EP4731330A1

EP4731330A1 - Systems and methods for optimizing carbon dioxide capture using gas stream temperature control

Info

Publication number: EP4731330A1
Application number: EP24854571.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Szymon Pawel Modelski; Douglas F. Beadie; Anindya Kanti De; Raub Warfield Smith
Original assignee: Ge Vernova Technology GmbH
Current assignee: Ge Vernova Technology GmbH
Priority date: 2023-05-09
Filing date: 2024-01-08
Publication date: 2026-04-29
Also published as: WO2025038132A1; WO2024232894A1; CN120957798A; EP4680373A1; CN121001802A; KR20260004358A; WO2024232893A1; KR20260005910A; CN121001801A; EP4680368A1; EP4680374A1; KR20260005905A

Abstract

A method for capturing carbon dioxide. The method includes receiving, by an adsorbent bed comprising one or more adsorption modules and one or more temperature regulating modules, a gas stream, and receiving, by one or more contactors, at least one regulating stream for use in controlling a temperature of at least one of the one or more adsorption modules and the gas stream. The method also includes adsorbing, by the one or more adsorption modules, at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide from the gas stream, and discharging, by the adsorbent bed, an exhaust stream. The method further includes modulating the temperature of the gas stream exiting the one or more temperature regulating modules to facilitate increasing an amount of at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide captured and subsequently released by the adsorbent bed.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING CARBON

DIOXIDE CAPTURE USING GAS STREAM

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of International application PCT/US2023/030313, filed August 16, 2023, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to capture systems and methods and, more specifically, to systems and methods that facilitate optimizing the adsorption and desorption of water vapor and carbon dioxide gas by adsorption modules of an adsorbent bed by controlling a gas temperature of a gas stream channeled through the adsorbent bed.

[0003] At least some known industrial and power generation processes may result in the production of a gas stream containing contaminants, such as carbon dioxide (CO2). To facilitate removing the contaminants from the gas stream prior to an exhaust stream being released into the atmosphere, at least some known systems include a capture system. For example, capture systems may be used to capture CO2 and store the CO2 underground to facilitate reducing an amount of CO2 undesirably released into the atmosphere.

[0004] At least some known capture systems use an adsorbent bed to capture CO2. In some of such capture systems, a sorbent material may be used with the adsorbent bed to enhance the adsorption and desorption of CO2. To facilitate increasing the amount of CO2 captured, at least some known capture systems use direct heating and cooling of the adsorbent bed. t pically with gas or steam. However, direct heating and cooling may contaminate the sorbent material. [0005] In some known systems, solid sorbent materials may be used with adsorbent beds to enhance the adsorption and desorption of CO2, as opposed to conventional liquid-amine based CO2 capture processes, to improve adsorption capacity and system efficiency. However, the effectiveness of solid sorbent systems may be limited based on the chemical structure and/or the thickness of the solid sorbent materials. Additionally, the presence of water (H2O) in the gas stream, such as in the form of w ater vapor, may decrease the effectiveness of the adsorption and desorption by the solid sorbent material, and the temperatures for efficient adsorption and desorption of water may not match the temperatures for efficient adsorption and desorption of carbon dioxide gas.

[0006] Accordingly, there exists a need for capture systems and methods that use temperature management of a gas stream channeled through an adsorbent bed to optimize the efficiency and productivity of carbon dioxide gas and water adsorption and desorption by one or more solid sorbents within adsorption modules of the adsorbent bed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In one aspect, a method for capturing carbon dioxide is provided. The method includes receiving, by an adsorbent bed comprising one or more adsorption modules and one or more temperature regulating modules, a gas stream, and receiving, by one or more contactors, at least one regulating stream for use in controlling a temperature of at least one of the one or more adsorption modules and the gas stream. The method also includes adsorbing, by the one or more adsorption modules, at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide from the gas stream, and discharging, by the adsorbent bed, an exhaust stream depleted of at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide. The method further includes modulating the temperature of the gas stream exiting the one or more temperature regulating modules to facilitate increasing an amount of at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide captured and subsequently released by the adsorbent bed.

