Multi-Compression CO2 Capture via Solid Sorbent Adsorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current carbon dioxide capture methods from flue gases, such as absorption and adsorption processes, face challenges including high energy requirements, oxidative degradation of solvents, and inefficiencies in energy utilization, which increase costs and reduce the overall efficiency of power plants.
Innovation Solution
A multi-compression process utilizing a capture media that involves a series of heat exchangers and fluidized bed reactors to efficiently capture and regenerate carbon dioxide, leveraging thermic and non-thermic fluids for heat transfer and energy recovery, reducing the need for external energy sources and enhancing the cost-effectiveness of the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If absorption technique (wet scrubbing amine absorption) is used for carbon dioxide capture, then carbon dioxide can be captured from flue gas, but high energy requirement for amine regeneration (2.5-4.0 GJ/ton CO2) increases operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the capture mechanism from chemical absorption to physical adsorption using solid sorbents. This eliminates the need for high-temperature amine regeneration and reduces energy consumption significantly. The solid sorbent material operates at lower temperatures and requires less energy for the regeneration cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the liquid-phase chemical absorption system with a solid-phase physical adsorption system. This substitution eliminates the need for complex liquid handling, heating, and regeneration infrastructure required for amine-based absorption, thereby reducing energy requirements and operational complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If absorption technique is used for carbon dioxide capture, then carbon dioxide can be captured from flue gas, but oxidative degradation and acidification of solvent due to oxygen in flue gas makes it corrosive and causes loss in available alkalinity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs solid sorbent materials that are more resistant to oxidative degradation and acidification compared to liquid amine solvents. These solid materials maintain their capture capacity over longer periods without the corrosive degradation issues that plague liquid absorption systems, thereby improving reliability and reducing make-up requirements.
3Use of energy by moving object
If adsorption technique with solid adsorptive material is used for carbon dioxide capture, then energy requirement is reduced compared to absorption, but high temperature and resource requirements for regeneration of capture media influence overall cost and time efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a periodic adsorption-desorption cycle using fluidized bed technology. The system alternates between capturing CO2 in the adsorber and regenerating the sorbent in the desorber, allowing continuous operation. This periodic action optimizes both energy efficiency and time utilization by maintaining continuous CO2 capture while performing regeneration in parallel.
4Quantity of substance
If amine absorption process is used for carbon dioxide capture, then carbon dioxide can be captured from flue gas, but the process is restricted to carbon dioxide capture at ambient temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from liquid-phase chemical absorption to solid-phase physical adsorption, which fundamentally changes the temperature dependence of the capture process. Solid sorbents maintain their adsorption capacity across a broader temperature range, including elevated temperatures, unlike amine-based absorption systems that are restricted to ambient or low temperatures.
5Loss of energy
If compression of carbon dioxide rich stream is performed to utilize heat of compression for desorption, then heat demand can be met, but significant requirement of energy to carry out the process remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes the heat of compression directly in the desorption process by integrating the compression step with the thermal regeneration process. The compression of CO2-rich stream generates heat that is immediately applied to drive off CO2 from the saturated sorbent, eliminating the need for external heating sources and reducing overall energy consumption.
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 process effectively captures carbon dioxide with reduced energy consumption and operational costs, improving the efficiency of carbon dioxide capture and regeneration while being environmentally friendly and suitable for integration with existing facilities.
Implementation Method 1
directing the flow of a flue gas stream... through a flue gas blower to obtain a pressurized flue gas stream with elevated temperature
Implementation Method 2
extracting the heat from the pressurized flue gas stream in a heat exchanger using circulating thermic fluid
Implementation Method 3
passing in the adsorber a fluidized lean CO2 capture media to generate a stream comprising rich capture media and flue gas stream devoid of CO2
Implementation Method 4
heating the heated rich capture media in the desorber with the help of circulating heated non-thermic fluid to desorb CO2 from the heated rich capture media
Implementation Method 5
separating in a cyclone the rich capture media and the stream of flue gas stream devoid of CO2
Implementation Method 6
passing in the adsorber a fluidized lean CO2 capture media
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a multiple-compression system and a process for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from a flue gas stream containing CO2. The disclosure also provides a process for regeneration of the carbon dioxide capture media.