WO2010044113A1 - Apparatus and method for capturing carbon dioxide from combustion exhaust gas and generating electric energy by means of mcfc systems - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for capturing carbon dioxide from combustion exhaust gas and generating electric energy by means of mcfc systems Download PDFInfo
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- WO2010044113A1 WO2010044113A1 PCT/IT2008/000647 IT2008000647W WO2010044113A1 WO 2010044113 A1 WO2010044113 A1 WO 2010044113A1 IT 2008000647 W IT2008000647 W IT 2008000647W WO 2010044113 A1 WO2010044113 A1 WO 2010044113A1
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- anodic
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
- H01M8/0662—Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
- H01M8/0668—Removal of carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
- H01M8/04014—Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
- H01M8/04067—Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins
- H01M8/04074—Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
- H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
- H01M8/04097—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with recycling of the reactants
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
- H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
- H01M8/04111—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants using a compressor turbine assembly
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
- H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
- H01M8/0432—Temperature; Ambient temperature
- H01M8/0435—Temperature; Ambient temperature of cathode exhausts
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/14—Fuel cells with fused electrolytes
- H01M2008/147—Fuel cells with molten carbonates
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
Abstract
An apparatus (1) for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from combustion exhaust gas and generating electrical energy by means of MCFC systems, which includes : at least one molten carbonate fuel cell (4), having a cathodic compartment (5) and an anodic compartment (6); a supply line (7) for supplying exhaust gas to the cathodic compartment; a CO2 separation system (8), connected to an outlet of the anodic compartment (6) and designed to separate CO2 from a flow of anodic gas coming from the anodic compartment; and a heat-exchange assembly (11) set along the exhaust gas supply line (7) for controlling, in synergism with a cathodic recirculation line (21), the temperature of the oxidizing gas supplied to the cathodic compartment (5).
Description
"APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING CARBON DIOXIDE FROM COMBUSTION EXHAUST GAS AND GENERATING ELECTRIC ENERGY BY MEANS OF MCFC SYSTEMS"
TECHNICAL SECTOR
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from combustion exhaust gas, generating electrical energy by means of an MCFC (Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells) system.
BACKGROUND ART
In the field of CO2 capture, traditional type passive systems are known, which have a high capacity for capturing CO2 from exhaust or flue gas but are still far from being widespread because they require high investment costs and in general involve considerable penalizations in terms of energy consumption. This results in a considerable reduction in the power that can be supplied by the primary plant and, as a result, in a reduction of its efficiency.
Amongst the alternative solutions, there is known the possible use of MCFC systems that use as oxidant, at least in part, exhaust gas from combustion processes. In this application, the MCFC cell captures carbon dioxide (CO2) from exhaust (flue) gas, thus preventing dispersion thereof into the atmosphere, and at the same time produces supplementary electrical energy.
Systems of this type are illustrated, for example, in EP0418864 and US7396603.
EP0418864 describes the general schemes of a number of plant solutions, most of which operating at atmospheric pressure. The ones devised, instead, for operating under pressure presuppose additions of air to the exhaust (flue) gas with consequent increase in compression work.
Patent No. US7396603, most suitable for atmospheric pressure systems with internal reformer, uses as oxidant, instead, exclusively exhaust (flue) gas. However, it calls for a rigid separation of the anodic line from the cathodic line. This prevents the recovery in the turbine of the enthalpy of the anodic fluids and reduces the degrees of freedom of the plant managing operations .
A further problem of the known systems is, in fact, that they do not have, in general terms, characteristics of flexibility such as to enable precedence to be given, each time as required but in real time, to CO2 capturing function (increasing separation capacity) or to energy generation function (optimizing electrical efficiency) .
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from combustion exhaust gas and generating electrical energy by means of MCFC systems that will overcome the above-outlined problems of known systems.
In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method characterized by high flexibility of operation, which will make it possible to choose whether to give priority to the CO2 capturing function or to the generation of electricity, depending upon the technical and/or economic objectives with the possibility of implementing in real time the necessary operative modifications within a relatively extensive field of variations.
