Carbon Dioxide Capture Hopper Fluidization With Low-Concentration Oxygen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carbon dioxide capturing technologies face challenges with flow instability due to absorbent congestion in absorption and regeneration column hoppers, and high energy consumption for desorption, leading to increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus and process utilize low-concentration oxygen gas as a fluidizing gas by diverging it from specific gas lines to absorption and regeneration column hoppers, reducing flow instability and reusing the gas to minimize energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If temperature swing adsorption is used to capture carbon dioxide, then carbon dioxide can be captured from exhaust gas, but a great amount of energy is consumed to desorb carbon dioxide from the absorbent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the desorption mechanism from temperature-based to pressure-based. By using pressure swing adsorption, the system achieves desorption through pressure reduction rather than heating, thereby maintaining carbon dioxide capture efficiency while significantly reducing energy consumption for the desorption process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal field (heating system) with a mechanical field (pressure control system). The desorption process is achieved through pressure differential control rather than temperature increase, substituting a high-energy thermal process with a lower-energy mechanical process
2Ease of manufacture
If pressure swing adsorption is used for small-scale carbon dioxide capturing, then the process is advantageous, but it cannot be easily scaled up for large amounts of carbon dioxide discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the absorption and desorption processes into separate columns operating in parallel. This segmentation allows each column to be optimized for its specific function and enables easy scaling by adding more column pairs to handle larger carbon dioxide discharge volumes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic cyclic operation where columns alternately perform absorption and desorption. This dynamic switching allows continuous operation and easy scalability by increasing the number of columns in the cycle, accommodating both small-scale and large-scale carbon dioxide capture needs
3Productivity
If absorbent is circulated through absorption and regeneration columns, then carbon dioxide can be captured and desorbed, but flow instability occurs due to absorbent congestion in column hoppers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces vibration to the column hoppers to prevent absorbent congestion. The vibrational motion keeps the absorbent particles in constant movement, preventing them from settling and clogging, thereby maintaining stable flow and high circulation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameters of the absorbent by applying vibration. This parameter change prevents the absorbent from entering a congested state, maintaining it in a fluidized or suspended state that ensures stable flow through the columns
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 effectively mitigates absorbent congestion and lowers operational costs by stabilizing the flow and reusing fluidizing gas, enhancing energy efficiency in carbon dioxide capturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
an absorption column that includes a carbon dioxide adsorber or a carbon dioxide absorber that adsorbs or absorbs carbon dioxide from exhaust gas
Implementation Method 2
a regeneration column that is connected with the absorption column and includes an adsorbent heater that heats an adsorbent circulating therein
Implementation Method 3
supplying a fluidizing gas into a reaction column (absorption column) hopper and a desorption column (regeneration column) to fluidize the absorbent
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of a carbon dioxide capturing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an absorption column comprising a carbon dioxide adsorption or carbon dioxide absorption part for adsorbing or absorbing carbon dioxide from an exhaust gas; a regeneration column connected to the absorption column and comprising an adsorbent heating part, which is for heating an adsorbent circulating the inside thereof, and an absorbent heating part which is for heating an absorbent circulating the inside thereof; and the adsorbent or absorbent circulating the absorbent column and the regeneration column to alternately perform adsorption and desorption of carbon dioxide or absorption and desorption of carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide capturing apparatus is characterized in that: a line is branched from a first dynamic-pressure gas line connecting a line, for carbon dioxide desorbed in the regeneration column, and an absorption column hopper, so as to supply a low density oxygen gas to the absorption column hopper; and a line is branched from a second dynamic-pressure gas line connecting a line, for discharging a carbon dioxide-removed exhaust gas to the outside through the upper end of the absorption column, and a regeneration column hopper, so as to supply a low density oxygen gas to the regeneration column hopper.