Dual-Mode Gas Capture Flow Control for Carbon-Negative Power Plants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial plants, such as power plants, emit undesirable gases like CO2, CO, NO2, and SO2, which contribute to environmental pollution and global warming, necessitating effective gas treatment systems to reduce carbon footprints.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows a power plant to operate in both power production and power consumption modes, utilizing a gas treatment system to capture undesirable gases from exhaust during production and airflow during consumption, achieving carbon neutral or negative emissions by combining sorbent-based and solvent-based gas treatment systems with heat sources like steam and electric heaters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a gas treatment system is used to capture undesirable gases from exhaust, then carbon emissions are reduced, but system complexity and operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gas treatment system is designed to perform multiple functions: capturing CO2 from exhaust during power production mode and capturing CO2 from ambient air during power consumption mode. This multi-functionality allows the same system infrastructure to address carbon emissions regardless of operational state, reducing the need for separate systems and thereby managing complexity while maintaining effectiveness in reducing harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between treating exhaust gas and treating ambient air based on the power plant's operational mode. Flow control mechanisms dynamically redirect gas streams to the gas capture system, enabling adaptive operation that maintains carbon capture effectiveness while optimizing system utilization and managing complexity through flexible configuration rather than fixed infrastructure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the system operates in both power production and power consumption modes, then carbon capture effectiveness is improved, but operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the power plant's own operational flexibility into a benefit for carbon capture. During power consumption mode, when the plant would otherwise be idle or less productive, the system uses this time to capture CO2 from ambient air. This approach transforms non-revenue-generating periods into productive carbon capture opportunities, improving overall capture effectiveness without requiring continuous additional energy input beyond what the plant already consumes during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas treatment system serves dual purposes: reducing carbon emissions from exhaust during power production and capturing CO2 from ambient air during power consumption. This multi-functionality maximizes the utilization of system infrastructure across different operational states, improving carbon capture effectiveness while spreading operating costs across multiple beneficial functions rather than requiring separate dedicated systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If flow controls are used to direct exhaust gas and airflow through the gas capture system, then gas capture effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Flow control mechanisms are designed to dynamically switch between directing exhaust gas and directing ambient air to the gas capture system based on operational mode. This dynamic configuration allows a single set of flow control devices to manage multiple gas streams, improving gas capture effectiveness for both exhaust and air treatment while avoiding the need for separate dedicated flow control systems for each function, thereby managing device complexity.
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 effectively reduces carbon emissions by capturing CO2 from both exhaust gases and airflows, achieving carbon neutral or negative emissions, thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint of the power plant.
Implementation Method 1
a gas treatment system to capture undesirable gases from exhaust during production and airflow during consumption
Implementation Method 2
combining sorbent-based and solvent-based gas treatment systems
Implementation Method 3
heat sources like steam and electric heaters
Implementation Method 4
combining sorbent-based and solvent-based gas treatment systems with heat sources like steam and electric heaters
Data Source
AI summary
A gas treatment system having a first gas capture system configured to at least partially capture an undesirable gas, and at least one gas capture system configured to at least partially capture the undesirable gas. The gas treatment system also includes an exhaust flow path through the at least one gas capture system, an airflow path through the at least one gas capture system, and at least one flow control. The at least one flow control is configured to direct an exhaust gas from a combustion system through the exhaust flow path in a first control mode to enable gas capture from the exhaust gas by the at least one gas capture system, wherein the at least one flow control is configured to direct an airflow through the airflow path in a second control mode to enable gas capture from the airflow by the at least one gas capture system.