Heat Pump Purge Fluid Loop for Low-Energy CO2 Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing carbon dioxide capture technologies require significant energy consumption, which often leads to additional carbon dioxide emissions, limiting their effectiveness in achieving net-zero emissions and global temperature control.

Innovation Solution

A method and device utilizing a heat pump with an evaporator and condenser to efficiently heat and cool a purge fluid for desorption and absorption of carbon dioxide from a sorbent, integrated with a heat storage system to optimize energy use and reduce emissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional heating methods are used to heat the purge fluid for desorption, then carbon dioxide can be effectively separated from the sorbent, but energy consumption increases significantly leading to additional carbon dioxide emissions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarbon dioxide separation efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes phase transitions of the purge fluid (liquid to vapor during heating for desorption, vapor to liquid during cooling for CO2 release) to enable efficient heat transfer and recycling. The purge fluid undergoes cyclic phase changes that facilitate both the desorption process and the recovery of thermal energy through the heat pump system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

A heat pump is introduced as an intermediary device between the cooling and heating processes. The heat pump extracts thermal energy from the cooling purge fluid and transfers it to the heating purge fluid, acting as a mediator that enables heat recovery and reduces overall energy consumption for the desorption process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If thermal energy from the cooling purge fluid is not recovered, then the system operation is simplified, but significant energy is lost that could be used to heat the purge fluid for the next desorption cycle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal energy lossVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback loop where thermal energy from the cooling purge fluid is recovered and fed back to heat the purge fluid for the next desorption cycle. The heat pump continuously monitors and transfers thermal energy from the cold side (cooling process) to the hot side (heating process), creating a closed-loop energy recovery system that minimizes thermal energy loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 method and device achieve energy-efficient carbon dioxide separation with reduced emissions by leveraging renewable energy and minimizing thermal losses, enabling continuous operation and efficient carbon dioxide recovery.

Implementation Method 1

When the rinsing fluid is heated, it preferably evaporates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

The evaporator and the purge fluid to be cooled are brought into thermal contact

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

conversely, when the rinsing fluid is cooled, it preferably condenses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 4

the condenser is brought into thermal contact with the purge fluid to be heated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 5

the carbon dioxide (CO2) contained in the gas mixture is sorbed by the sorbent, forming a sorbate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 6

A purge fluid is then heated to a temperature suitable for desorbing the carbon dioxide from the sorbate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDesorption: Desorption

Data Source

PatentEP4674507A1Method for separating carbon dioxide from a gas mixture and device for same
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 SIEMENS AG
  • EP4674507A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4674507A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4674507A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for separating carbon dioxide (2) from a gas mixture (4), wherein the gas mixture (4) is passed through a solid sorbent (6), the carbon dioxide (2) contained in the gas mixture (4) is sorbed by the sorbent (6), forming a sorbate (8), and a purge fluid (10) is heated to a temperature suitable for desorbing the carbon dioxide (2) from the sorbate (8) and purging it with the purge fluid (10), after which the purge fluid (10) is cooled to release the carbon dioxide (2), characterized in that a heat pump (12) is provided, comprising an evaporator (14) and a condenser (16) between which a refrigerant (18) circulates, and the evaporator (14) and the purge fluid (10) to be cooled are brought into thermal interaction, and the condenser (16) is brought into thermal interaction with the purge fluid (10) to be heated. is brought