Carbon dioxide separation system

Abstract

This carbon dioxide separation system comprises: an adsorption device that causes carbon dioxide in a target gas to be adsorbed on an adsorbent; a regeneration device that brings the adsorbent into contact with water vapor to cause the adsorbent to release the carbon dioxide; and a drying device that brings a drying gas into contact with the adsorbent to dry the same. At least one of the adsorption device and the drying device is composed of a specific structure, and the specific structure comprises a processing container in which the adsorbent moves downward due to the weight thereof. The processing container has a main portion which extends vertically and in which a horizontal cross section thereof has an elongated shape. The main portion has, in opposing predetermined regions of both side surfaces facing each other in the thickness direction of the processing container, gas passage regions which prevent the adsorbent to pass therethrough, through which gas to be supplied to the specific structure is supplied inside the processing container, and through which the gas having passed through the processing container in the thickness direction inside the processing container can be discharged outside from the inside of the processing container.

Description

Carbon Dioxide Separation System

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a carbon dioxide separation system that separates carbon dioxide from a target gas containing carbon dioxide, such as a combustion exhaust gas.

[0002] Systems for separating carbon dioxide from a target gas using an adsorbent have been known for some time. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a carbon dioxide separation system equipped with a treatment tower consisting of a tower-shaped treatment vessel into which the adsorbent is introduced from the top and discharged from the bottom. In this system, the interior space of the tower-shaped treatment vessel is virtually divided from above into a regeneration chamber, a drying chamber, and an adsorption chamber by multiple obstacles that maintain a stratified flow of the adsorbent while hindering its downward movement. In the regeneration chamber, water vapor is brought into contact with the adsorbent after adsorption of carbon dioxide, thereby releasing carbon dioxide from the adsorbent. In the drying chamber, a drying gas is brought into contact with the adsorbent after contact with water vapor, thereby drying the adsorbent. In the adsorption chamber, the target gas is brought into contact with the adsorbent, causing the adsorbent to adsorb carbon dioxide from the target gas.

[0003] The adsorption chamber is provided with an outlet at the bottom for ejecting the target gas upward and an outlet at the top for discharging the target gas, so that the target gas flows from bottom to top in a tower-shaped treatment vessel filled with an adsorbent. The drying chamber is provided with an outlet at the bottom for ejecting the drying gas upward and an outlet at the top for discharging the drying gas, so that the drying gas flows from bottom to top in a tower-shaped treatment vessel filled with an adsorbent.

[0004] Patent No. 6298360

[0005] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, the target gas flows a long distance from bottom to top in the tower-shaped treatment vessel filled with adsorbent in the adsorption treatment chamber, which results in a large pressure loss of the target gas and increases the energy cost for supplying the target gas.

[0006] Furthermore, in the drying treatment chamber, the distance over which the drying gas flows from bottom to top within a tower-shaped treatment vessel filled with an adsorbent becomes long, which increases the pressure loss of the drying gas and increases the energy cost for supplying the drying gas.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a carbon dioxide separation system that can reduce the pressure loss of at least one of the target gas and the drying gas.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a carbon dioxide separation system according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises an adsorption device to which a target gas containing carbon dioxide is supplied and which brings the target gas into contact with a granular adsorbent to cause the adsorbent to adsorb carbon dioxide in the target gas; a regeneration device to which water vapor is brought into contact with the adsorbent after carbon dioxide adsorption to release carbon dioxide from the adsorbent; and a drying device to which a drying gas is supplied and which brings the drying gas into contact with the adsorbent after contact with the water vapor to dry the adsorbent, wherein at least one of the adsorption device and the drying device is constituted by a specific structure, and the specific structure comprises a treatment vessel inside which the adsorbent moves downward by its own weight, the treatment vessel having a main part which has an elongated horizontal cross section and extends vertically, and the main part has gas passage regions which do not allow the adsorbent to pass through, and which supply gas supplied to the specific structure into the interior of the treatment vessel, at opposing predetermined regions on both sides opposing the thickness direction of the treatment vessel, and which are capable of discharging gas which has passed through the treatment vessel in the thickness direction of the treatment vessel from the interior of the storage vessel to the outside.

[0009] The present disclosure has the effect of providing a carbon dioxide separation system having the above-described configuration and capable of reducing pressure loss in at least one of the target gas and the drying gas.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of a carbon dioxide separation system in a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first configuration example of a specific structure applied to an adsorption device and a drying device. FIG. 3 is a side view of a treatment vessel of the specific structure shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second configuration example of a specific structure applied to an adsorption device and a drying device. FIG. 5 is a side view of a treatment vessel of the specific structure shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of an example of a carbon dioxide separation system in a second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a front view of the drying device and adsorption device shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a side view of an example of a vertically elongated treatment vessel used in the drying device and adsorption device shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a side view of another example of a vertically elongated treatment vessel. FIG. 10 is a front view of a third configuration example of a specific structure in the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a front view of a fourth configuration example of a specific structure in the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of an example of a carbon dioxide separation system in a third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of an example of a carbon dioxide separation system in a fourth embodiment. Fig. 14 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of an example of a carbon dioxide separation system in the fifth embodiment. Fig. 15 is a side view showing another example of a treatment vessel of the specific structure shown in Fig. 4 etc. Fig. 16 is a side view showing another example of a vertically elongated treatment vessel used in the drying device and adsorption device shown in Fig. 6 etc.

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the following, identical or corresponding elements throughout the drawings will be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations may be omitted. Furthermore, the drawings are schematic illustrations of the respective components for ease of understanding, and the shapes, dimensional ratios, and the like may not be accurately depicted.

[0012] (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of a carbon dioxide separation system in a first embodiment. The carbon dioxide separation system 1 shown in Fig. 1 is a series of systems that selectively separates carbon dioxide from a target gas containing carbon dioxide using an adsorbent and regenerates the adsorbent used for the separation. The target gas is, for example, combustion exhaust gas from a thermal power plant or the like. The adsorbent can be, for example, a granular solid absorbent in which an amine is supported on a porous body. The porous body can be, for example, silica gel, activated alumina, metal oxide, or the like.

[0013] The carbon dioxide separation system 1 includes an adsorption device 2, a regeneration device 3, a drying device 4, an adsorbent transport device 5, and fans 6 and 7. The adsorbent is circulated through the adsorption device 2, the regeneration device 3, and the drying device 4 via the adsorbent transport device 5. While the carbon dioxide separation system 1 is in operation, the adsorbent is always present in the adsorption device 2, the regeneration device 3, and the drying device 4. As the adsorbent transport device 5, for example, a conveyor such as a bucket conveyor may be used, or a pneumatic transport device may be used.

[0014] The adsorption device 2 is a device that receives a supply of target gas such as combustion exhaust gas and brings the target gas into contact with an adsorbent to adsorb carbon dioxide in the target gas onto the adsorbent. The target gas is supplied to the adsorption device 2 through a target gas supply path 21 by a fan 7. The treated target gas, which is the target gas from which carbon dioxide has been removed by the adsorbent in the adsorption device 2, is discharged through a target gas discharge path 22.

[0015] Desorption steam, which is steam for desorbing carbon dioxide from the adsorbent, is supplied to the regeneration device 3 through a steam supply path 31. The regeneration device 3 is a device that releases carbon dioxide from the adsorbent by bringing the desorption steam into contact with the adsorbent that has adsorbed carbon dioxide and that has been transported from the adsorption device 2 by the adsorbent transport device 5.

[0016] In the regeneration device 3, the water vapor in the desorption steam condenses on the adsorbent due to contact between the adsorbent and the desorption steam, thereby releasing carbon dioxide from the adsorbent. The amount of water vapor in the desorption steam is such that almost all of the water vapor in the desorption steam condenses on the adsorbent. The carbon dioxide desorbed and released from the adsorbent is discharged through the carbon dioxide recovery path 32. For example, carbon dioxide sucked by a vacuum pump and discharged through the carbon dioxide recovery path 32 is stored in a carbon dioxide holder. The adsorbent to which condensed water has adhered in the regeneration device 3 is supplied to the drying device 4.

[0017] The drying device 4 is a device that receives a drying gas and dries the adsorbent by bringing the drying gas into contact with the adsorbent that has been in contact with the desorption steam. The drying gas is supplied to the drying device 4 through a drying gas supply path 41 by a fan 6. The treated drying gas that has passed through the drying device 4 is discharged to the outside through a drying gas discharge path 42. The drying gas supplied to the drying device 4 is outside air, and it is preferable that the humidity of the outside air has been adjusted by removing moisture from it using a condenser, and that the temperature of the outside air has been adjusted by heating it using a heater. The adsorbent dried in the drying device 4 is supplied to the adsorption device 2.

[0018] Next, details of this embodiment will be described. The regeneration device 3 can be of a known configuration, for example, a tower-type device having a cylindrical processing vessel.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a first configuration example of the specific structure applied to the adsorption device 2 and the drying device 4. Fig. 3 is a side view of a processing vessel 61A of the specific structure 60A shown in Fig. 2.

[0020] The specific structure 60A of the first configuration example includes a treatment vessel 61A having a main portion 61AM with an elongated horizontal cross section extending vertically. The upper end of the treatment vessel 61A has a receiving port 62 for receiving an adsorbent supplied from above, as indicated by arrow Sa. The lower end of the treatment vessel 61A is provided with a discharge device 63 for discharging the adsorbent downward, as indicated by arrow Sd. The discharge device 63 is, for example, a rotary valve.

[0021] The discharge device 63 is driven intermittently or continuously, and as the discharge device 63 discharges the adsorbent from the bottom end of the treatment vessel 61A, the adsorbent inside the treatment vessel 61A moves downward by its own weight.

[0022] In the main portion 61AM of the processing vessel 61A, predetermined opposing regions on both side surfaces 61a, 61b facing each other in the thickness direction a of the processing vessel 61A are gas passage regions 64, 65 through which the adsorbent cannot pass but the gas can pass. The gas passage regions 64, 65 are formed, for example, of a mesh-like component such as a wire mesh. While one side surface 61a is shown in FIG. 3 , the other side surface 61b is also formed in a similar manner. The thickness direction a of the processing vessel 61A is the direction indicated by arrow a, which is the same as the thickness direction of the main portion 61AM and is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the elongated horizontal cross section of the main portion 61AM.

[0023] The processing vessel 61A is provided with a gas supply port 66 surrounding one gas passage region 64, and a gas exhaust port 67 surrounding the other gas passage region 64.

[0024] In addition, the adsorbent is circulated in the processing vessel 61A so that the adsorbent is always present at a position above the upper ends of the gas passage regions 64, 65. As shown by arrows S1 and S2, the gas supplied to the specific structure 60A is supplied from a gas supply port 66 of the processing vessel 61A through one gas passage region 64 into the interior of the processing vessel 61A, passes through the interior of the processing vessel 61A while contacting the adsorbent, and is discharged from a gas discharge port 67 through the other gas passage region 65. In other words, the horizontally opposed gas passage regions 64, 65 supply the gas supplied to the specific structure 60A into the interior of the processing vessel 61A, and discharge the gas that has passed through the interior of the processing vessel 61A in the thickness direction a of the processing vessel 61A from the interior to the exterior of the processing vessel 61A.

