Reabsorber for ammonia stripper offgas

• US 8,764,892 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd. (Alstom SA)
• Inventors: Koss, Peter Ulrich, Kozak, Frederic Zenon
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, PANKTI R
• Application Number:
  US13/775,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20130189163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 96/243
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/2062 Ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/406 Ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1475 Removing carbon dioxide
• 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 method for removal of CO2 from a flue gas stream, comprising the steps of: a) contacting a flue gas stream comprising CO2 with a first absorption liquid comprising NH3 such that the flue gas stream is depleted in CO2; b) contacting the flue gas stream depleted in CO2 of step a) with a second absorption liquid such that NH3 from the flue gas stream is absorbed in said second absorption liquid to form a flue gas stream depleted in CO2 and NH3; c) separating NH3 from the second absorption liquid such that a gas stream comprising NH3 is obtained; d) contacting said gas stream comprising NH3 separated in step c) with a third absorption liquid such that NH3 is absorbed in said third absorption liquid. A system for removal of CO2 from a flue gas stream, the system comprising: a CO2 absorption stage; an NH3 absorption stage; and a reabsorption stage.

Claims

1. A system for removal of CO2 from a flue gas stream, the system comprising:

a CO2 absorption stage;

an NH3 absorption stage; and

a reabsorption stage;

said CO2 absorption stage comprising a first gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a flue gas stream containing CO2, contact the flue gas stream with a first absorption liquid comprising NH3 such that CO2 from the flue gas stream is absorbed in the first absorption liquid and discharge a flue gas stream depleted in CO2;

a first absorption liquid regenerator unit; and

an absorption liquid cycle;

wherein the first gas liquid mass transfer device and the first absorption liquid regenerator unit are in fluid connection via the absorption liquid cycle such that at least a portion of CO2 rich absorption liquid from the first gas liquid mass transfer device may be directed to the first absorption liquid regenerator unit, and at least a portion of the CO2 lean absorption liquid from the first absorption liquid regenerator unit may be recycled to the first gas liquid mass transfer device;

said NH3 absorption stage comprising a second gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a flue gas stream depleted in CO2 from the CO2 absorption stage and contact said flue gas stream depleted in CO2 with a second absorption liquid such that NH3 from the flue gas stream is absorbed in said second absorption liquid and a second absorption liquid regenerator unit configured to separate NH3 from the second absorption liquid and discharge a gas stream comprising NH3 in gas or vapor form; and

said reabsorption stage comprising a third gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a gas stream comprising NH3 discharged from the second absorption liquid regenerator unit and contact said gas stream comprising NH3 with a third absorption liquid such that NH3 is absorbed in said third absorption liquid.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the NH3 absorption stage further comprises:

a second absorption liquid regenerator unit; and

an absorption liquid cycle;

wherein the second gas liquid mass transfer device and the second absorption liquid regenerator unit are in fluid connection via the absorption liquid cycle such that at least a portion of NH3 rich absorption liquid from the second gas liquid mass transfer device may be directed to the second absorption liquid regenerator unit, and at least a portion of the NH3 lean absorption liquid from the second absorption liquid regenerator unit may be recycled to the second gas liquid mass transfer device.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the reabsorption stage is in fluid connection with the CO2 absorption stage, such that at least a portion of the third absorption liquid containing absorbed NH3 may be joined with the first absorption liquid.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the reabsorption stage is in fluid connection with the CO2 absorption stage such that the third absorption liquid containing absorbed NH3 may be joined with CO2 rich first absorption liquid.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the reabsorption stage is in fluid connection with the CO2 absorption stage such that the third absorption liquid containing absorbed NH3 may be joined with CO2 rich first absorption liquid which is directed to the first absorption liquid regenerator unit.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein the reabsorption stage is in fluid connection with the CO2 absorption stage such that the third absorption liquid containing absorbed NH3 may be joined with CO2 rich first absorption liquid which is directed to the CO2 absorption unit.

7. A system according to claim 3, wherein the reabsorption stage is in fluid connection with the CO2 absorption stage such that the third absorption liquid containing absorbed NH3 may be joined with CO2 lean first absorption liquid.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the reabsorption stage is in fluid connection with the CO2 absorption stage such that gas which exits the third gas liquid mass transfer device of the reabsorption stage is joined with the flue gas stream before the flue gas stream enters the first gas liquid mass transfer device of the CO2 absorption stage.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the reabsorption stage is in fluid connection with the CO2 absorption stage such that gas which exits the third gas liquid mass transfer device of the reabsorption stage is joined with the flue gas stream in the first gas liquid mass transfer device of the CO2 absorption stage.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the reabsorption stage is in fluid connection with the CO2 absorption stage such that gas which exits the third gas liquid mass transfer device of the reabsorption stage is joined with the flue gas stream between the first gas liquid mass transfer device of the CO2 absorption stage and the third gas liquid mass transfer device of the NH3 absorption stage.

