Integrated Flue Gas Treating Reactor for CO2 Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional coal-burning thermal power plants face inefficiencies and high costs in carbon dioxide capture processes due to residual contaminants like sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and mercury in exhaust gases, which degrade absorbents and require extensive retrofitting and additional equipment.

Innovation Solution

An exhaust gas treating apparatus with a secondary flue-gas desulfurization reactor that performs desulfurization, denitrification, and mercury absorption in a single container, using alkali absorbents and oxidizers to remove contaminants before carbon dioxide capture, minimizing equipment size and cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional flue-gas desulfurization equipment is used, then sulfur oxide removal is achieved, but residual sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides degrade absorbents in the carbon dioxide capture process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabsorbent performanceVSAvoidresidual contaminants
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines desulfurization and denitrification functions into a single integrated reactor system. The reactor simultaneously removes sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides using a combination of absorbents and catalysts, eliminating the need for separate treatment equipment and ensuring both contaminants are reduced to levels that protect the carbon dioxide capture absorbent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated desulfurization-denitrification reactor is positioned before the carbon dioxide capture process, performing preliminary removal of harmful contaminants. This preliminary treatment ensures that sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides are reduced to acceptable levels before the gas stream enters the carbon dioxide capture unit, preventing absorbent degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If additional equipment is installed to remove nitrogen dioxide, then nitrogen oxides are prevented from entering the carbon dioxide capture process, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenitrogen oxide removalVSAvoidequipment configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges nitrogen oxide removal functionality into the existing flue-gas desulfurization reactor. By incorporating denitrification catalysts and appropriate absorbents into the single reactor, the system achieves both desulfurization and denitrification without adding separate equipment, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The reactor is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a desulfurization unit and a denitrification unit. The reactor can handle multiple contaminant removal tasks simultaneously through the use of composite absorbent materials and catalytic components, eliminating the need for specialized separate equipment for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If flue-gas desulfurization efficiency is increased to maintain sulfur dioxide below 10 ppm, then carbon dioxide capture process is protected, but physical size and retrofitting requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesulfur dioxide controlVSAvoidabsorption tower size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the absorbent system by using enhanced absorbent compositions with higher sulfur oxide capacity and denitrification catalysts. This allows the existing reactor volume to achieve improved removal efficiency (sulfur dioxide below 10 ppm) without increasing physical size, as the improved performance comes from material composition rather than volume expansion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution enhances the efficiency and economic viability of carbon dioxide capture by maintaining low contaminant levels, preventing absorbent degradation, and reducing overall costs and pollution.

Implementation Method 1

using alkali absorbents and oxidizers to remove contaminants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

using alkali absorbents and oxidizers to remove contaminants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 3

carbon dioxide is captured through carbon dioxide capture equipment to be compressed and stored

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2489423B1Exhaust gas treating apparatus and treating method for carbon dioxide capture process
Publication Date: 2019.03.20 KOREA INST OF ENERGY RES
  • EP2489423B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2489423B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2489423B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed are an exhaust gas treating apparatus and a treating method for a carbon dioxide capture process, in which harmful substances remaining in the exhaust gas discharged from the conventional flue-gas desulfurization process are additionally removed for efficient performance of the carbon dioxide capture process. According to the exhaust gas treating apparatus for a carbon dioxide capture process, it has the effects of minimizing the installation space of desulfurization equipment and reducing the process cost. In addition, by keeping the contaminants contained in the gas introduced in the carbon dioxide capture equipment below a proper level, absorption performance can be improved as degradation of the absorbent used in the carbon dioxide capture process is prevented. After all, it has an advantage of preventing the pollution by the exhaust gas discharged into the atmosphere.