Segmented Gas-Liquid Vessel for Flue Gas CO2 Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial combustion processes with varying flue gas flow rates, such as combined cycle power plants, face inefficiencies in CO2 absorption systems due to operation away from design points, leading to incomplete wetting of packing and breakthrough of flue gas, especially at low loads.
Innovation Solution
A gas/liquid contacting vessel is divided into two distinct compartments separated by a vertical partition, allowing independent operation and optimized distribution of gas and liquid flow rates, maintaining the liquid-to-gas ratio closer to design conditions, thereby enhancing CO2 capture efficiency across a wider load range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single gas/liquid contacting vessel is used for CO2 absorption, then the device complexity is low, but at varying flue gas flow rates the liquid-to-gas ratio deviates from design conditions resulting in incomplete wetting of packing and reduced CO2 capture efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The gas/liquid contacting vessel is divided into two distinct compartments separated by a vertical partition, allowing each compartment to operate independently. This segmentation enables the system to maintain optimal liquid-to-gas ratios across varying total flow rates by distributing flow between compartments, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
2Productivity
If the flue gas flow rate is reduced at low loads, then the operational flexibility of combined cycle power plants is maintained, but the liquid flow rate becomes insufficient to uniformly wet the packing resulting in flue gas breakthrough
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the vessel into two compartments, the system can maintain reliable CO2 capture at low loads by distributing the reduced total flow across two independent contact zones, ensuring adequate liquid distribution and wetting in each compartment even when total flow is low.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to varying flow rates by allowing flexible distribution of gas and liquid flows between the two compartments. This dynamic capability enables the system to maintain optimal operating conditions across the full load range, from low to high productivity requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the absorber operates away from design point at varying loads, then operational flexibility is maintained, but technical and financial efficiency decreases due to incomplete wetting and breakthrough
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented vessel configuration allows the system to cover a wide load range while maintaining high CO2 capture efficiency by distributing flow between two compartments, each operating closer to optimal conditions regardless of the total system load.
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 configuration maintains high CO2 capture efficiency and reduces liquid absorbent consumption and regenerator steam consumption, even at partial loads, by ensuring adequate wetting and operation closer to design conditions.
Implementation Method 1
liquid solutions or slurries comprising amine compounds, e.g. monoethanolamine (MEA), or ammonia are commonly used as absorbents. A CO2 absorber is employed to establish suitable conditions (temperature, pressure, turbulence, etc.) for chemical absorption of CO2 into the absorbent from a mixed gas stream.
Implementation Method 2
In order for the necessary mass transfer to occur efficiently, the packing in the columns must be adequately wetted, so as to prevent breakthrough of flue gas or steam.
Data Source
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Figure 3a~4
AI summary
The proposed invention relates to a gas/liquid contacting vessel (100) for treatment of a gas stream at varying mass flow rates, said vessel comprising at least two distinct gas/liquid contacting compartments (101a, 101b) separated from each other by a substantially vertical partition (102), each compartment having a gas inlet (104a, 104b) and a liquid outlet (110a, 110b) near a bottom end thereof and a gas outlet (106a, 106b) and a liquid inlet (108a, 108b) near a top end thereof, and a mass transfer device (111a, 111b) arranged between said bottom end and top end, wherein one of said compartments is operable for gas/liquid contacting independently of another of said compartments. The proposed invention further relates to a flue gas treatment system for removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from a flue gas using a liquid absorbent and to a power plant comprising such a gas/liquid contacting vessel or flue gas treatment system.