output. The controller 400e can control whether this power is fed back to the main power grid via the power generation and supply system 400a, or contributes to driving one or both of the refrigerant compressor 202 and the air compressor 302, or is stored by the battery loop storage system 400b for later use, or any combination thereof. The generation may be 400Hz, which may be converted to 50 / 60Hz.

[0071] The refrigerant gas cooler 204 may be placed in the airflow of low-temperature air exiting the piping section PA6 to enhance cooling performance.

[0072] In the example described above, the air system 300 includes an air filter 310, but in other examples, the air filter 310 is omitted. In yet another example, the air filter 310 is located upstream (in front of) the air turbine 308, rather than downstream of it.

[0073] In the example described above, the air system 300 includes an air turbine 308, but in other examples, the air turbine 308 is omitted. In such examples, the cold, high-pressure air can simply exit to the external environment through the air outlet 304a of the compressed air storage tank 304. Alternatively, the cold, high-pressure air may exit through the air outlet 304a and pass through an air filter 310 before entering the external environment.

[0074] In the example described above, the refrigerant unit 200 uses carbon dioxide as the working fluid, but in other examples, different refrigerant fluids are used. Examples include, but are not limited to, ammonia, difluoromethane, and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.

[0075] In the above example, the evaporator 208 is located inside the compressed air storage tank 304, but in other examples, the evaporator 208 is located outside the compressed air storage tank 304, or partially located inside and outside the compressed air storage tank 304. Any such configuration is within the scope of the claimed invention, provided that the evaporator 208 is configured to extract heat from the compressed air in the compressed air storage tank 304 by evaporation of a liquid refrigerant, thereby cooling the compressed air and liquefying gaseous carbon dioxide for recovery.

[0076] In the above example, the refrigeration unit 200 comprises a refrigerant gas cooler 204 and a refrigerant turbine 206 located downstream of the refrigerant gas cooler 204, but in other examples, the refrigerant gas cooler 204 and the refrigerant turbine 206 are omitted. In such examples, the refrigeration unit 200 comprises a condenser (i.e., instead of the refrigerant gas cooler 204) and an expansion valve (or other throttling device) located downstream of the condenser (i.e., instead of the refrigerant turbine 206). In these examples, the cooled fluid refrigerant exits the condenser as a high-pressure liquid and enters the expansion valve, and exits the expansion valve as a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid to enter the evaporator 208. Thus, in these examples, the refrigeration unit 200 will be understood to be essentially a conventional refrigeration system comprising a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator.

[0077] In the example described above, the refrigeration unit 200 comprises a refrigerant gas cooler 204 and a refrigerant turbine 206 located downstream of the refrigerant gas cooler 204, but in other examples, the refrigerant gas cooler 204 is omitted along with the piping section PR3. In such examples, the refrigerant turbine 206 is configured to receive high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant from the refrigerant compressor 202 via the piping section PR2. The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant expands through the refrigerant turbine 206, and the force of the fluid flow rotates the refrigerant turbine 206. In this way, heat and pressure are released by the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, driving the turbine to produce useful work, i.e., driving the refrigerant unit generator 400c. While the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant expands through the refrigerant turbine 206, it undergoes a phase change into vapor and low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant. The low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant is supplied from the refrigerant turbine 206 to the evaporator via the piping section PR4, as described above herein. Therefore, in these examples, the refrigerant turbine 206, or "single expander," receives high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant and discharges low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant for use in the evaporator. Thus, the refrigerant turbine 206 is a single device that efficiently performs both the functions of a condenser and an expansion valve in a conventional refrigeration system.

[0078] In the example above, liquefied carbon dioxide is discharged into carbon dioxide storage tank 306, but in other examples, carbon dioxide storage tank 306 is omitted. In such examples, liquefied carbon dioxide can be taken from the carbon recovery cooling system 100 (discharged or pumped out) for (immediate or later) use in industrial processes such as beverage carbonation.

[0079] In the example described above, the elements of the refrigerant section 200 and the air section 300 of the carbon recovery cooling system 100 are connected to each other by piping sections PR1-PR4 and PA1-PA6, but in other examples, at least some of the piping sections are omitted and at least some of the elements are directly connected to each other.