More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to increase the flexibility of the system without having to add air to the exhaust or flue gas of the primary plant.
The present invention hence relates to an apparatus and a
method for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from combustion exhaust gas and generating electrical energy by means of MCFC systems as essentially defined in the annexed Claim 1 and Claim 13 respectively, as well as, for their preferred aspects, in the dependent claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention is further described in the ensuing non- limiting example of embodiment, with reference to the annexed figure, which is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for capturing carbon dioxide from combustion exhaust gas and generating electrical energy by means of MCFC systems in accordance with the invention.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Designated as a whole by 1 in the annexed figure is an apparatus for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from combustion exhaust gas and generating electrical energy by means of an MCFC (Molten Carbonated Fuel Cells) system 2, in particular an MCFC system of a pressurized type, operating preferably between 3 and 6 abs . bar and typically around 3.5 to 4 abs . bar.
The apparatus 1 is associated to a primary plant 3 operating with combustion processes. For example, the primary plant 3 is a gas-turbine / heat-recovery-steam-generator / steam-turbine combined-cycle thermo-electric plant, of which it is desired to treat the exhaust (flue) gas either totally or partially in order to reduce the content of CO2 thereof prior to introduction into the atmosphere. Even though reference is made in what follows to preferred solutions for this specific application, it remains understood that similar solutions can be adopted for applications to more traditional power generation primary plants (for example, steam cycles with boilers supplied with fossil fuels) as well as to other plants in which combustion processes are present.
The apparatus 1 basically comprises:
- an MCFC system 2 comprising a molten-carbonate fuel cell or a stack of molten-carbonate fuel cells 4 and having a cathodic compartment 5 and an anodic compartment 6 ; - an oxidant- supply line 44, through which oxidizing gas is supplied to the cathodic compartment and in which converge an exhaust gas supply line 7, which takes exhaust gas coming from the primary plant 3 to the oxidant-supply line 44, and a cathodic-recirculation line 21, which recirculates part of the gas coming from the cathodic compartment 5 ;
- a CO2 separation system 8, connected to an outlet of the anodic compartment 6 and designed to separate CO2 from a flow of anodic gas coming from the anodic compartment 6;
- a primary fuel conversion section 9; - a turbo-compressor assembly 10; and
- a heat-exchange assembly 11 set along the exhaust gas supply line 7 for controlling the temperature of the exhaust gas introduced into the oxidant- supply line 44 and, then, to the cathodic compartment 5.
The exhaust gas supply line 7 of the apparatus 1 is connected to an exhaust output of the primary plant 3 via a connection line 12, which transfers (either totally or partially) the combustion exhaust (flue) gas produced by the primary plant 3 to the MCFC system 2. In particular, the line 12 introduces into the apparatus 1, as exclusive source of oxidizing gas, combustion exhaust gas, without addition of air or other oxidizing gas. Optionally, according to the composition and the temperature of the exhaust gas and to the requisites imposed by the MCFC system 2, the connection line 12 includes, upstream of the apparatus 1, a gas -cleaning system and/or a heat exchanger, not illustrated in the figure.
Indicatively, the exhaust gas introduced into the apparatus 1 has temperatures of 40 to HO0C and oxygen content higher than
5%; the turbo-compressor assembly 10 is of a traditional
structure and comprises a compressor 15 coaxial with a turbine 16 by which it is driven, an electrical generator 17, and an auxiliary burner 22.
The compressor 15 is set along the exhaust gas supply line 7, upstream of the heat-exchange assembly 11, and has the function of compressing the exhaust gas from the atmospheric pressure of the exhaust outlet of the primary plant 3 to the operating pressure of the MCFC system 2 (preferably, approximately 3 to 6 abs . bar) .
The compressor 15 has an outlet from which there branch off a main branch 18a that takes the compressed exhaust gas to the heat-exchange assembly 11, and a bypass branch 18b, which takes the exhaust gas, instead, to the exhaust gas supply line 7 downstream of the heat-exchange assembly 11, usable for regulating the exhaust gas temperature.
