EP4642554A1

EP4642554A1 - A compact sorbent system with rotating manifold for carbon capture

Info

Publication number: EP4642554A1
Application number: EP23924407.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Subrata Pal; Dhinesh THANGANADAR; Anindya K. DE; Matthew DAVIDSAVER
Original assignee: Ge Vernova Technology GmbH
Current assignee: Ge Vernova Technology GmbH
Priority date: 2023-02-21
Filing date: 2023-02-21
Publication date: 2025-11-05
Also published as: WO2024177621A1; JP2026506864A; CN121001799A; KR20250155520A

Abstract

The present application provides a sorbent system for flue gas carbon capture. The sorbent system may include a stationary sorbent bed and a rotating manifold in communication with the stationary sorbent bed.

Description

A COMPACT SORBENT SYSTEM WITH ROTATING MANIFOLD FOR CARBON CAPTURE

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0.1011 The present application and the resultant patent relate generally to combustions systems such as gas turbine engines and the like and more particularly relate to a compact sorbent system with a rotating manifold for carbon capture and methods thereof.

BACKGROUND

101021 Generally described, many different t pes of combustion systems such as gas turbine engines and the like combust fossil fuels such as natural gas to produce hot combustion gases to drive a turbine therein to produce mechanical work. Although natural gases is cleaner than, for example, coal, oil, and the like, the combustion of natural gas does produce carbon dioxide laden flue gases.

(0103] In order to limit the impact of these flue gases on the environment, different types of carbon capture technologies are in use. For example, different types of sorbent systems are known. Generally described, the sorbent systems may use a number of stationary columns. In a first column, flue gases from a combustion process may flow through a solvent bed to at least partially remove carbon dioxide from the flue gas. The carbon dioxide rich solvent may flow to a regeneration column at elevated temperature so as to release the carbon dioxide therein. The released carbon dioxide may be processed for storage, sequestration, and/or use. The regenerated solvent then may return to the first column.

(0104] More recent developments in carbon capture have focused on rotating bed systems using structured solid adsorbents. The rotating systems may be faster or more efficient than traditional columns given that the structured adsorbents may have a higher surface area and an overall lower pressure drop. Given the additional energy requirements for the rotating bed, however, the overall size and scale of such systems may be limited. Moreover, the rotating bed generally must be taken out of service on occasion to replace the sorbent materials therein. SUMMARY

[0105] The present application and the resultant patent thus provide a sorbent system for flue gas carbon capture. The sorbent system may include a stationary sorbent bed and a rotating manifold in communication with the stationary sorbent bed.

[0.1.06] The present application and the resultant patent further provide a method of removing carbon dioxide from a flow of flue gases in a sorbent system. The method may include the steps of flowing the flue gases into a first end of a rotating manifold of the sorbent system, delivering the flow of flue gases to a flue gas stream of a stationary bed of the sorbent system, captunng the carbon dioxide in the flue gas stream of the stationary bed, flowing a flow of steam into a second end of the rotating manifold, delivering the flow of steam to the flue gas stream of the stationary bed, releasing the carbon dioxide in the flow of steam in the flue gas stream of the stationary bed, and flowing the carbon dioxide out of the second end of the rotating manifold.

[0107] The present application and the resultant patent further provide a sorbent system for flue gas carbon capture. The sorbent system may include a stationary sorbent bed and a rotating manifold in communication with the stationary sorbent bed. The rotating manifold may include a first rotating manifold with a flue gas chamber for a flow of flue gases therethrough and a nitrogen chamber for a flow of nitrogen therethrough and a second rotating manifold with a steam chamber for a flow of steam therethrough and a carbon dioxide chamber for a flow of carbon dioxide therethrough.

[0108] These and other features and improvements of this application and the resultant patent will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the several drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0109] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a gas turbine engine including a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, an exhaust frame, and an external load.

[0110] Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a sorbent system as may be described herein with a stationary casing, a rotating manifold, and a stationary bed.

[GU I] Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the rotating manifold of the sorbent system of Fig. 2. [0112] Fig. 4 is a further schematic view of the rotating manifold of the sorbent system of Fig. 2.

