ASU Cryogenic Solvent Cooling for Acid Gas Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cooling requirements for acid gas removal systems in gasification processes increase costs, as existing methods do not efficiently manage the cooling of solvents used for acid gas absorption in syngas treatment.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a fluid flow from an air separation unit to cool the solvent in the gas treatment system, utilizing cryogenic streams like liquid air, liquid oxygen, or liquid nitrogen for heat exchange, thereby enhancing the physical absorption of acid gases without chemical reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a physical solvent is cooled to facilitate absorption of acid gases from syngas, then the efficiency of acid gas absorption is improved, but the cooling requirement increases costs of the AGR system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air separation unit and gas treatment system into an integrated system where the cooling requirements of both units are satisfied by a single cryogenic cooling system. The solvent cooling duty is merged with the air separation cooling requirements, allowing shared infrastructure and utility systems, thereby reducing overall cooling costs while maintaining acid gas absorption efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The cryogenic cooling system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it cools the physical solvent for acid gas absorption and provides cooling for the air separation unit. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate cooling systems, reducing capital expenditure and operational costs while ensuring both processes receive appropriate cooling temperatures.
2Reliability
If existing cooling methods are used for solvent cooling, then the system can operate, but the cooling efficiency is insufficient and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the cooling system by implementing cryogenic cooling temperatures (typically below -100°C) instead of conventional cooling temperatures. This parameter change enables highly efficient heat recovery from the solvent stream, significantly improving cooling efficiency and reducing energy losses while maintaining reliable system operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes phase transitions of cryogenic fluids (such as nitrogen or air) to achieve efficient cooling. The cryogenic coolant undergoes phase change from liquid to vapor as it absorbs heat from the solvent, providing intense cooling efficiency. This phase transition mechanism enables effective heat removal with minimal energy input compared to conventional cooling methods.
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 the cooling costs and improves the efficiency of acid gas absorption in the gas treatment system, allowing for more effective removal of acid gases like hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from syngas.
Implementation Method 1
an air separation unit having an air inlet configured to receive an air flow, an oxygen outlet configured to output an oxygen flow and a nitrogen outlet configured to output a nitrogen flow. The air separation unit also has a cooling system configured to cool the air flow to enable separation of the air flow into the oxygen flow and the nitrogen flow
Implementation Method 2
The cooling system is configured to cool a first solvent of a first gas treatment system
Implementation Method 3
the first solvent-based treatment system is configured to remove at least one impurity from the first untreated gas flow with a first solvent to produce the first treated gas flow
Data Source
AI summary
The present embodiments are directed towards the cooling of a solvent of a gas treatment system using a fluid flow from an air separation unit. In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes an air separation unit. The air separation unit has an air inlet configured to receive an air flow, an oxygen outlet configured to output an oxygen flow, a nitrogen outlet configured to output a nitrogen flow and a cooling system configured to cool the air flow to enable separation of the air flow into the oxygen flow and the nitrogen flow, wherein the cooling system is configured to cool a first solvent of a first gas treatment system.