Solid Carbonate CO2 Transport via Salt Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transporting CO2 as a supercritical fluid are limited by the need for extensive infrastructure and increase in costs with distance, requiring maintenance of temperature and pressure, and are not efficient for small or large quantities.
Innovation Solution
Combining gaseous CO2 with solid metal oxide or hydroxide salts to form solid metal carbonate salts, which are then transported and calcined at the destination to regenerate gaseous CO2 and the original salts, allowing for use of existing infrastructure and reducing transportation costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If CO2 is transported as a supercritical fluid via pipeline, then transport efficiency is improved, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state of CO2 from supercritical fluid to solid carbonate form, allowing transport in existing infrastructure without requiring specialized high-pressure pipelines. The CO2 is converted to solid carbonate at the source, transported as solid material, then converted back to gaseous CO2 at the destination.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces solid carbonate as an intermediary form for CO2 transport. Instead of transporting CO2 directly in its conventional forms (gas or supercritical fluid), the carbonate acts as a stable intermediate that can be easily transported and then decomposed to release pure CO2 at the destination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If CO2 is transported via cryogenic trucks, then flexibility in transport location is improved, but transportation cost increases with distance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes CO2 from a cryogenic liquid requiring temperature maintenance to a solid carbonate that is stable at ambient conditions, eliminating the need for expensive cryogenic transport equipment and reducing costs with distance.
3Quantity of substance
If CO2 is compressed into supercritical fluid, then transport density is improved, but maintenance of temperature and pressure requirements increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms CO2 from a supercritical fluid requiring precise temperature and pressure control to a solid carbonate that is stable under ambient conditions, eliminating the need for complex maintenance systems while achieving compact transport form.
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 method provides an efficient and cost-effective way to transport CO2 over long distances without the need for capital-intensive infrastructure, enabling the use of existing transportation networks and facilitating both small and large quantity CO2 transport.
Implementation Method 1
combining gaseous CO2 produced at a point of origin with a solid metal oxide salt and/or a solid metal hydroxide salt at the point of origin to form a solid metal carbonate salt
Implementation Method 2
calcining the solid metal carbonate salt at the destination to generate gaseous CO2 and to re-generate the solid metal oxide salt and/or the solid metal hydroxide salt
Data Source
AI summary
A method of transporting CO2 includes combining gaseous CO2 produced at a point of origin with a solid metal oxide salt and/or a solid metal hydroxide salt at the point of origin to form a solid metal carbonate salt that includes the CO2 from the point of origin and the metal from the metal oxide salt or the metal from the metal hydroxide salt. The method includes transporting the solid metal carbonate salt from the point of origin to a destination. The method also includes calcining the solid metal carbonate salt at the destination to generate gascous CO2 and to re-generate the solid metal oxide salt and/or the solid metal hydroxide salt.