Ammonia treatment apparatus for ship

Abstract

Provided is an ammonia treatment apparatus that is capable of efficiently and safely reducing the concentration of ammonia. The ammonia treatment apparatus comprises: a reactor for receiving ammonia leaked in the event of an accident or emergency; a first reactant supply unit for supplying carbon dioxide to the reactor; a second reactant supply unit for supplying water to the reactor; and a solid-liquid separator for receiving a mixture of a liquid product and a solid product through a first discharge line (OL1) to the reactor in which ammonia, carbon dioxide, and water react to generate the mixture.

Description

Ammonia treatment unit for ships

[0001] The present invention relates to an ammonia treatment device, and more particularly, to an ammonia treatment device for a ship.

[0002] Marine ammonia treatment systems are designed to treat ammonia or ammonia-based waste that may be generated during ship operations. Conventional ammonia treatment systems utilize ammonia's highly water-soluble nature, including scrubber systems, water spray systems, and ammonia dissolution tanks. Scrubber systems deliver ammonia-containing gas to a water-filled tank or scrubber, where the ammonia dissolves in the water. During this process, ammonia reacts with the water to form ammonia water (NH4OH), reducing the ammonia concentration emitted into the air. Water spray systems spray high-pressure water into direct contact with ammonia-containing gas. The water molecules interact with ammonia molecules, dissolving the ammonia in the water and reducing the ammonia concentration in the gas. Ammonia dissolution tanks are designed to treat ammonia generated in a specific area, utilizing dedicated tanks that dissolve ammonia in water. These conventional ammonia treatment systems essentially use water to treat ammonia and then store or discharge ammonia water.

[0003] Meanwhile, ammonia is highly toxic, so regulations on its allowable discharge concentration are very strict. The short-term exposure limit (STEL) for 15 minutes of exposure to ammonia is 35 ppm, and the immediately dangerous to life (IDLH) concentration, which can cause death or irreversible health damage after 30 minutes of exposure, is 300 ppm. Therefore, even if a large amount of ammonia is released in an accident or emergency, it must be treated to at least 300 ppm to prevent large-scale casualties. However, conventional systems for treating ammonia may not sufficiently reduce the discharged ammonia concentration or may require excessive amounts of water for ammonia treatment.

[0004] When simulating a dynamic operating scenario in which a large volume of ammonia, released during an emergency on an ammonia-fueled vessel, is injected into a water tank, the amount of water used to achieve a mass ratio of 20-30%, which is the commonly used concentration, was adjusted so that the concentration of ammonia released to the atmosphere was significantly higher than the permissible concentration. Therefore, to reduce ammonia concentrations below the permissible concentration, a more effective treatment system must be developed or the amount of water required for ammonia treatment must be increased.

[0005] Accordingly, the inventors of the present invention, after extensive research and effort, developed a shipboard ammonia treatment device that reduces the concentration of ammonia more efficiently and safely.

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an ammonia treatment device capable of reducing the concentration of ammonia efficiently and safely.

[0007] The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, an ammonia treatment device includes: a reactor for receiving ammonia leaked in an accident or emergency situation; a first reactant supply unit for supplying carbon dioxide to the reactor; a second reactant supply unit for supplying water to the reactor; and a solid-liquid separator in which ammonia, carbon dioxide, and water react within the reactor to produce a mixture of liquid products and solid products, and the mixture is supplied through a first discharge line (OL1) connected to the reactor. Here, the solid-liquid separator separates the liquid products and the solid products from the mixture and stores them in a liquid cargo storage unit and a solid waste storage unit, respectively.

[0009] The above solid product may be ammonium carbonate or ammonium hydrogen carbonate.

[0010] The system may further include a first concentration measuring unit installed in a first storage line (SL1) connecting the solid-liquid separator and the liquid cargo storage unit. When the ammonia concentration in the liquid product measured by the first concentration measuring unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, the liquid product discharged from the solid-liquid separator may be recovered to the reactor through a recovery line (RL) connecting the solid-liquid separator and the reactor.

[0011] The reactor may further include a residual gas discharge unit that discharges gaseous products generated by the reaction of ammonia, water, and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; and a second concentration measuring unit installed in a second discharge line (OL2) connecting the reactor and the residual gas discharge unit. Here, when the ammonia concentration in the gaseous product measured by the second concentration measuring unit is below a predetermined threshold value, the gaseous product in the reactor may be discharged into the atmosphere via the residual gas discharge unit through the second discharge line (OL2).

[0012] The above ammonia treatment device can be installed in an ammonia fuel propulsion ship or an ammonia carrier.

[0013] The apparatus may further include a residual gas discharge unit that discharges gaseous products generated by the reaction of ammonia, water, and carbon dioxide within the reactor into the atmosphere; and a second concentration measuring unit installed in a second discharge line (OL2) connecting the reactor and the residual gas discharge unit. Here, when the ammonia concentration in the gaseous product measured by the second concentration measuring unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the residual gas discharge unit may mix nitrogen supplied from a dilution gas supply unit with the gaseous product and then discharge it into the atmosphere.

