Sorbent Bed Regeneration Using Low-Pressure Steam and Liquid Ring Pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing CO2 capture systems, such as amine scrubber towers and conventional adsorbents, are costly to operate due to high energy consumption and inefficient regeneration methods, which offset the benefits of CO2 capture.
Innovation Solution
Regenerate CO2 absorbent or adsorbent beds using low-pressure steam at 4 kPa to 50 kPa and temperatures of 30°C to 81°C, combined with a liquid ring pump to produce a high-purity CO2 stream, minimizing energy loss and operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional amine scrubber towers are used for CO2 capture, then CO2 can be effectively captured from flue gas, but the regeneration process consumes substantial amounts of power and generates high operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of CO2 desorption by using low-pressure steam (4-50 kPa) at low temperatures (30-81°C) instead of conventional high-temperature heating. This parameter change enables effective CO2 release from the amine absorbent without the high energy input traditionally required, directly resolving the contradiction between capture efficiency and regeneration energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces low-pressure steam as an intermediary substance to facilitate CO2 desorption. The steam acts as a heat and mass transfer medium that enables CO2 release from the amine bed at low temperatures and pressures, avoiding direct high-temperature heating and thereby reducing the power consumption associated with conventional regeneration processes
2Quantity of substance
If conventional adsorbents are used for CO2 separation, then CO2 can be removed from gas streams, but the desorption methods are costly and energy-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the desorption parameters by operating at low steam pressures (4-50 kPa) and low temperatures (30-81°C), which dramatically reduces the energy cost of the desorption process compared to conventional high-temperature methods, thereby making CO2 separation economically viable
3Productivity
If high temperature steam is used for bed regeneration, then CO2 desorption is more efficient, but energy consumption increases and waste heat generation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the regeneration steam from conventional high temperatures to low temperatures (30-81°C), and pressure from high to low (4-50 kPa). This parameter change maintains adequate CO2 desorption efficiency while dramatically reducing energy consumption and waste heat generation, as the low-pressure steam contains significantly less thermal energy to be wasted
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 reduces energy consumption and waste heat generation, enabling efficient CO2 capture and recovery with minimal additional energy input, while maintaining bed temperature stability and producing a high-purity CO2 stream.
Implementation Method 1
exposing a steam stream having a steam pressure of 4 kPa to 50 kPa to a sorbent bed having sorbed CO2 and a first average sorbent bed temperature of 0° C. to 150° C. to form an exhaust stream containing steam and at least a portion of the sorbed CO2
Implementation Method 2
passing at least a portion of the exhaust stream through a liquid ring pump having an associated ring cooler to form a CO2-containing stream containing 90 vol % or more CO2
Implementation Method 3
exposing an input stream containing 0.01 vol % to 25 vol % CO2, relative to a volume of the input stream, to the sorbent bed at a second average sorbent bed temperature of 0° C. to 150° C. to adsorb CO2
Implementation Method 4
exposing an input stream containing 0.01 vol % to 25 vol % CO2, relative to a volume of the input stream, to the sorbent bed at a second average sorbent bed temperature of 0° C. to 150° C. to absorb CO2
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for regenerating a bed containing absorbed and/or adsorbed CO2 using a low value steam stream. The steam stream can have a pressure of 10 kPa-a to 50 kPa-a and a temperature of 46° C. to 81° C. The steam stream can be used to displace CO2 from the bed, resulting in formation of a low pressure stream including water vapor and CO2. The stream containing water vapor and CO2 is then passed through a liquid ring pump that includes an associated ring cooler. The ring pump provides the suction necessary to draw the low value steam stream through the bed to displace the CO2. Due to the nature of operation of the liquid ring pump, the majority of water in the steam containing H2O and CO2 can be removed within the liquid ring pump, resulting in production of a stream comprising 90 vol % or more of CO2 at a pressure of 90 kPa-a or more. An example of a bed that can be regenerated using a low value steam stream is a bed that corresponds to a liquid amine that is coated on/covering/impregnated into a porous solid, so that the liquid amine remains substantially in place during a cycle of sorption and desorption of CO2.