Moving Sorbent Gas Capture System with Pressure Swing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current carbon capture and storage systems face challenges such as low energy efficiency, high costs, and environmental concerns with liquid solvents, and solid sorbents in fixed bed reactors have issues with capital costs, pressure drop, and sorbent lifetime due to hot spots, limiting their effectiveness in capturing large volumes of gas.
Innovation Solution
A gas capture system utilizing a solid sorbent that recirculates between a first reactor system for gas capture and a second reactor system for regeneration, with a heat pump transferring heat between the systems, operating at different pressures and temperatures to enhance efficiency and reduce energy costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a fixed bed reactor is used for gas capture, then the capital cost is high and the reactor volume and footprint are large, but the sorbent lifetime is reduced due to hot spots and waves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static fixed bed reactor to a dynamic moving bed reactor system where sorbent particles continuously circulate between capture and regeneration zones. This dynamic configuration eliminates hot spots and thermal waves by maintaining uniform temperature distribution, thereby extending sorbent lifetime while preserving gas capture capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The reactor system is segmented into multiple functional zones (capture zone, regeneration zone, transfer zones) that operate simultaneously. This segmentation allows continuous operation with smaller individual reactor volumes, reducing overall footprint and capital cost while maintaining high gas capture throughput
2Productivity
If a liquid solvent is used for carbon dioxide capture, then the capture process can be implemented, but energy efficiency is low and environmental concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces liquid solvent absorption (chemical/physical process) with solid sorbent adsorption in a moving bed reactor system. This substitution eliminates the energy-intensive solvent regeneration process and environmental concerns associated with amine solvents, achieving superior energy efficiency while maintaining high CO2 capture productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system operates at different pressure levels in capture and regeneration zones, using pressure differential to drive sorbent circulation and gas separation. This parameter change approach enables energy-efficient operation without requiring high-temperature heating or complex solvent recovery systems
3Productivity
If a fixed bed reactor is used for gas capture, then the system can operate, but pressure drop is large and capital cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The moving bed configuration allows continuous sorbent circulation with controlled particle velocity, maintaining low pressure drop across the reactor while achieving high gas capture throughput. The dynamic system avoids the pressure buildup issues inherent in static fixed bed reactors
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 improves energy efficiency and reduces costs by effectively capturing and regenerating the sorbent, allowing continuous operation and flexible adjustment to user requirements, while avoiding environmental concerns associated with liquid solvents.
Implementation Method 1
a first reactor system arranged so that, in the first reactor system, at least some gas in a gas stream that is received by the gas capture system is captured by a sorbent
Implementation Method 2
a second reactor system arranged to regenerate the sorbent so that the sorbent releases at least some of the gas captured in the first reactor system
Implementation Method 3
A heat pump is used to transfer heat from the first reactor system to the second reactor system
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a gas capture system comprising: a first reactor system arranged so that, in the first reactor system, at least some gas in a gas stream that is received by the gas capture system is captured by a sorbent that is arranged to flow through the first reactor system; a second reactor system arranged to regenerate the sorbent so that the sorbent releases at least some of the gas captured in the first reactor system, wherein the sorbent is arranged to flow through the second reactor system and the second reactor system is arranged to output a flow of the released gas; a first sorbent transfer system arranged between a sorbent outlet of the first reactor system and a sorbent inlet of the second reactor system, wherein the first sorbent transfer system comprises a lock hopper; and a second sorbent transfer system arranged between a sorbent outlet of the second reactor system and a sorbent inlet of the first reactor system, wherein the second sorbent transfer system comprises a lock hopper; wherein: the sorbent is a solid; the second reactor system comprises a pump arranged so that the second reactor system may have a lower operational pressure when regenerating sorbent than the operational pressure of the first reactor system during gas capture by the sorbent; and the first reactor system, first sorbent transfer system, second reactor system and second sorbent transfer system are all arranged so that they provide a sorbent flow path that recirculates the sorbent between the first reactor system and the second reactor system.