CO2 Electrolysis with Liquid Oxygen Storage for Oxy-Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oxy-combustion technologies for energy production and storage are inefficient, costly, and face challenges in carbon dioxide storage and oxygen production, leading to environmental and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method integrating carbon dioxide electrolysis, oxy-combustion, and energy storage using carbon monoxide and oxygen liquefaction to manage energy peaks and deficiencies, utilizing heat exchangers and refrigerant cycles for efficient energy accumulation and production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If oxygen is extracted from air through compression and purification, then high-purity oxygen is obtained for oxy-combustion, but the process becomes expensive and energy-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by producing and storing liquid oxygen in advance during periods of excess electricity availability. This stored liquid oxygen is then used during peak demand periods, eliminating the need for real-time air compression and purification when energy costs are high. The system performs the oxygen extraction action beforehand when energy is abundant and cheap, storing it for later use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses excess electricity from the grid to produce its own oxygen through electrolysis of air or oxygen-containing gases. This self-service approach allows the plant to generate its own comburent resource using otherwise wasted electrical energy, reducing dependence on external air compression and purification infrastructure while lowering operational costs.
2Quantity of substance
If excess electricity is used to produce liquid oxygen and carbon monoxide for energy storage, then energy accumulation is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated system: excess electricity drives electrolysis to produce both oxygen and carbon monoxide simultaneously; these products are stored as liquids; and later both are used together in oxy-combustion for energy generation. This consolidation of production, storage, and utilization functions reduces overall system complexity compared to separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves multi-functionality by using the same electrolysis unit to produce two different chemicals (oxygen and carbon monoxide) that serve different purposes: oxygen as comburent and carbon monoxide as fuel. The liquid storage system also serves dual purposes for both chemicals. This universal approach maximizes energy storage capacity while minimizing the number of dedicated components needed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If carbon dioxide is sequestered through oxy-combustion, then greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, but the problem of permanent storage remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful carbon dioxide emission into a useful resource by capturing it during oxy-combustion and using it as feedstock for electrolysis to produce carbon monoxide fuel. This transforms the waste product (CO2) into a valuable commodity (CO) that can be stored and later combusted, effectively cycling the carbon rather than permanently sequestering it or releasing it to the atmosphere.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of permanently discarding carbon dioxide through storage or sequestration, the system recovers it by capturing the CO2 produced during controlled combustion and converting it back into useful carbon monoxide through electrolysis. This recovery approach maintains carbon in a useful chemical form rather than losing it to permanent storage requirements or atmospheric release.
4Productivity
If the Allam cycle is used for oxy-combustion with complete CO2 sequestration, then efficiency reaches about 52%, but adequate cold wells are not always available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-cooling and storing oxygen and carbon monoxide as liquids during periods when cooling resources are abundant. This eliminates the need for continuous access to cold wells during energy production, as the refrigeration action is performed in advance when environmental conditions are favorable, making the system adaptable to various geographical locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces liquid storage tanks as intermediary components between the electrolysis unit and the oxy-combustion chamber. These intermediaries allow decoupling of the cooling requirement from the combustion process, enabling the plant to operate in locations without permanent cold wells by performing cooling actions at different times and places than combustion.
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
The method achieves efficient energy storage and production with high-purity oxygen and carbon dioxide management, addressing inefficiencies and environmental concerns, while enabling effective peak shaving and power generation.
Implementation Method 1
carbon dioxide electrolysis
Implementation Method 2
oxy-combustion cycle with energy production
Implementation Method 3
utilizing heat exchangers and refrigerant cycles for efficient energy accumulation and production
Implementation Method 4
energy storage using carbon monoxide and oxygen liquefaction
Data Source
AI summary
A method is for producing, from electricity and available carbon dioxide, liquid carbon monoxide and liquid oxygen, to be subjected to oxy-combustion with production of carbon dioxide as a driving fluid.