A system and method for utilizing transformer waste energy using a modular CO2 capture system.

Abstract

A system that utilizes thermal energy in the form of waste heat from a transformer to minimize the energy required for direct air recovery (DAC) operation of CO2, comprising a heat transfer unit coupled to the transformer and configured to receive waste heat in the form of a high-temperature insulating liquid, and configured to be coupled to one or more CO2DAC modules containing a CO2 adsorption or absorption medium, wherein the heat transfer unit transfers waste heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid in the heat transfer unit to one or more CO2DAC modules, and in one or more CO2DAC modules, the transferred heat is used to heat the CO2 adsorption or absorption medium to minimize the energy required for direct air recovery operation of CO2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments herein generally relate to carbon dioxide (CO2) capture heating systems and methods.

Background Art

[0002] Examples of direct air capture (DAC) systems for CO2 that directly capture CO2 from air include a fan that pushes air through a filter system that collects CO2. When the filter is saturated, the CO2 is separated at high temperature. This can be used for various applications such as growing vegetables and carbonating beverages. The DAC system for CO2 requires a very large amount of energy to raise the temperature of the recovery unit from the ambient temperature, which may be an increase to the desorption temperature of CO2 that can reach from approximately 20 - 40°C to 100 - 120°C. This periodic temperature change is a very energy-intensive process and often represents the limit of the economic viability of DAC technology applications.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system that utilizes thermal energy in the form of waste heat from a transformer to minimize the energy required for direct air capture (DAC) operation of CO2. The system includes a heat transfer unit. The heat transfer unit is coupled to the transformer and configured to receive waste heat in the form of a high-temperature insulating liquid, and is configured to be coupled to one or more CO2 DAC modules that include a CO2 absorption medium. The heat transfer unit transfers waste heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid in the heat transfer unit to the one or more CO2 DAC modules, and in the one or more CO2 DAC modules, the transferred heat is used to heat the CO2 absorption medium to minimize the energy required for the direct air capture operation of CO2.

[0004] One or more implementations of the above aspects of the present disclosure described above further include an additional heating system configured to ensure that a second heat transfer liquid, independent of the high-temperature insulating liquid from the transformer, continuously reaches the temperature required for the desorption of CO2 in one or more CO2DAC modules; the heat transfer unit is a heat exchanger; the additional heating system is a high-temperature insulating liquid tank in which the heat exchanger is located, the heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid to the second heat transfer liquid; and the high-temperature insulating liquid tank is configured to ensure that the second heat transfer liquid continuously reaches the temperature required for the desorption of CO2 in one or more CO2DAC modules.

[0005] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for utilizing thermal energy in the form of waste heat from a transformer to minimize the energy required for a direct air recovery operation of CO2, comprising the steps of receiving waste heat from a transformer in the form of a high-temperature insulating liquid and transferring the waste heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid in a heat transfer unit to one or more CO2DAC modules, in which the transferred heat is used to heat a CO2 absorption medium in one or more CO2DAC modules in order to minimize the energy required for a direct air recovery operation of CO2.

[0006] One or more implementations of the aspects of the present disclosure described above include one or more steps of: heating a second heat transfer liquid, independent of the high-temperature insulating liquid from the transformer, using the high-temperature insulating liquid from the transformer; and / or further heating the second heat transfer liquid to a temperature required for the desorption of CO2 in one or more CO2DAC modules.

[0007] Details relating to both the structure and operation of this disclosure may be partially obtained by studying the accompanying drawings, which are numbered similarly to reference parts thereof. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a simplified diagram of a system that utilizes thermal energy in the form of waste heat from a transformer to minimize the energy required for direct air recovery (DAC) operation of CO2 according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a CO2DAC module according to one embodiment, as shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a more detailed diagram of the system shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a typical method for utilizing thermal energy in the form of transformer waste heat to minimize the energy required for direct air capture (DAC) operation of CO2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] [Detailed explanation] Generally with reference to Figures 1 to 3, a system 100 is described that utilizes thermal energy in the form of waste heat from a transformer 120 to minimize the energy required for CO2 direct air recovery (DAC) operation or a transformer waste energy heat transfer system (HTS), according to one embodiment. System 100 includes a heat transfer unit 125 configured to be coupled to a transformer 120 and to receive waste heat in the form of a high-temperature insulating liquid (e.g., mineral oil, natural esters, synthetic esters, silicone oil, LFH (less flammable hydrocarbons), or bio-based hydrocarbons), and to be coupled to one or more CO2DAC modules 130 containing a CO2 adsorption or absorption medium 140, wherein the heat transfer unit transfers waste heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid in the heat transfer unit 125 to one or more CO2DAC modules 130, in which one or more CO2DAC modules 130 use the transferred heat to heat the CO2 adsorption or absorption medium 140 to reduce the energy required to raise the temperature of the material to a setpoint temperature (e.g., 100-120°C) required for desorption of CO2 from the CO2 adsorption or absorption medium 140. 100-120°C is presented as an example of a required setpoint temperature, but the required setpoint temperature may vary depending on the sorption efficiency. The additional heating system 145 ensures that sufficient heat is transferred to the CO2 adsorption or absorption medium 140 to raise the material temperature to the required setpoint temperature.

