Post-combustion CO2 Capture Heat Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Post combustion carbon capture technologies require high amounts of thermal energy for solvent regeneration, reducing net power generation efficiency in power plants.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that uses sensible heat from flue gas for regenerating absorption liquids and integrating waste heat recovery from carbon dioxide compression, eliminating the need for steam extraction from turbines, and employing a multi-stage centrifugal compressor for efficient carbon dioxide compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If steam is extracted from turbines for solvent regeneration, then carbon dioxide capture is achieved, but power generation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful effect of steam extraction by removing the dependency on turbine steam for solvent regeneration. Instead of taking steam from the turbine cycle, the system uses an independent solar thermal field to heat the solvent, thereby taking out the conflict between CO2 capture and power generation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The solar thermal field serves multiple functions: it heats the solvent for regeneration, provides process heat for other plant operations, and can be scaled to match varying thermal demands. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need to compromise power generation efficiency while maintaining reliable CO2 capture.
2Power
If multi-stage compression is used for carbon dioxide compression, then compression efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression process is divided into multiple stages with intercooling between stages. This segmentation allows each stage to operate at optimal pressure ratios, improving overall compression efficiency while managing heat generation. The segmented approach also enables better integration with the solar thermal system for heat recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-stage compressor with intercooling maintains continuous compression while recovering heat at each stage. The intercooling system continuously removes heat from the compression process, and this recovered heat is continuously fed to the solar thermal field or process requirements, ensuring continuous useful action throughout the compression cycle.
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
Significantly reduces thermal energy requirements for solvent regeneration, increasing power generation efficiency, reducing the cost of electricity, and lowering the cost of captured carbon dioxide.
Implementation Method 1
a carbon dioxide scrubber (21) operated with an absorbing liquid which is regenerated
Implementation Method 2
the combustion air (C) used in the high pressure steam generating unit (10) is at least partially heated using sensible heat of the flue gas
Implementation Method 3
the steam used for regenerating the absorption liquid of the carbon dioxide scrubber is at least partially generated using sensible heat of the flue gas
Implementation Method 4
carbon dioxide obtained in the carbon dioxide scrubber (21) from the flue gas is at least partially compressed in a carbon dioxide compressor (22)
Implementation Method 5
combusting a carbonaceous fuel in a high pressure steam generating unit (10) using combustion air (C)
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided in which a carbon dioxide containing flue gas is provided by combusting a carbonaceous fuel in a high pressure steam generating unit using combustion air, and in which the carbon dioxide in the flue gas is at least partially captured and compressed in a carbon dioxide capture and compression unit having a carbon dioxide scrubber operated with an absorbing liquid which is regenerated using low pressure steam. The combustion air used in the high pressure steam generating unit is at least partially heated using sensible heat of the flue gas and/or the steam used for regenerating the absorption liquid of the carbon dioxide scrubber is at least partially generated using sensible heat of the flue gas. A corresponding system is also described herein.