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

• US 8,414,853 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US12/406,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20090238742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 423/232, 423/228, 951/66, 951/39, 951/61, 422/611, 261/94, 261/95, 261/98
• US Class Current: 423/232
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/2047 Magnesium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/20753 Nickel
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/18 Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor B01D3/16, B01D3/26, B01D3/30 take precedence; packing elements B01J19/30, B01J19/32
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/62 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/77 Liquid phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/864 Removing carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/96 Regeneration, reactivation or recycling of reactants
• 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 described. A catalyst is provided to increase the efficiency of the solvent in capturing CO₂ from the flue gas stream or in regenerating the solvent.

Claims

1. A flue gas processing system comprising:

an absorber tower configured to receive a mixed gas stream containing carbon dioxide and to receive a solvent for contact between said mixed gas stream and said solvent in the presence of a catalyst for the catalyst to promote capture of carbon dioxide from said mixed gas stream by said solvent to produce a carbon dioxide rich solvent.

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

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

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said solvent is an amine based.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the catalyst promotes the capture of carbon dioxide by the solvent from the mixed gas stream.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said solvent is a carbon dioxide lean solvent cooled prior to contact with said mixed gas stream.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a regeneration tower configured to receive said carbon dioxide rich solvent for contact with a catalyst to promote carbonation and to produce a carbon dioxide lean solvent.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the carbon dioxide rich solvent is heated prior to contact with the regeneration tower catalyst.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the absorber tower catalyst and the regeneration tower catalyst may be the same or different catalysts.

10. A process for removing carbon dioxide from a mixed gas comprising:

passing a mixed gas containing carbon dioxide through an absorber tower configured to receive a solvent for contact of the solvent with the mixed gas in the presence of a catalyst for the catalyst to promote carbon dioxide capture from the mixed gas by the solvent to produce a carbon dioxide rich solvent.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein the catalyst is a homogeneous catalyst.

12. The process of claim 10 wherein the catalyst is a heterogeneous catalyst.

13. The process of claim 10 wherein the solvent is amine or ammonia based.

14. The process of claim 10 wherein the absorber tower is configured to prolong contact between the mixed gas and the solvent.

15. The process of claim 10 wherein the solvent is cooled prior contact with the mixed gas.

16. The process of claim 10 wherein the solvent is a carbon dioxide lean solvent.

17. The process of claim 10 further comprising a regeneration tower configured to receive the carbon dioxide rich solvent for contact with a catalyst to promote carbonation of the carbon dioxide rich solvent to produce a carbon dioxide lean solvent.

18. The process of claim 17 wherein the carbon dioxide rich solvent is heated prior to or within said regeneration tower.

19. The process of claim 17 wherein said carbon dioxide lean solvent may be circulated to the absorber tower.

20. The process of claim 17 wherein said regeneration tower catalyst may be the same or different from the absorber tower catalyst.