Method and apparatus for treating a carbon dioxide rich gas containing water
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Solution Overview
Problem
The treatment of gases rich in carbon dioxide, particularly in industrial processes like SMR, often results in the formation of acidic condensates due to the presence of NOx, leading to environmental concerns and inefficiencies in cooling systems, as existing methods either discard these acids or require external acid injection to manage pH levels.
Innovation Solution
The process involves compressing, cooling, and separating condensates from gases rich in CO2, then mixing these acidified waters with cooling circuit waters to maintain a desired acidity level, reducing the need for external acid injection and minimizing environmental impact by recycling acidic condensates within the cooling system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If acidified water condensates are discarded or sent to waste water systems, then environmental hazards from acid drainage are avoided, but resource waste occurs and external acid injection is required to maintain cooling system pH
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful acidic condensates into a beneficial resource by injecting them into the cooling water system. The acidified water that would otherwise be wasted or cause environmental harm is now used to maintain the optimal acidic pH (6-8) of the cooling system, preventing scale formation on heat exchanger surfaces. This transforms a waste stream into a functional component of the cooling process.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the acidified condensates to waste water systems, the patent recovers them and reuses them in the cooling circuit. The condensates are separated from the carbon dioxide-rich gas and then injected into the cooling water system, transforming a disposal process into a recovery and reuse process that eliminates waste and reduces environmental impact.
2Reliability
If external acid is injected into the cooling circuit to maintain pH, then scale formation on heat exchangers is prevented, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system becomes self-sufficient by using its own acidified condensates to maintain pH balance. The system generates the acidic water needed for scale prevention through the condensation process itself, eliminating the need for external acid injection. The condensates produced during CO2 compression and cooling automatically serve the dual purpose of waste removal and cooling system maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers the acidified condensates that would otherwise be discarded and reuses them in the cooling circuit. This recovery process eliminates the need to purchase and inject external acids, reducing operational costs while maintaining effective scale prevention on heat exchanger surfaces.
3Ease of operation
If acidified water is sent to waste water systems, then the cooling system pH can be maintained, but environmental pollution occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the harmful acidic waste stream into a beneficial resource for cooling system operation. Instead of allowing acidified water to pollute waste water systems, the system injects these condensates back into the cooling circuit where they serve the useful function of maintaining pH and preventing scale formation, thereby converting a pollution source into a protective agent.
Solution Approach 2:
The acidified condensates act as an intermediary substance that bridges the condensation process and the cooling system. Rather than directly discarding them to waste water systems or separately managing pH control, the condensates are injected into the cooling circuit where they naturally regulate pH and prevent scaling, serving as a self-regulating intermediary that connects multiple system functions.
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 effectively manages acidity levels in cooling systems, reducing the consumption of external acids and operational costs while mitigating environmental risks associated with acidic waste, thereby enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of CO2 treatment processes.
Implementation Method 1
the gas is compressed in at least one compression stage, cooled and at least one condensate is separated from the cooled gas after at least one compression stage
Implementation Method 2
the gas is compressed in at least one compression stage, cooled and at least one condensate is separated from the cooled gas
Implementation Method 3
at least a portion of the acidified water from step a) and/or ii) at least a portion of the water containing impurities from step b) and/or iii) at least onepart of the water recovered from step c) is/are mixed with water circulating in a cooling circuit to form a mixture with a desired degree of acidity
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
In a process for treating a gas (1) rich in carbon dioxide containing water, the treatment by compression and/or washing and/or drying of the gas produces acidified water (W1, W2, W3, W4, W7) which is sent to a cooling circuit (W8, W10).