[0025] When this specific structure 60A is applied to an adsorption device 2, the gas supplied to the specific structure 60A is a target gas, and a target gas supply path 21 is connected to the gas supply port 66, and a target gas discharge path 22 is connected to the gas discharge port 67.

[0026] Furthermore, when the specific structure 60A is applied to the drying device 4, the gas supplied to the specific structure 60A is a drying gas, and a drying gas supply path 41 is connected to the gas supply port 66, and a drying gas exhaust path 42 is connected to the gas exhaust port 67.

[0027] In the specific structure 60A of this first configuration example, the gas supplied to the specific structure 60A passes through the interior of the processing vessel 61A in the thickness direction a via opposing gas passage regions 64, 65 on both side surfaces 61a, 61b of the main portion 61AM of the processing vessel 61A. This shortens the passage distance of the gas supplied to the specific structure 60A within the processing vessel 61A, thereby reducing the pressure loss of the gas passing through the processing vessel 61A where the adsorbent is present. Furthermore, by increasing the area of ​​the gas passage regions 64, 65 on both side surfaces 61a, 61b of the processing vessel 61A, the gas flow rate can be increased. Therefore, when the adsorption device 2 is the specific structure 60A, the pressure loss of the target gas supplied to the adsorption device 2 can be reduced, and when the dryer 4 is the specific structure 60A, the pressure loss of the drying gas supplied to the dryer 4 can be reduced. In this way, the reduction in pressure loss of the target gas and the drying gas reduces the energy costs required to supply the target gas and the drying gas. For example, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the fan 7 and the like used to supply the target gas to the adsorption device 2. In addition, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the fan 6 and the like used to supply the drying gas to the drying device 4.

[0028] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a second configuration example of the specific structure applied to the adsorption device 2 and the drying device 4. Fig. 5 is a side view of a processing vessel 61B of the specific structure 60B shown in Fig. 4 .

[0029] The specific structure 60B of the second configuration example includes a processing vessel 61B having a main portion 61BM with an elongated horizontal cross section extending in the vertical direction. This processing vessel 61B has a different gas passage region from the processing vessel 61A described above. The processing vessel 61B has a plurality of gas passage regions 64a, 64b, 65a, and 65b spaced apart in the vertical direction on both side surfaces 61a and 61b of the main portion 61BM. The gas passage regions 64a and 64b on one side surface 61a and the gas passage regions 65a and 65b on the other side surface 61b are arranged opposite each other.

[0030] The processing vessel 61B is provided with a gas supply port 68 surrounding the gas passage region 64a on one side surface 61a, and a gas exhaust port 70 surrounding the gas passage region 64b. The processing vessel 61B is also provided with a gas folding lid 69 that surrounds and covers the two gas passage regions 65a, 65b on the other side surface 61b and the region between these two regions 65a, 65b.

[0031] In addition, the adsorbent is circulated in the processing vessel 61B so that it is always present at a position above the upper ends of the uppermost gas passage regions 64b and 65b. The gas supplied to the specific structure 60B is supplied from the gas supply port 68 of the processing vessel 61B through the gas passage region 64a into the interior of the processing vessel 61B, as shown by arrow S3, passes through the interior of the processing vessel 61B while contacting the adsorbent, and is supplied into the gas return lid 69 through the gas passage region 65a. Furthermore, as shown by arrows S4 and S5, the gas changes direction within the gas return lid 69, is supplied again into the interior of the processing vessel 61B through the gas passage region 65b, passes through the interior of the processing vessel 61B while contacting the adsorbent, and is discharged from the gas exhaust port 70. In other words, the gas supplied to the specific structure 60B passes through the interior of the processing vessel 61B twice in the thickness direction a of the processing vessel 61B. The thickness direction a of the processing vessel 61B is the direction indicated by the arrow a, which is the same as the thickness direction of the main portion 61BM and is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the elongated horizontal cross section of the main portion 61BM.

[0032] Here, in order to prevent the gas before and after the direction change from interfering with each other inside the processing vessel 61B, it is preferable to provide a predetermined distance D1 between the gas passage regions 64a, 65a and the gas passage regions 64b, 65b as shown in Fig. 5. This distance D1 is preferably set to be greater than twice the internal thickness T1 of the processing vessel 61B, which is the adsorbent presence region shown in Fig. 4.

[0033] In this example, the gas supplied to the specific structure 60B is changed in direction once and passes through the inside of the processing vessel 61B twice, but it may also be changed in direction more than twice and pass through the inside of the processing vessel 61B three or more times.

[0034] When this specific structure 60B is applied to the adsorption device 2, the gas supplied to the specific structure 60B is the target gas, and a target gas supply path 21 is connected to the gas supply port 68, and a target gas discharge path 22 is connected to the gas discharge port 70.

[0035] Furthermore, when the specific structure 60B is applied to the drying device 4, the gas supplied to the specific structure 60B is a drying gas, and a drying gas supply path 41 is connected to the gas supply port 68, and a drying gas exhaust path 42 is connected to the gas exhaust port 70.

[0036] In the specific structure 60B of the second configuration example, the main portion 61BM of the processing vessel 61B has gas passage regions 64a, 64b, 65a, and 65b that do not allow the gas supplied to the specific structure 60B to pass through the adsorbent in a predetermined region facing the thickness direction a of the processing vessel 61B, and that supply the gas supplied to the specific structure 60B to the inside of the processing vessel 61B and can exhaust the gas that has passed through the thickness direction a of the processing vessel 61B from the inside to the outside of the processing vessel 61B. Therefore, the same effect as in the case of the specific structure 60A of the first configuration example can be obtained.

[0037] Furthermore, in the case of the second configuration example, the gas supplied to the specific structure 60B is redirected and passed through the inside of the treatment vessel 61B multiple times, thereby bringing the gas into contact with the adsorbent and improving the performance of the specific structure 60B. That is, when the specific structure 60B is applied to the adsorption device 2, more of the carbon dioxide contained in the target gas can be adsorbed by the adsorbent, improving the carbon dioxide adsorption performance of the adsorption device 2. Furthermore, when the specific structure 60B is applied to the drying device 4, the adsorbent can be dried more, improving the drying performance of the adsorbent in the drying device 4.

[0038] Furthermore, in the second configuration example, when the gas is redirected, it is turned upward as shown by arrow S4, but it may also be turned downward. That is, the gas outlet 70 may be the gas supply port, and the gas supply port 68 may be the gas exhaust port. Here, when the specific structure 60B is applied to the adsorption device 2, if the gas is redirected downward when the gas is redirected, the adsorbent moves from top to bottom, so that the adsorbent that has adsorbed a large amount of carbon dioxide from the target gas with a high carbon dioxide concentration before the redirection moves downward and adsorbs carbon dioxide from the target gas with a low carbon dioxide concentration after the redirection. In this case, the adsorbent that has adsorbed a large amount of carbon dioxide will have a reduced ability to adsorb carbon dioxide from the target gas with a low carbon dioxide concentration after the redirection.

[0039] On the other hand, as illustrated above, when the gas is turned upward during the direction change, the adsorbent that has adsorbed a small amount of carbon dioxide from the target gas with a low carbon dioxide concentration after the direction change moves downward and adsorbs carbon dioxide from the target gas with a high carbon dioxide concentration before the direction change. When the adsorbent that has adsorbed a small amount of carbon dioxide in this way adsorbs carbon dioxide from the target gas with a high carbon dioxide concentration before the direction change, the deterioration of the carbon dioxide adsorption performance is suppressed. Therefore, when the gas is turned upward during the direction change, the carbon dioxide adsorption performance of the adsorption device 2 can be improved compared to when the gas is turned downward.

[0040] Furthermore, when specific structure 60B is applied to drying device 4, if the gas is turned downward when the direction is changed, the adsorbent moves from top to bottom, so the adsorbent that has been dried to a certain extent by the drying gas with a high degree of dryness before the direction change moves downward and is dried by the drying gas with a lower degree of dryness after the direction change. In this case, the drying performance of the adsorbent that has been dried to a certain extent by the drying gas with a lower degree of dryness decreases.

[0041] On the other hand, as illustrated above, if the gas is turned upward when the direction is changed, the adsorbent that has been dried to some extent by the drying gas that has become less dry after the direction change moves downward, and the adsorbent that has been dried to some extent before the direction change is dried by the drying gas that has become more dry before the direction change. Therefore, when the gas is turned upward when the direction is changed, the drying performance of the adsorbent in the drying device 4 can be improved compared to when the gas is turned downward.

[0042] As described above, when the gas is changed in direction, it is more preferable to turn the gas upward. Furthermore, when the gas is changed in direction multiple times, it is also more preferable to turn the gas upward sequentially. In other words, when n is an integer of 1 or more, it is preferable that the gas passing region through which the gas supplied to the specific structure 60B passes when it passes through the processing vessel 61B for the nth time is disposed above the gas passing region through which the gas passes when it passes through the processing vessel 61B for the (n+1)th time.

[0043] In the first embodiment illustrating the first and second configuration examples described above, the regenerator 3, the dryer 4, and the adsorbent 2 are arranged in this order from above, and the adsorbent discharged from the adsorbent 2 is supplied to the regenerator 3 by the adsorbent transport device 5. However, this is not limiting. Any configuration may be used in which the adsorbent circulates in the order of the adsorbent 2, the regenerator 3, and the dryer 4. Note that the adsorbent discharged from the regenerator 3 is difficult to handle due to the presence of condensed water attached thereto. Therefore, it is preferable that the adsorbent be supplied directly from the regenerator 3 to the dryer 4 without going through the adsorbent transport device 5.

[0044] In the first embodiment, the specific structures 60A and 60B are applied to both the adsorption device 2 and the drying device 4, but the specific structures 60A and 60B may be applied to only one of the adsorption device 2 and the drying device 4. Alternatively, one of the specific structures 60A and 60B may be applied to the adsorption device 2, and the other may be applied to the drying device 4. A known configuration, for example, a tower-type device, may be applied to the adsorption device 2 and the drying device 4 to which the specific structures 60A and 60B are not applied.

[0045] Second Embodiment FIG. 6 is a perspective view that schematically shows the appearance of an example of a carbon dioxide separation system according to a second embodiment.

[0046] The carbon dioxide separation system 100 shown in Fig. 6 is a system in which a plurality of individual systems 10 are connected in a line in the direction of arrow b. The plurality of individual systems 10 have the same configuration. Although Fig. 6 illustrates an example in which two individual systems 10 are connected, three or more individual systems 10 may be connected in a line in the direction of arrow b. The direction of arrow b, which is the line-up direction of the plurality of individual systems 10, is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of a vertically elongated treatment vessel 71 described below.

[0047] The individual system 10 is a modified example of the carbon dioxide separation system 1 shown in Fig. 1 and includes an adsorption device 12, a regeneration device 13, a drying device 14, an adsorbent transport device 15, etc. This individual system 10 is arranged in the order of the regeneration device 13, the drying device 14, and the adsorption device 12 from top to bottom. The adsorbent is transported in the direction of arrow S6 through the adsorbent transport device 15, and circulates through the adsorption device 12, the regeneration device 13, and the drying device 14 via the adsorbent transport device 15. As with the adsorbent transport device 5 in Fig. 1, the adsorbent transport device 15 may be, for example, a conveyor such as a bucket conveyor, or a pneumatic transport device or the like.

