Two-Stage Cooling Reflux for Amine Recovery in CO2 Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CO2 removal methods using amine compounds face inefficiencies in amine recovery due to temperature-induced evaporation, leading to increased amine compound release in decarbonated gases, which affects washing effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage cooling system is introduced to manage reflux water distribution across multiple washing sections, ensuring consistent gas temperatures and optimizing amine concentration gradients to enhance amine recovery efficiency by adjusting reflux water flow from first and second coolers to decarbonator stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-stage cooling system is used for reflux water, then the device complexity is reduced, but the amine recovery efficiency deteriorates due to insufficient temperature control and amine concentration gradient optimization
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two stages: a first cooler for initial cooling of reflux water, and a second cooler for further cooling. This segmentation allows progressive temperature reduction and creates optimized temperature gradients across multiple washing sections, thereby improving amine recovery efficiency without excessive complexity
2Ease of operation
If amine compound concentration in reflux water is not adjusted, then the operation simplicity is maintained, but the washing effect deteriorates due to suboptimal amine concentration gradients in washing sections
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the concentration of amine compound in reflux water by controlling the flow rates and temperatures through the multi-stage cooling system. This dynamic adjustment creates optimal concentration gradients in each washing section, enhancing washing effectiveness while maintaining operational simplicity through automated flow control
3Use of energy by moving object
If reflux water temperature is not controlled, then the energy consumption is reduced, but the amine vapor pressure increases causing higher amine release in decarbonated gas
Solution Approach 1:
The reflux water is cooled in advance through the first and second coolers before entering the washing sections. This preliminary cooling action prevents temperature-induced amine evaporation during the washing process, thereby reducing amine vapor pressure and harmful amine release in decarbonated gas while managing energy consumption through staged cooling
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 significantly reduces amine compound vapor in combustion exhaust gases, improving amine removal efficiency and maintaining water balance within the CO2 removal system, thereby preventing amine diffusion and enhancing overall recovery processes.
Implementation Method 1
a contact section (packed section) 2 that makes counterflow contact of the combustion exhaust gas and an amine compound aqueous solution
Implementation Method 2
since CO2 and an amine compound exothermally react with each other, an absorbing solution temperature in a CO2 absorption section increases
Implementation Method 3
a desorption column 13 for regenerating an amine compound aqueous solution by heating the amine compound aqueous solution discharged from the decarbonator 1
Implementation Method 4
a cooler 19 disposed on the downstream of the desorption column 13
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a CO2 removal apparatus that prevents release of an amine compound of an absorbing solution from a CO2 absorption device. The CO2 removal apparatus includes a desorption column 13 that heats and regenerates an amine compound aqueous solution discharged from a decarbonator 1 making counterflow contact of a combustion exhaust gas and an amine compound aqueous solution; and reflux means that refluxes an amine compound aqueous solution regenerated in the desorption column 13 to the decarbonator 1 via a cooler 19. A contact section that makes counterflow contact of reflux water of the desorption column 13 and a CO2-removed combustion exhaust gas is formed in two stages, and the cooler 19 on the downstream side of the desorption column is also formed in two stages. Reflux water from the first stage cooler is supplied to the first stage contact section, and reflux water from the second stage cooler is supplied to the second stage contact section. As a result, the reflux water from the cooler 19 on the downstream side of the desorption column 13 can be efficiently used for amine removal of the decarbonator 1, and a concentration of an amine released from the decarbonator can be reduced.