Membrane Gas Separation for CO2 Concentration in Power Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional power generation processes face challenges in efficiently recycling carbon dioxide from gaseous fuel combustion, leading to high costs and environmental impact due to dilute carbon dioxide concentrations in exhaust gases, which are difficult to treat effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a membrane-based gas separation process that recycles carbon dioxide from turbine exhaust streams, using a sweep-based membrane separation step to concentrate carbon dioxide and reduce its content in the exhaust gas, allowing for more efficient downstream processing and reduced environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional exhaust gas treatment methods are used, then the process is simple, but carbon dioxide concentration remains too low for effective capture
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust gas stream is divided into multiple segments through a multi-stage membrane separation process. Each stage uses selective membranes to progressively concentrate carbon dioxide, transforming a single dilute stream into concentrated portions suitable for capture while managing complexity through modular staging
Solution Approach 2:
Selective membrane materials act as intermediaries between the dilute exhaust gas and the carbon dioxide capture system. These membranes facilitate the separation and concentration of carbon dioxide from other exhaust components, enabling effective capture without directly handling the dilute original stream
2Object-affected harmful factors
If exhaust gas is directly captured without concentration, then the process is economical, but environmental impact is high due to dilute concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane separation system performs preliminary concentration of carbon dioxide before the actual capture process. By pre-concentrating the gas stream, the system ensures that subsequent capture operations work with high-concentration material, maximizing capture efficiency while minimizing environmental release
Solution Approach 2:
The system fundamentally changes the concentration parameter of carbon dioxide in the exhaust stream through membrane separation. This parameter transformation converts an ineffective dilute stream into a concentrated stream suitable for efficient capture and reduced environmental impact
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 approach significantly increases carbon dioxide concentration in the exhaust stream, facilitating more economical capture and sequestration, while minimizing the amount released into the environment, thereby reducing operational costs and environmental damage.
Implementation Method 1
routed a third portion of the turbine exhaust stream to a sweep-based membrane separation step... providing a membrane... being selectively permeable to carbon dioxide over nitrogen and to carbon dioxide over oxygen
Implementation Method 2
passing a sweep stream... across the permeate side... withdrawing from the feed side a carbon dioxide-depleted stream... withdrawing from the permeate side a permeate stream comprising oxygen and carbon dioxide
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a power generation process in which a portion of the carbon dioxide generated by gaseous fuel combustion is recycled back to the power generation process, either pre-combustion, post-combustion, or both. The power generation process of the invention may be a combined cycle process or a traditional power generation process. The process utilizes sweep-based membrane separation.