CO2 Stream Conditioning for Sequestration Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current carbon capture and sequestration methods are energy and capital intensive, requiring multiple steps to separate and inject CO2 into underground saline reservoirs, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
The method involves conditioning a CO2 containing multi-component gaseous stream by removing physical components and heat to improve its suitability for sequestration, using systems that include heat exchangers and aggregates to cool the stream, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the CO2 sequestration process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple steps are used to separate and inject CO2 into underground saline reservoirs, then CO2 sequestration is achieved, but energy consumption and capital costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes specific physical components (condensables, particulates, water) and heat from the CO2-containing gaseous stream through separation units, heat exchangers, and dryers. This extraction of unwanted components simplifies the stream and reduces the energy required for subsequent sequestration steps while maintaining CO2 purity for effective injection into saline reservoirs
Solution Approach 2:
The conditioning process is segmented into multiple distinct units: a separation unit for removing condensables and particulates, a heat exchanger for heat removal, and a dryer for water removal. This segmentation allows each unit to perform its specific function efficiently, optimizing the overall process while reducing total energy consumption compared to a single-step separation approach
2Reliability
If multiple steps are used to separate and inject CO2 into underground saline reservoirs, then CO2 sequestration is achieved, but capital costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The process is divided into modular units (separation unit, heat exchanger, dryer) that can be independently designed, operated, and maintained. This modularity reduces capital costs by allowing optimized sizing of each component and simplifies complexity management through clear functional boundaries between units
Solution Approach 2:
Physical components and heat are removed from the CO2 stream in advance of injection into saline reservoirs. This preliminary conditioning action ensures the CO2 is properly prepared for sequestration, reducing the need for complex downstream processing and injection system modifications
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 reduces the energy required for CO2 sequestration, improves process efficiency, and potentially lowers costs by modifying the CO2 stream to enhance its sequestration capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
using systems that include heat exchangers and aggregates to cool the stream
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for conditioning a CO2 containing multi-component gaseous stream for use in a CO2 sequestration process are provided. Aspects of the methods include cooling the CO2 containing multi-component gaseous stream and/or removing physical components (such as, moisture, particulates, and pollutants) to condition the CO2 containing multi-component gaseous stream.