[0080] In the example described above, the refrigerant compressor 202 and the air compressor 302 are driven by the mains power supply via the power generation and supply system 400a, but in other examples, some other type of drive means may be used. For example, one or both of the refrigerant compressor 202 and the air compressor may be configured to be driven by the output shaft of an engine.

[0081] In one example, an additional or “first stage” air compressor (not shown in Figure 1) is located upstream of air compressor 302. The first stage air compressor is a low-pressure compressor operating at, for example, about 3 bar to remove water and / or water vapor from the air received from piping section PA1. The first stage air compressor can be configured to be driven by the mains power supply via the power generation and supply system 400a, or by some other means such as an engine. The dry air is then supplied to air compressor 302 or the “second stage” compressor, by which it is compressed to, for example, about 20 to 30 bar.

[0082] In the example described above, the carbon recovery cooling system 100 comprises a single compressed air storage tank 304 and a single evaporator 208, but in other examples, multiple air storage tanks and multiple evaporators may be provided. Such examples will be illustrated with reference to Figure 2.

[0083] As shown in Figure 2, the carbon recovery cooling system 100' comprises a refrigerant section or refrigerant system 200' and an air section or air system 300'. The main elements of the refrigerant section 200' are a refrigerant compressor 202' having an air intake 202'a, a refrigerant gas cooler 204' (or a condenser as described above herein) located downstream of the refrigerant compressor 202', a first refrigerant turbine or refrigerant expander 206'1 located downstream of the refrigerant gas cooler 204', a first evaporator 208'1 located downstream of the first refrigerant turbine 206'1 and situated in a first air storage tank 304'1, the first evaporator 208'1 located upstream of the air intake 202'a of the refrigerant compressor 202' and connected thereto, and a second refrigerant turbine or refrigerant located downstream of the refrigerant gas cooler 204'. The refrigerant section 200' also includes an expander 206'2, a second evaporator 208'2 located downstream of the second refrigerant turbine 206'2 and within the second air storage tank 304'2, which is located upstream of the intake port 202'a of the refrigerant compressor 202' and connected thereto, a third refrigerant turbine or refrigerant expander 206'3 located downstream of the refrigerant gas cooler 204', and a third evaporator 208'3 located downstream of the third refrigerant turbine 206'3 and within the third air storage tank 304'3, which is located upstream of the intake port 202'a of the refrigerant compressor 202' and connected thereto. The refrigerant section 200' also includes a working fluid refrigerant. In this example, the working fluid refrigerant is carbon dioxide. As used herein, the terms “downstream” and “upstream” will be understood to refer to the direction of movement of the fluid refrigerant through the refrigerant section 200'.

[0084] The main elements of the air section 300' in this example are: an air compressor 302' having a first low-pressure stage 302'1 and a second high-pressure stage 302'2; a first compressed air storage tank 304'1 located downstream of the air compressor 302' and including a first air outlet 304'1a and a first CO2 discharge port 304'1b; a first air turbine 308'1 located downstream of the first air outlet 304'1a; and a second air outlet 304'2a and a second CO2 discharge port 304' located downstream of the first air turbine 308'1. The system includes a second compressed air storage tank 304'2 containing 2b, a second air turbine 308'2 located downstream of the second air outlet 304'2a, a third compressed air storage tank 304'3 located downstream of the second air turbine 308'2 and containing a third air outlet 304'3a and a third CO2 emission port 304'3b, a third air turbine 308'3 located downstream of the third air outlet 304'3a, and an air filter 310' located downstream of the third air turbine 308'3 and open to the external environment.

[0085] As used herein, the terms “downstream” and “upstream” will be understood to refer to the direction of movement of the fluid refrigerant through the refrigerant section 200 and the air through the air section 300.

[0086] It will be understood that the elements of the carbon recovery cooling system 100' are connected to one another by piping sections (not indicated in Figure 2) in the manner described herein. Alternatively, at least a portion of the piping sections may be omitted, and at least a portion of the elements may be directly connected to one another.

