SPRAY PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF CO2 FROM A GAS STREAM AND A RELATED APPARATUS

• US 20110100217A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wood, Benjamin Rue, Perry, Robert James, Soloveichik, Grigorii Lev, Genovese, Sarah Elizabeth
• Granted Patent: US 8,647,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/179
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/80 Organic bases or salts
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/502 Carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1475 Removing carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/505 in a spray drying process
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2

Abstract

A method for recovering carbon dioxide (CO₂) from a gas stream is disclosed. The method includes the step of reacting CO₂ in the gas stream with fine droplets of a liquid absorbent, so as to form a solid material in which the CO₂ is bound. The solid material is then transported to a desorption site, where it is heated, to release substantially pure CO₂ gas. The CO₂ gas can then be collected and used or transported in any desired way. A related apparatus for recovering carbon dioxide (CO₂) from a gas stream is also described herein.

Claims

1. A method for recovering carbon dioxide (CO₂) from a gas stream, comprising the following steps:

a) reacting CO₂ in the gas stream with fine droplets of a liquid absorbent, so as to form a solid material in which the CO₂ is bound;

b) transporting the solid material to a desorption site;

c) heating the solid material in the desorption site, to release substantially pure CO₂ gas; and

d) collecting the CO₂ gas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein reaction of the CO₂ with the fine droplets occurs in a spray tower, or in a venturi scrubber.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fine droplets are formed by a spray atomization technique.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fine droplets have an average diameter no greater than about 1000 microns.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fine droplets have an average diameter in the range of about 500 microns to about 1000 microns.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid material comprises solid particles, having a density of at least about 1.1 g/cc.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the solid particles have an average particle size in the range of about 1000 microns to about 2000 microns.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbent comprises at least one amine compound.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the amine compound is selected from the group consisting of polyimines;

polyamines;

cyclic amines;

guanidines;

amidines;

hindered amines;

amino acids;

amino-siloxane compounds, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the polyimine comprises polyethyleneimine.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the cyclic amine is selected from the group consisting of 4-aminopyridine;

1,5-diazabiciclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN); and

1,8-diazabiciclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU).

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the amidine comprises formamidine (HC(═

NH)NH₂).

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the hindered amine is selected from the group consisting of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine;

tert-butylamine;

cyclohexyldiamine;

2-(dimethylamino)-ethanol;

2-(diethylamino)-ethanol;

2-(ethylmethylamino)-ethanol;

1-(dimethylamino)-ethanol;

1-(diethylamino)-ethanol;

1-(ethylmethylamino)-ethanol;

2-(diisopropylamino)-ethanol;

1-(diethylamino)-2-propanol;

3-(diethylamino)-1-propanol; and

combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the amino-siloxane compound is

(NH₂C₃H₆Si(Me)₂OSiMe₂C₃H₆NH₂),

wherein “

Me”

is a methyl group.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein reaction between the liquid absorbent and the amine compound results in the formation of a carbamate, a bicarbonate, or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein heating step (c) regenerates at least a portion of the liquid absorbent, which is separated from the collected CO₂ gas.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein heating step (c) is carried out in a chamber adapted to apply heat to the solid material in which the CO₂ is bound;

or in an extruder.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the regenerated liquid absorbent is directed back to a reaction site for reaction with additional CO₂ from the gas stream, to form additional solid material.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the reaction site comprises a spray tower or a venturi scrubbing system.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the regenerated liquid absorbent is directed back to the reaction site by a pumping means or pressure means.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein heating step (c) is carried out at a temperature sufficient to substantially decompose the solid material formed by the reaction of the CO₂ and the liquid absorbent.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein reaction step (a) forms CO₂-lean flue gas.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the CO₂-lean flue gas contains volatile liquid absorbent, and the volatile liquid absorbent is condensed and directed back to a storage chamber, or to a reaction site for reaction with additional CO₂.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the source of the gas stream is selected from the group consisting of a combustion process;

a gasification process;

a landfill;

a furnace;

a steam generator, a boiler, and combinations thereof.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the source of the gas stream is a coal-fired power plant.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially pure CO₂ gas released in step (c) is sequestered in a separate location.

27. A method for recovering carbon dioxide (CO₂) from a gas stream which originates at a coal-fired power plant or a gasification plant, comprising the following steps:

A) reacting the CO₂ with fine droplets of a liquid absorbent in a spray tower or in a venturi scrubber, so as to form a solid material in which the CO₂ is bound;

B) transporting the solid material to a desorption chamber;

C) heating the solid material in the desorption chamber, to release substantially pure CO₂ gas; and

to regenerate at least a portion of the liquid absorbent;

D) collecting the CO₂ gas; and

E) directing the regenerated liquid absorbent back to the spray tower or venturi scrubber.

28. An apparatus for recovering carbon dioxide (CO₂) from a gas stream, comprising:

(i) a reaction chamber suitable for reacting the CO₂ gas with a reactant;

so as to form a solid material in which the CO₂ is bound;

(ii) a desorption site, for heating the solid material to release the CO₂ gas and to regenerate the reactant; and

(iii) a transportation mechanism for transporting the solid material from the reaction chamber to the desorption site.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising at least one conduit for returning the regenerated reactant to the reaction chamber for reaction with additional CO₂ gas.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the reaction chamber comprises a spray tower or a venturi scrubber.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the desorption site comprises (I) a chamber adapted to apply heat to the solid material in which the CO₂ is bound;

or (II) in an extruder.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising at least one condenser in communication with the reaction chamber, and capable of condensing residual liquid absorbent from CO₂-lean flue gas which is formed in the reaction chamber.