System and method for enhanced removal of CO 2 from a mixed gas stream

• US 8,343,445 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd. (Alstom SA)
• Inventors: Liu, Zheng, Handagama, Naresh B.
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US12/406,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20090238731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 422/611, 261/94, 261/95, 261/98, 951/39, 951/66, 951/61, 423/228, 423/232
• US Class Current: 422/611
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1475 Removing carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1493 Selection of liquid materials for use as absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/62 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2

Abstract

A solvent based flue gas processing system for removing CO₂ from a flue gas stream is provided in which a catalyst coated on a support structure is provided. The catalyst selected is capable of retaining CO₂, at least for a period of time, thereby increasing the residence time of CO₂ and solvent.

Claims

1. A gas processing system comprising:

an absorber including a vessel configured to receive a mixed gas stream containing carbon dioxide and to contact the mixed gas stream with a solvent;

wherein the absorber comprises packing materials disposed in the vessel, the packing material including a catalyst disposed thereon for the catalyst to promote the capture of carbon dioxide from within the mixed gas stream to make the solvent rich in carbon dioxide.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is a heterogeneous catalyst.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the solvent is amine based.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the packing materials are coated/immobilized with the catalyst.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the solvent is ammonia based.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the catalyst includes a high BET surface area and porosity.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the catalyst retains the carbon dioxide for a period of time to increase the likelihood the carbon dioxide will be captured by the solvent.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein packing materials are coated/immobilized with the catalyst.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the catalyst activates carbon dioxide adsorbed onto its surfaces and catalyses carbonation/bi-carbonation and carbonation of the solvent with carbon dioxide.

10. A gas processing system comprising:

a regenerator including a vessel configured to receive a solvent stream rich in carbon dioxide;

wherein the regenerator comprises packing materials disposed in the vessel, the packing materials including a catalyst disposed thereon to promote the release of carbon dioxide within the solvent stream.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the catalyst is a heterogeneous catalyst.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the solvent is amine based.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the solvent is ammonia based.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the catalyst includes a high BET surface area and porosity.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the catalyst retains the carbon dioxide for a period of time to increase the likelihood the carbon dioxide will be captured by the solvent.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the catalyst activates carbon dioxide adsorbed onto its surfaces and catalyses carbonation/bi-carbonation and carbonation of the solvent with carbon dioxide.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the catalyst catalyses the decomposition of products formed from the carbonation/bi-carbonation and carbonation of amine with carbon dioxide.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the catalyst catalyses the decomposition of products formed from the reaction/interaction of ammonia with CO₂.

19. A mixed gas processing system comprising:

an absorber including a first vessel configured to receive a mixed gas stream containing carbon dioxide and to contact the mixed gas stream with a solvent, the absorber comprising packing materials disposed in the first vessel to provide a solvent stream rich in carbon dioxide; and

a regenerator including a second vessel configured to receive the solvent stream rich in carbon dioxide;

whereby the regenerator comprises packing materials disposed in the second vessel to provide a solvent stream lean in carbon dioxide to the absorber and provide a carbon dioxide rich stream;

wherein at least one of the packing materials of the absorber and the packing materials of the regenerator includes a catalyst disposed thereon to promote the release of carbon dioxide within the mixed gas stream and solvent stream rich in carbon dioxide, respectively.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the packing materials are coated/immobilized with the catalyst.