Carbon Extraction from Flue Gas Using Cyclone Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating carbon dioxide from flue gas streams, such as chemical and physical absorbents, are inefficient and require extensive regeneration and storage, lacking an effective alternative for handling and processing acid gases like CO2, SOx, and NOx.
Innovation Solution
A process and plant utilizing cyclone separators to separate acid gases from flue gas streams based on density differences, with an intermediate gas to buffer the separation, followed by further processing to achieve high-purity CO2 and potentially converting CO2 into atomic carbon for lattice structures using microwave dissociation and high-temperature cyclones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical absorbents are used to remove carbon dioxide from flue gas, then carbon dioxide can be separated and regenerated using low temperature heat, but the process requires extensive regeneration and storage infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts carbon dioxide from flue gas using a chemical absorbent (ammonium carbonate solution) and directly converts it to ammonium carbamate, then decomposes to release pure CO2. This extraction approach eliminates the need for complex regeneration cycles and geological storage infrastructure by transforming CO2 into a usable product form.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts harmful CO2 emissions into beneficial products: ammonium carbamate and subsequently carbon-containing chemicals. By treating CO2 as a resource rather than waste, the process eliminates storage requirements and transforms the harmful emission into valuable chemical feedstocks.
2Productivity
If physical adsorbents are used to remove carbon dioxide from flue gas, then pressure swing regeneration can be used, but the process is less effective for voluminous flue gas streams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter from physical adsorption to chemical absorption, using ammonium carbonate solution that reacts chemically with CO2. This chemical reaction mechanism provides superior performance for voluminous flue gas streams compared to physical adsorption, achieving both high productivity and reliability simultaneously.
3Measurement precision
If an intermediate gas species is added to assist in separation, then the buffering gas provides better separation between acid gases and lighter gases, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediate gas species (argon or nitrogen) that acts as a buffer between acid gases and lighter gases in the cyclone separation process. This intermediary gas improves separation precision by creating distinct density layers, while the system complexity is managed through the inherent simplicity of cyclone separation technology.
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
Efficient separation and processing of CO2 and other acid gases, enabling geo-sequestration and production of high-purity carbon dioxide and carbon lattice structures, while potentially generating electrical power from the heat of formation.
Implementation Method 1
separating the acid gases from lighter gases of the flue gas stream in the first cyclone by means of a density differences
Implementation Method 2
energising a gas stream containing carbon dioxide to dissociate the carbon dioxide into atomic carbon and atomic oxygen using an energising apparatus
Implementation Method 3
The energising apparatus may heat the gas stream with electromagnetic radiation, suitably microwave radiation
Implementation Method 4
separating atomic carbon and atomic oxygen into a carbon stream containing an atomic carbon phase and an oxygen stream including an atomic oxygen phase using a high temperature cyclone apparatus
Implementation Method 5
a gas turbine which is driven by a heat transfer medium that has been heated by the cooling device
Implementation Method 6
heat energy of the second heat transfer medium is used to generate electrical power
Data Source
AI summary
Processes and plants are disclosed for separating carbon dioxide from a flue gas stream, for providing a source of atomic carbon by disassociating carbon dioxide and for generating electrical power from by-products of producing atomic carbon. In relation to separating carbon dioxide from a flue gas stream, the disclosed process includes energising a gas stream containing carbon dioxide to produce a disassociated stream by disassociating the carbon dioxide into atomic carbon and atomic oxygen using an energising apparatus. The process further includes separating the atomic carbon and the atomic oxygen into a carbon stream containing an atomic carbon phase and an oxygen stream containing an atomic oxygen phase using a high temperature cyclone apparatus.