[0113] Fig. 5 is a further schematic view of the sorbent system as may be described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0114] Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a gas turbine engine 10 as may be used herein. The gas turbine engine 10 may include a compressor 15. The compressor 15 compresses an incoming flow of air 20. The compressor 15 delivers the compressed flow of air 20 to a number of combustor cans 25. The combustor cans 25 mix the compressed flow of air 20 with a pressurized flow of fuel 30 and ignite the mixture to create a flow of hot combustion gases 35. Although only a single combustor can 25 is shown, the gas turbine engine 10 may include any number of combustor cans 25 positioned in a circumferential array and the like. Alternatively, the combustor 25 may be an annular combustor. The flow of combustion gases 35 is in turn delivered to a turbine 40. The flow of combustion gases 35 drives the turbine 40 to produce mechanical work. The mechanical work produced in the turbine 40 dnves the compressor 15 via a rotor shaft 45 and an external load 50 such as an electrical generator and the like.

[0115] The flow of combustion gases 35 is delivered from the turbine 40 to an exhaust frame 55 positioned downstream thereof in the form of spent flue gases 60. The exhaust frame 55 may contain and direct the flow of the flue gases 60 to other components of the gas turbine engine 10. For example, the exhaust frame 55 may direct the flow of the flue gases 60 to an exhaust plenum or an exhaust diffuser. Other configurations and other components may be used herein.

[0116] The gas turbine engine 10 may use natural gas, various types of syngas, liquid fuels, and/or other types of fuels and blends thereof. The gas turbine engine 10 may be any one of a number of different gas turbine engines offered by General Electric Company of Schenectady, New York, including, but not limited to, those such as a 7-series or a 9-series heavy duty gas turbine engine and the like and may be part of a simple cycle or a combined cycle power generation system. The gas turbine engine 10 may have different configurations and may use other types of components. Other types of gas turbine engines also may be used herein. Multiple gas turbine engines, other types of turbines, and other types of power generation equipment and/or other types of hydrocarbon fueled combustion systems also may be used herein together.

[0117 Figs. 2-5 show a sorbent system 100 as may be used herein. The sorbent system 100 may remove a significant amount of the carbon dioxide from the flow of the flue gases 60. Specifically, the sorbent system 100 therefore may be in communication with the flow of flues gases 60 from the gas turbine engine 10 or with a number of gas turbine engines 10. Generally described, the sorbent system 100 may include a rotating manifold 110, a stationary casing 120, and a stationary bed 130. The rotating manifold 110 may include an upper rotating inner chamber 140 and an upper rotating outer chamber 150 of a first or an upper rotating manifold 155 and a lower rotating outer chamber 160 and a lower rotating inner chamber 170 of a second or a lower rotating manifold 175. The rotating manifold 110 also may include a drive shaft 180 extending therethrough. The drive shaft 180 may be rotated via a drive motor 190. The drive motor 190 may be any type of conventional drive device capable of providing rotating motion in any direction at any speed.

]0119] The upper rotating inner chamber 140 and the lower rotating inner chamber 170 may be mounted onto the drive shaft 180 for rotation therewith. The upper rotating inner chamber 140 may include a number of manifold upper ports 200. The upper rotating outer chamber 150 may be connected to the upper rotating inner chamber 140 for rotation therewith. The upper rotating outer chamber 150 may include a number of manifold upper passageways 210 in communication with the manifold upper ports 200. The lower rotating inner chamber 170 may include a number of manifold lower ports 220. The lower rotating outer chamber 160 may be connected to the lower rotating inner chamber 170 for rotation therewith. The lower rotating outer chamber 160 may include a number of manifold lower passageways 230 in communication with the manifold lower ports 220. The rotating manifold 110 and the components thereof may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

|0120] The stationary casing 120 may include a first or a stationary upper casing 240 and a second or a stationary lower casing 250. The stationary upper casing 240 may include a number of first or upper casing ports 260. The upper casing ports 260 may align with the manifold upper ports 200 as the rotating manifold 110 rotates. The stationary lower casing 250 may include a number of second or lower casing ports 270. The lower casing ports 270 may align with the manifold lower ports 220 as the rotating manifold 1 10 rotates. The stationary casing 120 may be supported by any type of conventional support structures. The stationary casing 120 and the components thereof may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

