Systems and methods associated with bottoming cycle power systems for generating power, capturing carbon dioxide and producing products

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current bottoming cycle power systems face inefficiencies in converting waste heat into usable power and capturing carbon dioxide due to low exhaust gas pressures, high energy consumption in cooling systems, and interference from water vapor, leading to reduced net-work output and increased carbon dioxide emissions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a bottoming cycle power system that includes a turbo-expander, turbo-compressor, open cycle absorption chiller system, and carbon dioxide capture system, which reduces the specific volume and mass of exhaust gas, minimizes pressure drop, and efficiently captures carbon dioxide, while utilizing waste heat to produce products like distilled water and recycled plastic products.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a turbo-expander is used to recover energy from exhaust gas, then power generation is improved, but the low exhaust pressure makes useful work recovery difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower generationVSAvoidexhaust pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

A heat exchanger is introduced as an intermediary device between the turbo-expander and the atmosphere. The heat exchanger condenses water vapor from the exhaust gas, removing volume and mass without requiring additional compression work. This mediator enables the turbo-expander to operate more effectively by reducing the workload on the turbo-compressor while maintaining power generation benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If a cooling system is used to reduce exhaust gas volume, then the work required by the turbo-compressor is reduced, but the cooling systems consume significant energy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidexhaust gas volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the exhaust gas itself to provide the cooling effect. The heat exchanger allows the exhaust gas to condense its own water vapor content, utilizing its thermal energy to reduce its volume. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external cooling systems and their associated energy consumption, while still achieving volume reduction to minimize turbo-compressor work.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If water vapor is present in exhaust gas, then the mass and volume are higher, but water vapor interferes with carbon dioxide capture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemass of exhaust gasVSAvoidinterference with carbon dioxide capture

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heat exchanger performs preliminary condensation of water vapor from the exhaust gas before the gas enters the carbon dioxide capture system. By removing water vapor in advance, the system prevents interference with the carbon dioxide capture process and reduces the mass that the turbo-compressor must handle, thereby improving both capture efficiency and overall system performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 enhances the efficiency of power generation, reduces energy consumption, and effectively captures carbon dioxide, enabling the utilization of low-pressure waste heat to produce valuable products, thereby improving overall system efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

a turbo-expander that expands a flow of exhaust gas from a combustion process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExpansion:

Implementation Method 2

an open cycle absorption chiller system that removes water from the exhaust gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

The flow of exhaust gas from the turbo-expander is routed through a heat exchanger. Water in the exhaust gas is condensed with heat transferred to a second refrigerant solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

Water in the second refrigerant solution is evaporated with heat absorbed from the exhaust gas to generate a flow of steam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 5

The flow of steam is condensed in a condenser section into a flow of liquid distilled water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentUS11346256B1Systems and methods associated with bottoming cycle power systems for generating power, capturing carbon dioxide and producing products

Publication Date: 2022.05.31 SKADERI GRUP LLC

AI summary

A method of generating electric power includes expanding a flow of exhaust gas from a combustion process as the exhaust gas passes through a turbo-expander disposed on a turbo-crankshaft. The flow of exhaust gas from the turbo-expander is routed through an absorber section of an open cycle absorption chiller system. Water from the exhaust gas is absorbed via a first refrigerant solution disposed in the absorber section as the exhaust gas passes through the first refrigerant solution and out of the absorber section. The flow of exhaust gas from the absorber section is compressed as the exhaust gas passes through a turbo-compressor disposed on the turbo-crankshaft. Electrical power is generated from a bottoming cycle generator disposed on the turbo-crankshaft.