[0008] In another aspect, a capture system for use in capturing carbon dioxide is provided. The capture system includes an adsorbent bed comprising one or more adsorption modules and one or more temperature regulating modules. The adsorbent bed is oriented to receive a gas stream, adsorb at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide from the gas stream within the one or more adsorption modules, and discharge an exhaust stream depleted of at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide. The capture system also includes one or more contactors oriented to receive at least one regulating stream for use in controlling a temperature of at least one of the one or more adsorption modules and the gas stream. The capture system further includes a controller configured to modulate the temperature of the gas stream exiting the one or more temperature regulating modules to facilitate increasing an amount of at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide captured and subsequently released by the adsorbent bed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary capture system that may be used to capture CO2.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic illustration of an exemplary adsorption module that may be used with the capture system of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a contactor that may be used with the capture system of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic of an exemplary control system that may be used with the capture system of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for capturing CO2 and H2O.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods that use temperature management of a gas stream channeled through an adsorbent bed to optimize the efficiency and productivity of carbon dioxide gas and water adsorption and desorption by one or more solid sorbents within adsorption modules of the adsorbent bed. The advantages of the systems and methods described herein, over the prior art, include, at least: (i) increasing the efficiency and performance of carbon dioxide adsorption and desorption by controlling a temperature of the gas stream channeled through the adsorbent bed using one or more dedicated contactors; (ii) increasing the efficiency and performance of water vapor adsorption and desorption by controlling a temperature of the gas stream channeled through the adsorbent bed using one or more dedicated contactors; and (iii) increasing the accuracy of gas stream temperature control by using one or more dedicated contactors.

[0015] When introducing elements of various embodiments disclosed herein, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

[0016] Unless otherwise indicated, approximating language, such as “generally,” “substantially,” and “about,” as used herein indicates that the term so modified may apply to only an approximate degree, as would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art, rather than to an absolute or perfect degree. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms such as “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially” is not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Additionally, unless otherwise indicated, the terms “first,” “second.” etc. are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, for example, a “second” item does not require or preclude the existence of, for example, a “first” or lower-numbered item or a “third” or higher-numbered item.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary capture system 100 that may be used to capture CO2 using an adsorbent bed 102. In the exemplary embodiment, the adsorbent bed 102 includes at least one adsorption module 104. More specifically, in the exemplary' embodiment, adsorbent bed 102 includes four adsorption modules 104a-d. In some embodiments, capture system 100 may include more or less than four adsorption modules 104. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, the adsorbent bed 102 includes an inlet 106 and an outlet 108. The inlet 106 and the outlet 108 are oriented such that during operation, a gas stream 110 received through the inlet 106 is channeled through each adsorption module 104 in series towards the outlet 108. As the gas stream 110 is channeled through each adsorption module 104, the adsorbent bed 102 captures CO2 and/or H2O from the gas stream 110 and discharges an exhaust stream 112 through the outlet 108 that is depleted of CO2. [0018] Generally, the gas stream 110 may be any suitable gas known in the art that includes contaminants targeted for removal. For example, the gas stream 110 may be air, flue gas, post-combustion gas, natural gas, and/or combinations thereof. In the exemplary embodiment, the gas stream 110 includes CO2. In some embodiments, CO2 may be present in the gas stream 110 in a range of from about 400 ppm to about 15 v%. In other embodiments, CO2 may be present in the gas stream 110 in a range of from about 0.04v% to about 30v%.

[0019] In the exemplary embodiment, the concentration of CO2 of the gas stream 110 is generally at its highest as the gas stream 110 enters the inlet 106. As CO2 is adsorbed by each subsequent adsorption module 104, the concentration of CO2 in the gas stream 110 is reduced as the gas stream 110 is channeled through the adsorption modules 104a-d towards the outlet 108. In the exemplary embodiment, the concentration of CO2 in the gas stream 110 flowing through the adsorption modules 104a-d is at its lowest at the outlet 108.

[0020] Additionally, in the exemplar}’ embodiment, the gas stream 110 includes H2O. For example, the gas stream 110 may be received by the first adsorption module 104a of adsorbent bed 102 at a specific humidity. In the exemplary embodiment, the concentration of H2O is generally at its highest as the gas stream 110 enters the inlet 106.