[0014] Specific details of other embodiments are included in the specific contents and drawings.

[0015] As described above, according to the ammonia treatment device according to the present invention, by separating and treating a solid product, for example, ammonium carbonate or ammonium bicarbonate, from a mixture of liquid and solid products produced by reacting ammonia with water and carbon dioxide in a reactor, not only can the amount of water required to reduce the ammonia concentration be significantly reduced, but also the solid product can be safely stored and treated.

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an ammonia treatment device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 is a drawing showing the operation of the ammonia treatment device of Figure 1.

[0018] The advantages and features of the present invention, and the methods for achieving them, will become clearer with reference to the embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are provided only to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

[0019]

[0020] The ammonia treatment device of the present invention can be applied to onshore or offshore facilities that store or use ammonia. Preferably, the ammonia treatment device of the present invention can be applied to ships. More preferably, the ammonia treatment device of the present invention can be installed on an ammonia-fueled propulsion ship or an ammonia carrier.

[0021]

[0022] Hereinafter, the configuration of an ammonia treatment device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an ammonia treatment device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, an ammonia treatment device includes a reactor (20), an ammonia supply unit (10), a first reactant supply unit (12), a second reactant supply unit (14), and a solid-liquid separator (30). The ammonia treatment device may further include a liquid cargo storage unit (40), a solid cargo storage unit (42), a residual gas discharge unit (50), and a dilution gas supply unit (52).

[0024] The reactor (20) is a device that receives ammonia, water, and carbon dioxide and causes a reaction. An impeller (22) is installed inside the reactor (20) to thoroughly mix the ammonia, water, and carbon dioxide injected into the reactor (20). The reactor (20) is connected to a solid-liquid separator (30) through a first discharge line (OL1) and to a residual gas discharge unit (50) through a second discharge line (OL2).

[0025] The ammonia supply unit (10) collects ammonia leaked in an accident or emergency situation on a ship, etc., and supplies it to the reactor (20) through the first supply line (IL1). The ammonia supply unit (10) may supply not only ammonia but also a mixture of other substances, such as nitrogen, to the reactor (20).

[0026] The first reactant supply unit (12) supplies carbon dioxide to the reactor (20) through the second supply line (IL2) to process the ammonia injected into the reactor (20).

[0027] The second reactant supply unit (14) supplies water to the reactor (20) through the third supply line (OK3) to process the ammonia injected into the reactor (20).

[0028] When ammonia, carbon dioxide, and water are supplied to the reactor (20) from the ammonia supply unit (10), the first reactant supply unit (12), and the second reactant supply unit (14), respectively, the three substances react while mixing with each other to produce gaseous products, liquid products, and solid products. Here, as solid products, ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbonate are produced according to the following reaction formulas 1 and 2, respectively.

[0029] [Reaction Formula 1]

[0030] NH3+ H2O + CO2→ (NH4)HCO3

[0031] [Reaction Formula 2]

[0032] NH3+ H2O + CO2→ (NH4)2CO3

[0033] In this way, ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbonate are precipitated in a solid form and mixed with the liquid product in the reactor (20) to form a slurry-like mixture. The liquid product may include ammonia water (NH4OH). The gaseous product may include ammonia or a mixture of ammonia and another gas.

[0034] A mixture of liquid products and solid products is supplied to the solid-liquid separator (30) through a first discharge line (OL1) connected to the reactor (20). The solid-liquid separator (30) is connected to a liquid cargo storage unit (40) and a solid cargo storage unit (42) through a first storage line (SL1) and a second storage line (SL2), respectively. The solid-liquid separator (30) separates liquid products and solid products from the mixture and stores them in the liquid cargo storage unit (40) and the solid cargo storage unit (42), respectively.

[0035] The first concentration measuring unit (60) is installed in the first storage line (SL1) connecting the solid-liquid separator (30) and the liquid cargo storage unit (40), and measures the concentration of ammonia in the liquid product discharged from the solid-liquid separator (30).

[0036] The residual gas discharge unit (50) is connected to the reactor (20) via the second discharge line (OL2) and is a device that safely discharges the gas within the reactor (20) into the atmosphere. The residual gas discharge unit (50) includes a vent mast, etc. The residual gas discharge unit (50) serves to reduce the risk of explosion or fire by controlling the internal pressure. The gaseous product generated by the reaction of ammonia, water, and carbon dioxide within the reactor (20) is supplied to the residual gas discharge unit (50) via the second discharge line (OL2), and the residual gas discharge unit (50) discharges it into the atmosphere.