[0087] The operation of the carbon recovery cooling system 100' in Figure 2 is generally similar to the operation of the carbon recovery cooling system 100 in Figure 1 described herein, except that in the carbon recovery cooling system 100' in Figure 2, the flow of fluid refrigerant leaving the refrigerant gas cooler 204' is divided so that it flows into the first, second, and third refrigerant expanders 206'1, 206'2, and 206'3, respectively, and consequently into the first, second, and third evaporators 208'1, 208'2, and 208'3. Thus, the first, second, and third evaporators 208'1, 208'2, and 208'3 are arranged in parallel, and they each lead the warm, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant to the intake port 202'a of the refrigerant compressor 202'. Furthermore, the first, second, and third air storage tanks 304'1, 304'2, and 304'3, as well as the first, second, and third air turbines 308'1, 308'2, and 308'3, are arranged in series.

[0088] The refrigerant compressor 202' and / or air compressor 302' can be driven by a mains power source via a power generation and supply system, or by some other suitable drive means such as the output shaft of an engine, as described above herein. As an example, depending on the application, the pressure in the first air storage tank 304'1 may be about 90 bar, while the second air storage tank 304'2 may be at a ratio such as 4.48 or 3.52. This range may be 90 bar in the first air storage tank 304'1, 20 bar in the second air storage tank 304'2, and 4.46 bar in the third air storage tank 304'3. Alternatively, it may drop by 30 bar through each turbine system to 90 bar, 60 bar, and 30 bar.

[0089] The configuration of the carbon recovery cooling system 100' may differ from the example described in Figure 2. Modifications may be as described herein with respect to the carbon recovery cooling system 100' of Figure 1. All such implementable configurations are envisioned and within the scope of the claimed invention, provided that the carbon recovery cooling system 100' includes a plurality of compressed air storage tanks and a plurality of evaporators.

[0090] The present invention has been described in relation to its preferred embodiments and should be understood to be capable of being modified in many different ways without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A carbon capture cooling system, A refrigeration system equipped with an evaporator and configured to supply a liquid refrigerant to the evaporator, An air compressor configured to compress air containing gaseous carbon dioxide, and A compressed air storage container configured to receive the compressed air from the air compressor and equipped with an air outlet, Equipped with, The evaporator is configured to extract heat from the compressed air in the compressed air storage container by the evaporation of the liquid refrigerant, thereby cooling the compressed air and liquefying the gaseous carbon dioxide for recovery. A carbon recovery cooling system wherein the air outlet is configured to release cooled, compressed air from the compressed air storage container in order to cool the external environment of the carbon recovery cooling system.

2. The aforementioned refrigeration system is A refrigerant compressor configured to receive the refrigerant gas evaporated from the evaporator and compress the refrigerant gas, and A system comprising a refrigerant gas cooler and an expander configured to receive the refrigerant gas compressed from the refrigerant compressor, liquefy the compressed refrigerant gas, and supply the liquid refrigerant to the evaporator. A carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 1, comprising:

3. The refrigerant gas cooler and expander system described above is A refrigerant gas cooler configured to receive the refrigerant gas compressed from the refrigerant compressor and to cool the compressed refrigerant gas, and A refrigerant turbine is configured to receive the cooled and compressed refrigerant gas from the refrigerant gas cooler, expand the compressed refrigerant gas, thereby liquefying the compressed refrigerant gas and supplying the liquid refrigerant to the evaporator. A carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 2, comprising:

4. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 2, wherein the refrigerant gas cooler and expander system comprises a refrigerant turbine configured to receive the refrigerant gas compressed from the refrigerant compressor, cool and expand the compressed refrigerant gas, thereby liquefying the compressed refrigerant gas and supplying the liquid refrigerant to the evaporator.

5. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the refrigerant turbine includes a boundary layer turbine.

6. A carbon recovery cooling system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, comprising a generator connected to the refrigerant turbine for generating electricity.

7. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 6, wherein the generator connected to the refrigerant turbine is configured to generate electricity for driving the refrigerant compressor.

8. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the generator connected to the refrigerant turbine is configured to generate electricity at 400 Hz.

9. The cooled and compressed air is received from the outlet of the compressed air storage container and expanded to cool the external environment of the carbon recovery cooling system. A carbon recovery cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising an air turbine configured to perform such action.

10. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 9, wherein the air turbine includes a boundary layer turbine.

11. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising a generator connected to the air turbine for generating electricity.

12. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 11, wherein the generator connected to the air turbine is configured to generate electricity for driving the air compressor.

13. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the generator connected to the air turbine is configured to generate power at 400 Hz.

14. A carbon recovery cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising a filter for removing contaminants from the cooled and compressed air.