[0021] The adsorbent bed 102 may also include one or more temperature regulating modules 160. As the gas stream 110 is channeled through the adsorbent bed 102 from the inlet 106 to the outlet 108, through the one or more adsorption modules 104, the gas stream 110 may also be channeled through the one or more temperature regulating modules 160. The temperature regulating module 160 may be positioned in the adsorbent bed 102 adjacent to one or more adsorption modules 104. For example, the temperature regulating module 160 may be positioned between two adsorption modules 104, such as, but not limited to, between the first adsorption module 104a and the second adsorption module 104b. as shown in FIG. 1. The positioning of the one or more temperature regulating modules 160 and the one or more adsorption modules 104 as illustrated in FIG. 1 is intended to be illustrative, and is not meant to be limiting, in that the gas stream 110 may be channeled through the one or more temperature regulating modules 160 and the one or more adsorption modules 104 in an order different than that as shown in FIG. 1. [0022] In the exemplary embodiment, the adsorption module 104 includes a contactor 114. The contactor 114 includes a contactor inlet 118, a contactor outlet 120, and a fluid circuit 202 (shown in FIG. 2) defined between and extending from the contactor inlet 118 to the contactor outlet 120. In the exemplary embodiment, the adsorption module 104 also includes a plate 204 (shown in FIG. 2) on which a sorbent 1 16 is coated, in a solid form, to facilitate adsorbing CO2 and/or H2O. For example, the sorbent 116 may be, but is not limited to only being, in the form of powder, composites mixed with binders, films or coating, packed beds, and/or columns. In some embodiments, the sorbent 116 may be the same within each adsorption module 104 if all adsorption modules 104a-d are configured to capture CO2. In other embodiments, the sorbent 116 may be different within at least one adsorption module 104 if at least one of the adsorption modules 104a-d is configured to capture H2O. In the exemplary embodiment, the contactor 114 and the plate 204 are adjacent to each other to facilitate indirect heating and/or cooling of the sorbent 116 coated on the plate 204.

[0023] In the exemplary embodiment, a stream 122 received through the contactor inlet 118 facilitates modulating the temperature of the sorbent 116 coated on the plate 204 via heat transfer betw een the stream 122 flowing within the fluid circuit 202 (shown in FIG. 2) and the plate 204. For example, a regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 may be used to increase or decrease a control temperature T_cnti of the adsorption module 104. In some embodiments, the stream 122 may be in a liquid form. In other embodiments, the stream 122 may be in a gaseous form. Convection between the stream 122 flowing through the fluid circuit 202 and the sorbent 116 coated on the plate 204 facilitates controlling a temperature of the sorbent 116 without the risk of contamination that could occur from direct contact with the stream 122. The design of contactor 114 as shown in Figure 2 is intended to be illustrative, and is not meant to be limiting, in that the design of the contactor 114 may differ from that shown in Figure 2 for one or more adsorption modules 104. Additionally, the term “contactor” is used generally throughout to refer to a heat exchanging element, and should be construed as such.

[0024] The stream 122 may be composed of a mixture of a cold stream 132 and a hot stream 134 and may exit the contactor outlet 120 as a mixed stream 123. The mixture of the cold stream 132 and the hot stream 134 may facilitate modulating the temperature of the sorbent 1 16. For example, a mixture of the cold temperature T_cid of the cold stream 132 and a hot temperature Thot of the hot stream 134 may be used to increase or decrease the regulated temperature T_re of the stream 122 in order to control the control temperature T_cnti of the adsorption module 104. In some embodiments, the cold and hot streams 132, 134 may each include water, H2O, in either a liquid (e.g., water) or a gaseous (e.g., steam) form. For example, H2O may be present in the cold stream 132 and/or the hot stream 134 in a range of from about 50v% to 100v%. In other embodiments, the cold stream 132 and/or the hot stream 134 may include a non-water fluid.

[0025] In the exemplary embodiment, the temperature regulating module 160 includes a secondary' contactor 162. The secondary contactor 162 includes a secondary' contactor inlet 164, a secondary contactor outlet 166. and a secondary’ fluid circuit 168 (shown in FIG. 3) defined between and extending from the secondary contactor inlet 164 to the secondary' contactor outlet 166. A secondary' stream 170 received through the secondary contactor inlet 164 facilitates modulating the temperature of the gas stream 110 being channeled through the temperature regulating module 160 via heat transfer between the secondary stream 170 flowing within the secondary fluid circuit 168 (shown in FIG. 3) and the gas stream 110 within the temperature regulating module 160.

