Closed-Cycle Quench in Partial Oxidation for CO2 Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power production systems using solid fuels face challenges in achieving high efficiency while simultaneously capturing carbon dioxide emissions, particularly due to the presence of solid and inert nitrogen gas contents in combustion products, which complicates carbon capture and sequestration processes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a partial oxidation reactor system that utilizes a quench cooling fluid to cool the partial oxidation stream from high temperatures to lower temperatures, allowing for the separation of ash particles and recovery of heat, which is then integrated with a power production system to maximize efficiency and facilitate carbon capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional combustion of solid fuel is used, then power generation can be achieved, but carbon capture and sequestration becomes difficult due to solid and inert nitrogen gas contents in combustion products
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion process is segmented into two distinct stages: partial oxidation in a first reactor producing a fuel gas stream, followed by complete combustion in a second reactor. This segmentation allows the fuel gas to be separated from inert nitrogen-containing air before combustion, enabling efficient carbon capture while maintaining high power generation efficiency through controlled staged combustion.
Solution Approach 2:
The inert nitrogen gas and solid particles are extracted and removed from the combustion process by using pure oxygen instead of air in the combustion reactor. The fuel gas is completely combusted with oxygen to produce a combustion product stream containing predominantly carbon dioxide and water vapor, with minimal inert gases, thereby facilitating easy carbon capture and sequestration.
2Productivity
If partial oxidation reactor operates at high temperature, then complete conversion of solid fuel to gaseous fuel is achieved, but cooling requirements increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
A quench medium is introduced as an intermediary substance to rapidly cool the partial oxidation product gas from high reaction temperatures to lower temperatures. The quench medium absorbs excess heat and brings the gas to a temperature suitable for subsequent combustion in the second reactor, simplifying the cooling system design by using a direct quenching approach rather than complex heat exchange systems.
3Temperature
If quench cooling is applied to partial oxidation stream, then temperature is reduced for downstream processing, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The quench medium serves a dual function: it cools the partial oxidation product gas and simultaneously prepares the stream for complete combustion by adjusting its temperature to the optimal range for the second reactor. This self-service approach reduces system complexity by combining cooling and combustion preparation functions in a single step, eliminating the need for separate cooling and heating systems.
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 enables high efficiency power production while effectively capturing carbon dioxide emissions, improving the ease of sequestration and reducing CO2 emissions, with the system being adaptable for use with commercially available reactors and capable of producing substantially pure hydrogen and carbon monoxide streams.
Implementation Method 1
a quench cooling fluid to cool the partial oxidation stream from a POX reaction temperature to a quenched POX stream temperature
Implementation Method 2
a partial oxidation reactor to partially oxidize a carbonaceous or hydrocarbon fuel by combination with oxygen to form a POX stream
Implementation Method 3
the power generation system combustor operates with an excess of O2 present following combustion, which ensures that the fuel and combustion derived impurities are converted from the reduced to their oxidized forms
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a power production system that is adapted to achieve high efficiency power production with complete carbon capture when using a solid or liquid hydrocarbon or carbonaceous fuel. More particularly, the solid or liquid fuel first is partially oxidized in a partial oxidation reactor. The resulting partially oxidized stream that comprises a fuel gas is quenched, filtered, cooled, and then directed to a combustor of a power production system as the combustion fuel. The partially oxidized stream is combined with a compressed recycle CO2 stream and oxygen. The combustion stream is expanded across a turbine to produce power and passed through a recuperator heat exchanger. The expanded and cooled exhaust stream is scrubbed to provide the recycle CO2 stream, which is compressed and passed through the recuperator heat exchanger and the POX heat exchanger in a manner useful to provide increased efficiency to the combined systems.