Biogas Purification with CO2 Capture and Residual Gas Combustion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biogas treatment systems release carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, and require high energy costs for biomethane production, necessitating a solution to capture and valorize carbon dioxide while optimizing biomethane production.

Innovation Solution

A process and system that incorporates carbon dioxide capture from biogas flows using membrane separation, cryogenic separation, adsorption, or absorption methods, followed by combustion of residual gas to produce energy and reduce emissions, integrated with biogas purification units to enhance energy efficiency and reduce equipment costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere from residual gas stream, then the purification process is simple, but greenhouse gas emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurification process complexityVSAvoidgreenhouse gas emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful residual gas stream containing CO2 and methane into a beneficial energy source by combusting it in a combustion unit to generate electricity and heat, thereby eliminating greenhouse gas emissions while recovering useful energy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The combustion unit serves multiple functions: it combusts the residual gas stream to eliminate CO2 emissions, generates electricity to power the purification unit, and produces heat for process heating requirements, making the system self-sufficient

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If residual gas stream is released into the atmosphere, then no additional treatment is needed, but methane with high global warming potential is released

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment process simplicityVSAvoidmethane emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful methane-containing residual gas into a useful fuel source by combusting it in the combustion unit, thereby eliminating methane emissions while recovering energy in the form of electricity and heat

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If biomethane production units are optimized to reduce energy costs, then production efficiency improves, but carbon impact may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiomethane production efficiencyVSAvoidcarbon impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a feedback loop where the combustion unit generates electricity that is fed back to power the purification unit, reducing external energy requirements and associated carbon emissions from energy production

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system becomes self-sufficient by using its own waste product (residual gas stream) as fuel to generate the energy needed for its operation, eliminating the need for external energy sources and reducing carbon impact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 effectively captures and valorizes carbon dioxide, reducing atmospheric emissions, optimizing biomethane production by lowering energy costs and equipment requirements, and improving overall energy efficiency through efficient combustion of residual gases.

Implementation Method 1

The term 'capture of carbon dioxide from a gas stream' means the capture of carbon dioxide in said gas stream by a capture device implementing, for example, membrane separation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMembrane separation: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 2

The term 'capture of carbon dioxide from a gas stream' means the capture of carbon dioxide in said gas stream by a capture device implementing, for example, bed adsorption (molecular sieve, zeolites...)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

The term 'capture of carbon dioxide from a gas stream' means the capture of carbon dioxide in said gas stream by a capture device implementing, for example, physical absorption or chemical absorption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 4

The process includes a combustion step of the residual gas stream from carbon dioxide capture in a combustion unit. Combustion of the residual gas stream from carbon dioxide capture avoids releasing said residual gas stream into the atmosphere

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP4070878A1Treatment of biogas purification streams
Publication Date: 2022.10.12 PRODEVAL SAS
  • EP4070878A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4070878A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4070878A1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Gas treatment process, said process comprising a step (E1) of purifying a biogas stream coupled to at least one step (E2) of capturing carbon dioxide from a gas stream, said gas stream being the biogas stream before purification (BS), the biogas stream after purification (BM) or the residual gas stream (GR1) from the purification.