Steam Cycle System for CO2 Capture and Energy Recycling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Power production systems, refining systems, and petrochemical processing systems face challenges in reducing carbon footprints and improving energy efficiency due to wasted energy and CO2 emissions.

Innovation Solution

A steam cycle system that includes a fuel feed line, a first expansion turbine, a first separator, and a first heat exchanger unit, which facilitates the collection of CO2 and recycling of energy by separating and reusing steam and CO2 in the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If energy is released to atmosphere as heat, then energy disposal is simple, but energy efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts waste heat energy that would normally be released to the atmosphere into useful thermal energy by injecting exhaust gas into the combustion chamber. This harmful waste heat is transformed into a beneficial resource that preheats combustion air and improves overall energy efficiency, directly resolving the contradiction between energy loss and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers exhaust gas and CO2 that would otherwise be discarded into the atmosphere. By capturing and reutilizing these streams - injecting exhaust gas for heat recovery and CO2 for enhanced combustion - the system transforms waste streams into valuable resources, improving energy efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Object-affected harmful factors

If CO2 is emitted to atmosphere, then process operation is simple, but carbon footprint deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarbon footprintVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts CO2 emissions from a harmful factor into a beneficial resource by injecting captured CO2 into the combustion chamber. This enables enhanced combustion efficiency and carbon utilization, transforming the harmful emission into a value-added process input that reduces the net carbon footprint while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers CO2 that would normally be emitted to the atmosphere and reutilizes it in the combustion process. This recovery and reuse approach directly reduces carbon footprint by keeping carbon cycles within the system rather than releasing them, while the integrated design minimizes the complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Use of energy by moving object

If exhaust gas is released without recovery, then system operation is simple, but thermal efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts waste exhaust gas into a useful thermal resource by injecting it into the combustion chamber. This exhaust gas, which would normally represent lost thermal energy, is transformed into a heat carrier that preheats combustion air and improves thermal efficiency, directly addressing the contradiction between simple operation and energy utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers thermal energy from exhaust gas that would otherwise be discarded. By capturing this waste heat stream and reutilizing it for combustion air preheating, the system significantly improves thermal efficiency while maintaining relatively simple system architecture through integrated heat recovery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP4323626B1Steam cycle methods, systems, and appparatus for efficiently reducing carbon footprints in plant systems
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 J RAY MCDERMOTT SA
  • EP4323626B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4323626B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4323626B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to steam cycle methods, systems, and apparatus for efficiently reducing carbon footprints in plant systems. In one aspect, a cycle is conducted In a plant system to collect CO2. In one aspect, a cycle is conducted in a plant system to recycle energy. The plant system includes one or more of a power production system, a refining system, and/or a petrochemical processing system.