Liquid Air Energy Storage with Integrated CO2 Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy storage systems face challenges in efficiently storing and releasing energy due to variability in renewable energy sources, requiring effective initial energy storage, efficient storage systems, and reliable discharge mechanisms, particularly in mitigating low-cost electricity during high renewable output times.
Innovation Solution
A liquid air energy release apparatus comprising a cryogenic pump, liquid air recuperator, combustor, turbine, and separator, which pressurizes and heats liquid air, burns fuel to produce vaporized air, extracts power through turbines, and separates liquid carbon dioxide from the exhaust stream, utilizing a thermal power cycle for energy dispatch and carbon capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid air is pressurized and heated through a thermal power cycle for energy release, then power generation efficiency is improved, but carbon dioxide emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures carbon dioxide emissions from the thermal power cycle and converts them into liquid CO2 product through compression and cooling systems. The harmful emission becomes a valuable commodity that can be stored or utilized, simultaneously achieving power generation and carbon capture objectives
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, the system recovers them by capturing the exhaust gas from the thermal power cycle, compressing it, and converting it to liquid form for storage or commercial use, thereby eliminating harmful emissions while maintaining energy production
2Use of energy by moving object
If a thermal power cycle is used for energy release, then energy utilization efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional carbon capture equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the thermal power cycle with carbon capture and compression systems into an integrated energy release apparatus. The combustor, turbine, CO2 compression system, and liquidification equipment work as a unified system, achieving both energy utilization and carbon capture functions through combined operation
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal power cycle system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it generates power through the turbine, captures carbon dioxide emissions, compresses the CO2 gas, converts it to liquid form, and stores or dispenses the liquid CO2. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and manages complexity through integrated design
3Object-generated harmful factors
If carbon dioxide is captured and separated from exhaust stream, then emissions are reduced, but energy loss increases due to additional separation processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers energy by capturing CO2 emissions and converting them into liquid CO2 product through compression and cooling. The separated CO2 is not discarded but recovered as a valuable commodity, transforming what would be wasted energy into a usable product
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 stores and releases energy through a thermal power cycle, achieving efficient power generation while capturing and separating liquid carbon dioxide from the exhaust, enhancing energy utilization and reducing emissions.
Implementation Method 1
a cryogenic pump fluidly connected to the liquid air storage apparatus wherein the cryogenic pump is configured to provide pressurized liquid air at a pressure of greater than 0.52 MPa
Implementation Method 2
a liquid air recuperator fluidly connected to the cryogenic pump configured to heat the pressurized liquid air and produce vaporized air
Implementation Method 3
a combustor fluidly connected to the liquid air recuperator configured to burn a fuel in the presence of the vaporized air and produce combustor exhaust
Implementation Method 4
a first turbine fluidly connected to the combustor configured to extract power from the combustor exhaust
Implementation Method 5
a separator fluidly connected to the liquid air recuperator wherein the separator is configured to separate liquid carbon dioxide from the first turbine exhaust
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for storing energy in liquid air and releasing the energy through a thermal power cycle, that incorporates liquid carbon dioxide capture and separation from the exhaust stream.