[0048] The regeneration device 13 here includes two cylindrical regeneration treatment vessels 13a for one vertical treatment vessel 71. The adsorbent transport device 15 includes a supply device 18 for distributing the adsorbent to the multiple regeneration treatment vessels 13a arranged for each of the two vertical treatment vessels 71. Furthermore, a discharge device 13b is provided at the bottom of each of the two regeneration treatment vessels 13a for sequentially discharging the adsorbent from the two regeneration treatment vessels 13a to a receiving port 72 of the vertical treatment vessel 71 shown in FIG. 7 (described later). While two regeneration treatment vessels 13a are provided for one vertical treatment vessel 71 in this example, one or three or more regeneration treatment vessels 13a may be provided for one vertical treatment vessel 71.

[0049] A steam supply path 31 through which desorption steam is supplied is connected to the regeneration treatment vessel 13a. Inside the regeneration treatment vessel 13a, the desorption steam is brought into contact with the adsorbent after adsorption of carbon dioxide, which has been transported from the adsorption device 12 by the adsorbent transport device 15, thereby releasing carbon dioxide from the adsorbent. The carbon dioxide released from the adsorbent is sucked by a vacuum pump through a carbon dioxide recovery path 32 connected to the regeneration treatment vessel 13a and stored in a carbon dioxide holder.

[0050] The adsorbent may be crushed into small pieces during use. Therefore, in this embodiment, a sorting device 19 is connected to the adsorbent transport device 15, and the adsorbent is supplied to the sorting device 19 at a predetermined timing. Here, the supply device 18 can be switched between accepting the adsorbent transported by the adsorbent transport device 15 and supplying it to the regeneration treatment vessel 13a, and not accepting it and allowing it to flow downstream. By switching the supply device 18 to allow the adsorbent to flow downstream, the adsorbent is supplied to the sorting device 19. The sorting device 19 removes adsorbent particles smaller than a predetermined size and discharges adsorbent particles larger than the predetermined size into the adsorbent buffer tank 16. The adsorbent buffer tank 16 has a discharge device 17, such as a rotary valve, at its bottom. The adsorbent stored in the adsorbent buffer tank 16 can be supplied to the adsorbent transport device 15 by discharging the discharge device 17 at an appropriate timing, allowing for adsorbent replenishment, etc.

[0051] Fig. 7 is a front view of the drying device 14 and the adsorption device 12 shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a side view showing an example of a vertically long processing vessel 71 used in the drying device 14 and the adsorption device 12 shown in Fig. 6.

[0052] In this individual system 10, the drying device 14 and the adsorption device 12 are provided with a pair of vertically elongated processing vessels 71P, each of which is composed of two vertically elongated processing vessels 71 arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction a of the vertically elongated processing vessels 71. Here, processing vessels of a specific structure 60B as shown in FIG. 4 are applied to the drying device 14 and the adsorption device 12, and the vertically elongated processing vessel 71 is constructed by integrating two processing vessels of the specific structure 60B. Specifically, the vertically elongated processing vessel 71 is constructed by integrating a processing vessel 71A of the drying device 14 and a processing vessel 71B of the adsorption device 12 via a connecting portion 71C. The processing vessel 71A has a main portion 71AM that has an elongated horizontal cross section and extends vertically, and the processing vessel 71B has a main portion 71BM that has an elongated horizontal cross section and extends vertically. The thickness direction a of the vertical processing vessel 71 is the direction indicated by the arrow a, which is the thickness direction of the processing vessels 71A, 71B, is equal to the thickness direction of the main parts 71AM, 71BM of the processing vessels 71A, 71B, and is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the elongated horizontal cross section of the main parts 71AM, 71BM.

[0053] The vertically elongated treatment vessel 71 has an inlet 72 at its upper end for receiving the adsorbent supplied from above as indicated by the arrow Sa. The vertically elongated treatment vessel 71 has a discharge device 73 at its lower end for discharging the adsorbent downward as indicated by the arrow Sd. The discharge device 73 is formed, for example, by a rotary valve. In this case, the discharge device for discharging the adsorbent from the drying device 14 to the adsorption device 12 can be omitted.

[0054] The two vertically elongated treatment vessels 71, 71 have a plurality of gas passage regions 74, 75 spaced apart in the vertical direction on both side surfaces 71a, 71b of the treatment vessel 71B, 71B portion of the adsorption device 12. The gas passage region 74, 75 on one side surface 71a and the gas passage region 74, 75 on the other side surface 71b are arranged opposite each other. The gas passage regions 74, 75 have the same configuration as the gas passage regions 64a, 65a, 64b, 65b shown in FIG. 4.

[0055] Furthermore, the processing vessels 71B, 71B portions of the adsorption device 12 of the two vertical processing vessels 71, 71 are provided with gas folding lids 81, 82 that surround and cover the two gas passage regions 74, 75 on the other side surface 71b and the region between these two regions 74, 75. A common target gas supply path 91 for supplying target gas to the gas passage region 74 is disposed between the two vertical processing vessels 71, and a common target gas discharge path 92 for discharging the target gas that has passed through the gas passage region 75 is disposed between the two vertical processing vessels 71.

[0056] The common target gas supply path 91 is a supply path for the target gas common to the plurality of individual systems 10 arranged in the direction of arrow b. Similarly, the common target gas exhaust path 92 is a exhaust path for the target gas common to the plurality of individual systems 10 arranged in the direction of arrow b.

[0057] As shown by arrow S7 in Fig. 6 , target gas such as combustion exhaust gas is supplied to a target gas common supply path 91. The target gas then passes from the target gas common supply path 91 through the gas passage regions 74 of the vertically elongated treatment vessels 71 arranged on both sides, passing through the interior of the vertically elongated treatment vessels 71 while contacting the adsorbent, and changes direction within the gas turning covers 81, 82 as shown by arrows S8 and S9 in Fig. 7 . The target gas that has changed direction passes through the gas passage region 75 again while contacting the adsorbent inside the vertically elongated treatment vessels 71, and is discharged to the target gas common discharge path 92, and is further discharged to the outside through the target gas common discharge path 92 as shown by arrow S10 in Fig. 6 .

[0058] On the other hand, the two vertically elongated processing vessels 71, 71 have a plurality of gas passage regions 76, 77 spaced apart in the vertical direction on both side surfaces 71a, 71b of the processing vessel 71A, 71A portion of the drying device 14. The gas passage region 76, 77 on one side surface 71a and the gas passage region 76, 77 on the other side surface 71b are arranged opposite each other. The gas passage regions 76, 77 have the same configuration as the gas passage regions 64a, 65a, 64b, 65b shown in FIG. 4.

[0059] Furthermore, the processing vessels 71A, 71A portions of the drying device 14 of the two vertical processing vessels 71, 71 are provided with gas folding lids 83, 84 that surround and cover the two gas passage regions 76, 77 on the other side surface 71b and the region between these two regions 76, 77. A common drying gas supply path 93 for supplying drying gas to the gas passage region 76 is disposed between the two vertical processing vessels 71, and a common drying gas discharge path 94 for discharging the drying gas that has passed through the gas passage region 77 is disposed between the two vertical processing vessels 71.

[0060] The common drying gas supply path 93 is a drying gas supply path common to the plurality of individual systems 10 aligned in the direction of arrow b. Similarly, the common drying gas discharge path 94 is a drying gas discharge path common to the plurality of individual systems 10 aligned in the direction of arrow b.

[0061] As shown by arrow S11 in Fig. 6 , the drying gas is supplied to the drying gas common supply path 93. The drying gas passes through the gas passage regions 76 of the vertically elongated processing vessels 71 arranged on both sides from the drying gas common supply path 93, passes through the interior of the vertically elongated processing vessels 71 while contacting the adsorbent, and then changes direction within the gas return lids 83, 84 as shown by arrows S12 and S13 in Fig. 7 . The drying gas that has changed direction passes through the gas passage region 77 again while contacting the adsorbent inside the vertically elongated processing vessels 71, and is discharged to the drying gas common discharge path 94. It is then discharged to the outside through the drying gas common discharge path 94 as shown by arrow S14 in Fig. 6 . In this example, a cover 85 is provided to cover the gap between the two gas return lids 81, 83, and a cover 85 is provided to cover the gap between the two gas return lids 82, 84, but these covers 85 may be omitted.

[0062] The adsorbent is supplied from the regenerator 13 to the vertical treatment vessel 71 so that the adsorbent is always present up to a position above the upper end of the uppermost gas passage region 77 .

[0063] As shown in Fig. 8, for each of the target gas and the drying gas, a predetermined distance D1 is preferably provided between the gas passage regions 74 and 75 and between the gas passage regions 76 and 77 so that the gas before and after the change in direction does not interfere with each other inside the vertically elongated processing vessel 71. This distance D1 is preferably greater than twice the internal thickness T1 of the vertically elongated processing vessel 71, which is the adsorbent presence region shown in Fig. 7. Note that the two distances D1 shown in Fig. 8 do not have to be equal.

[0064] In this example, a non-flow-path region E that does not allow the adsorbent or gas to pass through is disposed in the connecting portion 71C between the treatment vessel 71A of the drying device 14 and the treatment vessel 71B of the adsorption device 12. This divides the adsorbent flow path into multiple flow paths F. As a result, the sum of the horizontal cross-sectional areas of the multiple flow paths F is smaller than the horizontal cross-sectional area of ​​the treatment vessel 71B passing through the gas passage region 75, and the sum of the horizontal cross-sectional area of ​​the multiple flow paths F is smaller than the horizontal cross-sectional area of ​​the treatment vessel 71A passing through the gas passage region 76. This increases the pressure loss when gas passes vertically through the connecting portion 71C, preventing the target gas from flowing into the treatment vessel 71A of the drying device 14 through the gas passage region 75 and preventing the drying gas from flowing into the treatment vessel 71B of the adsorption device 12 through the gas passage region 76. This allows for satisfactory drying and adsorption processes in the treatment vessel 71A and the treatment vessel 71B. Furthermore, the non-flow-path region E prevents interference between the target gas and the drying gas. Incidentally, by arranging the non-passage region E as described above in a portion corresponding to the gap between the gas passage regions 74 and 75, it is possible to prevent interference between the target gases passing in opposite directions within the vertically elongated processing vessel 71. Furthermore, by arranging the non-passage region E as described above in a portion corresponding to the gap between the gas passage regions 76 and 77, it is possible to prevent interference between the drying gases passing in opposite directions within the vertically elongated processing vessel 71.

[0065] FIG. 9 is a side view showing another example of the vertically elongated treatment vessel 71. In the example of FIG. 9, the adsorbent flow path is not divided into multiple flow paths F at the connecting portion 71C between the treatment vessel 71A of the drying device 14 and the treatment vessel 71B of the adsorption device 12, as shown in FIG. 8. In the example of FIG. 9, the vertical length of the connecting portion 71C, i.e., the distance D2 between the gas passage region 75 of the target gas and the gas passage region 76 of the drying gas, is increased. This distance D2 is preferably greater than twice the internal thickness T1 ( FIG. 7 ) of the vertically elongated treatment vessel 71, which is the adsorbent presence region. In this case, too, the pressure loss when gas passes vertically through the connecting portion 71C is increased, preventing the target gas from flowing through the gas passage region 75 into the treatment vessel 71A of the drying device 14 and preventing the drying gas from flowing through the gas passage region 76 into the treatment vessel 71B of the adsorption device 12. This allows for efficient drying and adsorption processes in the treatment vessel 71A and the treatment vessel 71B.