[0026] For example, a secondary' regulated temperature T_reg2 of the secondary stream 170 may be used to increase or decrease a gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110. In some embodiments, the secondary stream 170 may be in a liquid form. In other embodiments, the secondary stream 170 may be in a gaseous form. Convection between the secondary stream 170 flowing through the secondary' fluid circuit 168 and the gas stream 110 within the temperature regulating module 160 facilitates controlling the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110 without the risk of contamination that could occur from direct contact with the secondary stream 170. The design of secondary contactor 162 as shown in Figure 3 is intended to be illustrative, and is not meant to be limiting, in that the design of the secondary contactor 162 may differ from that shown in FIG. 3 for one or more temperature regulating modules 160. Additionally, the term "‘contactor’⁷ is used generally throughout to refer to a heat exchanging element, and should be construed as such. [0027] In the exemplary embodiment, the capture system 100 also includes a controller 124 that dynamically adjusts operation of the capture system 100. For example, the controller 124 may facilitate optimizing the capture of CO2 and/or H2O by changing the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 to control the control temperature T_cnti of at least one adsorption module 104, and/or by changing the secondary regulated temperature T_reg2 of the secondary stream 170 to control the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110, as described further herein.

[0028] The controller 124 facilitates modulating the temperature of each adsorption module 104a-d by monitoring the temperature of the stream 122 and/or the temperature of the sorbent 116 across the plate 204 (shown in FIG. 2). For example, the controller 124 may monitor the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 using a contactor sensor 126 (shown in FIG. 4). Additionally, for example, the controller 124 may monitor the control temperature T_cnti of at least one adsorption module 104 using a module sensor 128 (shown in FIG. 4).

[0029] In operating conditions where the control temperature T_cnti of at least one adsorption module 104 is lower than desired, the controller 124 may selectively increase the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122, thereby indirectly increasing the temperature of the at least one adsorption module 104. Alternatively, in operating conditions where the control temperature T_cnti of at least one adsorption module 104 is higher than desired, the controller 124 may selectively decrease the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122, thereby indirectly reducing the temperature of the at least one adsorption module 104.

[0030] Generally, the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122, and thereby the temperature of the adsorption module 104, may be any suitable temperature known in the art that facilitates the capture of CO2 and/or H2O by the systems described herein. In the exemplary embodiment, the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 is monitored within each adsorption module 104a-d. In some embodiments, the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 may be substantially uniform across each adsorption module 104. In other embodiments, the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 may vary' across different adsorption modules 104a-d. The controller 124 may vary the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 within any of the adsorption modules 104a-d. For example, one or more adsorption modules 104a-d may include one or more module sensors 128 (show n in FIG. 4). Thus, the controller 124 may create a temperature profile that includes varied values of the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 within any or all of the adsorption modules 104a-d.

[0031] The regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 may be based on the temperature of an extraction flow (not shown) from a steam turbine (not shown). For example, the steam turbine may be part of a combined cycle power plant (not shown), with the extraction flow from the steam turbine being used to change the temperature of the stream 122. In some embodiments, the extraction flow may heat the stream 122 through convective transfer via one or more heat exchangers (not shown) either directly in lieu of mixing the cold and hot streams 132, 134 or indirectly to heat the hot stream 134.

[0032] The controller 124 facilitates modulating the gas temp T_gas of the gas stream 110 by monitoring the secondary regulated temp T_reg2 of the secondary stream 170. For example, the controller 124 may monitor the secondary regulated temperature T_reg2 of the secondary stream 170 using a secondary contactor sensor 172 (shown in FIG. 4). Additionally, for example, the controller 124 may monitor the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110 using a gas stream sensor 174 (shown in FIG. 4) positioned proximate to an exit of one or more of the temperature regulating modules 160.

[0033] In operating conditions where the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110 is lower than desired, the controller 124 may selectively increase the secondary regulated temperature T_reg2 of the secondary stream 170, thereby increasing the temperature of the gas stream 110. Alternatively, in operating conditions where the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110 is higher than desired, the controller 124 may selectively decrease the secondary regulated temperature T_reg2 of the secondary stream 170, thereby reducing the temperature of the gas stream 110.

[0034] Generally, the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 1 10 may be any suitable temperature known in the art that facilitates the capture of CO2 and/or H2O by the systems described herein. In the exemplary' embodiment, the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110 is monitored exiting each temperature regulating module 160. In some embodiments, the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110 may be substantially uniform across the one or more temperature regulating modules 160. In other embodiments, the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110 may vary across different temperature regulating modules 160.