[0010] As shown in Figure 2, one or more CO2DAC modules 130 may be self-contained industrial modules for CO2 removal, having the necessary equipment to perform CO2 removal and storage. The CO2DAC module 130 includes one or more fans 150 mounted on the housing 160 to create air circulation through the CO2 adsorption or absorption medium 140 to separate CO2 from the ambient air. The CO2DAC heat exchanger 170 receives and uses a high-temperature insulating liquid from the system 100 to heat the CO2 adsorption or absorption medium 140 to a setpoint temperature required to desorb CO2 from the CO2 adsorption or absorption medium 140. The flushed CO2 is drawn out of the CO2DAC module 130 via a vacuum / filtration system 180, exits the CO2DAC at an outlet 190, passes through one or more conduits 200, and may be transmitted via a compressor 210 to a destination / application 220 (e.g., connection to a CO2 pipeline, underground injection, bottling transport, local storage in tanks). The DAC modules described herein are examples of DAC systems and do not limit the application of this disclosure.

[0011] As shown in Figure 3, the additional heating system 145 of system 100 is a high-temperature insulating liquid tank 230, and the heat transfer unit 125 is a high-temperature insulating liquid tank heat exchanger 240 located in the high-temperature insulating liquid tank 230. System 100 further includes conduits 250 connecting ports 260, 270 of a high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 280 to the heat exchanger 240, and conduits 290 connecting the high-temperature insulating liquid tank 230 to a CO2DAC module 130 (e.g., a high-temperature insulating liquid inlet 300, a high-temperature insulating liquid outlet 310). The high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 280 may also be part of a transformer cooling system 315. Waste energy from the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 270, specifically the high-temperature insulating liquid (e.g., 80-90°C), is transmitted to the heat exchanger 240 to heat a second heat transfer liquid or alternative heat transfer mechanism (AHTM), separated / independent from the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 270, in the high-temperature insulating liquid tank 230, and then returned to the high-temperature insulating liquid manifold 280. The high-temperature insulating liquid tank 230 heats the independent second heat transfer liquid or alternative heat transfer mechanism (e.g., to 100-120°C), which is transmitted from the high-temperature insulating liquid tank 230 to the heat exchanger 170 of the CO2DAC module 130 via the conduit 290. The heat exchanger 170 transfers heat from the circulated second heat transfer liquid or alternative heat transfer mechanism from the high-temperature insulating liquid tank 230 to the CO2 adsorption or absorption medium 140 until its temperature reaches the setpoint temperature required for CO2 desorption (e.g., approximately 100-120°C). This ensures that the additional heating system 145 maintains the temperature required for CO2 desorption in one or more CO2DACs, with the second heat transfer liquid or alternative heat transfer mechanism, independent of the high-temperature insulating liquid from the transformer 120, continuously reaching the required temperature.

[0012] Referring to Figure 4, a method 350 using the transformer waste energy heat transfer system 100 is described. In block 360, the system 100 receives waste heat from the transformer 120 in the form of a high-temperature insulating liquid (e.g., via the transformer cooling system 315) (e.g., via a heat exchanger 240 located in the high-temperature insulating liquid tank 230). In additional block 370, if necessary, the system 100 heats a second heat transfer liquid or alternative heat transfer mechanism, independent of the high-temperature insulating liquid from the transformer 120, using the high-temperature insulating liquid from the transformer 120 (e.g., via the high-temperature insulating liquid tank 230). In additional block 380, if necessary, the system 100 further heats the second heat transfer liquid or alternative heat transfer mechanism to the temperature required for CO2 desorption in one or more CO2DAC modules 130. In block 390, system 100 causes heat to be transferred (for example, via the heat transfer unit 125 and the second heat transfer liquid of the heat transfer liquid tank 230) to the heat exchanger 170 of the CO2DAC module 130, where the transferred heat is used to heat the CO2 adsorption or absorption medium 140, in order to minimize the energy required for CO2 direct air recovery (DAC) operation. An alternative heat transfer mechanism / technology may be used instead of the heat exchanger 170, still utilizing waste heat from the insulating liquid of the transformer.

