CO2 Thermal Swing Adsorption with Wet Regeneration and Hot N2 Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carbon capture technologies, such as molecular sieves and activated carbon, are inefficient in terms of electrical power consumption and cost, and struggle to effectively capture and release CO2, leading to high operational costs and reduced capture efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A carbon capture system utilizing a CO2-thermal swing adsorption process with a semi-closed cycle, incorporating a CO2-turbocharger and N2-turbocharger, which uses exhaust waste heat and a CO2 evaporative cooler to enhance CO2 capture and release, while minimizing electrical and mechanical loads, and employing a unique combination of water vapor and CO2 mixture for improved regeneration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If molecular sieves are used for CO2 capture through thermal swing adsorption, then CO2 capture efficiency is improved, but electrical power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the CO2-rich stream itself as the heating medium to regenerate the molecular sieve. The hot CO2 stream from one vessel heats the cooling stream in another vessel, creating a self-sustaining thermal cycle that eliminates the need for external electrical heating, thereby maintaining high CO2 capture efficiency while minimizing electrical power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the cold thermal energy in the CO2-rich stream into a useful resource by using it as the cooling medium in the thermal swing adsorption process. This cold stream, which would otherwise be wasted, provides the necessary cooling for sieve regeneration, reducing or eliminating the need for external electrical cooling systems
2Ease of manufacture
If activated carbon is used instead of molecular sieves, then cost is reduced and heat of adsorption is lower, but CO2 capture performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes operational parameters including temperature swing range, pressure conditions, and flow rates to maximize CO2 capture performance. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves high capture efficiency with reduced energy input, making the process more cost-effective while maintaining or improving performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a composite approach combining molecular sieves for CO2 capture with waste heat recovery systems. This composite system leverages the high selectivity of molecular sieves while using low-cost waste heat from industrial processes or HVAC systems to drive the regeneration cycle, reducing overall operational costs
3Productivity
If conventional thermal swing adsorption is used, then CO2 can be captured and released, but system complexity and mechanical loads increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating and cooling functions into a single integrated heat exchange system. The hot CO2 stream from one vessel simultaneously serves as the heating medium for another vessel, while the cold stream provides cooling. This merging eliminates separate heating and cooling systems, reducing mechanical complexity and loads
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 CO2 capture efficiency with reduced electrical and mechanical loads, lowers costs, and improves capture vessel construction to minimize leakage and maintain purity, effectively capturing CO2 from dilute streams with minimal energy input.
Implementation Method 1
a CO2 evaporative cooler configured to add water vapor to a CO2 stream
Implementation Method 2
heat the first N2 gas via the N2 heat exchanger through a thermal exchange with the hot exhaust
Implementation Method 3
the second capture vessel is configured to, during the CO2 capture stage, receive the cold exhaust and absorb CO2 from the cold exhaust
Data Source
AI summary
A carbon capture system for carbon dioxide (CO2)-thermal swing adsorption (TSA) includes an engine configured to produce a hot exhaust; a plurality of capture vessels that are configured to be respectively cycled through a plurality of stages of a CO2-TSA process; an N2 heat exchanger configured to receive the hot exhaust; and an N2 turbocharger coupled to the N2 heat exchanger. The N2 turbocharger is configured to receive N2 gas from a first capture vessel, heat the N2 gas via the N2 heat exchanger through a thermal exchange with the hot exhaust to produce a heated N2 gas, and provide the heated N2 gas to a second capture vessel in order to dry capture media of the second capture vessel.