[0066] While the regeneration device 13, the drying device 14, the adsorption device 12, etc. have been mainly described above for the individual systems 10, the carbon dioxide separation system 100 has a plurality of individual systems 10 arranged side by side in the direction of arrow b. Therefore, the drying device 14 and the adsorption device 12 in the carbon dioxide separation system 100 include a plurality of vertical treatment vessel pairs 71P arranged side by side in the direction of arrow b, which is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the vertical treatment vessel 71.

[0067] In this embodiment, by providing multiple vertical processing vessel pairs 71P, each of which includes two vertical processing vessels 71 arranged side by side at an interval in the thickness direction a, it is possible to increase the throughput in the adsorption device 12 and the drying device 14. Furthermore, the multiple vertical processing vessel pairs 71P are arranged side by side in the direction of arrow b, i.e., in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the vertical processing vessels 71. Furthermore, by disposing a common target gas supply line 91, a common target gas discharge line 92, a common drying gas supply line 93, and a common drying gas discharge line 94, which are common to the vertical processing vessels 71 of the multiple vertical processing vessel pairs 71P, between the two vertical processing vessels 71 constituting the vertical processing vessel pair 71P, it is possible to simplify the configuration.

[0068] In addition, in this embodiment, multiple regeneration treatment vessels 13a are provided for one vertical treatment vessel 71, and adsorbent is sequentially supplied from the multiple regeneration treatment vessels 13a to the vertical treatment vessel 71, making it easy to continuously perform treatment as a drying device 14 and an adsorption device 12 while continuously discharging the adsorbent from the lower end of the vertical treatment vessel 71.

[0069] In this embodiment, the target gas and the drying gas each change direction once and pass through the interior of the vertically elongated treatment vessel 71 twice. However, they may change direction more than twice and pass through the interior of the vertically elongated treatment vessel 71 three or more times. By changing direction and passing the target gas and the drying gas through the interior of the vertically elongated treatment vessel 71 multiple times, the carbon dioxide adsorption performance of the adsorption device 2 can be improved, and the drying performance of the adsorbent in the drying device 4 can be improved. In this case, as described in the second configuration example of the first embodiment, it is more preferable to turn the gas upward when changing direction. That is, for the target gas, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, it is preferable that the gas passage region through which the target gas passes when it passes through the treatment vessel 71B for the (n+1)th time is located above the gas passage region through which the target gas passes when it passes through the treatment vessel 71B for the nth time. Furthermore, with regard to the drying gas, when n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, it is preferable that the gas passage area through which the drying gas supplied to the processing vessel 71A portion of the drying device 14 of the vertical processing vessel 71 passes when it passes through the processing vessel 71A for the nth time is located above the gas passage area through which the drying gas passes when it passes through the processing vessel 71A for the nth time.

[0070] When the target gas and drying gas are changed direction and passed through the interior of the vertical processing vessel 71 multiple times as described above, by passing through the interior of the vertical processing vessel 71 an even number of times, a target gas common supply path 91 and a drying gas common supply path 93 as well as a target gas common exhaust path 92 and a drying gas common exhaust path 94 can be arranged between the two vertical processing vessels 71 that make up the vertical processing vessel pair 71P.

[0071] In this embodiment, a processing vessel having a specific structure 60B as shown in FIG. 4 is used for the drying device 14 and the adsorption device 12, and two processing vessels having the specific structure 60B are integrated to form a vertically elongated processing vessel 71. Here, the specific structure 60A as shown in FIG. 2 may be used instead of the specific structure 60B to form the vertically elongated processing vessel 71. In this case, the target gas and the drying gas pass through the vertically elongated processing vessel 71 only once.

[0072] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the regeneration device 13 is disposed above the vertical treatment vessel 71, but it is also possible to dispose the regeneration device 13 below the vertical treatment vessel 71 and supply the adsorbent discharged from the regeneration device 13 to the receiving port 72 at the upper end of the vertical treatment vessel 71 by an adsorbent transport device. When the regeneration device 13 is disposed above the vertical treatment vessel 71 as in this embodiment, the adsorbent supplied from the regeneration device 13 to the vertical treatment vessel 71 has condensed water attached thereto, but this is dried by the drying gas within the vertical treatment vessel 71. Therefore, the adsorbent discharged from the discharge device 73 at the lower end of the vertical treatment vessel 71 is dry, making it easy to handle, which is preferable for smooth transport by the adsorbent transport device 15.

[0073] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the individual system 10 is configured to include two vertically elongated treatment vessels 71, but may also be configured to include one vertically elongated treatment vessel 71. In this case, the carbon dioxide separation system formed by connecting a plurality of individual systems is configured such that a plurality of vertically elongated treatment vessels 71 are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the vertically elongated treatment vessels 71. Furthermore, the arrangement and configuration of the adsorbent transport device 15 may also be changed as appropriate depending on the arrangement and number of the vertically elongated treatment vessels 71, etc.

[0074] In addition, in the present embodiment, the carbon dioxide separation system 100 has been described as being formed by connecting a plurality of individual systems 10, but one individual system 10 may be configured as a carbon dioxide separation system. In this case, the individual system 10 serving as the carbon dioxide separation system may be configured to include two vertically elongated treatment vessels 71, or may be configured to include one vertically elongated treatment vessel 71.

[0075] 6, in the second embodiment, a plurality of individual systems 10, each having two vertically elongated processing vessels 71 arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction a, are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the vertically elongated processing vessels 71. That is, a plurality of vertically elongated processing vessel pairs 71P, each having two vertically elongated processing vessels 71 arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction a, are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the vertically elongated processing vessels 71. Similarly, in the first embodiment, the specific structure applied to at least one of the adsorption device and the drying device may be configured as shown in FIGS.

[0076] 10 is a front view showing a third configuration example of the specific structure according to the first embodiment. The specific structure 60C shown in FIG. 10 includes a plurality of processing vessel pairs 61BP, each of which includes two processing vessels 61B shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction a of the processing vessel 61B, arranged in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the processing vessel 61B. The horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the processing vessel 61B is the depth direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 10.

[0077] In this specific structure 60C, a common gas supply channel 95 serving as a common supply channel for gas supplied to the processing vessels 61B of the plurality of processing vessel pairs 61BP and a common gas exhaust channel 96 serving as a common exhaust channel for gas exhausted from the processing vessels 61B of the plurality of processing vessel pairs 61BP are disposed between the two processing vessels 61B constituting the processing vessel pair 61BP, the common gas supply channel 95 extending in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the processing vessels 61B. In addition, a gas return lid 69 is provided on the outer side surface 61b of the two processing vessels 61B constituting the processing vessel pair 61BP, surrounding and covering the two gas passage regions 65a, 65b and the region between these two regions 65a, 65b.

[0078] In this specific structure 60C, gas supplied to two processing vessels 61B through common gas supply path 95 passes through gas passage regions 64a, 65a, 65b, and 64b as indicated by arrows S15 and S16, and is discharged through common gas discharge path 96. Furthermore, in processing vessel 61B, a non-passage region E as shown in FIG. 8 may be disposed in a portion corresponding to the space between gas passage regions 64a and 64b to prevent gases passing in opposite directions from interfering with each other within processing vessel 61B. This also applies to processing vessel 61B shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0079] Although specific structure 60C includes processing vessel pairs 61BP each consisting of two processing vessels 61B arranged in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of processing vessel 61B, specific structure 60C may include only one processing vessel pair 61BP. Alternatively, specific structure 60C may include multiple processing vessels 61B arranged in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of processing vessel 61B.

[0080] 11 is a front view showing a fourth configuration example of the specific structure according to the first embodiment. The specific structure 60D shown in FIG. 11 includes a plurality of processing vessel pairs 61AP, each of which includes two processing vessels 61A shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and arranged at an interval in the thickness direction a of the processing vessel 61A, arranged in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the processing vessel 61A. The horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the processing vessel 61A is the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 11 .

[0081] In this specific structure 60D, a common gas supply channel 97, which serves as a common supply channel for gas to be supplied to the processing vessels 61A of the plurality of processing vessel pairs 61AP, is disposed between the two processing vessels 61A constituting the processing vessel pair 61AP and extends in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the processing vessels 61A. A common gas exhaust channel 98, which serves as a common exhaust channel for gas exhausted from the processing vessels 61A of the plurality of processing vessel pairs 61AP, is disposed on the outer side surfaces 61b of the two processing vessels 61A constituting the processing vessel pair 61AP and extends in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the processing vessels 61A.

[0082] In this specific structure 60D, gas supplied to the two processing vessels 61A through the common gas supply path 97 passes through the gas passage areas 64, 65 as shown by arrows S17, S18, and is discharged through the common gas discharge path 98.

[0083] Although specific structure 60D includes a plurality of processing vessel pairs 61AP each consisting of two processing vessels 61A arranged in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of processing vessel 61A, a configuration including only one processing vessel pair 61AP may be used. Also, a configuration may be used in which a plurality of processing vessels 61A are arranged in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of processing vessel 61A.

[0084] Third Embodiment Fig. 12 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of an example of a carbon dioxide separation system according to a third embodiment. In Fig. 12, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 6 are given the same reference numerals as in Fig. 6.

[0085] The carbon dioxide separation system 101 shown in Fig. 12 is a system formed by connecting a plurality of individual systems 10A in a line in the direction of the arrow b. The plurality of individual systems 10A have the same configuration. Although Fig. 12 shows an example in which two individual systems 10A are connected, three or more individual systems 10A may be connected in a line in the direction of the arrow b.

[0086] The carbon dioxide separation system 101 shown in Fig. 12 differs from the carbon dioxide separation system 100 shown in Fig. 6 mainly in the configuration of the individual system 10A. The individual system 10A will be described below.

[0087] The individual system 10A includes an adsorption device 12, a regeneration device 13, a drying device 14, an adsorbent transport device 15, etc. Unlike the individual system 10 in Fig. 6, the individual system 10A is arranged in the order of the adsorption device 12, the regeneration device 13, and the drying device 14 from top to bottom. The adsorption device 12 and the drying device 14 are each configured using a processing vessel pair 61BP shown in Fig. 10.

[0088] A supply switching device 20 is connected to each receiving port of the two treatment vessels 61B of the adsorption device 12. The supply switching device 20 can switch between receiving the adsorbent transported by the adsorbent transport device 15 and supplying it to the treatment vessel 61B, and not receiving it and allowing it to flow downstream. The two supply switching devices 20 can alternately supply the adsorbent to the two treatment vessels 61B and can supply the adsorbent to the separation device 19 at a predetermined timing. A common target gas supply path 91 and a common target gas discharge path 92 that are common to the multiple individual systems 10A are arranged between the two treatment vessels 61B of the adsorption device 12.

