System for the removal of heat stable amine salts from an amine absorbent
A system for the removal of heat stable amine salts from an amine absorbent used in a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture process.
1. A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture system using an amine absorbent for absorption of CO 2 from a gas stream, the CO 2 capture system comprising a subsystem for removal of heat stable amine salts from a slipstream comprising the amine absorbent, the subsystem comprising:
a residual CO 2 removal unit in liquid connection with, and configured to receive, the slipstream containing heat stable amine salts from a CO 2 -lean amine absorbent stream of the CO 2 capture system, and operative for separating residual CO 2 from the CO 2 -lean amine absorbent stream; and
an amine reclaimer in liquid connection with, and configured to receive, the slipstream containing heat stable amine salts and having a reduced concentration of CO 2 from the residual CO 2 removal unit, operative for separating heat stable amine salts from the slipstream, and configured to return the slipstream separated from heat stable amine salts to the CO 2 -lean amine absorbent stream.
2. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 1 , wherein the amine reclaimer comprises an electrodialysis unit or an ion exchange unit.
3. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 1 , wherein the subsystem further comprises an amine absorbent cooler operationally arranged between the residual CO 2 removal unit and the reclaimer and operative for cooling the slipstream from the residual CO 2 removal unit before the slipstream enters the reclaimer.
4. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 1 , wherein the subsystem further comprises an indirect heat exchanger operative for subjecting the slipstream from the residual CO 2 removal unit to indirect heat exchange with the slipstream coming from the reclaimer.
5. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 1 , wherein the residual CO 2 removal unit comprises a stripper and/or a flash drum.
6. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 5 , wherein the residual CO 2 removal unit comprises the stripper.
7. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 5 , wherein the residual CO 2 removal unit comprises the flash drum.
8. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 5 , wherein the residual CO 2 removal unit comprises the stripper and the flash drum arranged in series.
9. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 1 further comprising:
a CO 2 absorber operative for scrubbing the gas stream comprising CO 2 with the amine absorbent such that a CO 2 -rich amine absorbent stream is formed; and
a regenerator operative for regenerating the CO 2 -rich amine absorbent stream by heating the CO 2 -rich amine absorbent stream to separate CO 2 from the amine absorbent, thereby forming the CO 2 -lean amine absorbent stream.
10. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 9 , wherein the slipstream is taken from the CO 2 -lean amine absorbent stream from the regenerator.
11. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 9 further comprising an amine absorbent heat exchanger between the CO 2 absorber and the regenerator.
12. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 11 , wherein the slipstream is taken from the CO 2 -lean amine absorbent stream from the amine absorbent heat exchanger.
13. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 11 , wherein the slipstream is taken from between the regenerator and the amine absorbent heat exchanger.
14. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 11 , wherein the slipstream is taken from between the amine absorbent heat exchanger and the CO 2 absorber.
15. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 11 , wherein the amine reclaimer comprises an electrodialysis unit.
16. The CO 2 capture system according to claim 11 , wherein the amine reclaimer comprises an ion exchange unit.