Cooling Tower CO2 Capture Using Waste-Heat Regeneration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carbon capture technologies, particularly BECCS, face challenges due to high carbon dioxide concentrations in biomass conversion emissions, leading to equilibrium shifts and reduced capture efficiency, necessitating improved processes to manage heat of absorption and reduce costs.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a cooling tower with a contactor material and a carbon-dioxide-capturing media that absorbs CO2, followed by regeneration using waste heat or thermal energy, allowing continuous operation and reducing equipment size and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional carbon capture technologies are used for biomass conversion emissions, then carbon dioxide can be captured, but the high CO2 concentration causes equilibrium shifts in sorbent reactions, limiting capture efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the sorbent system to optimize CO2 capture. By operating at elevated temperatures (above ambient temperature), the system maintains favorable equilibrium conditions for CO2 absorption even at high CO2 concentrations, preventing the equilibrium shifts that would occur at lower temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite sorbent materials designed to function effectively at high CO2 concentrations. These composite materials incorporate multiple components that work synergistically to maintain stable equilibrium during CO2 capture, enabling efficient capture rates without the equilibrium limitations of conventional sorbents.
2Productivity
If conventional carbon capture equipment is used, then CO2 can be captured, but equipment size and costs remain high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic temperature control system that adjusts operating parameters in real-time to optimize CO2 capture efficiency. This dynamic approach allows the system to achieve high capture rates with reduced equipment size by optimizing the thermal conditions during the capture process.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the temperature parameter to operate above ambient conditions, the system achieves more efficient CO2 capture kinetics. This parameter change enables smaller equipment volumes to achieve the same capture rates that would require much larger conventional equipment operating at lower temperatures.
3Productivity
If cooling towers are used for carbon capture, then CO2 can be captured efficiently, but the equipment size may be reduced by up to 90%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a carbon capture system that utilizes the cooling tower structure for multiple functions: CO2 capture, heat management, and potentially power generation. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve high CO2 capture rates while minimizing the overall equipment volume required, as the same structure serves multiple purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic thermal management capability of the cooling tower is leveraged to optimize CO2 capture efficiency. By actively controlling temperature parameters within the tower, the system achieves high capture rates in a compact volume, reducing equipment size by up to 90% compared to conventional designs.
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 process achieves high carbon dioxide capture rates while significantly reducing equipment size and cost, with a 90% reduction in capital costs and 30-40% reduction in overall capture costs.
Implementation Method 1
The carbon-dioxide-capturing media absorbs the CO2 in the gas stream
Implementation Method 2
a regenerator is used to release CO2 using waste heat
Data Source
AI summary
A process for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) present in a gas stream is provided. The process includes providing a cooling tower that treats a gas stream. The gas stream including CO2 is introduced into the cooling tower. A liquid carbon-dioxide-capturing media is released into the gas stream in the cooling tower. The carbon-dioxide-capturing media absorbs the CO2 in the gas stream, and the carbon-dioxide-capturing media including the absorbed CO2 is collected. An absorber for capture of CO2 in a gas stream is also provided. The absorber includes a cooling tower for treatment of a gas stream including CO2. The cooling tower includes an input for the gas stream, an outlet for a treated gas stream, and a sprayer that releases liquid carbon-dioxide-capturing media into the cooling tower. The carbon-dioxide-capturing media absorbs the CO2 from the gas stream in the cooling tower. A collector collects the carbon-dioxide-capturing media including absorbed CO2.