System and method of applying carbon dioxide during the production of concrete
The present disclosure involves systems and methods for applying CO2 to concrete, which may be performed in-situ or through a separate, stand-alone process. According to another embodiment disclosed herein, a system and method for applying CO2 to one or more materials used in the production of concrete is also provided.
1. A method for carbonating a concrete mix in a mixer comprising
(i) producing carbonated mix water by injecting carbon dioxide into water to be used in the production of the concrete mix; and
(ii) after producing the carbonated mix water, combining the carbonated mix water with concrete materials comprising cementitious material comprising hydraulic cement and aggregates to produce a carbonated concrete mix,
wherein the carbonated water provides carbon dioxide to the concrete mix in an amount from 1 to 27 pounds of carbon dioxide per cubic yard of concrete mix, and wherein the mixer is a truck mounted mixer that is open to the atmosphere.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the carbonated mix water comprises effluent water from a direct hydrocarbon fired heater.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the concrete mix further comprises cementitious material other than hydraulic cement.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the other cementitious material comprises fly ash or blast furnace slag, or a combination thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising converting liquid carbon dioxide to solid and gaseous carbon dioxide and mixing the gaseous and solid carbon dioxide with the concrete mix.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding an admixture to the concrete mix.