[0035] One or more of the adsorption modules 104 may be used to adsorb and desorb H2O included in the gas stream 110, such as, but not limited to, the first adsorption module 104a. Optimizing the operating conditions of the adsorption module 104 for adsorption and desorption of H2O facilitates optimizing the operating conditions of the subsequent adsorption modules, such as, but not limited to, the second, third, and fourth adsorption modules 104b, 104c, 104d, for adsorption and desorption of CO2. The solid sorbent material, sorbent 116, may be substantially the same or different for the one or more adsorption modules configured to adsorb and desorb H2O as compared to the one or more adsorption modules configured to adsorb and desorb CO2. The sorbent 116 within the first adsorption module 104a may be any suitable sorbent known in the art that facilitates the capture of H2O as described herein. Additionally, a thickness of the sorbent 116 within the first adsorption module 104a may be of any suitable thickness known in the art that facilitates the capture of H2O.

[0036] In some embodiments, the desorption within the adsorbent bed 102 may occur concurrently for both CO2 and H2O. As such, in these embodiments, the desorbed CO2 and H2O may need to be separated downstream. In other embodiments, the desorption within the adsorbent bed 102 may occur in sequence for CO2 and H2O. For example, the adsorption modules 104 may be controlled to desorb one of CO2 or H2O first, and then the other of CO2 or H2O second, such as by sequencing the heating up of the sorbent 116 within the adsorption modules 104 specific to the desorption of CO2 and/or H2O.

[0037] Generally, the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110 entering the fourth adsorption module 104d is higher than the temperature of the gas stream 110 entering any of the first through third adsorption modules 104a-c due to the heat generated by the exothermic process of adsorbing H2O and CO2 as the gas stream 110 is channeled from the inlet 106 to the outlet 108 of the adsorbent bed 102. Thus, the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110 generally increases as the gas stream 110 is channeled from the first adsorption module 104a to the fourth adsorption module 104d. The secondary' regulated temperature T_reg2 of the secondary stream 170 may vary across the one or more temperature regulation modules 160 based on the heat generation within the adsorption modules 104 as the gas stream 110 is channeled through the adsorbent bed 102.

[0038] Additionally, the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 may vary across the one or more adsorption modules 104 based on the heat generation within the adsorption modules 104 as the gas stream 110 is channeled through the adsorbent bed 102. For example, the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 may be lowest for the fourth adsorption module 104d to maximize CO2 capture from the gas stream 110 at its lowest CO2 content across the adsorption modules 104a-d. Additionally, for example, the regulated temperature T_rcg of the stream 122 may be highest for the adsorption modules 104 nearest to the inlet 106 to manage CO2 capture during the adsorption mode of operation for which the gas stream 110 is at its highest CO2 content across the adsorption modules 104a-d after the H2O in the gas stream 110 has been adsorbed, which may have its own optimum control temperature.

[0039] By varying the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 across different adsorption modules 104a-d, the controller 124 may facilitate optimizing the adsorption of CO2 and/or H2O of the adsorbent bed 102 to increase the adsorption and desorption capacity of the adsorbent bed 102. Generally, increasing a percentage of module capacity used by at least one adsorption module 104a-d increases the efficiency of the capture system 100. For example, varying the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 across adsorption modules 104a-d to decrease the control temperature T_Cnti of subsequent adsorption modules 104a-d may increase the percentage of module capacity used by the subsequent adsorption modules (such as adsorption modules 104b-d), thereby increasing the efficiency of the capture system 100.

[0040] Additionally, by varying the secondary regulated temperature T_reg2 of the secondary stream 170 across the one or more temperature regulation modules 160, and thereby the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110, the controller 124 may facilitate optimizing the adsorption of CO2 and/or H2O of the adsorbent bed 102 to increase the adsorption and desorption capacity of the adsorbent bed 102. For example, the temperatures for efficient adsorption and desorption of H2O may differ from the temperatures for efficient adsorption and desorption of CO2. Thus, controlling the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 1 10 independently of the control temperature T_cnti of the adsorption modules 104 may facilitate increased adsorption and desorption capacity of the adsorbent bed 102.

