CO2 Capture Heat Integration to Cut Steam Extraction Losses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fossil fuel-burning power plants face inefficiencies in electricity generation due to energy-intensive CO2 separation processes, which require significant steam extraction, leading to reduced overall efficiency and increased costs, hindering the adoption of CO2 emission control and Enhanced Oil Recovery technologies.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a carbon dioxide capture and compression system with an external heat cycle system, where surplus heat from the CO2 capture and compression process is transferred to the external heat cycle through additional heat exchangers, reducing steam extraction and enhancing power plant efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If steam extraction is used to provide heat for CO2 separation process, then CO2 capture is enabled, but electricity generation and overall plant efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the CO2 separation process with the power plant's existing thermal systems by integrating heat exchangers that utilize surplus heat from turbine exhaust and condenser cooling water. This combination allows CO2 capture to be performed using waste heat that would otherwise be discarded, eliminating the need for separate steam extraction dedicated to CO2 separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts harmful waste heat from turbine exhaust and condenser cooling water into a beneficial resource for CO2 separation. By capturing and utilizing this previously wasted thermal energy, the system enables CO2 capture without the penalty of reduced electricity generation that would result from intentional steam extraction.
2Quantity of substance
If higher pressure steam extraction is used for CO2 separation, then heat availability for CO2 capture improves, but electricity output loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary heat exchangers that act as mediators between the power plant's thermal waste streams and the CO2 separation process. These heat exchangers transfer heat from turbine exhaust and condenser cooling water to the CO2 separation system, providing the necessary thermal energy without requiring direct steam extraction from the turbine.
3Productivity
If conventional cooling water is used for CO2 compression cooling, then CO2 compression efficiency improves, but overall plant heat utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function for CO2 compression with the power plant's existing thermal energy recovery system. By integrating heat exchangers that transfer heat from CO2 compression cooling water to the external heat cycle system, the system simultaneously achieves efficient CO2 compression and recovers thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the cooling water system multi-functional by using it both for CO2 compression cooling and as a heat source for the external heat cycle system. The same cooling water stream that cools the CO2 compression process also serves as a thermal resource for generating additional heat for external consumption, eliminating the need to discharge heat to the environment.
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 increases the overall efficiency of the power plant by utilizing surplus heat from the CO2 capture and compression system, reducing steam extraction, and optimizing the use of heat in the power plant, thereby improving electricity generation and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
heat from the carbon dioxide capture and compression system is transferred to a flow medium of an external heat cycle system by means of at least one additional heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
carbon dioxide gas is released from the absorbing solution by increasing the temperature of the absorber solution by directing it through a reboiler
Implementation Method 3
carbon dioxide compression unit for the compression and cooling of the carbon dioxide after its release from the absorber solution
Implementation Method 4
The CO2 compression further requires a capability for cooling the CO2
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A power plant system including a fossil fuel fired power plant (6) for the generation of electricity, a carbon dioxide capture and compression system (5, 13) and an external heat cycle system comprises at least one heat exchanger (1,2,3) for the heating of the flow medium of the external heat cycle system, wherein the heat exchanger (1,2,3) is connected to a heat flow from the CO2 capture plant (5) or a CO2 compression unit (13). A return flow from the heat exchanger (1,2,3) is led to the CO2 capture and compression system (5,13) or to the power plant (6). The power plant system allows an increase in overall efficiency of the system. The invention also includes a method for operating the power plant system.