Amino Acid Solvent CO2 Capture for Mobile Engines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CO2 capture technologies from mobile sources are hindered by high costs, space limitations, and energy requirements, with amine-based solvents facing issues of volatility, toxicity, and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A CO2 capture system utilizing a liquid solvent comprising a blend of alkali metal salts of amino or amino-sulfonic acids, with a primary or secondary amino acid as a first constituent and an additional amino or amino-sulfonic acid as a second constituent, optimized for high CO2 capture rates and efficient solvent regeneration using waste heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If amine-based solvents are used for CO2 capture, then CO2 absorption capacity is improved, but solvent volatility and toxicity increase causing environmental harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the solvent system by using alkali metal salts of amino acids instead of traditional volatile amines. This parameter change maintains high CO2 absorption capacity through carbamate formation while eliminating volatility and toxicity issues inherent in conventional amine solvents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite solvent system combining alkali metal salts with amino acids. This composite approach integrates the high reactivity of amine groups with the environmental stability of amino acid salts, achieving both effective CO2 capture and reduced environmental harm.
2Speed
If primary amines like MEA are used, then CO2 reaction rate is improved, but energy requirements for stripping and solvent degradation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the solvent parameters by using alkali metal salts of amino acids, which maintain fast reaction kinetics similar to primary amines but with reduced heat of absorption. This allows for faster CO2 capture rates while lowering the energy penalty for solvent regeneration and stripping operations.
3Quantity of substance
If higher solvent concentration is used, then CO2 absorption capacity is improved, but solvent regeneration energy requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of amino acid salts in the solvent system. By carefully selecting the type and concentration of amino acid salts, the system achieves high CO2 absorption capacity while managing the heat of absorption to reduce regeneration energy requirements.
4Productivity
If on-board CO2 capture system is implemented in mobile sources, then CO2 capture is achieved, but system cost increases due to reverse economy of scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the CO2 capture system to serve itself by using waste heat from the vehicle's exhaust to regenerate the solvent. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external energy sources, reducing system complexity and cost while enabling practical on-board deployment in mobile applications.
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 achieves a CO2 capture rate of at least 40% with a solvent regeneration heat rate of less than 6 MJ/kg of CO2, while minimizing environmental impact and operational costs, and ensuring continuous operation using waste heat from internal combustion engines.
Implementation Method 1
CO2 capture from combustion gases have been focused on stationary sources, such as power plants. For instance, amine-based scrubbing is commercially available
Implementation Method 2
Primary and secondary amines are generally more reactive; they form carbamate by direct reaction with CO2
Implementation Method 3
The regeneration zone may rejuvenate the liquid solvent rich in captured CO2 by heating so that CO2 from the liquid solvent is released in the gas phase
Implementation Method 4
separating CO2 from exhaust gas by absorption in a liquid solvent separated from the exhaust gas by a porous membrane contactor
Data Source
AI summary
A carbon dioxide (CO2) capture system to reduce CO2 emissions comprises an absorption zone and a regeneration zone. The absorption zone captures CO2 from exhaust gas by absorption in a liquid solvent separated from the exhaust gas by a separator. The liquid solvent comprises a blend of alkali metal salts of two or more amino or amino-sulfonic acids, thereby forming a first constituent and a second constituent. The first constituent is a primary or secondary amino or amino sulfonic acid with molar mass of less than 200 g/mol. The second constituent has a molar mass of less than 300 g/mol. The regeneration zone may rejuvenate the liquid solvent rich in captured CO2 by heating so that a resulting liquid solvent with a low concentration of CO2 is pumped back to the absorption zone. An on-board CO2 capture and storage system for a mobile internal combustion engine and a method for capturing CO2 are also described.