Captured CO2 Expansion Cooling for IGCC Solvent Refrigeration

Solution Overview

Problem

Current refrigeration systems in integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants are environmentally and monetarily costly, necessitating a more efficient cooling solution.

Innovation Solution

A unique cooling system that utilizes expanded, approximately 80-100% pure carbon dioxide as a coolant, which is captured from syngas and expanded to provide cooling for various components within the IGCC power plant, potentially reducing the need for traditional refrigeration components and increasing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional refrigeration systems are used for cooling components in IGCC power plants, then cooling function is provided, but environmental cost and monetary cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental costVSAvoidcooling function

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful carbon dioxide byproduct from the gasification process into a beneficial cooling resource. The CO2 capture system separates CO2 from syngas, and the CO2 expander uses this captured CO2 to provide cooling through expansion, transforming an environmental liability into a functional asset that eliminates the need for traditional refrigeration systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own byproduct (CO2) to serve its own cooling needs. The CO2 generated during gasification is captured and then reused in the CO2 expander for cooling components, creating a self-sufficient cooling system that eliminates external refrigeration requirements and reduces operational costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional refrigeration systems are used for cooling components in IGCC power plants, then cooling function is provided, but monetary cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonetary costVSAvoidcooling function

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful carbon dioxide byproduct from the gasification process into a beneficial cooling resource. The CO2 capture system separates CO2 from syngas, and the CO2 expander uses this captured CO2 to provide cooling through expansion, transforming an environmental liability into a functional asset that eliminates the need for traditional refrigeration systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own byproduct (CO2) to serve its own cooling needs. The CO2 generated during gasification is captured and then reused in the CO2 expander for cooling components, creating a self-sufficient cooling system that eliminates external refrigeration requirements and reduces operational costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If captured CO2 is expanded to provide cooling, then system complexity is reduced and space consumption is reduced, but cooling capability must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcooling capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the phase transition and temperature change that occurs during CO2 expansion. The CO2 expander causes CO2 to expand from high pressure to low pressure, resulting in a temperature drop that provides the necessary cooling effect. This phase transition mechanism eliminates the need for complex refrigeration cycles while maintaining effective cooling capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical refrigeration systems with a simpler CO2 expansion mechanism. Instead of using compressors, condensers, and evaporators in traditional refrigeration cycles, the system uses the direct expansion of captured CO2 to generate cooling, significantly reducing system complexity and space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution reduces the environmental and financial burdens of cooling systems in IGCC power plants by leveraging captured carbon dioxide for cooling, simplifying the system, consuming less space, and enhancing overall efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a CO2 expander configured to expand at least a portion of the CO2 to provide cooling of at least one component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdiabatic cooling: Adiabatic Cooling

Data Source

PatentUS8741225B2Carbon capture cooling system and method

Publication Date: 2014.06.03 AIR PROD & CHEM INC

AI summary

A system and method is provided for capturing a carbonous gas and using the captured carbonous gas for cooling purposes. For example, a system may include a carbon capture system configured to collect a carbonous gas from a syngas, and a cooling system having a gas expander and a coolant circuit that receive the carbonous gas. The gas expander is configured to expand the carbonous gas to reduce a temperature of the carbonous gas to produce a reduced temperature carbonous gas, and the coolant circuit is configured to utilize the reduced temperature carbonous gas to cool at least one solvent of at least one gas purifier.