Shared Refrigeration System for Blue Ammonia and CO2 Liquefaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ammonia production methods generate carbon dioxide as a byproduct, which is often released into the atmosphere. There is a need for procedures that can produce 'blue ammonia' while minimizing carbon dioxide emissions.
Innovation Solution
The proposed procedure involves a shared refrigeration system for both ammonia preparation and carbon dioxide preparation. This system includes steps such as pre-cooling, drying, condensation, and liquefaction of carbon dioxide, using ammonia as a refrigerant where possible, to achieve efficient carbon dioxide sequestration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional carbon dioxide removal and sequestration processes are used, then carbon dioxide emissions are minimized, but energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the carbon dioxide removal process with the ammonia production process by integrating a shared refrigeration system. The refrigeration system serves dual purposes: it provides cooling for ammonia synthesis and simultaneously enables carbon dioxide liquefaction and sequestration. This merging of functions allows carbon dioxide to be removed and sequestered without requiring a completely separate energy-intensive system, thereby minimizing emissions while controlling energy consumption through shared infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigeration system is designed with multi-functionality, serving both the ammonia production process and the carbon dioxide sequestration process. By making the refrigeration system universal, the patent eliminates the need for separate refrigeration systems for each process, reducing overall energy consumption and system complexity while achieving effective carbon dioxide removal and minimization of emissions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate refrigeration systems are used for ammonia production and carbon dioxide processing, then process independence is maintained, but device complexity and investment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the refrigeration systems for ammonia production and carbon dioxide processing into a single shared system. This combination reduces device complexity and investment costs by eliminating redundant equipment while maintaining functional integration. The shared refrigeration system is designed to handle both processes simultaneously, achieving cost-effectiveness without sacrificing the ability to independently control each process stream through appropriate valve and heat exchanger configurations.
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 enables significant synergy effects by utilizing a shared refrigeration system, reducing the energy requirements for carbon dioxide processing, and minimizing the need for additional refrigerants, thereby enhancing the production of blue ammonia while reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Implementation Method 1
the carbon dioxide is typically compressed, purified if necessary, and then liquefied before being permanently stored
Implementation Method 2
a refrigerant used in the refrigeration system of the ammonia plant to be made available for pre-cooling carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 3
a shared refrigeration system for both ammonia preparation and carbon dioxide preparation
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A process (100) for the production of blue ammonia is proposed, wherein a first stream (102) is subjected to carbon dioxide removal (20) to obtain a second stream (103) and a third stream (104), the second stream (103) or a part thereof is subjected to ammonia synthesis (30) to obtain a fourth stream (105), the fourth stream (105) or a part thereof is subjected to ammonia purification (40) to obtain a fifth stream (106), and the third stream (104) or a part thereof is subjected to carbon dioxide purification (50) to obtain a sixth stream (107), wherein the first stream (102) contains hydrogen and carbon dioxide, the second stream (103) is enriched in hydrogen and depleted in carbon dioxide compared to the first stream (102).The third material stream (104) and the sixth material stream (107) are enriched in carbon dioxide and depleted in hydrogen compared to the first material stream (102), and the fourth material stream (105) and the fifth material stream (106) contain ammonia. It is proposed that the ammonia recovery (30) and the carbon dioxide recovery (50) be carried out using a shared refrigeration unit (60). A corresponding unit is also proposed.