[0089] The regeneration device 13 is provided with two regeneration treatment vessels 13a for one treatment vessel 61B of the adsorption device 12. A supply device 18a is installed at the lower end of each of the two treatment vessels 61B of the adsorption device 12, for distributing and supplying the adsorbent discharged from the lower end to the two regeneration treatment vessels 13a. In addition, a discharge device 13b is installed at the bottom of the two regeneration treatment vessels 13a, for sequentially discharging the adsorbent from the two regeneration treatment vessels 13a to the receiving ports of the treatment vessels 61B of the drying device 14. Note that one or three or more regeneration treatment vessels 13a may be installed for one treatment vessel 61B of the adsorption device 12.

[0090] A common drying gas supply path 93 and a common drying gas discharge path 94, which are common to the plurality of individual systems 10A, are disposed between the two treatment vessels 61B of the drying device 14. A discharge device 63 that discharges the adsorbent downward is provided at the bottom end of each of the two treatment vessels 61B of the drying device 14. The adsorbent discharged by the discharge device 63 is supplied to the adsorbent transport device 15.

[0091] While the above mainly describes the adsorption device 12, regeneration device 13, drying device 14, etc. for the individual system 10A, the carbon dioxide separation system 101 has a plurality of individual systems 10A arranged side by side in the direction of arrow b. Therefore, each of the adsorption device 12 and the drying device 14 in the carbon dioxide separation system 101 includes a specific structure 60C having a plurality of treatment vessel pairs 61BP arranged side by side in the direction of arrow b, which is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the treatment vessel 61B shown in Figure 10.

[0092] In this embodiment, the adsorption device 12 and the drying device 14 each include a plurality of processing vessel pairs 61BP, each of which includes two processing vessels 61B arranged side by side at a distance in the thickness direction a. This increases the throughput of the adsorption device 12 and the drying device 14. Furthermore, the configuration can be simplified by providing a common target gas supply line 91 and a common target gas exhaust line 92 for the processing vessels 61B of the plurality of processing vessel pairs 61BP constituting the adsorption device 12. Furthermore, the configuration can be simplified by providing a common drying gas supply line 93 and a common drying gas exhaust line 94 for the processing vessels 61B of the plurality of processing vessel pairs 61BP constituting the drying device 14. Furthermore, the pressure loss of the target gas supplied to the adsorption device 12 can be reduced, and the pressure loss of the drying gas supplied to the drying device 14 can be reduced.

[0093] (Fourth embodiment) Fig. 13 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of an example of a carbon dioxide separation system according to a fourth embodiment. In Fig. 13, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 12 are given the same reference numerals as in Fig. 12.

[0094] The carbon dioxide separation system 102 shown in Fig. 13 is a system formed by connecting a plurality of individual systems 10B in a line in the direction of the arrow b. The plurality of individual systems 10B have the same configuration. Although Fig. 13 shows an example in which two individual systems 10B are connected, three or more individual systems 10B may be connected in a line in the direction of the arrow b.

[0095] The carbon dioxide separation system 102 shown in Fig. 13 differs from the carbon dioxide separation system 101 shown in Fig. 12 in the configuration of an individual system 10B. Below, the individual system 10B will be described, focusing mainly on the differences from Fig. 12.

[0096] The individual system 10B includes an adsorption device 12, a regeneration drying device 130, an adsorbent transport device 15, etc. This individual system 10B differs from the individual system 10A in FIG. 12 in that it includes a regeneration drying device 130 instead of the regeneration device 13 and the drying device 14 in FIG. 12.

[0097] The regenerative drying apparatus 130 is provided with two cylindrical treatment vessels 13A for one treatment vessel 61B of the adsorption apparatus 12. Note that one or three or more treatment vessels 13A may be provided for one treatment vessel 61B of the adsorption apparatus 12.

[0098] The adsorption apparatus 12 has the same configuration as the adsorption apparatus 12 in Fig. 12. As in the case of Fig. 12, a common target gas supply path 91 and a common target gas discharge path 92 that are common to the multiple individual systems 10B are arranged between the two processing vessels 61B of the adsorption apparatus 12.

[0099] In the treatment vessel 13A, similar to the regeneration treatment vessel 13a in FIG. 12 , a regeneration treatment is performed in which the adsorbent after carbon dioxide has been adsorbed by the adsorption device 12 is brought into contact with desorption steam supplied through the steam supply path 31, thereby releasing carbon dioxide from the adsorbent. Thereafter, a drying treatment is performed in the treatment vessel 13A to dry the adsorbent. In the drying treatment, vacuum drying is performed after the supply of desorption steam in the regeneration treatment is stopped. This vacuum drying is performed, for example, by continuing to operate a vacuum pump that sucks and recovers carbon dioxide in the regeneration treatment and maintaining the treatment vessel 13A in a depressurized state for a predetermined period of time. Here, a vacuum pump other than the vacuum pump used in the regeneration treatment may be installed to further reduce the pressure inside the treatment vessel 13A.

[0100] In addition to the vacuum drying, the drying process may be performed using a drying gas. In this case, for example, a drying gas supply line 41 and a drying gas exhaust line 42 shown in FIG. 1 are connected to the processing vessel 13A. In this case, the drying process using the drying gas is performed by supplying the drying gas to the processing vessel 13A for a predetermined time.

[0101] A discharge device 13 b is provided at the bottom of the treatment vessel 13 A, and the adsorbent that has been dried in the treatment vessel 13 A is supplied to an adsorbent transport device 15 .

[0102] While the above mainly describes the adsorption device 12 and the regenerative drying device 130 for the individual system 10B, the carbon dioxide separation system 102 has a plurality of individual systems 10B arranged side by side in the direction of arrow b. Therefore, the adsorption device 12 in the carbon dioxide separation system 102 includes a specific structure 60C ( FIG. 10 ) having a plurality of treatment vessel pairs 61BP arranged side by side in the direction of arrow b, which is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the treatment vessel 61B.

[0103] In this embodiment, the adsorption apparatus 12 includes a plurality of processing vessel pairs 61BP, each of which includes two processing vessels 61B arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction a, thereby increasing the processing volume of the adsorption apparatus 12. Furthermore, the configuration can be simplified by providing a common target gas supply path 91 and a common target gas discharge path 92 for the processing vessels 61B of the plurality of processing vessel pairs 61BP that constitute the adsorption apparatus 12. Furthermore, the pressure loss of the target gas supplied to the adsorption apparatus 12 can be reduced.

[0104] Fifth Embodiment Fig. 14 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of an example of a carbon dioxide separation system according to a fifth embodiment. In Fig. 14, parts corresponding to those in Figs. 12 and 13 are given the same reference numerals as in Figs. 12 and 13.

[0105] The carbon dioxide separation system 103 shown in Fig. 14 is a system formed by connecting a plurality of individual systems 10C side by side in the direction of arrow b. The plurality of individual systems 10C have the same configuration. Although Fig. 14 shows an example in which two individual systems 10C are connected, three or more individual systems 10C may be connected side by side in the direction of arrow b.

[0106] The carbon dioxide separation system 103 shown in Fig. 14 differs from the carbon dioxide separation systems 101 and 102 shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 in the configuration of an individual system 10C. Below, the individual system 10C will be described, focusing mainly on the differences from Fig. 12 and Fig. 13.

[0107] The individual system 10C includes an adsorption device 12, a regeneration device 13, a drying device 14A, an adsorbent transport device 15, and the like. This individual system 10C differs from the individual system 10A of FIG. 12 in that a drying device 14A that performs vacuum drying is provided instead of the drying device 14 of FIG. 12. The individual system 10C also differs from the individual system 10B of FIG. 13 in that a regeneration device 13 and a drying device 14A are provided instead of the regeneration drying device 130 of FIG. 13. The regeneration device 13 in FIG. 14 includes multiple cylindrical regeneration treatment containers 13a, as in the case of FIG. 12. The drying device 14A also includes multiple cylindrical drying treatment containers 14a.

[0108] In the individual system 10C, the regeneration device 13 is disposed below the adsorption device 12, and the drying device 14A is disposed below the regeneration device 13. Two cylindrical regeneration treatment vessels 13a of the regeneration device 13 are disposed below one treatment vessel 61B of the adsorption device 12 via a supply device 18a, and further below that, two cylindrical drying treatment vessels 14a of the drying device 14A are disposed via a discharge supply device 25. Note that one or three or more treatment vessels 13a, 14a may be installed for one treatment vessel 61B of the adsorption device 12.

[0109] The adsorption device 12 has the same configuration as the adsorption device 12 in Figures 12 and 13, and a common target gas supply path 91 and a common target gas discharge path 92 common to multiple individual systems 10C are arranged between the two processing vessels 61B of the adsorption device 12 in the individual system 10C.

[0110] In the individual system 10C, the adsorbent discharged from the lower end of the treatment vessel 61B is supplied to the regeneration treatment vessel 13a by the supply devices 18a installed at the lower end of each of the two treatment vessels 61B of the adsorption device 12.

[0111] 12, in the regeneration treatment vessel 13a of the regeneration device 13, a regeneration treatment is performed in which carbon dioxide is released from the adsorbent by bringing the adsorbent, after carbon dioxide has been adsorbed by the adsorption device 12, into contact with desorption steam supplied through the steam supply path 31. A discharge supply device 25 is provided at the bottom of the regeneration treatment vessel 13a, which discharges the adsorbent from the regeneration treatment vessel 13a and supplies it to the drying treatment vessel 14a of the drying device 14A.

[0112] In the drying treatment vessel 14a of the drying device 14A, a drying treatment is performed in which the adsorbent is dried by vacuum drying. This vacuum drying is performed by maintaining the drying treatment vessel 14a in a reduced pressure state using a vacuum pump for a predetermined period of time. The vacuum pump used here may also be the regeneration vacuum pump used to suck and recover carbon dioxide in the regeneration device 13, or a vacuum pump separate from the regeneration vacuum pump may be used. Furthermore, the regeneration vacuum pump and the separate vacuum pump may be used in sequence to reduce the pressure in stages.

[0113] The drying process in the drying device 14A may be performed using a drying gas in addition to the vacuum drying described above. In this case, for example, a drying gas supply path 41 and a drying gas exhaust path 42 shown in FIG. 1 are connected to the drying process container 14a. In this case, drying using the drying gas is performed by, for example, supplying the drying gas to the drying process container 14a for a predetermined time.

[0114] Discharge devices 14b are provided at the bottom of the two drying treatment vessels 14a, and the adsorbents dried in the two drying treatment vessels 14a are sequentially supplied to the adsorbent transport device 15 by the discharge devices 14b.

[0115] Although the above mainly describes the individual system 10C, the carbon dioxide separation system 103 has a plurality of individual systems 10C arranged side by side in the direction of arrow b. Therefore, the adsorption device 12 in the carbon dioxide separation system 103 includes a specific structure 60C having a plurality of treatment vessel pairs 61BP arranged side by side in the direction of arrow b, which is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction a of the treatment vessel 61B shown in FIG.

[0116] In this embodiment, as in the fourth embodiment, the adsorption apparatus 12 includes a plurality of processing vessel pairs 61BP, each of which includes two processing vessels 61B arranged side by side at an interval in the thickness direction a, thereby increasing the processing volume of the adsorption apparatus 12. Furthermore, the configuration can be simplified by providing a common target gas supply path 91 and a common target gas discharge path 92 for the processing vessels 61B of the plurality of processing vessel pairs 61BP that constitute the adsorption apparatus 12. Furthermore, the pressure loss of the target gas supplied to the adsorption apparatus 12 can be reduced.

