Dissolved Salt Spraying for CO2 Absorber Mist Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In air pollution control systems, the entrainment of CO2 absorption liquid by mist generation materials in the CO2 absorber leads to significant loss and increased running costs due to unnecessary replenishment of the absorption liquid.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of mist generation material reduction equipment, such as dissolved salt spraying equipment, before the CO2 recovery equipment significantly decreases the amount of mist generation materials in the flue gas, thereby reducing the entrainment of CO2 absorption liquid and preventing its scattering outside the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If mist generation material reduction equipment is installed before CO2 recovery equipment, then the amount of mist generation material in flue gas is significantly decreased, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of mist generation materialVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by installing mist generation material reduction equipment (such as dissolved salt spraying equipment or electrostatic precipitators) before the CO2 recovery equipment in the flue gas treatment process. This preliminary removal of mist generation materials prevents them from entering the CO2 absorber, thereby reducing CO2 absorption liquid entrainment and loss before the main treatment process begins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of substance

If dissolved salt spraying equipment is used to reduce mist generation material, then CO2 absorption liquid entrainment is decreased, but the use of energy increases due to additional equipment operation

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCO2 absorption liquid lossVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dissolved salt spraying equipment that uses inexpensive salt solutions (such as sodium chloride or calcium chloride solutions) to reduce mist generation material. The sprayed salt solution acts as a sacrificial material that captures mist generation materials through hygroscopic properties, forming larger droplets that can be easily removed. This disposable approach uses cheap materials to protect the valuable CO2 absorption liquid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If mist generation material is not reduced before CO2 absorption, then the system operation is simpler, but the amount of CO2 absorption liquid that scatters to the outside is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem operation simplicityVSAvoidCO2 absorption liquid scattering
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary substance (dissolved salt solution or electrostatic field) between the mist generation material and the CO2 absorption liquid. The intermediary captures or neutralizes the mist generation materials, preventing them from directly interacting with and entraining the CO2 absorption liquid. This intermediary approach protects the absorption liquid while maintaining relatively simple system operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively minimizes the loss of CO2 absorption liquid, suppresses the generation of white smoke, and reduces running costs by preventing the scattering of the absorption liquid, enhancing system efficiency and reducing the need for regeneration treatments.

Implementation Method 1

dissolved salt spraying equipment which sprays dissolved salt into the flue gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 2

sprays dissolved salt into the flue gas to reduce the amount of mist generation material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

CO2 in the flue gas is absorbed by the CO2 absorption liquid in a chemical reaction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 4

CO2 in the flue gas is absorbed by the CO2 absorption liquid in a chemical reaction (exothermic reaction)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExothermic reaction: Exothermic Reaction

Implementation Method 5

The rich solution is pressurized by a pump, is heated in a heat exchanger by a high-temperature CO2 absorption liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP2578296B1Exhaust gas treatment system and method
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND ENG LTD
  • EP2578296B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2578296B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2578296B1 patent drawingFigure 3-1~3-2

AI summary

SOx removal equipment 15 which reduces sulfur oxides from flue gas 12 from a boiler 11, a cooler 16 which is provided on the downstream side of the SOx removal equipment 15 so as to reduce the sulfur oxides from the flue gas and decrease a gas temperature, CO2 recovery equipment 17 which includes an absorber for bringing CO2 in the flue gas into contact with a CO2 absorption liquid so as to be reduced and a regenerator for causing the CO2 absorption liquid to emit CO2 so as to recover CO2 and regenerate the CO2 absorption liquid, and dissolved salt spraying 23 for reducing a mist generation material which is a generation source of mist that is generated in the absorber of the CO2 recovery equipment before introducing the flue gas to the CO2 recovery equipment, are included.