sCO2-Brine Heat Coupling for Low-Water Lithium Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing supercritical carbon dioxide cycle power generation systems and lithium extraction from brine systems face significant challenges due to high industrial water and steam consumption, leading to increased operating costs and inefficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
A coupling system integrating supercritical carbon dioxide cycle power generation and lithium extraction from brine, utilizing an absorption heat pump unit to recycle waste heat from the power generation system as a heat source for the lithium extraction process, thereby enhancing energy efficiency and reducing water consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the supercritical carbon dioxide cycle power generation system operates independently with adequate cooling water supply, then the cycle power generation efficiency is maintained, but the industrial water consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the supercritical carbon dioxide cycle power generation system with the lithium extraction from brine system into a coupled system. The waste heat from the power generation system's cold end is utilized to drive the lithium extraction process, thereby reducing waste heat loss and decreasing cooling water consumption simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat that would otherwise be lost into a beneficial resource by using it to drive the lithium extraction from brine. The waste heat at 100-200°C is utilized to heat the brine for lithium precipitation and adsorption processes, turning an energy loss into a productive use.
2Productivity
If steam is used to increase and maintain temperature for lithium precipitation and adsorption, then the adsorption capacity and lithium yield improve, but the steam consumption and operating cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the waste heat from the power generation system into a beneficial heat source for the lithium extraction process. Instead of using additional steam energy, the system utilizes the available waste heat to maintain the temperature required for lithium precipitation and adsorption, significantly reducing steam consumption and operating costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter utilization by matching the waste heat temperature range (100-200°C) with the optimal temperature range for lithium extraction processes. This parameter optimization allows efficient lithium recovery without requiring additional high-energy steam input.
3Ease of operation
If the waste heat from the cold end of the supercritical carbon dioxide power generation system is directly discharged, then the system operation is simple, but a large amount of thermal energy is wasted and cooling water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two previously separate systems (power generation and lithium extraction) into a coupled system where the waste heat flow is redirected from direct discharge to driving the lithium extraction process. This integration maintains operational simplicity while eliminating thermal energy waste.
4Reliability
If the supercritical carbon dioxide cycle power generation system and lithium extraction from brine system operate separately, then each system can be optimized independently, but the total energy consumption and equipment investment are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power generation system and lithium extraction system into a coupled system that maintains the operational independence and reliability of each subsystem while achieving synergistic energy utilization. The waste heat from one system becomes the energy source for the other, reducing total energy consumption without compromising system reliability.
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 coupling system effectively reduces total energy consumption and equipment investment, while significantly improving the efficiency of lithium precipitation and adsorption in the lithium extraction from brine process, achieving a 50-80% reduction in cooling water consumption and enhancing lithium carbonate yield and purity.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing an absorption heat pump unit to recycle waste heat from the power generation system as a heat source for the lithium extraction process
Implementation Method 2
The lithium precipitation reaction requires a high temperature to maintain high yield and high lithium carbonate purity
Implementation Method 3
The brine in an adsorption tower can help increase the adsorption capacity of an adsorbent at a high adsorption temperature, thereby increasing the adsorption yield
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides a system for coupling supercritical carbon dioxide cycle power generation and lithium extraction from brine. The system comprises an absorption heat pump unit, a supercritical carbon dioxide cycle power generation unit, and a unit for extracting lithium from brine. This system organically couples the exothermic characteristics of the supercritical carbon dioxide cycle system with the endothermic characteristics of the lithium extraction from brine system, and the waste heat is recycled in a cascade as the heat source in the lithium extraction from brine system, thereby effectively reducing the total energy consumption of power generation and lithium extraction and reduce the total equipment investment of the system, and significantly improving the efficiency of adsorption and lithium precipitation in the lithium extraction from brine system.