System and method for carbon dioxide capture and sequestration from relatively high concentration CO₂mixtures

摘要

A system and method of reducing the net carbon dioxide footprint of an industrial process that generates power from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in which ambient air is admixed with up to 50% by volume of an effluent gas from the power generator of the industrial process, in order to substantially increase the CO2 concentration in the air prior to treatment. The treatment comprises adsorbing CO2 from the admixed ambient air utilizing a cooled, porous substrate-supported amine adsorbent, wherein the porous substrate initially contacts the mixed ambient air containing condensed water in its pores, which act as an intrinsic coolant with respect to the exothermic heat generated by the adsorption process. In addition, prior to regenerating the supported adsorbent, air pressure is substantially reduced in the sealed regeneration chamber and the low pressure chamber is placed in fluid connection with a higher pressure regeneration chamber containing steam and carbon dioxide, to preheat the sorbent to be regenerated and to quickly cool the regenerated sorbent prior to use for further CO2 adsorption.

主权项

1. A system for removing carbon dioxide from carbon dioxide laden air, the system comprising
a pair of carbon dioxide removal structures, each structure comprising a sorbent that is capable of absorbing or binding to carbon dioxide, to remove carbon dioxide from the air, and a porous solid mass substrate upon the surfaces of which the sorbent is supported, and a movable structural support for the substrate; the structural support supporting the sorbent in a position to be exposed to a flow of carbon dioxide laden air so as to allow for the removal of CO2 from the air; a pair of sealable CO2-capture chambers, one for each carbon dioxide removal structure for capturing carbon dioxide from the CO2 loaded removal structure; openable fluid connection means between the carbon dioxide capture chamber and an exhaust pump for reducing the atmospheric pressure within the sealed carbon dioxide capture chamber after the entry of a removal structure; openable fluid connection means between the carbon dioxide capture chamber and a source of process heat steam; openable fluid connection means between the two carbon dioxide capture chambers; and an openable fluid connection means between each carbon dioxide capture chamber and a CO2 collection chamber; and apparatus for moving a carbon dioxide removal structure into and out of a carbon dioxide capture chamber.