Agitator Water Spray for CO2 Absorption Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carbon dioxide recovery methods face inefficiencies due to large equipment sizes, high energy consumption, and the 'two-layer problem' where the interface between gas and water becomes saturated, reducing absorption and desorption rates.
Innovation Solution
The system employs agitators with motors and propellers in absorption and desorption tanks to create energy-efficient agitation, spreading water into an air space for extensive area coverage, and incorporates heat pumps and a pre-reactor to enhance carbon dioxide absorption and desorption, along with methanol production using electrolysis to improve absorption efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If fill block columns are used for carbon dioxide absorption, then absorption area is increased, but equipment size becomes remarkably large
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from traditional horizontal fill block columns to a vertical arrangement where multiple absorption columns are stacked one above another. This vertical stacking allows the same absorption area to be achieved in a smaller footprint, effectively utilizing the vertical dimension to reduce the horizontal equipment size while maintaining sufficient gas-liquid contact area for CO2 absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention nests multiple absorption columns vertically within a compact structure, where one column is positioned directly above another. This nesting arrangement maximizes the use of vertical space, allowing multiple absorption stages to be contained within a small ground footprint, thereby achieving large absorption area without proportionally large equipment volume.
2Productivity
If conventional agitators are used to enhance gas-liquid interface, then absorption rate improves, but energy consumption becomes considerable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces conventional mechanical agitators that consume considerable energy with a natural circulation system driven by temperature and concentration differences. The heat pump creates temperature gradients that drive fluid circulation without mechanical agitation, thereby maintaining high absorption rates while eliminating the high energy consumption associated with mechanical agitators.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes self-service circulation where the fluid movement is driven by natural convection currents created by temperature and concentration gradients within the columns. The heat pump establishes these gradients, and the resulting buoyancy-driven flow automatically circulates the liquid through the absorption columns without requiring external mechanical energy input for agitation.
3Productivity
If amine processes are used to improve absorption capability, then absorption efficiency increases tenfold, but costs increase and chemicals are lost to environment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses water as the absorption medium instead of expensive amine chemicals. While water has lower intrinsic absorption capability than amines, the system compensates through the vertical column arrangement and heat pump-driven circulation that maintains strong concentration gradients. This approach eliminates the need for costly chemical regeneration and prevents amine losses to the environment, achieving sustainable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameters by using a vertical column configuration with controlled temperature gradients created by the heat pump. This parameter optimization allows water to achieve absorption efficiencies comparable to amine processes by maintaining favorable temperature and concentration differences across the gas-liquid interface, thereby avoiding chemical losses while achieving high productivity.
4Area of stationary object
If bubble columns are used to create large surface area, then absorption area increases, but column size becomes quite large
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from horizontal bubble columns that require large footprints to vertical stacked columns that utilize the vertical dimension. This arrangement achieves equivalent or greater gas-liquid contact surface area within a compact vertical footprint, reducing the horizontal column size while maintaining large effective surface area for mass transfer.
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
This approach reduces equipment size, energy consumption, and enhances carbon dioxide absorption and desorption rates, achieving efficient recovery with lower operational costs and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
the absorption tank and the desorption tank houses an agitator which comprises a motor, a drive shaft, and at least one propeller located close to the water surface
Implementation Method 2
the agitator has its shaft and at least one propeller surrounded by a guide pipe which conducts the water upwards above the water surface
Implementation Method 3
the drive shaft of said at least one propeller is provided above the water surface with a guard for spreading the water ejected upward by said at least one propeller over an extensive area in the air space as the water strikes against the guard
Implementation Method 4
an absorption tank for absorbing into water the carbon dioxide contained in a gas pressurized with the pressurizing means
Implementation Method 5
a desorption tank for desorbing from water the carbon dioxide absorbed in water
Implementation Method 6
pressurizing means for pressurizing the gas
Implementation Method 7
means for circulating water from the absorption tank into the desorption tank and from the desorption tank back into the absorption tank
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system and a method for the recovery of carbon dioxide from a gas (14) containing it. The system of the invention comprises: pressurizing means (1) for pressurizing the gas (14), an absorption tank (3) for absorbing into water (35) the carbon dioxide contained in a gas (141) pressurized with the pressurizing means (1), a desorption tank (5) for desorbing from water (35') the carbon dioxide absorbed in water, means (7) for circulating water (15) from the absorption tank (3) into the desorption tank (5) and from the desorption tank back into the absorption tank (3), and recovering means (6) for the recovery of carbon dioxide (16) capable of being desorbed from the water (35'). The system's absorption tank (30) houses an agitator (30) with a function of enabling water to circulate in the absorption tank (3) by ejecting it into an air space (36) of the absorption tank and by spreading in the absorption tank's (3) air space over an area as extensive as possible.