[0.1211 The stationary bed 130 may be positioned between the upper rotating outer chamber 150 and the lower rotating outer chamber 160 of the rotating manifold 110. The stationary bed 130 may be mounted about the drive shaft 180 via a number of bearing plates 275 and the like such that the stationary bed 130 may be supported and stationary' as the drive shaft 180 rotates. Other types of connection and support means may be used herein. The stationary bed 130 may include a number of segmented streams 280 or other types of passageways therethrough. As will be described in more detail below, each segmented stream 280 of the stationary bed 130 may align temporarily with the appropriate manifold upper passageway 210 and manifold lower passageway 230 of the rotating manifold 110 as the rotating manifold 110 rotates.

(0122] Each of the segments streams 280 of the stationary bed 130 may include a carbon dioxide filter 290 therein. The carbon dioxide filter 290 may include a solid sorbent material 300 therein. Specifically, the carbon dioxide filter 290 may include a metal organic framework (MOF), a porous polymer network/MOF, amine doped silicas, and the like. The carbon dioxide filter 290 may be a solid structure for low pressure drops and fast mass transfer for high speed cycling between adsorbing and releasing carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide filter 290 may be segmented with each segments being independently replaceable. Other types of filters 290, absorbers, and other types of sorbent materials 300 may be used herein. The stationary bed 130 and the components thereof may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

(0123) In use, one of the lower casing ports 270 of the stationary lower casing 250 may be a designated a flue gas port 310 in communication with the flow of flue gases 60. The flue gas port 310 may be in communication with a designated flue gas chamber 320 of the lower rotating inner chamber 170 and the lower rotating outer chamber 160 of the lower rotating manifold 175. The flue gas chamber 320 may in turn be in communication with a designated flue gas stream 330 of the segmented streams 280 of the stationary bed 130. In the flue gas stream 330, the flue gases 60 may be in contact with the sorbent material 300 of the carbon dioxide filter 290. The flue gases 60, which may be largely carbon dioxide 340 and molecular nitrogen 350 (CO? + N2, as well as O2, H2O, and traces of Ar, NO_X, SO_X, and the like), may flow through the carbon dioxide fdter 290 such that substantially all of the carbon dioxide 340 therein is trapped by the sorbent material 300 therein thereby leaving a largely spent flow of mostly nitrogen 350. The spent flow of nitrogen 350 may exit the flue gas stream 330 of the stationary bed 130 and flow through a designated spent flow chamber 360 of the upper rotating outer chamber 150 and the upper rotating inner chamber 140 of the upper rotating manifold 155. The spent flow of nitrogen 350 then may exit via a designated spent flow port 370 of the upper casing ports 260 of the stationary upper casing 240. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

[8124] In a similar manner, one of the upper casing ports 260 of the stationary upper casing 240 may be a designated as a heating port 380 in communication with a flow of steam 390 or other type of heated flow. The heating port 380 may be in communication with a designated heating chamber 400 of the upper rotating inner chamber 140 and the upper rotating outer chamber 150 of the upper rotating manifold 155. The heating chamber 400 may in turn be in communication with the designated flue gas stream 330 of the segmented streams 280 of the stationary bed 130 as the rotating manifold 110 rotates. In the flue gas stream 330, the carbon dioxide 340 trapped in the sorbent material 300 of the carbon dioxide filter 290 may be released by the heat in the flow of steam 290 or other type of heating flow. The flow of carbon dioxide 340 may exit the flue gas stream 330 of the stationary' bed 130 with the flow of steam 390 or other type of heating flow and flow through a designated carbon dioxide chamber 410 of the lower rotating outer chamber 160 and the lower rotating inner chamber 170 of the lower rotating manifold 175. The flow of carbon dioxide 340 then may exit via a designated carbon dioxide port 420 of the lower casing ports 270 of the stationary lower casing 250. The flow of carbon dioxide 340 may then be trapped, sequestered, processed, and/or otherwise utilized. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

