Pelletized Amine Sorbent for CO2 Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current carbon dioxide capture technologies, such as monoethanolamine scrubbing, face challenges including high energy requirements, corrosiveness, and structural integrity issues with small particle-sized amine-based solid sorbents, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs in coal-fired power plants.
Innovation Solution
A pelletized sorbent comprising Basic Immobilized Amine Sorbent, an inorganic strength additive, and a polymer binder is developed, providing enhanced structural integrity and CO2 capture capacity while minimizing energy consumption and infrastructure needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If small particle-sized amine-based solid sorbents are used for CO2 capture, then CO2 capture capacity is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates leading to particle breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material system consisting of amine-based solid sorbent particles embedded in a porous ceramic matrix. The ceramic matrix provides mechanical strength and structural integrity while the amine particles maintain high CO2 capture capacity. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties - the ceramic provides strength where the amine particles are weak, while the amine particles provide CO2 capture functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes porous ceramic materials with controlled pore structures to support the amine-based sorbent particles. The porous structure allows gas diffusion and maintains accessibility of CO2 to the amine sites while the ceramic framework provides mechanical strength. The porosity enables the small particle-sized amine sorbents to maintain both high surface area for CO2 capture and structural stability through the ceramic support network.
2Productivity
If wet scrubbing processes are used for CO2 capture, then CO2 removal efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases due to heating requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the liquid-phase wet scrubbing process with a solid-phase adsorption process. Instead of using aqueous amine solutions that require thermal regeneration, the invention uses immobilized amine particles on ceramic supports that can be regenerated with lower energy input. The solid-phase process eliminates the need to heat large volumes of water, significantly reducing the energy penalty associated with solvent regeneration while maintaining high CO2 removal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter from liquid (wet scrubbing) to solid (immobilized sorbent), and modifies the regeneration temperature parameter. The solid-phase amine sorbents can be regenerated at lower temperatures compared to conventional wet scrubbing, reducing the thermal energy required for the regeneration step while maintaining effective CO2 capture performance.
3Productivity
If conventional amine scrubbing solutions are used, then CO2 capture capability is improved, but corrosiveness increases causing equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the amine functionality from the aqueous solution phase and immobilizes it on solid ceramic supports. This separation removes the corrosive liquid solution from contact with equipment surfaces, eliminating the corrosiveness problem while retaining the CO2 capture capability of the amine groups. The solid-phase configuration prevents the amine from forming corrosive solutions that would damage equipment.
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 pelletized sorbent achieves efficient CO2 capture with improved mechanical strength and hydrophobicity, reducing energy costs and extending operational stability under humid conditions, making it suitable for large-scale industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
Basic Immobilized Amine Sorbent deposited onto a porous support... CO2 capture... reaction of CO2 with BIAS
Implementation Method 2
polymer binder... hydrophobicity... extending operational stability under humid conditions
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure describes a pelletized sorbent comprising a first component comprising Basic Immobilized Amine Sorbent, a second component comprising inorganic strength additive, and a third component comprising polymer binder, where the Basic Immobilized Amine Sorbent and solid inorganic strength additive are interconnected by the polymer binder. The pelletized sorbent is useful for removing CO2 from a gaseous mixture such as a post combustion gas stream.