[0041] Generally, increasing a percentage of adsorption module capacity used by at least one adsorption module 104a-d increases the efficiency of the capture system 100. For example, varying the secondary regulated temperature T_reg2 of the secondary stream 170 across the one or more temperature regulation modules 160 may increase the percentage of adsorption module capacity used by subsequent adsorption modules (e.g., adsorption modules 104 downstream of the one or more temperature regulation modules 160), thereby increasing the efficiency of the capture system 100.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, one example is controlling the secondary regulated temperature T_reg2 of the secondary stream 170 exiting the temperature regulation module 160 positioned between the first adsorption module 104a and the second adsorption module 104b to increase the percentage of module capacity used by the subsequent adsorption modules, adsorption modules 104b-d, thereby increasing the efficiency of the capture system 100. However, this example is intended to be illustrative and is not meant to be limiting, in that any number of temperature regulation modules 160 may be included in the adsorbent bed 102, to be positioned before, after, or between any of the adsorption modules 104 in the adsorbent bed 102.

[0043] One or more adsorbent beds 102 may be used to capture CO2 and/or H2O. That is, although only one adsorbent bed 102 is shown in FIG. 1, this is intended to be illustrative and is not meant to be limiting, in that the capture system 100 may include more than one adsorbent bed 102. For example, a plurality of adsorbent beds 102 may be included in the capture system 100, with the inlet 106 of each adsorbent bed 102 connected in parallel to receive the gas stream 110 and the outlet 108 of each adsorbent bed 102 also connected in parallel to discharge the exhaust stream 112.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the adsorption module 104 including the contactor 114 and the plate 204. In the exemplary embodiment, the contactor 114 includes the fluid circuit 202 extending between the contactor inlet 118 and the contactor outlet 120. The plate 204 is coated with the sorbent 116 to adsorb CO2 and/or H2O. In the exemplary embodiment, the contactor 1 14 and the plate 204 are in close proximity to each other to facilitate indirect heating and/or cooling of the sorbent coated on the plate 204.

[0045] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the secondary contactor 162. In the exemplary embodiment, the secondary stream 170 includes the secondary fluid circuit 168 extending between the secondary contactor inlet 164 and the secondary contactor outlet 166.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a schematic of an exemplary control system 400 that may be used to capture CO2 and/or H2O with a capture system, such as the capture system 100 (shown in FIG. 1). In the exemplary embodiment, the controller 124 includes a memory 402 and a processor 404. The controller 124 may adjust the temperature of one or more adsorption modules 104 based on data received by the control system 400 from the contactor sensor 126, such as, but not limited to, the regulated temperature T_reg of the stream 122 (shown in FIG. 1). The controller 124 may adjust the temperature of one or more adsorption modules 104a-d based on comparisons to data stored in the memory 402, such as desired ranges of the regulated temperature T_reg, instructions stored in the memory 402, and/or data analyzed by the processor 404.

[0047] Additionally, the controller 124 may adjust the temperature of one or more adsorption modules 104a-d based on data received by the control system 400 from the module sensor 128, such as, but not limited to, the control temperature Tcnti of one or more adsorption modules 104. The controller 124 may adjust the temperature of one or more adsorption modules 104 based on comparisons to data stored in the memory 402, such as desired ranges of the control temperature Tcnti, instructions stored in the memory 402, and/or data analyzed by the processor 404.

[0048] Furthermore, the controller 124 may adjust the temperature of the gas stream 110 exiting the one or more temperature regulating modules 160 based on data received by the control system 400 from the gas stream sensor 174 and/or the secondary contactor sensor 172, such as, but not limited to, the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110 and/or the secondary regulated temperature T_reg2 of the secondary stream 170. The controller 124 may adjust the temperature of the gas stream 110 exiting the one or more temperature regulating modules 160 and/or the temperature of the secondary stream 170 based on comparisons to data stored in the memory 402, such as desired ranges of the gas temperature T_gas of the gas stream 110 and/or the secondary regulated temperature T_reg2 of the secondary stream 170, instructions stored in the memory 402, and/or data analyzed by the processor 404.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method 500 for capturing CO2. In the exemplary embodiment, the method 500 includes receiving 502, by an adsorbent bed comprising one or more adsorption modules and one or more temperature regulating modules, a gas stream, and receiving 504, by one or more contactors, at least one regulating stream for use in controlling a temperature of at least one of the one or more adsorption modules and the gas stream. The method 500 also includes adsorbing 506, by the one or more adsorption modules, at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide from the gas stream, and discharging 508, by the adsorbent bed, an exhaust stream depleted of at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide. The method 500 also includes modulating 510 the temperature of the gas stream exiting the one or more temperature regulating modules to facilitate increasing an amount of at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide captured and subsequently released by the adsorbent bed.

