Carbon-Containing Liquid Injection for Lower-Energy Geological Sequestration

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing carbon sequestration methods, particularly those involving CO2 geological storage, are expensive due to high energy costs associated with gas separation, compression, transportation, and monitoring, and there is a need for improved systems and methods for carbon sequestration with reduced CO2 emissions.

Innovation Solution

The method involves producing carbon-containing liquids through processes like pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, and transesterification, modifying their properties to enhance compatibility with underground wells, and injecting them for sequestration, which reduces infrastructure and operational costs compared to gas or solid sequestration methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If CO2 geological storage is used for carbon sequestration, then carbon can be stored in underground geological formations, but the process becomes expensive due to high energy costs associated with gas separation, compression, transportation, and monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon storage capacityVSAvoidenergy cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of carbon from gaseous CO2 to liquid form through pyrolysis conversion. This parameter change eliminates the need for compression and reduces transportation energy requirements, directly addressing the high energy cost problem while maintaining carbon storage capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts carbon from biomass through pyrolysis to produce liquid carbon-containing materials. This extraction approach separates carbon from the complex biomass structure, enabling easier handling and storage without requiring energy-intensive gas separation processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Quantity of substance

If gaseous CO2 is used as injectant, then carbon sequestration can be achieved, but compression equipment and infrastructure are required which increases capital and operational costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon storage capacityVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of carbon from gaseous CO2 to liquid form through pyrolysis conversion. This parameter change eliminates the need for compression and reduces transportation energy requirements, directly addressing the high energy cost problem while maintaining carbon storage capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses liquid carbon-containing materials that can be pumped and transported using standard hydraulic equipment similar to oil and gas industry infrastructure. This approach eliminates the need for specialized compression equipment and simplifies the overall system while maintaining carbon storage capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Quantity of substance

If solid carbon materials like biochar are used for sequestration, then carbon can be stored in soil, but the handling, pumping, and conveyance reliability decreases compared to liquid forms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon storage capacityVSAvoidhandling reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses liquid carbon-containing materials that can be pumped and transported using standard hydraulic equipment similar to oil and gas industry infrastructure. This approach eliminates the need for specialized compression equipment and simplifies the overall system while maintaining carbon storage capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 simplifies infrastructure, reduces capital and operational costs, and enhances the reliability of carbon sequestration by using liquid injectants that do not require compression, providing a more efficient and cost-effective method for carbon storage.

Implementation Method 1

The carbon-containing liquids can be produced using a variety of chemical processes, including, for example, pyrolysis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPyrolysis: Pyrolysis

Implementation Method 2

The carbon-containing liquids can be produced using a variety of chemical processes, including, for example, pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrothermal liquefaction:

Implementation Method 3

The carbon-containing liquids can be produced using a variety of chemical processes, including, for example, pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, transesterification

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTransesterification:

Implementation Method 4

The carbon-containing liquids can be produced using a variety of chemical processes, including, for example, pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, transesterification, and fermentation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS12359538B2System and process for geological sequestration of carbon-containing materials

Publication Date: 2025.07.15 CHARM IND INC

AI summary

This disclosure relates to a method and a system for sequestering carbon-containing materials in underground wells. An example method includes: obtaining a material comprising a carbon-containing liquid; optionally testing the material for compatibility with an underground well; optionally adjusting a property of the material to improve the compatibility; and providing the material for injection into the underground well.