CO2 Purification Column for O2 and CO Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current carbon dioxide purification processes from oxyfuel combustion and hydrogen PSA processes face challenges in achieving high carbon dioxide recovery and purity, particularly in removing oxygen and carbon monoxide contaminants, while also being energy-intensive and costly.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus involving compressing impure carbon dioxide, condensing it, expanding the liquid, and separating it in a mass transfer separation column system to produce high-purity carbon dioxide with low contaminant levels, allowing for direct transportation as a liquid at pressures below the critical pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current carbon dioxide purification processes are used to remove oxygen and carbon monoxide contaminants, then contaminant removal is achieved, but energy consumption increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of carbon dioxide between liquid and gaseous states to achieve separation from contaminants. By controlling pressure and temperature conditions, CO2 is condensed to liquid phase for separation in the mass transfer column, then vaporized for product recovery. This phase transition approach enables effective purification without requiring energy-intensive chemical treatment processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts contaminant gases (oxygen and carbon monoxide) from the carbon dioxide stream using a mass transfer separation column. The column is designed to selectively remove these specific contaminants while maintaining high CO2 recovery, addressing the purity requirement without proportionally increasing energy consumption.
2Productivity
If current purification processes are used to achieve high carbon dioxide recovery, then recovery rates improve, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into an integrated mass transfer separation column that simultaneously achieves contaminant removal and CO2 recovery in a single unit operation. The column integrates mass transfer, phase separation, and product purification functions, reducing the number of separate equipment units and simplifying the overall process while maintaining high recovery rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs parameter changes in pressure and temperature to control the phase behavior of carbon dioxide and facilitate separation. By adjusting these parameters throughout the process, the system achieves high recovery rates without requiring complex multi-stage processing, as the phase transitions naturally facilitate separation and recovery.
3Productivity
If carbon dioxide is transported as a liquid at pressures below critical pressure, then transportation efficiency improves, but purity requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary purification action before the liquid CO2 is prepared for transportation. The mass transfer separation column removes contaminants in advance, ensuring that the CO2 meets the stringent purity specifications required for liquid-phase transportation at sub-critical pressures. This preliminary action prevents contamination during storage and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes controlled phase transitions to produce liquid CO2 at pressures below the critical point. By carefully managing the condensation process and removing contaminants before liquid formation, the system enables efficient liquid-phase transportation while meeting purity requirements, as the phase transition itself facilitates separation from gaseous contaminants.
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 achieves carbon dioxide recovery rates above 97% with high purity, reducing energy consumption and enabling efficient transportation as a liquid, addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
separating at least a portion of said expanded impure carbon dioxide liquid in a mass transfer separation column system to produce first contaminant-enriched overhead vapor and carbon dioxide bottoms liquid
Implementation Method 2
condensing at least a portion of said compressed impure carbon dioxide gas to produce impure carbon dioxide liquid
Implementation Method 3
expanding at least a portion of said impure carbon dioxide liquid to produce expanded impure carbon dioxide liquid
Data Source
AI summary
Impure carbon dioxide (“CO2”) comprising a first contaminant selected from the group consisting of oxygen (“O2”) and carbon monoxide (“CO”) is purified by separating expanded impure carbon dioxide liquid in a mass transfer separation column system. The impure carbon dioxide may be derived from, for example, flue gas from an oxyfuel combustion process or waste gas from a hydrogen (“H2”) PSA system.