[0050] Exemplary systems and methods that use temperature management of a gas stream channeled through an adsorbent bed to optimize the efficiency and productivity of carbon dioxide gas and water adsorption and desorption by one or more solid sorbents within adsorption modules of the adsorbent bed are described herein. The exemplary systems and methods as described herein provide several advantages over conventional designs and processes, including increasing the efficiency and performance of carbon dioxide adsorption and desorption by controlling a temperature of the gas stream channeled through the adsorbent bed using one or more dedicated contactors, increasing the efficiency and performance of water vapor adsorption and desorption by controlling a temperature of the gas stream channeled through the adsorbent bed using one or more dedicated contactors, and increasing the accuracy of gas stream temperature control by using one or more dedicated contactors.

[0051] The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed. Modifications, which fall within the scope of the present invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of a review of this disclosure, and such modifications are intended to fall within the appended claims. The systems described herein are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather portions of the various systems may be utilized independently and separately from other systems described herein.

[0052] Although specific features of various embodiments of the invention may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. Moreover, references to “one embodiment” in the above description are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. In accordance with the principles of the invention, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.

[0053] Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:

[0054] A method for capturing carbon dioxide, the method comprising: receiving, by an adsorbent bed comprising one or more adsorption modules and one or more temperature regulating modules, a gas stream; receiving, by one or more contactors, at least one regulating stream for use in controlling a temperature of at least one of the one or more adsorption modules and the gas stream; adsorbing, by the one or more adsorption modules, at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide from the gas stream; discharging, by the adsorbent bed, an exhaust stream depleted of at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide; and modulating the temperature of the gas stream exiting the one or more temperature regulating modules to facilitate increasing an amount of at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide captured and subsequently released by the adsorbent bed.

[0055] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein receiving at least one regulating stream by one or more contactors comprises receiving a module temperature regulating stream by a first contactor for use in controlling a temperature of the one or more adsorption modules. [0056] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, further comprising modulating the temperature of the one or more adsorption modules to facilitate increasing an amount of at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide captured and subsequently released by the adsorbent bed.

[0057] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein receiving at least one regulating stream by the one or more contactors comprises receiving a gas temperature regulating stream by a second contactor for use in controlling a temperature of the gas stream.

[0058] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein adsorbing by the one or more adsorption modules comprises adsorbing via one or more solid sorbent materials within the one or more adsorption modules.

[0059] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein adsorbing by the one or more adsorption modules comprises adsorbing, by a first adsorption module, the water vapor from the gas stream.

[0060] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein adsorbing by the one or more adsorption modules comprises adsorbing, by one or more subsequent adsorption modules downstream of the one or more temperature regulating modules, the carbon dioxide from the gas stream.

[0061] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein modulating the temperature of the gas stream comprises temperature modulation of the gas stream downstream of the first adsorption module and upstream of the one or more subsequent adsorption modules.

[0062] A capture system for use in capturing carbon dioxide, the capture system comprising: an adsorbent bed comprising one or more adsorption modules and one or more temperature regulating modules, the adsorbent bed oriented to: receive a gas stream; adsorb at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide from the gas stream within the one or more adsorption modules; and discharge an exhaust stream depleted of at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide; one or more contactors oriented to receive at least one regulating stream for use in controlling a temperature of at least one of the one or more adsorption modules and the gas stream; and a controller configured to modulate the temperature of the gas stream exiting the one or more temperature regulating modules to facilitate increasing an amount of at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide captured and subsequently released by the adsorbent bed.

[0063] The capture system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the at least one regulating stream comprises a module temperature regulating stream.

[0064] The capture system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the one or more contactors comprise a first contactor oriented to receive the module temperature regulating stream for use in controlling a temperature of the one or more adsorption modules.

[0065] The capture system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to modulate the temperature of the one or more adsorption modules to facilitate increasing an amount of at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide captured and subsequently released by the adsorbent bed.

[0066] The capture system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the at least one regulating stream comprises a gas temperature regulating stream.

[0067] The capture system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the one or more contactors comprise a second contactor oriented to receive the gas temperature regulating stream for use in controlling a temperature of the gas stream.

