Natural Gas Pipeline CO2 Transport With Engine Exhaust Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transporting captured carbon dioxide from emission sites to storage or conversion sites is costly and inefficient, particularly when using traditional road transport or separate pipelines.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a carbon capture system into a natural gas pipeline that captures carbon from the engine exhaust, compresses it for transport within the pipeline, and controls the carbon dioxide mixture to optimize engine performance, thereby reducing capital and operational expenditures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If captured carbon dioxide is transported using traditional road transport or separate pipelines, then the carbon can be moved from emission sites to storage or conversion sites, but the transportation cost and infrastructure expenditure increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the carbon dioxide transport function with the existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure. The captured CO2 is mixed with natural gas in the pipeline, allowing simultaneous transport of both gases through the same infrastructure, thereby eliminating the need for separate dedicated CO2 pipelines and reducing infrastructure costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing natural gas pipeline is made multi-functional by enabling it to transport both natural gas and captured carbon dioxide. This universal utilization of infrastructure allows the pipeline to serve dual purposes: fuel supply and carbon sequestration transport, reducing overall system cost.
2Productivity
If captured carbon dioxide is compressed for transport, then the transport efficiency increases, but the energy consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the engine's own exhaust carbon dioxide as the source material for compression and transport. The CO2 captured from the engine exhaust is compressed and fed back into the pipeline, creating a self-contained loop where the system's waste product becomes the transport medium, minimizing external energy inputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful carbon dioxide emissions from the engine exhaust into a beneficial transport medium. The CO2 that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere is captured, compressed, and used to enhance the density and energy content of the natural gas in the pipeline, turning a waste product into a valuable resource.
3Quantity of substance
If carbon dioxide is added to the natural gas pipeline, then the carbon transport capacity increases, but the engine performance may be affected due to changes in fuel composition
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the composition parameters of the gas mixture in the pipeline by controlling the ratio of natural gas to captured CO2. This parameter optimization ensures that the fuel mixture maintains appropriate combustion characteristics while maximizing carbon transport capacity, thereby preserving engine performance stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control to monitor and adjust the CO2 addition rate to the natural gas pipeline. By continuously monitoring engine performance and gas composition, the system automatically adjusts the CO2 injection to maintain optimal combustion conditions, ensuring stable engine operation while achieving carbon transport objectives.
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective transportation of captured carbon dioxide through existing natural gas pipelines, enhancing engine power density and preventing knocking, while minimizing infrastructure costs.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor positioned within a flow path of the natural gas pipeline
Implementation Method 2
an engine that drives the compressor, wherein the engine is powered by fuel provided from the natural gas pipeline to the engine along a fuel path, mixed with air provided along an air path
Data Source
AI summary
The transportation of captured carbon from production sites to a destination at which it can be stored or used traditionally requires the carbon to be carried into a tanker truck for road transport, which is costly. Disclosed embodiments eliminate or reduce this cost by compressing the captured carbon into an existing natural gas pipeline. The existing network of pipelines can then be used to transport the captured carbon to a distant destination, while potentially picking up additional captured carbon along the way. In addition, a portion of the captured carbon at each production site may be redirected back to the engine of the compressor to enable higher power density and prevent knocking.