Adsorptive CO2 Separation With Combustor Recycle for Lower Energy Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature swing adsorption methods for gas separation in fossil fuel combustion processes are inefficient due to limitations in adsorbent material regeneration and adsorption, leading to high capital and operating costs, reduced energy efficiency, and decreased separation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An integrated adsorptive gas separation system using a parallel passage thermal swing adsorption (TSA), pressure swing adsorption (PSA), or partial pressure swing adsorption (PPSA) process within a fossil fuel combustion system, where a combustion gas mixture is separated, with carbon dioxide being adsorbed, desorbed, and recycled to enhance separation efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional temperature swing adsorption methods are used for gas separation, then carbon dioxide can be separated from combustion gases, but the process suffers from inefficient adsorption and desorption leading to high energy consumption and operating costs
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorbent bed is divided into multiple zones with different adsorbent materials having varying selectivity and capacity for CO2. This segmentation allows the adsorption front to progress through zones of decreasing CO2 concentration, maintaining a steeper concentration gradient and reducing the temperature rise in each zone, thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the adsorbent bed are filled with adsorbent materials having different properties (selectivity, capacity, heat of adsorption). The upstream zones use high-selectivity materials while downstream zones use high-capacity materials, creating local optimization that reduces hot spot formation and energy consumption while maintaining overall separation performance.
2Temperature
If conventional temperature swing adsorption is used, then gas separation can be achieved, but rapid temperature increase during adsorption creates hot spots that decrease adsorbent capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorbent bed is segmented into multiple zones with different adsorbent materials that have progressively lower heats of adsorption. This segmentation distributes the heat generation across multiple zones rather than concentrating it in one location, preventing hot spot formation and maintaining adsorbent capacity throughout the bed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses composite adsorbent structures combining materials with different thermal and adsorptive properties. These composite materials provide both high CO2 selectivity and improved thermal management, reducing temperature increases during adsorption and maintaining adsorbent capacity.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional desorption methods are used, then adsorbent regeneration can be achieved, but non-uniform heating creates cold spots that retain adsorbed gas or require excessive thermal flux
Solution Approach 1:
The desorption process is divided into multiple stages with heating applied to different zones of the adsorbent bed in sequence. This segmented approach ensures uniform heat distribution throughout the bed, preventing cold spots and achieving complete desorption without requiring excessive thermal flux.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic switching between adsorption and desorption modes with controlled heating cycles. During desorption, heating is applied periodically to different zones, ensuring uniform temperature distribution and complete regeneration of the adsorbent material while optimizing energy consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system improves the efficiency of carbon dioxide separation, reduces energy consumption, and decreases capital costs by optimizing the adsorption and desorption processes, allowing for increased carbon dioxide purity and recovery, while also enhancing the overall performance of the combustion process.
Implementation Method 1
adsorbing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide combustion gas component on the adsorbent material
Implementation Method 2
thermal energy is required to meet the heat of desorption of the adsorbed compound during desorption or regeneration
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated fuel combustion system with adsorptive gas separation separates a portion of carbon dioxide from a combustion gas mixture and provides for recycle of separated carbon dioxide to the intake of the fuel combustor for combustion. A process for carbon dioxide separation and recycle includes: admitting combustion gas to an adsorptive gas separation system contactor containing adsorbent material; adsorbing a portion of carbon dioxide; recovering a first product gas depleted in carbon dioxide for release or use; desorbing carbon dioxide from the adsorbent material and recovering a desorbed second product gas enriched in carbon dioxide for sequestration or use; admitting a conditioning fluid into the contactor and desorbing a second portion of carbon dioxide to recover a carbon dioxide enriched conditioning stream; and recycling a portion of the carbon dioxide enriched conditioning stream to an inlet of fuel combustor to pass through the fuel combustor for combustion.