Mobile CO2 Capture System Using Exhaust Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current carbon dioxide capture systems for internal combustion engines have low CO2 capture rates, high parasitic loads, and lack complete heat integration, making them inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
An exhaust gas carbon dioxide capture and recovery system that includes an exhaust absorber system, a solvent regenerator, a carbon dioxide compressor, and a storage tank, utilizing a solvent selective for absorbing CO2 and integrating heat recovery to enhance capture efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional CO2 capture systems are used, then CO2 capture is achieved, but parasitic load and energy consumption are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts waste heat from exhaust gas, which would otherwise be discarded as a harmful byproduct, into a beneficial resource for driving the CO2 capture process. The exhaust heat is used to regenerate the solvent and provide thermal energy for the capture system, eliminating the need for additional energy input and reducing parasitic load while maintaining effective CO2 capture
Solution Approach 2:
The CO2 capture system serves itself by using its own waste exhaust heat to power the solvent regeneration process. The system's exhaust stream, which contains both CO2 and thermal energy, is redirected to provide the heat required for solvent regeneration, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating external energy requirements
2Loss of energy
If complete heat integration is implemented, then energy efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust gas stream is given multiple functions: it serves as the source of CO2 for capture, provides thermal energy for solvent regeneration through heat exchange, and can be recirculated to enhance capture efficiency. This multi-functional use of a single stream achieves complete heat integration without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity
3Object-generated harmful factors
If high CO2 capture rate is achieved, then emissions reduction is improved, but capture cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By converting waste exhaust heat into the driving force for solvent regeneration, the patent eliminates the need for external energy input that would otherwise be required for high-rate CO2 capture. This conversion of harmful waste heat into useful energy enables high capture rates without the associated increase in operational costs
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves high CO2 capture rates at low cost by making the energy-intensive solvent regeneration process self-funded through waste heat recovery. The system uses its own exhaust stream to provide the thermal energy needed for regeneration, eliminating fuel costs and reducing operational expenses while maintaining high capture efficiency
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 greater than 40% carbon dioxide capture with minimal energy penalty, reducing CO2 emissions while maintaining vehicle performance by using waste exhaust heat for solvent regeneration.
Implementation Method 1
extract at least a portion of carbon dioxide from a first exhaust feed using a lean solvent stream comprising a solvent selective for absorbing carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the lean solvent being fed from the solvent regenerator to the exhaust absorber system and the rich solvent being fed from the exhaust absorber system to the solvent regenerator
Implementation Method 3
The solvent regenerator is configured to convert the rich solvent stream into the lean solvent stream and a crude carbon dioxide vapor
Implementation Method 4
The solvent regenerator may operate at a temperature of greater than 100° C.
Implementation Method 5
The carbon dioxide compressor is configured to convert the crude carbon dioxide vapor into a concentrated pressurized carbon dioxide product
Data Source
AI summary
An exhaust gas carbon dioxide capture and recovery system that may be mounted on a mobile vehicle or vessel. The system may include an exhaust absorber system, a solvent regenerator, a solvent loop, a carbon dioxide compressor, and a carbon dioxide storage tank, among other components. The system may be configured and integrated such that energy in the exhaust may be used to power and drive the carbon dioxide capture while having minimal parasitic effect on the engine.