[0117] FIG. 15 is a side view showing another example of the processing vessel 61B of the specific structure 60B shown in FIG. 4 and the like.

[0118] In the processing vessel 61B shown in FIG. 15 , as shown in FIG. 4 , the gas passage regions 64a, 64b are arranged on both side surfaces 61a, 61b of the main portion 61BM facing each other in the thickness direction a within the processing vessel 61B, and are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction. In the portion R1 corresponding to the gap between the gas passage regions 64a, 64b, multiple rod-shaped objects 80 are arranged at intervals allowing the adsorbent to pass through. The multiple rod-shaped objects 80 are installed across both side surfaces 61a, 61b facing each other in the thickness direction a of the main portion 61BM. To prevent gas from passing in the vertical direction, the multiple rod-shaped objects 80 are preferably arranged in multiple tiers in a side view, as shown in FIG. 15 , and more preferably in a staggered arrangement. Furthermore, the rod-shaped objects 80 arranged in multiple tiers are preferably densely arranged so that the rod-shaped objects 80 in adjacent tiers overlap each other in a plan view.

[0119] By arranging multiple rods 80 in this manner, the pressure loss of gas attempting to pass vertically through the treatment vessel 61B can be increased, thereby preventing the gas from passing vertically. Therefore, gases passing in opposite directions within the treatment vessel 61B can be prevented from interfering with each other. This allows the distance between adjacent gas passage regions 64a, 64b to be shortened, thereby reducing the height of the treatment vessel 61B. Ultimately, the overall height of the carbon dioxide separation system can be reduced. Furthermore, by arranging multiple rods 80 in a staggered pattern as shown in FIG. 15, the downward flow of the adsorbent can be divided into multiple parts, thereby preventing the adsorbent from flowing uniformly downward. Furthermore, the multiple rods 80 are easily manufactured because they can be simply installed in the interior space of the treatment vessel 61B.

[0120] FIG. 16 is a side view showing another example of the vertically elongated processing vessel 71 used in the drying device 14 and the adsorption device 12 shown in FIG. 6 and the like.

[0121] In the vertical treatment vessel 71 shown in Figure 16, multiple rod-shaped objects 80 are arranged in the interior R2 of the connecting portion 71C between the treatment vessel 71A of the drying device 14 and the treatment vessel 71B of the adsorption device 12 at intervals that allow the adsorbent to pass through.

[0122] 7, the gas passage regions 76, 77 are disposed on both side surfaces 71 a, 71 b of the main portion 71 AM facing each other in the thickness direction a inside the processing vessel 71 A, and are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction. In a portion R3 corresponding to the space between the gas passage regions 76, 77, a plurality of rod-shaped objects 80 are disposed at intervals allowing the adsorbent to pass through.

[0123] Furthermore, inside the processing vessel 71B, in a portion R4 corresponding to the space between the gas passage areas 76, 77 arranged on both side surfaces 71a, 71b (see Figure 7) facing the thickness direction a of the main portion 71BM and adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, a plurality of rod-shaped objects 80 are arranged at intervals allowing the adsorbent to pass through.

[0124] The method of installing and arranging the rod-like objects 80 in the above-described portions R2, R3, and R4 inside the vertically elongated processing vessel 71 is similar to the method of installing and arranging the rod-like objects 80 inside the processing vessel 61B shown in Fig. 15, and the rod-like objects 80 are preferably arranged in multiple tiers, more preferably in a staggered pattern, in a side view. Furthermore, the rod-like objects 80 arranged in multiple tiers are preferably densely arranged so that the rod-like objects 80 in adjacent tiers overlap each other in a plan view.

[0125] By arranging multiple rod-shaped objects 80 in the interior R2 of the connecting portion 71C in this manner, the pressure loss of gas attempting to pass vertically through the interior R2 of the connecting portion 71C can be increased, thereby preventing the gas from passing vertically. This prevents the target gas from flowing through the gas passage region 75 into the treatment vessel 71A of the drying device 14, and prevents the drying gas from flowing through the gas passage region 76 into the treatment vessel 71B of the adsorption device 12, thereby enabling the drying process in the treatment vessel 71A and the adsorption process in the treatment vessel 71B to be performed efficiently. Furthermore, the vertical length of the connecting portion 71C can be shortened, allowing the height of the vertical treatment vessel 71 to be reduced. Furthermore, by arranging multiple rod-shaped objects 80 in a staggered pattern, the downward flow of the adsorbent can be divided into multiple parts, preventing the adsorbent from flowing uniformly downward. Furthermore, the multiple rod-shaped objects 80 are easily manufactured because they can be simply installed in the interior space of the vertical treatment vessel 71.

[0126] Furthermore, by arranging a plurality of rod-shaped objects 80 in the portion R3 inside the processing vessel 71A, the same effect as when a plurality of rod-shaped objects 80 are arranged in a predetermined portion R1 inside the processing vessel 61B as shown in Fig. 15 can be obtained. Similarly, by arranging a plurality of rod-shaped objects 80 in the portion R4 inside the processing vessel 71B, the same effect as when a plurality of rod-shaped objects 80 are arranged in a predetermined portion R1 inside the processing vessel 61B as shown in Fig. 15 can be obtained.

[0127] 15 and 16, the longitudinal cross section of the rod-shaped object 80 is rectangular, but it may be a polygon such as a triangle or hexagon, or may be circular. When the longitudinal cross section of the rod-shaped object 80 is a polygon such as a rectangle, it is preferable to arrange the rod-shaped object 80 so that the upper surface thereof forms an inclined surface so that the adsorbent can easily move downward along the surface of the rod-shaped object 80. The rod-shaped object 80 may be solid, or may be cylindrical, with a hollow interior.

[0128] From the above description, many modifications and other embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description should be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present disclosure. Details of the structure and / or function thereof can be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0129] (Summary of the present disclosure) A carbon dioxide separation system according to a first aspect of the present disclosure comprises an adsorption device that receives a supply of a target gas containing carbon dioxide and brings the target gas into contact with a granular adsorbent to cause the adsorbent to adsorb carbon dioxide in the target gas; a regeneration device that brings water vapor into contact with the adsorbent after carbon dioxide adsorption to release carbon dioxide from the adsorbent; and a drying device that receives a drying gas and brings the drying gas into contact with the adsorbent after contact with the water vapor to dry the adsorbent, wherein at least one of the adsorption device and the drying device is constituted by a specific structure, and the specific structure comprises a treatment vessel inside which the adsorbent moves downward by its own weight, and the treatment vessel includes a main part that has an elongated horizontal cross section and extends vertically, and the main part has gas passage regions that do not allow the adsorbent to pass through, and that supply gas that is supplied to the specific structure into the interior of the treatment vessel, at opposing predetermined regions on both side surfaces that face each other in the thickness direction of the treatment vessel, and that are capable of discharging gas that has passed through the treatment vessel in the thickness direction of the treatment vessel from the interior to the outside of the treatment vessel.

[0130] According to this configuration, at least one of the adsorption device and the drying device is formed of a specific structure, and the specific structure includes a treatment vessel within which the adsorbent moves downward under its own weight. The treatment vessel has a main portion with an elongated horizontal cross section extending vertically. In the main portion, opposing predetermined regions on both sides of the treatment vessel in the thickness direction are gas-passing regions through which the adsorbent cannot pass but gas can pass. The gas supplied to the specific structure passes through the interior of the treatment vessel in the thickness direction of the treatment vessel via the opposing gas-passing regions on both sides of the treatment vessel. This shortens the passage distance within the treatment vessel for the gas supplied to the specific structure, thereby reducing the pressure loss of the gas passing through the treatment vessel where the adsorbent is present. Furthermore, by increasing the area of ​​the gas-passing regions on both sides of the treatment vessel, the gas flow rate can be increased. Therefore, when the adsorption device is formed of a specific structure, the pressure loss of the target gas supplied to the adsorption device can be reduced, and when the drying device is formed of a specific structure, the pressure loss of the drying gas supplied to the drying device can be reduced. In this way, by reducing the pressure loss of the target gas and the drying gas, it is possible to reduce the energy costs required to supply the target gas and the drying gas, for example, by reducing the power consumption of fans and the like used to supply the target gas and the drying gas.

[0131] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is a carbon dioxide separation system according to the first aspect, wherein the specific structure is such that two of the treatment vessels are arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction of the treatment vessels, and a common gas supply channel that serves as a common supply channel for gas supplied to the two treatment vessels is arranged between the two treatment vessels.

[0132] According to this configuration, the specific structure has two processing vessels, which increases the processing volume in the specific structure, and the configuration can be simplified by arranging a common gas supply path between the two processing vessels.

[0133] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is the carbon dioxide separation system according to the first aspect, wherein the specific structure is such that a plurality of the treatment vessels are arranged in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the treatment vessels, and further includes a common gas supply channel that serves as a common supply channel for gas supplied to the plurality of treatment vessels, and a common gas discharge channel that serves as a common discharge channel for gas discharged from the plurality of treatment vessels.

[0134] According to this configuration, the specific structure can increase the processing volume in the specific structure by having multiple processing vessels, and the configuration can be simplified by having a common gas supply path and a common gas exhaust path that are common to the multiple processing vessels.

[0135] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a carbon dioxide separation system according to the first aspect, wherein the specific structure comprises a plurality of treatment vessel pairs arranged side by side in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the treatment vessel, and each of the plurality of treatment vessel pairs has two treatment vessels arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction of the treatment vessel, a common gas supply path that serves as a common supply path for gas supplied to the treatment vessels of the plurality of treatment vessel pairs is arranged between the two treatment vessels that constitute the treatment vessel pair, and a common gas exhaust path that serves as a common exhaust path for gas discharged from the treatment vessels of the plurality of treatment vessel pairs is arranged between the two treatment vessels that constitute the treatment vessel pair.

[0136] According to this configuration, by providing a plurality of processing vessel pairs in the specific structure, each of which has two processing vessels arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction, it is possible to increase the processing volume in the specific structure. In addition, by arranging the plurality of processing vessel pairs side by side in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the processing vessels, and by arranging a common gas supply path and a common gas exhaust path common to the processing vessels of the plurality of processing vessel pairs between the two processing vessels constituting the processing vessel pair, it is possible to simplify the configuration.

[0137] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is a carbon dioxide separation system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, in which the regeneration device is arranged below the adsorption device, the drying device is arranged below the regeneration device, and both the adsorption device and the drying device are constructed using the specific structure.

[0138] According to this configuration, since both the adsorption device and the drying device are constructed using the specific structure, it is possible to reduce the pressure loss of the target gas supplied to the adsorption device and also to reduce the pressure loss of the drying gas supplied to the drying device.

[0139] The carbon dioxide separation system according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure is the carbon dioxide separation system according to the first aspect, in which the adsorption device is disposed below the drying device, both the adsorption device and the drying device are constructed using the specific structure, and the processing vessel of the drying device and the processing vessel of the adsorption device are integrated via a connecting portion and constituted by a vertical processing vessel.

