CO2 Separator Using Membrane Module to Reduce Absorbent Deterioration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carbon dioxide separation methods, such as wet absorption and dry absorption, face challenges in efficiently separating CO2 from emission sources with varying concentrations, leading to environmental pollution, high energy consumption, and reduced separation efficiency due to absorbent deterioration and incomplete regeneration.
Innovation Solution
A carbon dioxide separator system comprising an absorption tower, a regeneration tower, and a separation membrane module, where the carbon dioxide-containing gas is pre-treated to adjust CO2 concentration using a separation membrane, and the treated gas is used as a flowing gas in the regeneration tower to enhance separation efficiency and purity, while minimizing absorbent deterioration and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a wet absorption method is used to separate carbon dioxide, then carbon dioxide can be selectively separated by bringing mixed gas in contact with an aqueous solution including amine, ammonia, or potassium carbonate, but organic contaminants and wastewater are generated causing environmental pollution and a large amount of energy is consumed for regenerating the absorbent
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the harmful aqueous absorbent (amine, ammonia, potassium carbonate solutions) from the carbon dioxide separation process. Instead of using wet absorption that generates organic contaminants and wastewater, the patent employs a membrane separation process that physically separates carbon dioxide from flue gas without requiring chemical absorbents, thereby eliminating the generation of harmful waste products while maintaining high separation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the chemical absorption mechanism (wet absorption using aqueous solutions) with a physical membrane separation mechanism. The membrane module uses selective permeability properties to separate carbon dioxide from flue gas based on molecular size and solubility differences, substituting chemical reactions with physical separation processes that do not generate organic contaminants or require energy-intensive regeneration
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a dry absorption method is used to separate carbon dioxide, then organic pollutants and wastewater are generated in small amounts and carbon dioxide is captured by using a solid absorbent which has a relatively rapid reaction rate, but the efficiency is not high for separating carbon dioxide from an emission source containing carbon dioxide at a high concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes solid absorbents from the separation process entirely and replaces them with a membrane separation system. This extraction of the absorbent component eliminates the limitation where solid absorbents become less effective at high carbon dioxide concentrations, while also maintaining low levels of organic pollutants and wastewater generation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the separation mechanism from chemical absorption (dependent on absorbent concentration and reaction kinetics) to physical membrane separation (dependent on partial pressure differences and membrane selectivity). This parameter change enables efficient carbon dioxide separation across a wide range of concentrations, including high concentration emission sources where traditional dry absorption methods fail
3Productivity
If the amount of solid absorbent recycled is increased to increase the separation efficiency of carbon dioxide, then the separation efficiency of carbon dioxide can be increased, but the abrasion loss amount of solid absorbent is also increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates solid absorbents from the system, replacing them with a membrane separation process. This removal of solid absorbents completely eliminates abrasion losses while maintaining high carbon dioxide separation efficiency, as the membrane process does not involve solid particle circulation and mechanical wear
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane separation system operates without requiring external solid absorbent circulation or regeneration processes. The membrane module continuously separates carbon dioxide from flue gas through selective permeability, with no moving parts or circulating materials that would experience abrasion, achieving self-sustaining operation without substance loss
4Duration of action of stationary object
If high-purity carbon dioxide is used as a fluidizing gas of a regeneration tower for regenerating the solid absorbent, then the regeneration process can proceed, but the partial pressure of carbon dioxide is increased so that incomplete regeneration of the solid absorbent may be caused
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the regeneration tower and solid absorbent circulation system from the process. Instead of regenerating solid absorbents using carbon dioxide gas that causes incomplete regeneration, the membrane separation process continuously produces high-purity carbon dioxide without requiring absorbent regeneration, eliminating the regeneration completeness problem entirely
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane separation process performs carbon dioxide concentration and purification in advance, producing high-purity carbon dioxide directly from flue gas without requiring subsequent regeneration steps. This preliminary separation action eliminates the need for regeneration towers and avoids the incomplete regeneration issue that occurs when using carbon dioxide as a fluidizing gas
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
The system achieves high-purity CO2 separation with increased efficiency and reduced energy consumption by controlling CO2 concentration using a separation membrane module, preventing absorbent deterioration and incomplete regeneration, even at high CO2 concentrations.
Implementation Method 1
a separation membrane module for selectively membrane-separating and concentrating the carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 2
an absorption tower for producing a carbon dioxide-rich absorbent and a carbon dioxide-depleted flue gas by reaction of a carbon dioxide-containing flue gas and an absorbent contained therein
Implementation Method 3
a regeneration tower for removing the carbon dioxide-rich absorbent transferred from the absorption tower in the presence of a flowing gas to separate the same into a carbon dioxide-rich treatment gas and a carbon dioxide-lean absorbent
Data Source
AI summary
A carbon dioxide separator includes an absorption tower for producing a carbon dioxide-rich absorbent and a carbon dioxide-depleted flue gas by reaction of a carbon dioxide-containing flue gas and an absorbent contained therein; a regeneration tower for removing the carbon dioxide-rich absorbent transferred from the absorption tower in the presence of the flowing gas to separate the same into a carbon dioxide-rich treatment gas and a carbon dioxide-lean absorbent; and a separation membrane module for selectively membrane-separating and concentrating the carbon dioxide, wherein the carbon dioxide-containing flue gas is transferred to the absorption tower as a carbon dioxide-lean flue gas obtained via the separation membrane module, and the flowing gas is transferred to the regeneration tower as the carbon dioxide-rich flue gas obtained via the separation membrane module from the carbon dioxide-containing flue gas.