Solid Carbon Sequestration via Methane Cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies face challenges such as potential re-emission of carbon dioxide, infrastructure limitations for CO2 transport, and the need for high-pressure compression, which can cause geological risks and inefficiencies in handling greenhouse gases like carbon monoxide.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the conversion of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from offgases into methane through a catalytic reaction with hydrogen, followed by cracking the methane into solid carbon and hydrogen, allowing for the permanent immobilization and storage of carbon in a solid form.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carbon dioxide is compressed and stored underground using conventional CCS processes, then carbon dioxide can be separated and stored, but there is a risk of earthquakes and cold geysers due to high-pressure compression and mixing with groundwater
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of carbon dioxide from gas to solid through catalytic conversion to methane and subsequent cracking, eliminating the need for high-pressure compression and groundwater mixing, thus preventing earthquakes and cold geysers while ensuring permanent storage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces methane as an intermediary substance in the conversion process, where CO2 is first converted to methane through catalytic reaction with hydrogen, then cracked to produce solid carbon, serving as a safe intermediary that avoids direct high-pressure CO2 injection into groundwater
2Productivity
If conventional CCS infrastructure is built for CO2 transport, then carbon dioxide can be transported to storage sites, but the lack of existing infrastructure requires construction of suitable pipelines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and chemical form of carbon from gaseous CO2 to solid carbon through methanization and cracking processes, enabling utilization of existing natural gas infrastructure for transport while avoiding the need for new CO2 pipeline construction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the existing natural gas infrastructure to serve dual purposes: transporting methane produced from CO2 conversion and maintaining its original function, thereby eliminating the need for separate CO2 transport infrastructure
3Reliability
If carbon dioxide is separated and stored as gas, then greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced, but the storage requires high-pressure compression and insulated transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of carbon from gas to solid through catalytic conversion processes, eliminating the need for high-pressure compression equipment and insulated transport infrastructure while achieving reliable greenhouse gas reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical compression systems with chemical conversion processes, using catalytic reactions to transform CO2 into solid carbon directly, thereby eliminating complex mechanical compression and transport infrastructure
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 process effectively sequesters greenhouse gases by converting them into solid carbon, reducing re-emission risks, simplifying storage, and utilizing existing infrastructure for methane transport, while also utilizing hydrogen as an energy carrier.
Implementation Method 1
performing a catalytic reaction in which the reactants carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxide and also hydrogen are converted into methane and water
Implementation Method 2
cracking the methane into carbon and hydrogen, wherein the carbon is generated as a solid
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for separating off and immobilizing carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxide from an exhaust gas (18). In the method, a stoichiometric ratio of carbon dioxide to hydrogen, and/or of carbon monoxide to hydrogen, which is suitable for a methanation reaction is set by virtue of a corresponding quantity of hydrogen or alternatively carbon dioxide and/or possibly carbon monoxide being supplied, with an auxiliary gas (24), to the exhaust gas (18). Subsequently, a catalytic reaction is performed in which, as starting products, carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxide and hydrogen are converted into methane and water. The methane is separated off from the product of the catalytic reaction and is subsequently split into carbon and hydrogen, wherein the carbon takes solid form. The split-off carbon is collected and disposed of.