Systems and Methods for Processing CO2
Systems and methods for lowering levels of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants are provided. Economically viable systems and processes capable of removing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants from gaseous waste streams and sequestering them in storage-stable forms are also discussed.
1 . An apparatus for transferring a component of a gas into a liquid, said apparatus comprising:
a gas inlet;
a chamber configured to contact the liquid and gas:
a first liquid introduction unit at a first location within the chamber and a second liquid introduction unit at a second location within the chamber, wherein the liquid introduction units are configured to introduce the liquid into the chamber for contact with the gas:
a reservoir configured to contain the liquid after it has contacted the gas;
an outlet for the liquid after it has contacted the gas, wherein the inlet, the chamber, the liquid introduction units, the reservoir, and the outlet are operably connected; and
at least one of the following features:
i) at least one array of shed rows within the chamber, wherein the shed rows are configured to redistribute the flow of the gas as it enters the chamber such that the gas flows axially along the chamber over a greater area of the cross section of the chamber than the gas flow upon entering the chamber, prior to interacting with the shed rows;
ii) an anti-foaming device configured to reduce foaming in the reservoir;
iii) at least one pump per liquid introduction unit for pumping the liquid through the introduction unit;
iv) configuration of the liquid introduction units such that the direction of the flow of the liquid out of the first unit is different than the direction of flow of the liquid out of the second unit;
v) one or more restriction orifice mechanism (release valve) configured to direct liquid flow to at least one of the liquid introduction units, into the gas inlet, or a combination thereof; and
vi) varying the area covered by the liquid introduction units, wherein the liquid introduction units comprise atomizing units that create sprays, wherein at least one atomizing unit is configured to create a spray of angle different from that of the other atomizing units.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 comprising at least two of the features.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 comprising at least three of the features.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 comprising at least four of the features.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 comprising at least five of the features.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 comprising all of the features.
7 . The apparatus of any of claims 1 - 6 , wherein the gas inlet is configured to accept industrial waste gas, compressed ambient air, compressed carbon dioxide, super critical carbon dioxide or any combination thereof.
8 . The apparatus of any of claims 1 - 6 , wherein the gas comprises an industrial waste gas, carbon dioxide that has been previously separated from an industrial waste gas, or any combination thereof.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the gas comprises one or more of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur oxide.
10 . The apparatus of any of claims 1 - 9 , wherein the first liquid introduction unit is located on the lowest level above the inlet of the gas and is oriented to direct the flow of liquid into the chamber in a direction substantially co-current to the direction of gas flow.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the second liquid introduction unit is oriented to direct the flow of liquid into the chamber in a direction substantially countercurrent to the direction of gas flow.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein first liquid introduction unit, the second liquid introduction unit, or both comprise nozzles.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the nozzles comprise dual-fluid nozzles.
14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the nozzles comprise eductor-jet nozzles.
15 . The apparatus of claim any of claims 1 - 14 , wherein at least one of the pumps is controlled with a variable frequency drive.
16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the anti-foaming device comprises a cone situated over the reservoir.
17 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the anti-foaming device further comprises liquid sprays oriented towards the cone.
18 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a liquid recirculation circuit configured to direct the liquid from the reservoir to the one or more of the liquid introduction units.
19 . The apparatus of either claim 10 or claim 18 , further comprising a demisting level before the gas exits the contacting chamber.
20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the demisting level comprises a chevron demister, flat-jet sprays, a wet electrostatic precipitator, a packed bed, or any combination thereof.
21 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the liquid provided to the demisting level comprises a different solution from the liquid provided to the liquid introduction units.
22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the liquid provided to each of the liquid introduction units comprises a different solution.
23 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the liquid provided to the demisting level is a clear liquid.
24 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the liquid provided to the liquid introduction units comprises a slurry.
25 . The apparatus of claim 24 , further comprising a comminution station configured to accept slurry from the reservoir and provide processed slurry to the liquid introduction units.
26 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the recirculation circuit comprises the comminution station.
27 . The apparatus of any of claims 1 - 26 , wherein the reservoir is located below the nozzles at the bottom of the contacting chamber.
28 . The apparatus of any of claims 1 - 26 , further comprising a precipitation tank operably connected to the contacting chamber.
29 . The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the precipitation tank comprises temperature controllers, inlets for addition of pH adjusting agents, agitators, inlets for crystal growth agents, inlets for crystal seeding agents, inlets for settling agents, inlets for flocculants, or any combination thereof.
30 . The apparatus of claim 29 , further comprising a precipitate outlet operably connected to the precipitation tank.
31 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the precipitate outlet collects a solid precipitate and a supernatant solution.
32 . The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the precipitate outlet separates solid precipitate from the supernatant solution.
33 . The apparatus of claim 32 , further comprising a conduit to provide the solid precipitate to a building materials fabrication station.
34 . The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the gas inlet is configured to accept a waste gas from an industrial plant.
35 . The apparatus of claim 34 , wherein the gas inlet is configured to accept a flue gas from a plant that combusts fossil fuel.
36 . The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the gas inlet is configured to accept a flue gas from a plant that combusts fossil fuel, further wherein the flue gas has passed through an emission control system prior to being provided to the gas inlet of said apparatus.
37 . The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the emission control system comprises one or more of the following:
i) an electrostatic precipitator to collect particulates;
ii) SOx control technology;
iii) NOx control technology;
iv) physical filtering technology to collect particulates;
v) mercury control technology.
38 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the sprays of the atomizing units comprise sprays of 60° near the walls of the contacting chamber and sprays of 90° in the inner cross section of the contacting chamber.
39 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the flow of the gas across the shed rows is perpendicular.
40 . The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising packing material, trays, a packed bed, or any combination thereof within said chamber.
41 . The apparatus of claim 40 , further comprising a at least one membrane or one microporous membrane within said chamber.