LNG Cold Energy Hydrate Desalination System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrate-based desalination technologies face limitations in production efficiency and energy consumption due to the high energy requirements for hydrate formation, and existing systems do not effectively utilize the cold energy available in LNG storage and transportation for CO2 capture and seawater desalination.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes LNG cold energy to form CO2 hydrates with seawater, incorporating a refrigerating system, flue-gas capture system, hydrate formation and separation system, CO2 circulating system, and control system to efficiently desalinate seawater while capturing and recycling CO2, utilizing waste heat, and maintaining operational stability across varying conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional hydrate-based desalination technology is used to form hydrates at low temperature, then desalination can be achieved, but energy consumption is extremely high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the waste cold energy from LNG (which would otherwise be discarded during storage, transportation, and gasification) into a useful resource for driving the hydrate formation process. This transforms a harmful waste stream into a beneficial cooling source, eliminating the need for high-energy conventional refrigeration systems while maintaining the low-temperature conditions required for hydrate-based desalination and CO2 capture
2Object-generated harmful factors
If CO2 is captured from flue-gas for hydrate formation, then CO2 concentration in atmosphere decreases, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into a single integrated system: CO2 capture from flue-gas, cold energy transfer from LNG, hydrate formation, and desalination all occur within a unified process architecture. The flue-gas cooling system serves dual purposes of CO2 separation and providing cold energy for hydrate formation, while the same hydrate formation process simultaneously achieves both CO2 capture and seawater desalination, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the multifunctional requirements
3Object-generated harmful factors
If flue-gas is cooled for CO2 capture, then CO2 concentration is reduced, but waste heat emission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the waste heat generated during flue-gas cooling into a useful resource for the hydrate dissociation process. The heat exchanger system captures waste heat from cooled flue-gas and uses it to decompose the formed hydrates, releasing fresh water and regenerating CO2 for circulation. This transforms what would be wasted thermal energy into a valuable heating source, eliminating the need for additional external energy input
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 achieves low-cost, high-efficiency seawater desalination by leveraging LNG cold energy, effectively capturing CO2 and reducing waste heat emission, with a robust design capable of handling seasonal and environmental changes, and ensuring continuous operation.
Implementation Method 1
The LNG gasification is endothermic and the gasification amounts of LNG are changed by the opening of a screw valve 18 of the LNG storage tank 1
Implementation Method 2
The cold energy is transferred to the circulating medium in the gasification chamber 11. The circulating medium is a closed loop by a water-delivery pump 12 and exchanges heat with the seawater and the gas respectively before the formation by more heat exchangers 13
Implementation Method 3
the seawater can form hydrates with CO2 at a certain low temperature and high pressure... the seawater and gas after the heat exchange are directly to form hydrates
Implementation Method 4
heating, depressurization or their combination will make hydrates decompose... the freshwater can be collected by decomposing the hydrates alone
Implementation Method 5
The flue-gas source 3 exchanges heat with the hydrates to make them decompose through the heat-exchanged dissociation chamber 9
Data Source
AI summary
A system for flue-gas hydrate-based desalination using LNG cold energy belongs to the field of hydrate technology application. The CO2 in the flue-gas is captured based on the hydrate formation. Two stage formation chambers are set to improve the hydrate formation. The two steps to purify the hydrates respectively are the gas separation and the liquid separation. The two methods of hydrate dissociation to realize the recycling of the waste heat of flue-gas and the CO2 are the heat-exchanged and the exhausted. The present invention realizes the integrated CO2 capture and seawater desalination with a proper structure and a subtle system and solves the cold energy source for hydrate-based desalination by means of using LNG cold energy. The two stage formation chambers solve the capture of CO2 in the flue-gas and guarantee the hydrate formation amounts. The two types of dissociation chambers decrease the heat emission by using the waste heat of flue-gas and realize the recycling and storage of CO2. The system will not be affected by the changes of seasons and environments and has a strong carrying capacity for the flue-gas source change. It is a system with great application value realistic.