Carbonation Curing Equipment Using Flue Gas Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for producing carbonated concrete require high-concentration carbon dioxide, which is economically limiting and results in significant carbon dioxide emissions, as they rely on commercial carbon dioxide cylinders for mass production and carbonation curing.
Innovation Solution
The carbonation curing equipment utilizes flue gas from a thermal power plant as a carbon dioxide source, circulating it through a shielded tank to carbonate concrete, with optional regulation of temperature and humidity, and contact with water to enhance carbonation efficiency, effectively fixing carbon dioxide within the concrete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If commercial carbon dioxide cylinders are used as carbon dioxide source, then high-concentration carbon dioxide can be supplied, but production cost increases and carbon dioxide emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts flue gas, which is typically treated as waste product requiring disposal, into a valuable carbon dioxide source for concrete carbonation. By capturing and utilizing the CO2 already present in flue gas, the system eliminates the need for expensive commercial CO2 cylinders while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions, thus transforming a harmful emission into a beneficial resource.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal power plant's own flue gas is utilized as the carbon dioxide source for the concrete carbonation process, making the system self-sufficient. This eliminates external dependency on CO2 cylinder suppliers and reduces overall production costs by using a free or low-cost internal resource instead of purchasing expensive commercial CO2.
2Quantity of substance
If commercial carbon dioxide cylinders are used as carbon dioxide source, then high-concentration carbon dioxide can be supplied, but carbon dioxide emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts flue gas, which is typically treated as waste product requiring disposal, into a valuable carbon dioxide source for concrete carbonation. By capturing and utilizing the CO2 already present in flue gas, the system eliminates the need for expensive commercial CO2 cylinders while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions, thus transforming a harmful emission into a beneficial resource.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding flue gas emissions into the atmosphere, the system recovers the carbon dioxide component and utilizes it for concrete carbonation. This recovery process transforms what would be a harmful emission into a useful resource, reducing net carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining effective carbonation of the concrete.
3Ease of manufacture
If flue gas is used as carbon dioxide source, then production cost decreases and carbon dioxide emissions are reduced, but carbon dioxide concentration in flue gas is low (around 4%)
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously circulates flue gas through the carbonation tank, ensuring continuous contact between the CO2-containing gas and the concrete surface. This continuous circulation allows the concrete to absorb CO2 progressively over time, achieving effective carbonation despite the low initial concentration, thereby maintaining cost-effectiveness while achieving the desired carbonation level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical parameters of the carbonation environment by controlling temperature, humidity, and gas flow characteristics within the carbonation tank. These parameter adjustments enhance the efficiency of CO2 absorption from flue gas, allowing effective carbonation to occur even at low CO2 concentrations, thus resolving the contradiction between low concentration and effective carbonation.
4Productivity
If flue gas is circulated through carbonation curing tank, then stable large-scale production is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carbonation curing tank serves multiple functions: it acts as a containment vessel for the concrete, a carbonation chamber for CO2 absorption, a temperature and humidity control environment, and a gas circulation system. By integrating these functions into a single multi-functional unit, the system achieves stable large-scale production without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same structure performs multiple essential roles.
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 method allows for stable, large-scale production of carbonated concrete at reduced costs, minimizing carbon dioxide emissions by utilizing waste flue gas and physically fixing greenhouse gases in the concrete, thus reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
carbonation curing equipment for use in producing carbonated concrete by carbonation-curing an object to be cured using flue gas exhausted from a thermal power plant
Implementation Method 2
a temperature/humidity regulating device for regulating the temperature and humidity of the flue gas in the carbonation curing tank
Implementation Method 3
an air conveying blower provided at the flue gas feed pipe, wherein the flue gas exhausted from the thermal power plant is conveyed into the carbonation curing tank through the flue gas feed pipe and the air conveying blower
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3(a)~4
Figure 5(a)~5(c)
AI summary
To provide carbonation curing equipment, a carbonated concrete producing method and a carbon dioxide fixing method with which it is possible to economically mass-produce the carbonated concrete and to greatly reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from a thermal power plant. Carbonation curing equipment 10 used for producing the carbonated concrete is equipped with a flue gas circulator 12 for supplying flue gas exhausted from a thermal power plant 1 to a carbonation curing tank 11 and for circulating the flue gas in the carbonation curing tank 11, in order to utilize the thermal power plant 1 as a carbon dioxide source for carbonation-curing an object to be cured which is held in the carbonation curing tank 11 having a shielded internal space. The flue gas exhausted from the thermal power plant 1 is supplied to the inside of the carbonation curing tank 11 without regulating the concentration and the flow rate, and the object to be cured held in the carbonation curing tank 11 is carbonation-cured.