CO2 Capture Regenerator Heat Integration for Energy Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Carbon dioxide capture systems place a significant 'parasitic load' on power generation plants due to high energy consumption, necessitating a reduction in energy requirements for effective CO2 removal from flue gas streams.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that involves contacting a flue gas stream with a CO2 lean absorbent stream, heating a portion of the CO2 rich absorbent stream using heat from the CO2 lean stream, and providing it to a regenerator, while separating and compressing gaseous CO2 for efficient regeneration, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional CO2 capture system uses a regenerator to heat and regenerate the CO2 rich absorbent stream, then CO2 removal effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The CO2 rich absorbent stream is divided into two portions: a first portion is heated using heat exchangers with cooling water and steam condenser, while a second portion remains cooler. This segmentation allows different thermal treatments of the same stream, optimizing energy usage while maintaining CO2 removal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of different portions of the CO2 rich absorbent stream. The first portion is heated to higher temperatures through heat exchangers, while the second portion maintains lower temperatures. This parameter differentiation enables efficient heat management and reduces overall energy consumption in the regeneration process.
2Productivity
If the CO2 rich absorbent stream is fully heated before regeneration, then regeneration efficiency is improved, but the parasitic load on the power plant increases
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent stream is segmented into two portions with different thermal histories. The first portion undergoes heating in heat exchangers (HWX and SWX) while the second portion bypasses these heating stages. This segmentation enables partial heating strategy that maintains regeneration efficiency while minimizing energy consumption and parasitic load on the power plant.
Solution Approach 2:
Heat exchangers act as intermediary devices that transfer heat from the first portion of the CO2 rich absorbent stream to cooling water and steam condenser. This intermediary heat transfer mechanism enables efficient energy utilization and reduces the direct energy burden on the power plant while maintaining regeneration effectiveness.
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 decreases the energy requirements of the CO2 capture system, reducing the parasitic load on power generation plants and enhancing the overall efficiency of CO2 removal from flue gas streams.
Implementation Method 1
contacting a flue gas stream with a CO2 lean absorbent stream in an absorber, thereby removing CO2 from the flue gas and providing a CO2 rich absorbent stream
Implementation Method 2
heating a first portion of the CO2 rich absorbent stream using heat from the CO2 lean absorbent stream
Implementation Method 3
separating and compressing gaseous CO2 for efficient regeneration
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for reducing energy requirements of a CO2 capture system (300) comprises : contacting a flue gas stream (140) with a CO2 lean absorbent stream (150) in an absorber (130), thereby removing CO2 from the flue gas (140) and providing a CO2 rich absorbent stream (152); heating a first portion of the CO2 rich absorbent stream (152) using heat from the CO2 lean absorbent stream (150), and providing the heated first portion (204) of the CO2 rich absorbent stream (152) to a regenerator (160); providing a second portion (202) of the CO2 rich absorbent stream (152) to the regenerator, wherein the heated first portion (204) is hotter than the second portion (202) and the heated first portion (204) is provided to the regenerator at a lower elevation in the regenerator (160) relative to that of the second portion (202).