CO2 Removal From Carrier Liquids Using Phase-Change Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing carbon dioxide from liquids in cryogenic applications are energy-intensive and costly, particularly for miscible or soluble impurities, and lack efficient solutions for carbon dioxide sequestration.
Innovation Solution
A semi-continuous heat exchanger process is employed to separate carbon dioxide from a carrier liquid by conducting a heat exchange between the liquid and compressed carbon dioxide gas, utilizing specific temperature and pressure conditions to vaporize and condense the gas efficiently, minimizing energy input and avoiding inflection regions in the heat exchange process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional distillation or cryogenic methods are used to remove carbon dioxide from carrier liquids, then carbon dioxide separation is achieved, but energy consumption becomes prohibitively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of carbon dioxide between supercritical, gas, and liquid states to achieve separation from carrier liquids. By controlling pressure and temperature to transition CO2 through these phases, the method achieves effective removal while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional distillation or cryogenic methods that require sustained extreme conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The method employs dynamic changes in pressure and temperature parameters to control the phase behavior of carbon dioxide. By adjusting P-T parameters along specific paths that avoid inflection regions, the process achieves efficient separation with minimized energy input, transforming the thermodynamic state of CO2 through controlled parameter variation rather than maintaining fixed extreme conditions
2Loss of energy
If heat exchange process operates through inflection regions in the heat-temperature curve, then heat transfer occurs, but process efficiency decreases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-planning and pre-positioning the heat exchange process to follow optimized temperature paths that avoid inflection regions. The P-T trajectory is predetermined based on thermodynamic analysis, ensuring the process passes through regions of high heat transfer efficiency while minimizing energy losses, thereby improving both energy efficiency and productivity
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 method effectively removes carbon dioxide from carrier liquids with reduced energy consumption and operational costs, optimizing the separation process by leveraging phase changes and heat exchange efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
providing a heat exchanger with a cooling side and a heating side to conduct a heat exchange process between the carrier liquid and a compressed carbon dioxide gas
Implementation Method 2
heating the carrier liquid through the heat exchanger, causing the carbon dioxide and a portion of the carrier liquid to vaporize
Implementation Method 3
condensing the portion of the carrier liquid that was vaporized and removing the carrier liquid from the bottom of the liquid removal vessel
Implementation Method 4
compressing the carbon dioxide gas from the liquid removal vessel through a compression process by raising the carbon dioxide gas to a second pressure
Implementation Method 5
cooling the compressed carbon dioxide gas by the heat exchange process with the carrier liquid through the heat exchanger, bringing the compressed carbon dioxide gas to a third temperature, by which process the carbon dioxide gas cools to a pure carbon dioxide liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A method for removing carbon dioxide from a carrier liquid is disclosed. A heat exchanger is provided. A carrier liquid, containing carbon dioxide, is heated through the heat exchanger, causing the carbon dioxide to vaporize. The carrier liquid and the carbon dioxide gas pass to a liquid removal vessel. The carrier liquid is removed and the carbon dioxide gas is compressed. The compressed carbon dioxide gas is provided to the heat exchanger, cooling the carbon dioxide gas opposite the carrier liquid, producing a carbon dioxide liquid.