IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,616,929
Granted Patent B2
US 12,616,929 · App. 17/915,621 · Granted May 5, 2026

System for offshore carbon dioxide capture

Inventors: Aslak Einbu (Trondheim, NO); Torbjørn Pettersen (Trondheim, NO); John Morud (Trondheim, NO)
Assignee: EQUINOR ENERGY AS
B01D47/063B01D53/1475B01D53/185B01D53/62B01D53/79B01D2252/20447B01D2257/504B01D2258/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,616,929
App. No.
17/915,621
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A capture system for offshore carbon dioxide capture and a method for offshore carbon dioxide capture are described. A capture system for offshore carbon dioxide capture, the system comprising: a pressurised flue gas source configured to provide a pressurised flue gas 101 ; a solvent source configured to provide a liquid solvent; and a two-phase atomising nozzle in fluid communication with the pressurised flue gas source and the solvent source; wherein the two-phase atomising nozzle is configured for two-phase flow of a mixture of the pressurised flue gas and the liquid solvent in order to generate an atomised solvent spray of the liquid solvent.

Claims (30)

1 . A carbon dioxide capture system, the system comprising:

a pressurized gas source configured to provide a pressurized gas, wherein the pressurized gas is ambient air pressurized by a compressor, fan, blower or pump;

a solvent source configured to provide a liquid solvent, wherein the liquid solvent is a substance comprising an amime group;

a two-phase atomizing nozzle in fluid communication with the pressurized gas source and the solvent source;

wherein the two-phase atomizing nozzle is configured for two-phase flow of a mixture of the pressurized gas and the liquid solvent in order to generate an atomized solvent spray of the liquid solvent;

an inlet to the capture system, the inlet being upstream of the two-phase atomizing nozzle and in fluid communication with the pressurized gas source; and

an outlet from the capture system, which is downstream of the two-phase atomizing nozzle, so that a part of the pressurized gas enters the inlet and flows past the two-phase atomizing nozzle, being exposed to the atomized solvent spray, before passing out the outlet;

wherein the atomized solvent spray is configured to capture carbon dioxide present in the pressurized gas.

2 . The capture system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressurized gas is configured to drive the solvent through the two-phase atomizing nozzle to generate the atomized solvent spray.

3 . The capture system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the atomized solvent spray, upon generation, comprises solvent droplets having a droplet diameter of 150 μm or less.

4 . The capture system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a solvent regeneration unit, wherein the solvent regeneration unit is configured to separate solvent from any carbon dioxide present in the solvent.

5 . The capture system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the solvent regeneration unit is the solvent source.

6 . The capture system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a direct contact cooler downstream of the atomized solvent spray, wherein the direct contact cooler is configured to condense the atomized solvent spray.

7 . The capture system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising one or more demisters configured to condense the atomized solvent spray.

8 . The capture system as claimed in claim 1 , which is onshore.

9 . A method for carbon dioxide capture, the method comprising:

providing a pressurized gas;

providing a first part of the pressurized gas to a two-phase atomizing nozzle;

providing liquid solvent to the two-phase atomizing nozzle;

generating an atomized solvent spray using the two-phase atomizing nozzle; and

providing a second part of the pressurized gas to an inlet of a carbon dioxide capture system, the inlet being upstream of the two-phase atomizing nozzle so that said second part of the pressurized gas is exposed to said atomized solvent spray, before passing out an outlet of the capture system, which is downstream of the two-phase atomizing nozzle;

wherein the liquid solvent is a substance comprising an amine group;

wherein the pressurized gas is ambient air pressurized by a compressor, fan, blower or pump; and

wherein the two-phase atomizing nozzle is configured for two-phase flow of a mixture of the pressurized gas and the liquid solvent in order to generate the atomized solvent spray of the liquid solvent.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , comprising:

providing the ambient air to the inlet of the carbon dioxide capture system.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising: driving the liquid solvent through the two-phase atomizing nozzle using the pressurized gas.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , comprising: separating solvent from any carbon dioxide present in the solvent using a solvent regeneration unit.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the method is performed by the capture system of claim 1 .

14 . The method as claimed in claim 9 which is carried out onshore.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SPELLING OF NAME OF CONVEYING PARTY PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 71658 FRAME 69. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Recorded Jul 11, 2025
From: SINTEF TTO AS
To: EQUINOR ENERGY AS
Reel/Frame 071909/0644 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2025
From: SINTEFF TTO AS
To: EQUINOR ENERGY AS
Reel/Frame 071658/0069 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2023
From: EINBU, ASLAK; PETTERSEN, TORBJØRN; MORUD, JOHN
To: SINTEF TTO AS
Reel/Frame 064813/0542 →
Priority Claims (1)
GB 2004609 · Mar 30, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230145006A1 · May 11, 2023
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