Supercritical CO2 Compression for Simpler Carbon Capture Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for handling carbon dioxide from flue gases require liquefaction, which involves complex cooling processes and handling of two-phase fluids, increasing energy consumption and equipment requirements, and are inefficient due to the need for high purity and bulkier equipment.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that compress carbon dioxide to a pressure above its critical pressure and cool it to a temperature above its critical temperature to produce a supercritical fluid, allowing for efficient pumping and handling without the need for liquefaction, using conventional coolants and reducing the complexity of handling impurities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If carbon dioxide is liquefied by compression and cooling below saturation temperature, then the carbon dioxide can be stored and transported in liquid form, but the process requires complex cooling systems and generates flash gas during throttling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermodynamic parameters from subcritical (liquid) conditions to supercritical conditions by raising both pressure and temperature above critical values. This parameter change eliminates the need for complex subcooling systems and flash gas handling equipment, while maintaining high storage density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the supercritical phase transition of carbon dioxide, where the fluid exists in a single supercritical phase above critical temperature and pressure. This eliminates the liquid-vapor phase transition that causes flash gas during throttling, simplifying the system design.
2Stress or pressure
If carbon dioxide is cooled below ambient temperature for liquid storage, then the storage pressure can be reduced to sub-critical levels, but the energy consumption increases and equipment becomes bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from below-ambient (subcritical liquid) to above-ambient (supercritical), which allows the use of simpler cooling systems that operate with smaller temperature differentials, reducing energy consumption and equipment size.
Solution Approach 2:
The supercritical carbon dioxide system can utilize ambient air or water as cooling media, allowing the system to reject heat to the environment without requiring extensive active cooling infrastructure, thereby reducing energy consumption.
3Quantity of substance
If high purity carbon dioxide is required for liquefaction, then the separation process becomes more complex and costly, but impure carbon dioxide streams are difficult to handle in liquid form
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the phase state from liquid to supercritical fluid, which can tolerate higher impurity levels. This parameter change allows the use of simpler separation processes that do not require achieving the high purities needed for liquid carbon dioxide storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The supercritical phase can accommodate impurities better than the liquid phase, as impurities remain dissolved in the supercritical fluid rather than causing phase separation or freezing issues that complicate liquid handling.
4Power
If multi-stage compression with intermittent cooling is used to reach high pressures, then the carbon dioxide can be pumped efficiently, but the process requires complex compression and cooling infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the final state from high-pressure liquid to supercritical fluid, which can be achieved through single-stage or fewer compression stages followed by heating above the critical temperature, reducing the number of compression and cooling stages required.
Solution Approach 2:
The supercritical phase transition allows the carbon dioxide to be pumped efficiently as a single-phase fluid without requiring the complex multi-stage compression and intermittent cooling infrastructure needed to achieve and maintain liquid state at high pressures.
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 reduces energy requirements, simplifies handling by maintaining a one-phase fluid, and allows for more flexible impurity tolerance, enhancing the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of carbon dioxide management in power plants.
Implementation Method 1
compressing the fluid to a pressure above the critical pressure of carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 2
cooling the compressed fluid to a temperature above the critical temperature of carbon dioxide
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of pressurizing a fluid comprising carbon dioxide, the method includes: obtaining the fluid from a unit for removing carbon dioxide from a process gas; compressing the fluid to a pressure above the critical pressure of carbon dioxide; and cooling the compressed fluid to a temperature above the critical temperature of carbon dioxide to produce a supercritical fluid. The invention further relates to an apparatus for pressurizing a fluid comprising carbon dioxide, the apparatus including: means for obtaining the fluid from a unit for removing carbon dioxide from a process gas; means for compressing the fluid to a pressure above the critical pressure of carbon dioxide; and means for cooling the compressed fluid to a temperature above the critical temperature of carbon dioxide to produce a supercritical fluid.