Systems and methods for using cold liquid to remove solidifiable gas components from process gas streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for removing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from industrial gas streams are energy-intensive, require high pressures, and often necessitate pre-processing to remove water, which can lead to system blockages and reduced efficiency in power generation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves directly contacting the gas stream with a cold liquid to freeze and solidify the greenhouse gases, allowing for their removal as a slurry, which can be concentrated and the gases selectively separated, reducing the need for high pressures and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional methods (amine treating, adsorption, physical solvents) are used to remove carbon dioxide from flue gas streams, then carbon dioxide removal effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase transition by cooling the flue gas stream to freeze carbon dioxide directly from gas to solid phase, forming a slurry that can be separated and removed. This eliminates the need for energy-intensive chemical absorption or adsorption processes, directly resolving the contradiction between effective CO2 removal and high energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical systems (amine treating equipment, adsorption towers, solvent circulation systems) with a simpler cooling and freezing mechanism. By substituting mechanical/chemical separation systems with a thermal phase-change process, energy consumption is dramatically reduced while maintaining effective carbon dioxide removal
2Quantity of substance
If high pressure is applied to enhance carbon dioxide removal efficiency, then removal effectiveness is improved, but system complexity and energy requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters from high pressure to low temperature conditions. By cooling the flue gas to below the sublimation point of carbon dioxide, the system achieves effective CO2 removal at atmospheric or near-atmospheric pressures, eliminating the need for high-pressure equipment and reducing system complexity
3Reliability
If water is removed from flue gas streams before processing, then system blockage risk is reduced, but pre-processing complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes water from the flue gas stream through cooling and condensation before the carbon dioxide freezing process. By taking out water as a separate phase (condensed liquid or ice) prior to CO2 removal, the system prevents ice formation and blockages in downstream equipment while maintaining relatively simple processing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary water removal through cooling and condensation before the main carbon dioxide freezing process. This preliminary action prevents water from interfering with subsequent CO2 separation and avoids potential blockages, establishing reliable operation without requiring complex pre-drying equipment
4Quantity of substance
If net power generation is reduced to accommodate carbon dioxide removal processes, then carbon dioxide removal is improved, but overall system productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition of carbon dioxide from gas to solid through simple cooling, which requires minimal energy input compared to chemical absorption or high-pressure processes. This low-energy approach minimizes the impact on net power generation while achieving effective CO2 removal, thereby preserving overall system productivity
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 effectively removes greenhouse gases while minimizing energy usage and avoiding the need for high pressures, maintaining system efficiency and reducing the risk of blockages, with a significant reduction in carbon dioxide concentration in the treated gas stream.
Implementation Method 1
The process gas stream includes at least one gas component that is frozen or otherwise solidified by direct contact with the cold liquid
Implementation Method 2
The solids may be melted or vaporized and separated to form an outlet stream
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described for re-moving solidifiable gas from a process gas stream by direct contact with a cold liquid. The process gas stream includes at least gas that is frozen by the cold liquid while one or more other gases of the process gas stream remain in a gaseous state. The process gas stream may include water, and will have a different composition than the cold liquid. The contacting of the cold liquid with the process gas stream may be at a pressure that is less than 200 psia, and optionally less than 100 psia, 50 psia, or even 30 psia, and the solidified gas may be removed from the contacting assembly as a slurry with cold liquid.