Oxyfuel Combustion for Carbon Dioxide Supply
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for providing carbon dioxide for 'power-to-carbon-based-fuels' applications are inefficient and costly, especially for large-scale projects, as they require expensive purification and transportation of CO2, and current direct air capture technologies are still in the development phase and not widely available.
Innovation Solution
A process involving oxyfuel combustion using oxygen from electrolysis, which allows for high-temperature combustion and efficient CO2 separation, followed by purification and utilization of heat for synthesis of carbon-containing products, eliminating the need for conventional energy sources and enabling self-sufficiency in CO2 supply without requiring extensive industrial infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If carbon dioxide is obtained from flue gases using post-combustion capture, then carbon dioxide can be recovered, but the process is costly and requires extensive industrial infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere using direct air capture technology, eliminating the need to process flue gases from industrial sources. This approach obtains CO2 without requiring proximity to industrial infrastructure, resolving the contradiction between CO2 availability and infrastructure dependency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (hydroxide solution) that facilitates CO2 absorption from air. This chemical mediator enables efficient CO2 capture without requiring direct contact with industrial flue gases, reducing infrastructure requirements while maintaining CO2 supply
2Adaptability or versatility
If carbon dioxide is transported and purified for power-to-gas applications, then CO2 can be made available in remote locations, but the process is expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts CO2 directly from ambient air at the point of use, eliminating the need for expensive transportation and purification infrastructure. This enables power-to-gas applications in remote locations without incurring transport costs
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by capturing CO2 from the atmosphere directly at the application site, eliminating dependency on external CO2 supply chains, transportation networks, and centralized purification facilities
3Adaptability or versatility
If direct air capture technology is used, then CO2 can be obtained without industrial infrastructure, but the technology is still in development phase and not widely available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the CO2 capture process into modular chemical absorption units that can be deployed incrementally. This modular approach allows the system to achieve reliable CO2 capture without requiring a single large-scale proven technology, bridging the gap between experimental and industrial stages
4Power
If conventional combustion is used for energy production, then energy can be generated, but CO2 separation and purification becomes necessary and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts CO2 from air rather than from combustion flue gases, eliminating the need for complex CO2 separation and purification processes. This allows conventional combustion to continue for energy production without incurring additional CO2 handling costs
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 process provides a more efficient and cost-effective means of producing carbon dioxide and carbon-based products, such as methanol, by utilizing oxygen from electrolysis for oxyfuel combustion, enabling reliable and predictable energy supply for large-scale 'power-to-carbon-based-fuels' applications, even in areas lacking conventional CO2 sources.
Implementation Method 1
oxyfuel combustion using oxygen from electrolysis, which allows for high-temperature combustion
Implementation Method 2
using oxygen from electrolysis
Data Source
AI summary
A method for preparing a carbonaceous product includes providing oxygen, in particular from electrolysis, and providing a fuel. The method also includes combusting the fuel with the oxygen by an oxy-fuel combustion process in order to provide energy, purifying a flue gas produced by the oxy-fuel combustion process, and separating carbon dioxide from the flue gas produced by the oxy-fuel combustion process, wherein energy provided by the oxy-fuel combustion process includes, in particular exclusively, heat which is used as process heat for purifying and/or for synthesising or providing the carbonaceous product. A corresponding system is designed to carry out the described method.