[0068] The capture system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the one or more adsorption modules comprise one or more solid sorbent materials to adsorb at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide from the gas stream.

[0069] The capture system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the one or more adsorption modules comprise a first adsorption module oriented to adsorb the water vapor from the gas stream.

[0070] The capture system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the one or more adsorption modules further comprise one or more subsequent adsorption modules downstream of the one or more temperature regulating modules. [0071 ] The capture system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the one or more subsequent adsorption modules are oriented to adsorb the carbon dioxide from the gas stream.

[0072] The capture system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to modulate the temperature of the gas stream downstream of the first adsorption module.

[0073] The capture system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to modulate the temperature of the gas stream upstream of the one or more subsequent adsorption modules. [0074] While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for capturing carbon dioxide, the method comprising: receiving, by an adsorbent bed comprising one or more adsorption modules and one or more temperature regulating modules, a gas stream; receiving, by one or more contactors, at least one regulating stream for use in controlling a temperature of at least one of the one or more adsorption modules and the gas stream; adsorbing, by the one or more adsorption modules, at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide from the gas stream; discharging, by the adsorbent bed, an exhaust stream depleted of at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide; and modulating the temperature of the gas stream exiting the one or more temperature regulating modules to facilitate increasing an amount of at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide captured and subsequently released by the adsorbent bed.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein receiving at least one regulating stream by one or more contactors comprises receiving a module temperature regulating stream by a first contactor for use in controlling a temperature of the one or more adsorption modules.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising modulating the temperature of the one or more adsorption modules to facilitate increasing an amount of at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide captured and subsequently released by the adsorbent bed.

4. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein receiving at least one regulating stream by the one or more contactors comprises receiving a gas temperature regulating stream by a second contactor for use in controlling a temperature of the gas stream.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein adsorbing by the one or more adsorption modules comprises adsorbing via one or more solid sorbent materials within the one or more adsorption modules.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein adsorbing by the one or more adsorption modules comprises adsorbing, by a first adsorption module, the water vapor from the gas stream.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6, wherein adsorbing by the one or more adsorption modules comprises adsorbing, by one or more subsequent adsorption modules downstream of the one or more temperature regulating modules, the carbon dioxide from the gas stream.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein modulating the temperature of the gas stream comprises temperature modulation of the gas stream downstream of the first adsorption module and upstream of the one or more subsequent adsorption modules.

9. A capture system for use in capturing carbon dioxide, the capture system comprising: an adsorbent bed comprising one or more adsorption modules and one or more temperature regulating modules, the adsorbent bed oriented to: receive a gas stream; adsorb at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide from the gas stream within the one or more adsorption modules; and discharge an exhaust stream depleted of at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide; one or more contactors oriented to receive at least one regulating stream for use in controlling a temperature of at least one of the one or more adsorption modules and the gas stream; and a controller configured to modulate the temperature of the gas stream exiting the one or more temperature regulating modules to facilitate increasing an amount of at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide captured and subsequently released by the adsorbent bed.

10. The capture system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the at least one regulating stream comprises a module temperature regulating stream.

11. The capture system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the one or more contactors comprise a first contactor oriented to receive the module temperature regulating stream for use in controlling a temperature of the one or more adsorption modules.

12. The capture system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to modulate the temperature of the one or more adsorption modules to facilitate increasing an amount of at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide captured and subsequently released by the adsorbent bed.

13. The capture system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the at least one regulating stream comprises a gas temperature regulating stream.

14. The capture system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the one or more contactors comprise a second contactor oriented to receive the gas temperature regulating stream for use in controlling a temperature of the gas stream.

15. The capture system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the one or more adsorption modules comprise one or more solid sorbent materials to adsorb at least one of the water vapor and the carbon dioxide from the gas stream.

16. The capture system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the one or more adsorption modules comprise a first adsorption module oriented to adsorb the water vapor from the gas stream.

17. The capture system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the one or more adsorption modules further comprise one or more subsequent adsorption modules downstream of the one or more temperature regulating modules.

18. The capture system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the one or more subsequent adsorption modules are oriented to adsorb the carbon dioxide from the gas stream.

19. The capture system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to modulate the temperature of the gas stream downstream of the first adsorption module.

20. The capture system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to modulate the temperature of the gas stream upstream of the one or more subsequent adsorption modules.