15. A carbon recovery cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising a carbon dioxide storage container configured to receive the liquefied carbon dioxide.

16. The carbon recovery cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the evaporator is at least partially located inside the compressed air storage container.

17. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 16, wherein the evaporator is entirely located inside the compressed air storage container.

18. The carbon recovery cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the refrigerant includes carbon dioxide.

19. A carbon capture cooling system, A refrigeration system comprising multiple evaporators and configured to supply liquid refrigerant to the evaporators, An air compressor configured to compress air containing gaseous carbon dioxide, and Multiple compressed air storage containers, each equipped with an air outlet, Equipped with, The first compressed air storage container among the compressed air storage containers is configured to receive the compressed air from the air compressor, The second compressed air storage container among the compressed air storage containers is configured to receive the compressed air from the air outlet of the first compressed air storage container among the compressed air storage containers, By evaporation of the liquid refrigerant, the first evaporator among the evaporators is configured to extract heat from the compressed air in the first compressed air storage container among the compressed air storage containers, and the second evaporator among the evaporators is configured to extract heat from the compressed air in the second compressed air storage container among the compressed air storage containers, thereby cooling the compressed air and liquefying the gaseous carbon dioxide for recovery. The air outlet of the second compressed air storage container, or a further compressed air storage container located downstream of the second compressed air storage container, delivers the cooled and compressed air to the second or further compressed air storage container in order to cool the external environment of the carbon recovery cooling system. A carbon capture cooling system configured to release carbon from a source.

20. The aforementioned refrigeration system is A refrigerant compressor configured to receive the refrigerant gas evaporated from the evaporator and compress the refrigerant gas, and A system comprising a refrigerant gas cooler and an expander configured to receive the compressed refrigerant gas from the refrigerant compressor, liquefy the compressed refrigerant gas, and supply the liquid refrigerant to the evaporator. A carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 19, comprising:

21. The refrigerant gas cooler and expander system described above is A refrigerant gas cooler configured to receive the refrigerant gas compressed from the refrigerant compressor and to cool the compressed refrigerant gas, and Multiple refrigerant turbines, each configured to receive the cooled and compressed refrigerant gas from the refrigerant gas cooler, expand the compressed refrigerant gas, thereby liquefying the compressed refrigerant gas and supplying the liquid refrigerant to each of the evaporators. A carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 20, comprising:

22. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 20, wherein the refrigerant gas cooler and expander system comprises a plurality of refrigerant turbines, each configured to receive the refrigerant gas compressed from the refrigerant compressor, cool and expand the compressed refrigerant gas, thereby liquefying the compressed refrigerant gas and supplying the liquid refrigerant to each of the evaporators.

23. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the refrigerant turbine includes a boundary layer turbine.

24. A carbon recovery cooling system according to any one of claims 21 to 23, comprising a generator connected to each of the refrigerant turbines for generating electricity.

25. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 24, wherein the generators connected to each of the refrigerant turbines are configured to generate electricity for driving the refrigerant compressor.

26. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the generator connected to the refrigerant turbine is configured to generate power at 400 Hz.

27. A carbon recovery cooling system according to any one of claims 19 to 26, comprising an air turbine configured to receive the cooled and compressed air from the outlet of the first compressed air storage container and to partially expand the cooled and compressed air so that it enters the second compressed air storage container.

28. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 27, wherein the air turbine includes a boundary layer turbine.

29. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 27 or 28, further comprising a generator connected to the air turbine for generating electricity.

30. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 29, wherein the generator connected to the air turbine is configured to generate electricity for driving the air compressor.

31. The generator connected to the air turbine is configured to generate power at 400 Hz. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 29 or 30.

32. A carbon recovery cooling system according to any one of claims 19 to 31, comprising a filter for removing contaminants from the cooled and compressed air.

33. A carbon recovery cooling system according to any one of claims 19 to 32, comprising one or more carbon dioxide storage containers configured to receive the liquefied carbon dioxide.

34. The carbon recovery cooling system according to any one of claims 19 to 33, wherein at least one of the evaporators is located at least partially inside each of the compressed air storage containers.

35. The carbon recovery cooling system according to claim 34, wherein at least one of the evaporators is entirely located inside each of the compressed air storage containers.

36. The carbon recovery cooling system according to any one of claims 19 to 35, wherein the refrigerant contains carbon dioxide.

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