Cyclical CO2 capture with integrated heat pump
AssigneeExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
InventorEverett J. O'Neal
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for performing CO2 sorption and desorption using a sorbent structure with an integrated heat pump. The integrated heat pump can allow at least a portion of the heat generated during sorption to be recovered by forming steam from water. The steam raised during the sorption process can then be compressed and optionally heated to raise the temperature of the steam. The compressed and optionally heated steam can then be used as at least a portion of the steam for desorption of CO2 in the same sorbent bed or a different sorbent bed. By recovering the heat of sorption to raise steam, substantial energy savings can be achieved relative to a conventional process.
Claims20
A method for performing a CO2 sorption/desorption cycle, comprising:
- exposing CO2 to a sorbent in a first sorbent environment to sorb CO2 and generate heat at a sorption temperature;
- transferring at least a portion of the heat generated at the sorption temperature to water in one or more first heat exchanger volumes associated with the first sorbent environment to form steam at the sorption temperature;
- compressing at least a portion of the steam to form pressurized steam;
- passing at least a portion of the pressurized steam into one or more second heat exchanger volumes associated with a second sorbent environment;
- condensing the at least a portion of the pressurized steam in the second heat exchanger volumes at a desorption temperature to form water and generate heat at the desorption temperature;
- and
- transferring at least a portion of the heat generated at the desorption temperature to a sorbent in the second sorbent environment to desorb CO2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.