8. A system for removal of CO2 from a flue gas stream, the system comprising:

a CO2 absorption stage;

an NH3 absorption stage; and

a reabsorption stage;

said CO2 absorption stage comprising a first gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a flue gas stream containing CO2, contact the flue gas stream with a first absorption liquid comprising NH3 such that CO2 from the flue gas stream is absorbed in the first absorption liquid and discharge a flue gas stream depleted in CO2;

said NH3 absorption stage comprising a second gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a flue gas stream depleted in CO2 from the CO2 absorption stage and contact said flue gas stream depleted in CO2 with a second absorption liquid such that NH3 from the flue gas stream is absorbed in said second absorption liquid, and a second absorption liquid regenerator unit configured to separate NH3 from the second absorption liquid and discharge a gas stream comprising NH3 in gas or vapor form; and

said reabsorption stage comprising a third gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a gas stream comprising NH3 discharged from the second absorption liquid regenerator unit and contact said gas stream comprising NH3 with a third absorption liquid such that NH3 is absorbed in said third absorption liquid, wherein the reabsorption stage is in fluid connection with the CO2 absorption stage, and the third absorption liquid comprises a portion of the first absorption liquid.

9. A system for removal of CO2 from a flue gas stream, the system comprising:

a CO2 absorption stage;

an NH3 absorption stage; and

a reabsorption stage;

said CO2 absorption stage comprising a first gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a flue gas stream containing CO2, contact the flue gas stream with a first absorption liquid comprising NH3 such that CO2 from the flue gas stream is absorbed in the first absorption liquid and discharge a flue gas stream depleted in CO2;

said NH3 absorption stage comprising a second gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a flue gas stream depleted in CO2 from the CO2 absorption stage and contact said flue gas stream depleted in CO2 with a second absorption liquid such that NH3 from the flue gas stream is absorbed in said second absorption liquid, and a second absorption liquid regenerator unit configured to separate NH3 from the second absorption liquid and discharge a gas stream comprising NH3 in gas or vapor form; and

said reabsorption stage comprising a third gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a gas stream comprising NH3 discharged from the second absorption liquid regenerator unit and contact said gas stream comprising NH3 with a third absorption liquid such that NH3 is absorbed in said third absorption liquid, wherein the reabsorption stage is in fluid connection with the CO2 absorption stage, and the third absorption liquid consists of a portion of the first absorption liquid.

10. A system for removal of CO2 from a flue gas stream, the system comprising:

a CO2 absorption stage;

an NH3 absorption stage; and

a reabsorption stage;

said CO2 absorption stage comprising a first gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a flue gas stream containing CO2, contact the flue gas stream with a first absorption liquid comprising NH3 such that CO2 from the flue gas stream is absorbed in the first absorption liquid and discharge a flue gas stream depleted in CO2;

said NH3 absorption stage comprising a second gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a flue gas stream depleted in CO2 from the CO2 absorption stage and contact said flue gas stream depleted in CO2 with a second absorption liquid such that NH3 from the flue gas stream is absorbed in said second absorption liquid, and a second absorption liquid regenerator unit configured to separate NH3 from the second absorption liquid and discharge a gas stream comprising NH3 in gas or vapor form; and

said reabsorption stage comprising a third gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a gas stream comprising NH3 discharged from the second absorption liquid regenerator unit and contact said gas stream comprising NH3 with a third absorption liquid such that NH3 is absorbed in said third absorption liquid, wherein the third absorption liquid consists of a portion of the first absorption liquid and the third gas liquid mass transfer device of the reabsorption stage comprises a vessel configured to contain a volume of the first absorption liquid and configured to receive a gas stream comprising NH3 discharged from the second absorption liquid regenerator and bubble the gas stream comprising NH3 through a volume of said first absorption liquid in said vessel.

11. A system for removal of CO2 from a flue gas stream, the system comprising:

a CO2 absorption stage;

an NH3 absorption stage; and

a reabsorption stage;

said CO2 absorption stage comprising a first gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a flue gas stream containing CO2, contact the flue gas stream with a first absorption liquid comprising NH3 such that CO2 from the flue gas stream is absorbed in the first absorption liquid and discharge a flue gas stream depleted in CO2;

said NH3 absorption stage comprising a second gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a flue gas stream depleted in CO2 from the CO2 absorption stage and contact said flue gas stream depleted in CO2 with a second absorption liquid such that NH3 from the flue gas stream is absorbed in said second absorption liquid, and a second absorption liquid regenerator unit configured to separate NH3 from the second absorption liquid and discharge a gas stream comprising NH3 in gas or vapor form; and

said reabsorption stage comprising a third gas liquid mass transfer device configured to receive a gas stream comprising NH3 discharged from the second absorption liquid regenerator unit and contact said gas stream comprising NH3 with a third absorption liquid such that NH3 is absorbed in said third absorption liquid, wherein the reabsorption stage is in fluid connection with the CO2 absorption stage such that gas which exits the third gas liquid mass transfer device of the reabsorption stage is joined with the flue gas stream before the flue gas stream exits the second gas liquid mass transfer device of the NH3 absorption stage.