[0140] According to this configuration, the treatment vessel of the drying device and the treatment vessel of the adsorption device are integrated via a connecting portion to form a vertical treatment vessel, which simplifies the configuration, for example, by eliminating the need for a discharge device that discharges the adsorbent from the treatment vessel of the drying device to the treatment vessel of the adsorption device.

[0141] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure is the carbon dioxide separation system according to the sixth aspect, wherein the connecting portion is configured to prevent the drying gas supplied to the drying device from flowing into the adsorption device and to prevent the target gas supplied to the adsorption device from flowing into the drying device.

[0142] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the target gas from flowing into the processing vessel of the drying device and also to prevent the drying gas from flowing into the processing vessel of the adsorption device, thereby enabling the drying process of the adsorbent by the drying gas and the adsorption process of the carbon dioxide contained in the target gas by the adsorbent to be carried out effectively.

[0143] The carbon dioxide separation system according to the eighth aspect of the present disclosure is a carbon dioxide separation system according to the sixth or seventh aspect, in which two of the vertical treatment vessels are arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction of the vertical treatment vessels, a common drying gas supply passage which serves as a common supply passage for drying gas supplied to the parts of the two vertical treatment vessels which correspond to the treatment vessels of the drying device is arranged between the two vertical treatment vessels, and a common target gas supply passage which serves as a common supply passage for target gas supplied to the parts of the two vertical treatment vessels which correspond to the treatment vessels of the adsorption device is arranged between the two vertical treatment vessels.

[0144] According to this configuration, by providing two vertically elongated processing vessels, the processing volume in the adsorption device and the drying device can be increased, and by arranging a common drying gas supply channel and a common drying gas supply channel between the two vertically elongated processing vessels, the configuration can be simplified.

[0145] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure is a carbon dioxide separation system according to the sixth or seventh aspect, in which a plurality of the vertical treatment vessels are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the vertical treatment vessels, and further includes a common drying gas supply channel that serves as a common supply channel for drying gas supplied to the portions of the vertical treatment vessels corresponding to the treatment vessels of the drying device, a common target gas supply channel that serves as a common supply channel for target gas supplied to the portions of the vertical treatment vessels corresponding to the treatment vessels of the adsorption device, a common drying gas discharge channel that serves as a common discharge channel for drying gas discharged from the portions of the vertical treatment vessels corresponding to the treatment vessels of the drying device, and a common target gas discharge channel that serves as a common discharge channel for target gas discharged from the portions of the vertical treatment vessels corresponding to the treatment vessels of the adsorption device.

[0146] According to this configuration, by providing multiple vertically elongated processing vessels, the throughput of the adsorption device and the drying device can be increased. Also, by providing multiple vertically elongated processing vessels with a common target gas supply line, a common target gas discharge line, a common drying gas supply line, and a common drying gas discharge line, the configuration can be simplified.

[0147] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure is the carbon dioxide separation system according to the sixth or seventh aspect, further comprising a plurality of pairs of vertically elongated treatment vessels arranged side by side in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a thickness direction of the vertically elongated treatment vessels, and each of the plurality of vertically elongated treatment vessel pairs has two vertically elongated treatment vessels arranged side by side at intervals in the thickness direction of the vertically elongated treatment vessels, a common drying gas supply channel serving as a common supply channel for drying gas supplied to portions of the plurality of vertically elongated treatment vessels corresponding to the treatment vessels of the drying device is arranged between the two vertically elongated treatment vessels constituting the vertically elongated treatment vessel pair, and A common target gas supply passage, which serves as a common supply passage for the target gas supplied to the part corresponding to the processing vessel of the apparatus, is disposed between the two vertical processing vessels constituting the vertical processing vessel pair, a common drying gas discharge passage, which serves as a common discharge passage for the drying gas discharged from the part of the plurality of vertical processing vessels corresponding to the processing vessel of the drying device, is disposed between the two vertical processing vessels constituting the vertical processing vessel pair, and a common target gas discharge passage, which serves as a common discharge passage for the target gas discharged from the part of the plurality of vertical processing vessels corresponding to the processing vessel of the adsorption device, is disposed between the two vertical processing vessels constituting the vertical processing vessel pair.

[0148] According to this configuration, by providing a plurality of pairs of vertical processing vessels, each of which is formed by arranging two vertical processing vessels side by side with a gap in the thickness direction, it is possible to increase the throughput in the adsorption device and the drying device. Furthermore, by arranging a plurality of pairs of vertical processing vessels side by side in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the vertical processing vessels, and by disposing a common target gas supply channel, a common target gas discharge channel, a common drying gas supply channel, and a common drying gas discharge channel between the two vertical processing vessels constituting the vertical processing vessel pair, it is possible to simplify the configuration.

[0149] An eleventh aspect of the present disclosure is a carbon dioxide separation system according to any one of the sixth to tenth aspects, wherein the regeneration device is disposed above the vertical treatment vessel, and further includes an adsorbent transport device that transports the adsorbent discharged from an outlet at the lower end of the vertical treatment vessel to the regeneration device.

[0150] With this configuration, the adsorbent supplied from the regeneration device to the vertical treatment vessel contains condensed water, but is dried by the drying gas in the vertical treatment vessel. Therefore, the adsorbent discharged from the outlet at the bottom of the vertical treatment vessel is dry, making it easy to handle and allowing it to be transported smoothly by the adsorbent transport device.

[0151] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure is the carbon dioxide separation system according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the regeneration device includes a plurality of regeneration treatment vessels to which water vapor is supplied and which temporarily store the adsorbent after carbon dioxide adsorption and supply it to a supply port at the upper end of the vertical treatment vessel, and the plurality of regeneration treatment vessels sequentially supply the adsorbent to the vertical treatment vessel.

[0152] According to this configuration, multiple regeneration treatment vessels are provided for one vertical treatment vessel, and adsorbent is sequentially supplied from the multiple regeneration treatment vessels to the vertical treatment vessel, making it easy to continuously perform treatment as a drying device and adsorption device while continuously discharging the adsorbent from the lower end of the vertical treatment vessel.

[0153] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure comprises an adsorption device that receives a supply of a target gas containing carbon dioxide and brings the target gas into contact with a granular adsorbent to cause the adsorbent to adsorb the carbon dioxide in the target gas; and a regeneration drying device that brings water vapor into contact with the adsorbent after carbon dioxide adsorption to release the carbon dioxide from the adsorbent, and then dries the adsorbent by vacuum drying, wherein the adsorption device is constituted by a specific structure, and the specific structure comprises a treatment vessel inside which the adsorbent moves downward by its own weight, and the treatment vessel includes a main part that has an elongated horizontal cross section and extends vertically, and the main part has gas passage regions that do not allow the adsorbent to pass through, and that supply gas supplied to the specific structure into the interior of the treatment vessel, in opposing predetermined regions on both side surfaces that face each other in the thickness direction of the treatment vessel, and that are capable of discharging gas that has passed through the treatment vessel in the thickness direction of the treatment vessel from the interior to the outside of the treatment vessel.

[0154] According to this configuration, the adsorption device is configured with a specific structure, which includes a treatment vessel within which the adsorbent moves downward under its own weight. The treatment vessel has a main portion with an elongated horizontal cross section extending vertically. In the main portion, opposing predetermined regions on both sides of the treatment vessel in the thickness direction are gas-passing regions through which the adsorbent cannot pass but gas can pass. The target gas supplied to the specific structure constituting the adsorption device passes through the interior of the treatment vessel in the thickness direction of the treatment vessel via the opposing gas-passing regions on both sides of the treatment vessel. This shortens the passage distance within the treatment vessel for the target gas supplied to the specific structure, thereby reducing the pressure loss of the target gas passing through the treatment vessel where the adsorbent is present. Furthermore, by increasing the area of ​​the gas-passing regions on both sides of the treatment vessel, the flow rate of the target gas can be increased. Reducing the pressure loss of the target gas can reduce the energy costs required to supply the target gas. For example, the power consumption of a fan or the like used to supply the target gas can be reduced.

[0155] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure includes an adsorption device that receives a supply of a target gas containing carbon dioxide and contacts the target gas with a granular adsorbent to adsorb carbon dioxide in the target gas onto the adsorbent, a regeneration device that contacts water vapor with the adsorbent after carbon dioxide adsorption to release carbon dioxide from the adsorbent, and a drying device that dries the adsorbent after contact with the water vapor by vacuum drying, wherein the adsorption device is configured with a specific structure, and the specific structure includes a treatment vessel within which the adsorbent moves downward under its own weight, the treatment vessel including a main portion that has an elongated horizontal cross section and extends vertically, and the main portion has gas passage regions in opposing regions on both sides facing each other in the thickness direction of the treatment vessel that do not allow the adsorbent to pass through, and that allow gas supplied to the specific structure to be supplied into the treatment vessel and that can discharge gas that has passed through the treatment vessel in the thickness direction of the treatment vessel from the interior to the exterior of the treatment vessel. This carbon dioxide separation system according to the fourteenth aspect achieves the same effects as the carbon dioxide separation system according to the thirteenth aspect.

[0156] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure is a carbon dioxide separation system according to the thirteenth or fourteenth aspect, wherein the specific structure comprises a plurality of treatment vessel pairs arranged side by side in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the treatment vessel, and each of the plurality of treatment vessel pairs has two treatment vessels arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction of the treatment vessel, a common gas supply path which serves as a common supply path for target gas supplied to the treatment vessels of the plurality of treatment vessel pairs is arranged between the two treatment vessels constituting the treatment vessel pair, and a common gas exhaust path which serves as a common exhaust path for target gas discharged from the treatment vessels of the plurality of treatment vessel pairs is arranged between the two treatment vessels constituting the treatment vessel pair.

[0157] According to this configuration, by providing multiple pairs of processing vessels in the specific structure constituting the adsorption apparatus, the processing volume of the adsorption apparatus can be increased. In addition, by providing a common gas supply path and a common gas exhaust path, the configuration can be simplified.

[0158] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure is a carbon dioxide separation system according to any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, wherein the treatment vessel of the specific structure has a plurality of gas passage areas spaced apart vertically on both side surfaces of the main part, and the gas supplied to the specific structure is passed through the treatment vessel a plurality of times, passing through a different gas passage area each time in the thickness direction of the treatment vessel through the interior of the treatment vessel.

[0159] This configuration can improve the performance of the specific structure. That is, when the adsorption device has a specific structure, the adsorption performance of the adsorbent to adsorb carbon dioxide in the target gas can be improved, and when the drying device has a specific structure, the drying performance of the adsorbent with the drying gas can be improved.

[0160] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a seventeenth aspect of the present disclosure is a carbon dioxide separation system according to the sixteenth aspect, wherein in the treatment vessel of the specific structure, the total area of ​​the horizontal cross section of the adsorbent flow path in the portion corresponding to the space between the gas passage regions arranged on both sides of the main portion and adjacent in the vertical direction is smaller than the total area of ​​the horizontal cross section of the adsorbent flow path in the portion corresponding to the gas passage region.

[0161] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent gases passing through adjacent gas regions in opposite directions from interfering with each other within the processing vessel.