[0013] The main advantages of System 100 and Method 350 include minimizing the energy required to raise the temperature of the CO2DAC module (e.g., to 100–120°C, typically with an ambient temperature of about 20°C, a difference of at least about 80°C) by utilizing the thermal energy that needs to be removed from the transformer 120 to prevent overheating of the transformer 120 as input to raise the temperature of the CO2DAC module. Assuming that the high-temperature insulating liquid carrying waste heat from the transformer cooling system 315 is about 80–90°C, such a temperature difference (and consequently the difference in energy required) will be drastically reduced. This makes the entire system more efficient and utilizes the transformer waste energy in a way that benefits the environment and the company by generating carbon credits.

[0014] The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided for those skilled in the art to create and utilize the invention. Various modifications of these embodiments are obvious to those skilled in the art, and the general principles described herein apply to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is understood that the description and figures herein represent preferred embodiments of the invention at present and are therefore representative of the technical matters broadly intended by the invention. It is further understood that the scope of the invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may be obvious to those skilled in the art, and therefore the scope of the invention is not limited.

[0015] The 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 A, multiple B, or multiple C. Specifically, “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 of the constituent elements A, B, and / or C. For example, a combination of A and B may include one A and multiple B, multiple A and one B, or multiple A and multiple B.

Claims

1. A system (100) that utilizes thermal energy in the form of waste heat from a transformer in order to minimize the energy required for the operation of Direct Air Capture (DAC) CO2, A system comprising a heat transfer unit (125) coupled to a transformer (120) and configured to receive waste heat in the form of a high-temperature insulating liquid, and configured to be coupled to one or more CO2DAC modules (130) containing a CO2 adsorption medium (140), wherein the heat transfer unit transfers waste heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid in the heat transfer unit (125) to the one or more CO2DAC modules (130), and the transferred heat is used in the one or more CO2DAC modules to heat the CO2 adsorption medium (140) in order to minimize the energy required for the direct air recovery operation of CO2.

2. The transformer waste energy heat transfer system (100) according to claim 1, further comprising an additional heating system (145) configured to ensure that a second heat transfer liquid or alternative heat transfer mechanism, independent of the high-temperature insulating liquid from the transformer (120), continuously reaches the temperature necessary for the desorption of CO2 in one or more CO2DAC modules (130).

3. The transformer waste energy heat transfer system (100) according to claim 2, wherein the heat transfer unit (125) is a heat exchanger (240).

4. The transformer waste energy heat transfer system (100) according to claim 3, wherein the additional heating system (145) is a heat transfer liquid tank (230) in which the heat exchanger (240) is disposed, the heat exchanger (240) is configured to transfer heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid to the second heat transfer liquid, and the heat transfer liquid tank (230) is configured to ensure that the second heat transfer liquid continuously reaches the required temperature for the desorption of CO2 in the one or more CO2DAC modules (130).

5. A method that utilizes thermal energy in the form of waste heat from a transformer in order to minimize the energy required for the direct CO2 recovery operation from air, A step of receiving waste heat from the transformer (120) in the form of a high-temperature insulating liquid, A method comprising the steps of transferring waste heat from the high-temperature insulating liquid in a heat transfer unit (125) to one or more CO2DAC modules (130), wherein the transferred heat is used in the CO2DAC modules (130) to heat the CO2 adsorption medium (140) in the one or more CO2DAC modules (130) in order to minimize the energy required for the direct CO2 air recovery operation.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of heating a second heat transfer liquid or alternative heat transfer mechanism, independent of the high-temperature insulating liquid from the transformer (120), using the high-temperature insulating liquid from the transformer (120).

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of additionally heating the second heat transfer liquid or alternative heat transfer mechanism to a temperature necessary for the desorption of CO2 in one or more CO2DAC modules (130).

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