Integrated CO2 Capture and Desalination Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current carbon dioxide capture and desalination systems are separate entities, leading to increased installation costs and energy consumption, as well as excessive fluid circulation, which is inefficient, especially in power and offshore plants where both processes are necessary.
Innovation Solution
An integrated apparatus that combines carbon dioxide capture and desalination using a volatile or non-volatile absorbent with a forward osmosis method, where an absorption unit absorbs CO2 from flue gas, a forward osmosis separator separates fresh water from raw water, and a carbon dioxide separating unit recycles the absorbent solution to reduce energy and fluid usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carbon dioxide capture apparatus and desalination apparatus are installed separately, then each apparatus can function independently, but total installation cost and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines carbon dioxide capture and desalination into a single integrated apparatus where the absorbent solution serves dual purposes: absorbing CO2 from flue gas and acting as a draw solution for forward osmosis desalination. This merging eliminates the need for separate apparatuses while reducing total energy consumption and installation costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbent solution is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it absorbs carbon dioxide from flue gas in the absorption unit and serves as the draw solution for the forward osmosis separator to produce fresh water. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and associated energy inputs.
2Reliability
If carbon dioxide capture apparatus and desalination apparatus are installed separately, then each apparatus can operate independently, but total installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate apparatuses (carbon dioxide capture and desalination) into one integrated system. The absorption unit and forward osmosis separator share common infrastructure and the absorbent solution circulates through both functions, reducing installation costs while maintaining operational reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate carbon dioxide capture and desalination apparatuses are used, then each process can be optimized independently, but the amount of fluid circulating through each apparatus is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent solution serves dual functions as both CO2 absorbent and draw solution for desalination. This eliminates the need for separate large volumes of fluid for each process, reducing the total quantity of circulating fluid while maintaining independent process optimization through controlled flow rates and concentrations.
4Ease of manufacture
If separate carbon dioxide capture and desalination apparatuses are used, then each apparatus can be designed independently, but energy required for operating both apparatuses increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated design merges carbon dioxide capture and desalination operations into a single system where the absorbent solution circulation serves both purposes. This eliminates redundant energy inputs required for separate apparatuses while maintaining independent design flexibility for each functional unit.
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 integration reduces installation costs, energy consumption, and fluid circulation, making the process more efficient for power and offshore plants by reusing the absorbent solution and optimizing water and CO2 separation.
Implementation Method 1
an absorption unit absorbing carbon dioxide included in a flue gas by bringing the flue gas into contact with an absorption solution in which a volatile absorbent absorbing carbon dioxide is dissolved
Implementation Method 2
a forward osmosis separator separating fresh water from raw water by a forward osmosis method using the draw solution flowing in from the draw solution chamber
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an apparatus for integrating carbon dioxide capture and desalination. The apparatus includes an absorption unit absorbing carbon dioxide included in a flue gas by bringing the flue gas into contact with an absorption solution in which a volatile absorbent absorbing carbon dioxide is dissolved, a draw solution chamber storing the absorption solution supplied from the absorption and using the absorption solution as a draw solution, a forward osmosis separator separating fresh water from raw water by a forward osmosis method using the draw solution flowing in from the draw solution chamber, a buffer chamber fluidly connected to the draw solution chamber supplied with a portion of the diluted draw solution that has passed through the forward osmosis separator, a fresh water separating unit separating fresh water from the diluted draw solution that has passed through the forward osmosis separator, a carbon dioxide separating unit separating carbon dioxide from the draw solution supplied from the buffer chamber, and a control unit controlling concentrations and amounts of the draw solutions stored in the draw solution chamber and the buffer chamber.