Carbon dioxide recovery device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional carbon dioxide recovery devices require significant electric power for vacuum pumping, leading to increased energy costs and carbon dioxide emissions for power generation.

Innovation Solution

A carbon dioxide recovery device configuration that connects a separation device with carbon dioxide desublimators in series, utilizing refrigerant circuits with cold heat to desublime carbon dioxide, and depressurizing the desublimators to negative pressure for suction, eliminating the need for pumps and reducing energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a vacuum pump is used to depressurize the regeneration tower, then carbon dioxide can be recovered, but electric power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectric power consumptionVSAvoidcarbon dioxide recovery efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical vacuum pump system with a thermal field-based solution. By introducing a refrigerant circulation system that cools the regeneration tower, the system uses temperature differential and pressure equalization to achieve carbon dioxide recovery without mechanical pumping, thereby eliminating the high electric power consumption associated with vacuum pumps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transition of the refrigerant (between liquid and gas states) to transfer heat efficiently. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the absorption liquid in the regeneration tower during evaporation, lowering its temperature and enabling carbon dioxide desorption, then releases heat during condensation, creating a continuous cycle that maintains the low-temperature environment without requiring external power input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Use of energy by stationary object

If the regeneration tower is depressurized to lower boiling temperature, then energy consumption for heating is reduced, but electric power consumption for vacuum pumping increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating energy consumptionVSAvoidelectric power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cooling function with the pressure control function into a single integrated system. The refrigeration cycle simultaneously achieves both objectives: it cools the absorption liquid to reduce its boiling temperature (lowering heating energy requirements) and creates the pressure differential needed for carbon dioxide recovery (eliminating vacuum pump requirements) through thermal expansion and contraction of the refrigerant.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The refrigerant acts as an intermediary substance that transfers thermal energy to achieve both desired effects. By introducing this intermediate medium, the system can manipulate temperature and pressure conditions without direct mechanical intervention, using the refrigerant's phase changes to mediate between the heat source and the absorption liquid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Achieves energy-efficient carbon dioxide recovery by utilizing cold heat from liquefied fuels or gases, reducing electric power costs and carbon dioxide emissions while effectively recovering carbon dioxide as dry ice or gas.

Implementation Method 1

a carbon dioxide desublimator to desublimated (solidify) the carbon dioxide having been separated by the separation device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDesublimation: Sublimation

Implementation Method 2

utilizing refrigerant circuits with cold heat to desublime carbon dioxide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

when the carbon dioxide is desublimated (solidified), the carbon dioxide desublimator is depressurized to be under negative pressure so that the carbon dioxide having been separated by the separation device is sucked

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS12364950B2Carbon dioxide recovery device

Publication Date: 2025.07.22 TOHO GAS CO LTD

AI summary

A carbon dioxide recovery device provided with a separation device that separates carbon dioxide from to-be-separated gas (for example, combustion exhaust gas) containing carbon dioxide, wherein: in order from the upstream side where the to-be-separated gas is supplied, the separation device and carbon dioxide sublimators, which sublimate (solidify) carbon dioxide that was separated in the separation device, are connected in series, refrigerant circuits in which a fluid having cold heat serves as the refrigerant, are connected to the carbon dioxide sublimators, and the refrigerant is used to sublimate (solidify) the carbon dioxide; and when the carbon dioxide is sublimated (solidified), the carbon dioxide sublimators are depressurized and set to negative pressure so as to draw in the carbon dioxide separated at the separation device.