Two-Phase Nozzle CO2 Capture for Lightweight Offshore Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional carbon dioxide capture systems for ships and offshore platforms are heavy, bulky, and energy-inefficient due to the use of conventional scrubber columns and high-pressure flue gas requirements, necessitating additional pumps and compressors, which increase weight and footprint.
Innovation Solution
A capture system utilizing a two-phase atomising nozzle for generating an atomised solvent spray, eliminating the need for a conventional scrubber column, and utilizing pressurised flue gas to increase solvent-gas contact area, reducing weight and energy demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a conventional scrubber column with tightly packed particulate solvent is used, then the surface area for carbon dioxide absorption is increased, but the system weight and footprint increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions the solvent from a liquid phase in a packed column to a spray of fine droplets (aerated liquid phase). This phase transition allows the same amount of solvent to occupy much less space while maintaining or increasing the effective surface area for CO2 absorption, thereby reducing the scrubber column weight and footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous liquid solvent stream is segmented into numerous small droplets through the spray nozzle system. This segmentation dramatically increases the total surface area of the solvent exposed to the flue gas, improving absorption efficiency while reducing the physical space and weight required for the absorption apparatus.
2Speed
If high pressure is applied to drive flue gas through a conventional scrubber column, then gas flow through the packed bed is achieved, but energy consumption increases due to additional pumps and compressors
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses the existing pressure of the flue gas (pneumatic energy) to drive the liquid solvent through spray nozzles via a hydraulic coupling mechanism. This eliminates the need for separate pumps and compressors, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective gas-liquid contact for CO2 absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of gas flow and liquid pumping are merged into a single process where the pressurized flue gas directly drives the solvent circulation system. This integration eliminates additional energy-consuming equipment while achieving the required flow rates for both phases.
3Duration of action of moving object
If liquid holdup time is increased to maximize contact time in a conventional scrubber column, then carbon dioxide absorption efficiency improves, but the effective weight of the system increases due to additional liquid required
Solution Approach 1:
The solvent is transformed from a continuous liquid phase with long residence time requirements to a spray of fine droplets that achieve rapid mass transfer. The phase transition to dispersed droplets dramatically increases the surface area-to-volume ratio, allowing much shorter contact times to achieve the same absorption efficiency, thereby reducing the liquid holdup weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the liquid solvent by atomizing it into fine droplets with diameters in the range of 10-100 micrometers. This parameter change in droplet size increases the surface area for mass transfer by orders of magnitude, reducing the required contact time and liquid holdup volume while maintaining absorption efficiency.
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
The system achieves a compact, lightweight, and efficient carbon dioxide capture with reduced pressure drop, enabling higher capture efficiency and minimizing the need for additional pressure sources, thus reducing system weight and footprint.
Implementation Method 1
the two-phase atomising nozzle is configured for two-phase flow of a mixture of the pressurised flue gas and the liquid solvent in order to generate an atomised solvent spray of the liquid solvent
Implementation Method 2
generate an atomised solvent spray of the liquid solvent
Implementation Method 3
a pressurised flue gas source configured to provide a pressurised flue gas
Implementation Method 4
the solvent generally bonds with the solute in a reversible reaction. During absorption/capture, the equilibrium is positioned such that the amount of solute captured is maximised
Data Source
AI summary
A capture system for offshore carbon dioxide capture and a method for offshore carbon dioxide capture are described. A capture system for offshore carbon dioxide capture, the system comprising: a pressurised flue gas source configured to provide a pressurised flue gas 101; a solvent source configured to provide a liquid solvent; and a two-phase atomising nozzle in fluid communication with the pressurised flue gas source and the solvent source; wherein the two-phase atomising nozzle is configured for two-phase flow of a mixture of the pressurised flue gas and the liquid solvent in order to generate an atomised solvent spray of the liquid solvent.