[0162] The carbon dioxide separation system according to the eighteenth aspect of the present disclosure is the carbon dioxide separation system according to the sixteenth aspect, in which a plurality of rod-shaped objects are arranged at intervals allowing the adsorbent to pass through in a portion inside the treatment vessel of the specific structure, which corresponds to the portion between the gas passage areas arranged on both sides of the main part and adjacent in the vertical direction.

[0163] This configuration prevents gases passing through adjacent gas passage regions in opposite directions from interfering with each other in the processing vessel, thereby shortening the distance between adjacent gas passage regions and reducing the height of the processing vessel.

[0164] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a 19th aspect of the present disclosure is a carbon dioxide separation system according to any of the 16th to 18th aspects, in which, when n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, the gas passage region through which the gas supplied to the specific structure passes when passing through the treatment vessel for the n+1th time is arranged above the gas passage region through which the gas passes when passing through the treatment vessel for the nth time.

[0165] This configuration can further improve the performance of the specific structure.

[0166] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a twentieth aspect of the present disclosure is a carbon dioxide separation system according to the sixth aspect, wherein the total area of ​​the horizontal cross section of the adsorbent flow path in the connecting portion is smaller than the total area of ​​the horizontal cross section of the adsorbent flow path in the portion corresponding to the treatment vessel of the drying device, and is also smaller than the total area of ​​the horizontal cross section of the adsorbent flow path in the portion corresponding to the treatment vessel of the adsorption device.

[0167] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the target gas from flowing into the processing vessel of the drying device and also to prevent the drying gas from flowing into the processing vessel of the adsorption device, thereby enabling the drying process of the adsorbent by the drying gas and the adsorption process of the carbon dioxide contained in the target gas by the adsorbent to be carried out effectively.

[0168] A carbon dioxide separation system according to a twenty-first aspect of the present disclosure is the carbon dioxide separation system according to the sixth aspect, wherein a plurality of rod-shaped objects are arranged inside the connecting portion at intervals that allow the adsorbent to pass through.

[0169] This configuration prevents the target gas from flowing into the treatment vessel of the drying device and also prevents the drying gas from flowing into the treatment vessel of the adsorption device, thereby enabling the adsorbent to dry using the drying gas and the adsorbent to adsorb carbon dioxide contained in the target gas to be efficiently performed. In addition, the vertical length of the connecting portion can be shortened, allowing the height of the vertical treatment vessel to be reduced.

[0170] 2, 12 Adsorption device 3, 13 Regeneration device 4, 14 Drying device 5, 15 Adsorbent transport device 13a Regeneration treatment vessel 60A, 60B, 60C, 60D Specific structure 61A, 61B Treatment vessel 61AM, 61BM Main part 61AP, 61BP Treatment vessel pair 64, 65, 64a, 64b, 65a, 65b Gas passage area 74, 75, 76, 77 Gas passage area 71 Vertical treatment vessel 71A Treatment vessel of drying device 71B Treatment vessel of adsorption device 71C Connecting part 71AM, 71BM Main part 71P Vertical treatment vessel pair 80 Rod-shaped object 91 Common supply path for target gas 92 Common discharge path for target gas 93 Common supply path for drying gas 94 Common discharge path for drying gas 95, 97 Common gas supply path 96, 98 Common gas discharge path 130 Regenerative drying device

Claims

1. An adsorption device in which a target gas containing carbon dioxide is supplied, the target gas is brought into contact with a granular adsorbent to adsorb carbon dioxide in the target gas to the adsorbent; a regeneration device in which steam is brought into contact with the adsorbent after carbon dioxide adsorption to release carbon dioxide from the adsorbent; and a drying device in which a drying gas is supplied and the drying gas is brought into contact with the adsorbent after contact with the steam to dry the adsorbent, wherein at least one of the adsorption device and the drying device is constituted by a specific structure, the specific structure includes a processing container in which the adsorbent moves downward by its own weight inside, the processing container has a horizontally elongated cross-section and includes a main portion extending in the vertical direction, and the main portion has a gas passage region that does not allow the adsorbent to pass through and supplies the gas supplied to the specific structure to the inside of the processing container, and allows the gas that has passed through in the thickness direction of the processing container inside the processing container to be discharged from the inside of the processing container to the outside, a carbon dioxide separation system.

2. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 1, wherein the specific structure has two of the processing containers arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction of the processing container, and a gas common supply path serving as a common supply path for the gas supplied to the two processing containers is arranged between the two processing containers.

3. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 1, wherein the specific structure has a plurality of the processing containers arranged side by side in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of the processing container, and further includes a gas common supply path serving as a common supply path for the gas supplied to the plurality of processing containers and a gas common discharge path serving as a common discharge path for the gas discharged from the plurality of processing containers.

4. The specific structure includes a plurality of pairs of processing containers arranged side by side in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of the processing container. In each of the plurality of pairs of processing containers, two of the processing containers are arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction of the processing container. A gas common supply path serving as a common supply path for the gas supplied to the processing containers of the plurality of pairs of processing containers is arranged between the two processing containers constituting the pair of processing containers. A gas common discharge path serving as a common discharge path for the gas discharged from the processing containers of the plurality of pairs of processing containers is arranged between the two processing containers constituting the pair of processing containers. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 1.

5. The regeneration device is arranged below the adsorption device, the drying device is arranged below the regeneration device, and both the adsorption device and the drying device are constituted by the specific structure. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 4.

6. The adsorption device is arranged below the drying device, both the adsorption device and the drying device are constituted by the specific structure, and the processing container of the drying device and the processing container of the adsorption device are constituted by a vertically long processing container integrated through a connecting portion. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 1.

7. The connecting portion blocks the inflow of the drying gas supplied to the drying device into the adsorption device and blocks the inflow of the target gas supplied to the adsorption device into the drying device. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 6.

8. Two of the vertically long processing containers are arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction of the vertically long processing container. A common supply path for the drying gas serving as a common supply path for the drying gas supplied to the portion corresponding to the processing container of the drying device of the two vertically long processing containers is arranged between the two vertically long processing containers. A common supply path for the target gas serving as a common supply path for the target gas supplied to the portion corresponding to the processing container of the adsorption device of the two vertically long processing containers is arranged between the two vertically long processing containers. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 6 or 7.

9. A plurality of the vertically long processing containers are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of the vertically long processing containers. A common supply path for drying gas, which serves as a common supply path for the drying gas supplied to portions of the plurality of vertically long processing containers corresponding to the processing containers of the drying device; a common supply path for target gas, which serves as a common supply path for the target gas supplied to portions of the plurality of vertically long processing containers corresponding to the processing containers of the adsorption device; a common discharge path for drying gas, which serves as a common discharge path for the drying gas discharged from portions of the plurality of vertically long processing containers corresponding to the processing containers of the drying device; and a common discharge path for target gas, which serves as a common discharge path for the target gas discharged from portions of the plurality of vertically long processing containers corresponding to the processing containers of the adsorption device. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising these components.

10. A plurality of pairs of vertically long processing containers arranged side by side in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of the vertically long processing containers are provided. In each of the plurality of pairs of vertically long processing containers, two of the vertically long processing containers are arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction of the vertically long processing containers. A common supply path for drying gas, which serves as a common supply path for the drying gas supplied to portions of the plurality of vertically long processing containers corresponding to the processing containers of the drying device, is arranged between the two vertically long processing containers constituting the pair of vertically long processing containers. A common supply path for target gas, which serves as a common supply path for the target gas supplied to portions of the plurality of vertically long processing containers corresponding to the processing containers of the adsorption device, is arranged between the two vertically long processing containers constituting the pair of vertically long processing containers. A common discharge path for drying gas, which serves as a common discharge path for the drying gas discharged from portions of the plurality of vertically long processing containers corresponding to the processing containers of the drying device, is arranged between the two vertically long processing containers constituting the pair of vertically long processing containers. A common discharge path for target gas, which serves as a common discharge path for the target gas discharged from portions of the plurality of vertically long processing containers corresponding to the processing containers of the adsorption device, is arranged between the two vertically long processing containers constituting the pair of vertically long processing containers. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 6 or 7.

11. The regeneration device is arranged above the vertically long processing container, and the carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 5 or 6 further comprises an adsorbent transfer device for transferring the adsorbent discharged from the discharge port at the lower end of the vertically long processing container to the regeneration device.

12. The regeneration device includes a plurality of regeneration processing containers to which steam is supplied, and which temporarily store the adsorbent after carbon dioxide adsorption and supply it to the supply port at the upper end of the vertically long processing container. The plurality of regeneration processing containers sequentially supply the adsorbent to the vertically long processing container. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 11.

13. The regeneration device and the drying device are configured as a regeneration drying device that dries the adsorbent by bringing steam into contact with the adsorbent after carbon dioxide adsorption to release carbon dioxide from the adsorbent and then performing vacuum drying. The adsorption device is configured by a specific structure. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 1.

14. The drying device is configured as a drying device that dries the adsorbent after bringing the steam into contact therewith by performing vacuum drying instead of a drying device that supplies the drying gas to dry the adsorbent. The adsorption device is configured by a specific structure. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 1.

15. The specific structure includes a plurality of pairs of processing containers arranged side by side in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of the processing container. In each of the plurality of pairs of processing containers, two of the processing containers are arranged side by side with a gap in the thickness direction of the processing container. A gas common supply path that serves as a common supply path for the target gas supplied to the processing containers of the plurality of pairs of processing containers is arranged between the two processing containers that constitute the pair of processing containers. A gas common discharge path that serves as a common discharge path for the target gas discharged from the processing containers of the plurality of pairs of processing containers is arranged between the two processing containers that constitute the pair of processing containers. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 13 or 14.

16. The processing containers of the specific structure have a plurality of gas passage regions vertically spaced apart on both side surfaces of the main portion. The gas supplied to the specific structure is passed through the inside of the processing container a plurality of times, and each time it is passed, it passes through the inside of the processing container in the thickness direction of the processing container via a different one of the gas passage regions. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 1, 5, 6, 13 or 14.

17. In the processing container of the specific structure, the total horizontal cross-sectional area of the flow path of the adsorbent in the portion corresponding to the space between the gas passage regions arranged on both side surfaces of the main portion and vertically adjacent to each other is made smaller than the total horizontal cross-sectional area of the flow path of the adsorbent in the portion corresponding to the gas passage region. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 16.

18. In the processing container of the specific structure, a plurality of rod-shaped objects are arranged at intervals allowing the passage of the adsorbent in the portion corresponding to the space between the gas passage regions arranged on both side surfaces of the main portion and vertically adjacent to each other. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 16.

19. When n is an integer of 1 or more, above the gas passage region through which the gas supplied to the specific structure passes for the nth time in the processing container, the gas passage region through which the gas passes for the (n + 1)th time in the processing container is arranged. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 16.

20. The total horizontal cross-sectional area of the flow path of the adsorbent in the connection portion is made smaller than the total horizontal cross-sectional area of the flow path of the adsorbent in the portion corresponding to the processing container of the drying device and also smaller than the total horizontal cross-sectional area of the flow path of the adsorbent in the portion corresponding to the processing container of the adsorption device. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 6.

21. Inside the connection portion, a plurality of rod-shaped objects are arranged at intervals allowing the passage of the adsorbent. The carbon dioxide separation system according to claim 6.

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