Methanation System for Cement CO2 Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The methanation method for reducing CO2 in combustion exhaust gases from fossil fuel sources is ineffective as the produced methane, when burned, releases CO2 again, failing to significantly reduce overall CO2 emissions.
Innovation Solution
Converting CO2 from cement production exhaust gas into methane using hydrogen, which is then used as an alternative fuel to fossil fuels, thereby reducing CO2 emissions and greenhouse gas impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If CO2 from fossil fuel combustion is converted to methane through methanation, then CO2 concentration in exhaust gas is reduced, but the overall CO2 emissions are not reduced because the produced methane releases CO2 again when burned
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts CO2 from cement production exhaust gas (a harmful emission) into methane through methanation reaction with hydrogen. The produced methane is then used as fuel in the cement kiln, creating a beneficial cycle where the original harmful CO2 becomes a useful energy source. This resolves the contradiction by targeting non-fossil CO2 sources where the carbon was recently sequestered from the atmosphere, avoiding net new CO2 emissions while still achieving CO2 concentration reduction in the exhaust stream.
2Loss of substance
If methane is produced from CO2 in cement exhaust gas, then fossil fuel consumption is reduced, but the complexity of the CO2 separation and methanation system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The methanation system serves multiple functions: it separates CO2 from exhaust gas, converts CO2 to methane through chemical reaction, and supplies the produced methane back to the cement kiln as fuel. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate CO2 capture and fuel production systems, thereby managing complexity while achieving fossil fuel displacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the cement plant's own exhaust gas as the CO2 source and the produced methane as its own fuel source for the kiln. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external CO2 sources or external fuel supplies, reducing system complexity by integrating the methanation process within the existing cement production infrastructure.
3Productivity
If CO2 is separated and recovered from exhaust gas before methanation, then methane production efficiency is improved, but the energy consumption for CO2 separation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters of the exhaust gas (temperature, pressure, composition) to optimize both CO2 separation efficiency and methanation reaction conditions. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves effective CO2 recovery while minimizing the energy penalty of separation, and ensures the methanation reaction proceeds efficiently with the separated CO2.
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
Utilizing methane generated from cement production exhaust gas as a fuel alternative reduces fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, enhancing greenhouse gas reduction effects.
Implementation Method 1
generates methane by adding hydrogen to CO2 in exhaust gas from cement production facility or CO2 separated and recovered from the exhaust gas
Data Source
AI summary
Generating methane by adding hydrogen to CO2 in exhaust gas discharged a from cement production facility or CO2 that is separated and recovered from the exhaust gas, and using the methane as an alternative fuel to fossil fuel such as coal, petroleum, natural gas and the like, by methanation of CO2 in the exhaust gas from the cement production facility that includes exhaust gas originated from lime stone not from the fossil oil and effectively utilizing it, it is possible to reduce usage of the fossil fuel, suppress CO2 originated from energy, and improve an effect of reducing greenhouse gas.