[0125] In addition to the flows of flue gases 60 and steam 390 or other type of heating flows, one or more flows of a coolant 430 may be used. The coolant 430 may be ambient air, nitrogen, and the like. One or more designated coolant ports 440 may be used in the stationary upper casing 240 and/or the stationary lower casing 250 as well as one or more designated coolant chambers 450 in the upper rotating inner chamber 140 and the upper rotating outer chamber 150 of the upper rotating manifold 155 and/or the lower rotating outer chamber 160 and the lower rotating inner chamber 170 of the lower rotating manifold 175. The coolant chambers 450 may provide the flow of coolant 430 to the designated flue gas stream 330 of the segmented streams 280 of the stationary bed 130 to cool and recharge the sorbent material 300 of the carbon dioxide filter 290 as the rotating manifold 110 rotates. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

[01261 The direction of the several flows may vary herein. Although a cross flow configuration has been described above, the flows may travel in any direction. For examples, all of the flow herein may travel in the same direction.

|0127| As opposed to the typical three column sorbent system (i.e., one column is adsorbing carbon dioxide while the other two columns are in regeneration mode and cooling mode respectively), the sorbent system 100 described herein includes all the three operations in one compact module, thereby reducing the overall footprint and, hence, the overall capital investment. Likewise, overall complexity may be reduced. Moreover, rotating the manifold 110 is easier and requires less of a parasitic load for the drive motor 190 as compared to rotating the sorbent bed. As a result the rotating manifold 110 may be scaled to larger sizes. Further, replacing the sorbent material 300 in the stationary bed 130 does not require shutting down the entire sorbent system 100.

|0128] It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to certain embodiments of this application and resultant patent. Numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.

[0129| Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:

[013 1 1. A sorbent system for flue gas carbon capture, comprising a stationary sorbent bed and a rotating manifold in communication with the stationary sorbent bed.

[0131] 2. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, further comprising a stationary casing in communication with the rotating manifold.

[0132] 3. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the stationary casing comprises a stationary upper casing.

[0133] 4. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the rotating manifold comprises one or more upper rotating chambers in communication with the stationary upper casing and the stationary' sorbent bed.

[0134] 5. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more upper rotating chambers comprise a plurality of manifold upper ports in communication with a plurality of manifold upper passageways. [ 135] 6. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the stationary upper casing comprises a plurality of upper casing ports in communication with the plurality of manifold upper ports of the one or more upper rotating chambers.

[0136] 7. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the stationary casing comprises a stationary lower casing.

[0137] 8. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the rotating manifold comprises one or more lower rotating chambers in communication with the stationary lower casing and the stationary' sorbent bed.

[0138] 9. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more lower rotating chambers comprise a plurality of manifold lower ports in communication with a plurality of manifold lower passageways.

[0139] 10. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the stationary lower casing comprises a plurality of lower casing ports in communication with the plurality of manifold lower ports of the one or more lower rotating chambers.

[0140] 11. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the rotating manifold comprises a drive shaft.

[0141] 12. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the stationary sorbent bed comprises a carbon dioxide filter with a sorbent material therein.

[0142] 13. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the rotating manifold comprises a first rotating manifold with a heating chamber for a heated flow therethrough and a spent flow chamber for a spent flow therethrough.

[0143] 14. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the rotating manifold comprises a second rotating manifold with a flue gas chamber for a flow of flue gases therethrough and a carbon dioxide chamber for a flow of carbon dioxide therethrough.

[0144] 15. A method of removing carbon dioxide from a flow of flue gases in a sorbent system, comprising: flowing the flue gases into a rotating manifold of the sorbent system; delivering the flow of flue gases to a flue gas stream of a stationary bed of the sorbent system; capturing the carbon dioxide in the flue gas stream of the stationary bed; flowing a flow of steam into the rotating manifold; delivering the flow of steam to the flue gas stream of the stationary bed; releasing the carbon dioxide in the flow of steam in the flue gas stream of the stationary bed; and flowing the carbon dioxide out of the rotating manifold. [ 145] 16. A sorbent system for flue gas carbon capture, comprising: a stationary sorbent bed; and a rotating manifold in communication with the stationary sorbent bed; wherein the rotating manifold comprises a first rotating manifold with a heating chamber for a heated flow therethrough and a spent flow chamber for a spent flow therethrough; and wherein the rotating manifold comprises a second rotating manifold with a flue gas chamber for a flow of flue gases therethrough and a carbon dioxide chamber for a flow of carbon dioxide therethrough.

