Systems and methods for integrated energy storage and cryogenic carbon capture
AssigneeSustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
InventorLarry L. Baxter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The systems and methods integrate energy storage with cryogenic carbon capture, providing effective grid management and energy-efficient carbon capture capabilities to power plants. The systems store energy during off-peak demand by using off-peak energy to compress natural gas to form liquefied natural gas (LNG) and storing the LNG for use as a refrigerant. The systems use the stored LNG as a refrigerant in a cryogenic carbon capture (CCC) process to isolate carbon dioxide from light gases in a flue gas. The systems supply energy during peak demand by burning the natural gas warmed by the CCC process to generate power.
Claims18
A method for storing electrical or mechanical energy and separating condensable vapors from light gases or liquids, comprising:
- (i) liquefying at least one gaseous refrigerant using electricity or mechanical energy during off-peak demand;
- (ii) storing the liquefied refrigerant in a liquefied refrigerant storage vessel for later use as a refrigerant;
- (iii) generating electricity by burning fuel in a fuel-based boiler, the fuel-based boiler outputting a mixed process stream;
- (iv) using the liquefied refrigerant as the refrigerant in a traditional heat exchanger (THE) or desublimating heat exchanger (DHE) during peak demand of energy to cool the mixed process stream, the mixed process stream comprising at least one condensable vapor and at least one light gas, thereby causing the condensable vapor to condense or desublimate to form a liquid or solid stream;
- (v) separating the liquid or solid stream from the light gas;
- and
- (vi) burning the refrigerant as a spent refrigerant to generate additional electricity during the peak demand.
A system for storing energy and separating condensable vapors from light gases or liquids, comprising:
- (i) a gaseous refrigerant liquefaction apparatus configured to use electricity or shaft work during off-peak demand to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG);
- (ii) a liquefied refrigerant storage vessel configured to store the LNG for later use as a refrigerant;
- (iii) at least one traditional heat exchanger (THE) or desublimating heat exchanger (DHE) comprising:
- (a) an inlet for a mixed process stream, the mixed process stream being output from a fuel-based boiler configured to generate electricity, the mixed process stream comprising at least one condensable vapor and at least one light gas or liquid, (b) the refrigerant comprising the liquefied refrigerant from the liquefied refrigerant storage vessel, supplied during peak demand, and (c) a heat exchange area configured to allow heat to transfer from the mixed process stream to the refrigerant, thereby causing the condensable vapor in the mixed process stream to desublimate;
- (iv) a solid separator configured to separate the desublimated condensable vapor as a solid stream from the light gas or liquid;
- and
- (v) a natural gas (NG) power generator configured to burn at least a portion of the refrigerant downstream from the THE or DHE as spent refrigerant to generate additional electricity during the peak demand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.