[0037] The dilution gas supply unit (52) is connected to the residual gas discharge unit (50) and supplies a dilution gas, for example, nitrogen, to the residual gas discharge unit (50) according to the components and / or concentration of the gaseous product supplied from the reactor (20) to dilute the concentration of toxic gases in the gaseous product.

[0038] The second concentration measuring unit (62) is installed in the second discharge line (OL2) connecting the reactor (20) and the residual gas discharge unit (50) to measure the concentration of ammonia in the gaseous product discharged from the reactor (20).

[0039]

[0040] Hereinafter, the operation of an ammonia treatment device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the operation of the ammonia treatment device of FIG. 1.

[0041] First, the ammonia supply unit (10) collects ammonia leaked in an accident or emergency situation on a ship, etc., and supplies it to the reactor (20) through the first supply line (IL1). The first reactant supply unit (12) supplies carbon dioxide to the reactor (20) through the second supply line (IL2). The second reactant supply unit (14) supplies water to the reactor (20) through the third supply line (OK3).

[0042] Inside the reactor (20), ammonia, water, and carbon dioxide react while mixing with each other to produce gaseous products, liquid products, and solid products. The liquid products and solid products are mixed together to form a slurry-like mixture.

[0043] A mixture of liquid products and solid products is provided to a solid-liquid separator (30) through a first discharge line (OL1), and the solid-liquid separator (30) separates the liquid products and solid products from this mixture, after which the solid products are provided to a solid cargo storage unit (42) through a second storage line (SL2) and stored.

[0044] The liquid product discharged from the solid-liquid separator (30) is processed in different ways depending on its ammonia concentration. If the first concentration measuring unit (60) measures the ammonia concentration in the liquid product discharged from the solid-liquid separator (30) and the ammonia concentration is higher than a predetermined threshold value, the liquid product is recovered to the reactor (20) through the recovery line (SL) connecting the solid-liquid separator (30) and the reactor (20). The recovered liquid product is subjected to ammonia treatment again in the reactor (20). If the ammonia concentration in the liquid product is lower than the predetermined threshold value, the liquid product is provided to and stored in the liquid cargo storage unit (40) through the first storage line (SL1).

[0045] The gaseous product within the reactor (20) is supplied to the residual gas discharge unit (50) through the second discharge line (OL2). If the second concentration measuring unit (62) measures the ammonia concentration within the gaseous product discharged from the reactor (20) and the ammonia concentration is below a predetermined threshold value, the gaseous product can be discharged to the atmosphere via the residual gas discharge unit (50) through the second discharge line (OL2).

[0046] If the ammonia concentration in the gaseous product exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the valve of the second discharge line (OL2) is closed to prevent the gaseous product from being delivered to the residual gas discharge unit (50), and ammonia treatment is performed again on the gaseous product within the reactor (20). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and even if the ammonia concentration in the gaseous product exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the gaseous product may be delivered to the residual gas discharge unit (50) through the second discharge line (OL2), and the residual gas discharge unit (50) may mix nitrogen supplied from the dilution gas supply unit (52) with the gaseous product, dilute it, adjust the discharge allowable concentration, and then discharge it into the atmosphere.

[0047]

[0048] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the attached drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without altering the technical concept or essential features thereof. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A reactor that receives leaked ammonia in an accident or emergency situation; A first reactant supply unit for supplying carbon dioxide to the above reactor; a second reactant supply unit for supplying water to the reactor; and A solid-liquid separator is provided in which ammonia, carbon dioxide and water react within the reactor to produce a mixture of liquid products and solid products, and the mixture is supplied through a first discharge line (OL1) connected to the reactor. An ammonia treatment device characterized in that the solid-liquid separator separates the liquid product and the solid product from the mixture and stores them in a liquid cargo storage unit and a solid waste storage unit, respectively.

2. In paragraph 1, An ammonia treatment device, characterized in that the solid product is ammonium carbonate or ammonium hydrogen carbonate.

3. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a first concentration measuring unit installed in a first storage line (SL1) connecting the high-liquid separator and the liquid cargo storage unit, An ammonia treatment device characterized in that, when the ammonia concentration in the liquid product measured by the first concentration measuring unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, the liquid product discharged from the solid-liquid separator is recovered to the reactor through a recovery line (RL) connecting the solid-liquid separator and the reactor.

4. In paragraph 1, A residual gas discharge unit for discharging gaseous products generated by the reaction of ammonia, water, and carbon dioxide within the reactor into the atmosphere; and a second concentration measuring unit installed in a second discharge line (OL2) connecting the reactor and the residual gas discharge unit, An ammonia treatment device characterized in that, when the ammonia concentration in the gaseous product measured by the second concentration measuring unit is below a predetermined threshold value, the gaseous product in the reactor is discharged to the atmosphere via the residual gas discharge unit through the second discharge line (OL2).

5. In paragraph 1, An ammonia treatment device characterized in that the above ammonia treatment device is installed in an ammonia fuel propulsion ship or an ammonia carrier.

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