Installation comprising a floating platform intended for intermittently receiving a co2 rich feed from off-loading ships, and for delivering a co2 rich flow intended to be injected underground
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transporting CO2 to offshore injection sites from onshore sources is impractical due to distance, and off-loading CO2 from ships leads to significant venting of CO2 vapor, which cannot be returned to the ship.
Innovation Solution
A floating platform that intermittently receives CO2 from off-loading ships, processes it through storage, compression, liquefaction, separation, and vaporization units to deliver a continuous CO2 flow for underground injection with minimal venting and cost efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If CO2 is transported from onshore sources to offshore injection sites using pipelines, then transport efficiency is improved, but the cost and feasibility deteriorate due to the long distance (hundreds of kilometers)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a floating platform as an intermediary between CO2 carrying ships and the offshore injection platform. The platform receives intermittent CO2 feed from ships, stores it in storage units, and delivers continuous CO2 flow to the injection platform, thereby solving the transport feasibility issue over long distances
Solution Approach 2:
The floating platform converts intermittent CO2 supply from ships into continuous CO2 delivery to the injection platform through storage units that accumulate CO2 during ship visits and release it continuously, maintaining uninterrupted injection operations
2Productivity
If CO2 is off-loaded from ships to a platform via lines, then CO2 transport is achieved, but CO2 vapor is generated that cannot be returned to the ship and must be vented to the atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase transition technology by liquefying CO2 vapor through cooling and compression processes. The vapor is condensed into liquid phase in storage units, preventing atmospheric venting and enabling efficient storage and continuous delivery to the injection platform
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful CO2 vapor that would otherwise be vented into a beneficial resource by liquefying it for storage and subsequent continuous delivery. The vapor generation during off-loading is transformed into stored liquid CO2 that fuels continuous injection operations
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a floating platform receives intermittent CO2 feed from ships and delivers continuous flow to injection platform, then CO2 delivery continuity is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple processing units
Solution Approach 1:
The floating platform integrates multiple functions into a single unified system: reception of CO2 from ships, storage in storage units, phase transition processing, and continuous delivery to injection platform. This multi-functional integration manages complexity by consolidating operations rather than separating them into independent systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines storage units, cooling systems, compression equipment, and delivery mechanisms into an integrated floating platform system. By merging these functions into one platform, the system achieves continuous CO2 delivery while managing operational complexity through unified control and coordinated operation
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 platform effectively delivers a CO2 rich flow for offshore injection with limited CO2 venting and cost efficiency by switching between operation modes to manage CO2 storage and utilization.
Implementation Method 1
storing the feed as one or several liquid phase(s) and one or several vapor phase(s)
Implementation Method 2
compressing the first gas flow in order to obtain a pressurized gas flow
Implementation Method 3
liquefying the pressurized gas flow by a first heat exchange with a first cooling fluid
Implementation Method 4
liquefying the pressurized gas flow... to obtain an at least partly liquefied flow
Implementation Method 5
separating the at least partly liquefied flow into a third liquid flow and a second gas flow
Implementation Method 6
vaporizing a fourth liquid flow by a second heat exchange with a first heating fluid
Implementation Method 7
vaporizing a fourth liquid flow... to obtain a third gas flow
Implementation Method 8
performing a third heat exchange with water coming from the body of water
Data Source
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AI summary
An installation comprising a platform (12) floating on a body of water (48) for intermittently receiving a CO2 rich feed (14) from off-loading ships (16), and for delivering a CO2 rich flow (18) intended to be injected underground, comprising: - a storage unit (50) for storing the feed (14) and for delivering a liquid flow (56), - a compression unit (60), - a liquefaction unit (66) with heat exchange with a part of the liquid flow (56), - a separation unit (72) for obtaining a liquid flow (74) received in the storage unit, - a vaporizing unit (78) adapted for vaporizing a liquid flow (80) including at least a part of the first liquid flow to obtain a gas flow (84) received in the storage unit, - a thermal unit (86) adapted for providing the heating fluid, and for performing a heat exchange with water (88). The platform is configured for switching at least between two operation modes.