[0146] 17. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, further comprising a stationary casing in communication with the rotating manifold.

[0147] 18. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the stationary casing comprises a plurality of first casing ports in communication with the first rotating manifold.

[0148] 19. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the stationary casing comprises a plurality of second casing ports in communication with the second rotating manifold.

[0149] 20. The sorbent system of any preceding clause, wherein the stationary sorbent bed comprises a carbon dioxide filter with a sorbent material therein.

Claims

We claim:

1. A sorbent system (100) for flue gas carbon capture, comprising: a stationary sorbent bed (130); and a rotating manifold (110) in communication with the stationary sorbent bed (130).

2. The sorbent system (100) of claim 1, further comprising a stationary casing (120) in communication with the rotating manifold (110).

3. The sorbent system (100) of claim 2, wherein the stationary casing (120) comprises a stationary upper casing (240).

4. The sorbent system (100) of claim 3, wherein the rotating manifold (110) comprises one or more upper rotating chambers (140, 150) in communication with the stationary upper casing (240) and the stationary sorbent bed (130).

5. The sorbent system (100) of claim 4, wherein the one or more upper rotating chambers (140, 150) comprise a plurality of manifold upper ports (200) in communication with a plurality of manifold upper passageways (210).

6. The sorbent system (100) of claim 5, wherein the stationary upper casing (240) comprises a plurality of upper casing ports (260) in communication with the plurality of manifold upper ports (200) of the one or more upper rotating chambers (140, 150).

7. The sorbent system (100) of claim 2, wherein the stationary casing (120) comprises a stationary lower casing (250).

8. The sorbent system (120) of claim 7, wherein the rotating manifold (110) comprises one or more lower rotating chambers (160, 170) in communication with the stationary lower casing (250) and the stationary sorbent bed (130).

9. The sorbent system (100) of claim 8, wherein the one or more lower rotating chambers (160, 170) comprise a plurality of manifold lower ports (220) in communication with a plurality of manifold lower passageways (230).

10. The sorbent system (100) of claim 9, wherein the stationary lower casing (250) comprises a plurality of lower casing ports (270) in communication with the plurality of manifold lower ports (220) of the one or more lower rotating chambers (1 0, 170).

11. The sorbent system (100) of claim 1, wherein the rotating manifold (110) comprises a drive shaft (180).

12. The sorbent system (100) of claim 1, wherein the stationary sorbent bed (130) comprises a carbon dioxide filter (290) with a sorbent material therein (300).

13. The sorbent system (100) of claim 1, wherein the rotating manifold (110) comprises a first rotating manifold (155) with a heating chamber (400) for a heated flow (390) therethrough and a spent flow chamber (360) for a spent flow (350) therethrough.

14. The sorbent system (100) of claim 13, wherein the rotating manifold (110) comprises a second rotating manifold (175) with a flue gas chamber (320) for a flow of flue gases (60) therethrough and a carbon dioxide chamber (410) for a flow of carbon dioxide (340) therethrough.

15. A method of removing carbon dioxide (340) from a flow of flue gases (60) in a sorbent system 100), comprising: flowing the flue gases (60) into a rotating manifold (110) of the sorbent system (100); delivering the flow of flue gases (60) to a flue gas stream (330) of a stationary bed (130) of the sorbent system (100); capturing the carbon dioxide (340) in the flue gas stream (330) of the stationary bed (130); flowing a flow of steam (390) into the rotating manifold (110); delivering the flow of steam (390) to the flue gas stream (330) of the stationary bed

(130); releasing the carbon dioxide (340) in the flow of steam (390) in the flue gas stream (330) of the stationary bed (130); and flowing the carbon dioxide (340) out of the rotating manifold (110).