The heat-exchange assembly 11 is configured so that the exhaust gas to be supplied to the cathodic compartment 5 exchange heat with an exhaust gas flow coming from the cathodic compartment 5. In particular, the assembly 11 comprises a gas/gas recovery heat exchanger 19, in which the compressed exhaust gas coming from the compressor 15 is heated by a gas flow coming from the cathodic compartment 5 and passed through the turbine 16 of the turbo-compressor assembly
10.
The heat exchanger 19 has an exhaust gas outlet shared between: a first branch 20a (forming part of the exhaust gas supply line 7) that takes the heated exhaust gas to the cathodic compartment 5 through the oxidant-supply line 44, after prior confluence first with the bypass branch 18b and then with the cathodic-recirculation line 21; and a second branch 20b, which can be activated in particular transients and transfers a fraction of the heated exhaust gas exiting
from the heat exchanger 19 to the auxiliary burner 22 of the turbo-compressor assembly 10. The burner 22 has the function of starting the turbo-compressor assembly 10 and hence of the entire apparatus 1, as well as the function of intervening with stabilizing tasks in the presence of particular transients. When it is active, the burner 22 is supplied with a fuel (for example, methane or natural gas) through a supply line 23 and receives as oxidant part of the exhaust gas coming out from the heat exchanger 19 through the line 20b. The burner 22 has an outlet connected via an exhaust transfer line 24 to the turbine 16.
The fuel cells of the stack 4 (with external reformer and external manifold) present configuration and operation that are substantially known and consequently are not described in detail for reasons of simplicity.
In basic terms, the cathodic compartment 5 is constituted by a current collector and gas distributor and by an electrode (cathode) , on which the cathodic reactions occur. Likewise, the anodic compartment 6 is constituted by a current collector and gas distributor and by an electrode (anode) , on which the anodic reactions occur. Specifically, at the cathode there occurs formation, at the expense of O2 and CO2 present in the oxidizing gas, containing the exhaust gas and supplied to the cathodic compartment 5, of C03 = ions. The displacement of said ions from the cathode to the anode through an electrolyte matrix performs the function of ionic closing of the electrical circuit within the cell. At the anode there occurs formation, at the expense of hydrogen and C03 = ions coming, through the electrolyte matrix, from the cathodic compartment, of water and CO2, which is thus transferred, in effect, from the cathodic compartment 5 to the anodic compartment 6 and is thus concentrated and released in the exhausted anodic gas. The electric current generated is sent, via a connection 25, to an electric power conditioning system (PCS) 26, which
converts it into the form required by the user.
The cathodic compartment 5 has an outlet 27 connected, via a branch 27a, to an inlet of the turbine 16, and via a branch 27b to the fuel conversion section 9. The branch 27a takes a fraction of exhausted gas coming from the cathodic compartment 5 to the turbine 16, where the cathodic gas expands, thus producing mechanical energy for driving the compressor 15 and the generator 17. The branch 27b takes a recirculation fraction of the exhausted gas coming from the cathodic compartment 5 to supply a catalytic burner 29 associated to a steam reformer 30 of the section 9.
The gas coming from the cathodic compartment 5 that has expanded in the turbine 16 are sent to the heat exchanger 19 through a turbine exhaust transfer line 31 in order to heat the exhaust gas compressed by the compressor 15.
The burner 29 is supplied not only with the exhaust gas coming from the cathodic compartment 5 through the branch 27b but also with residual fuel coming from the CO2 separation system
8 through a recovery line 32 that connects the system 8 to the burner 29. The burner 29 supplies the heat required for sustaining a reaction of conversion or reforming of a primary fuel introduced into the reformer 30 through a primary supply line 33. The primary fuel is typically methane, or else natural gas, biogas, syngas, hydrogen, etc. The line 33 can optionally include, where necessary, systems for cleaning/purification, which are known and are not illustrated in the figure.
Typically, the reformer 30 is supplied with a methane-steam mixture through the line 33, into which an outlet line 34 from a steam generator 35 is fitted. The reformer 30 converts the methane into hydrogen, CO and CO2 and then into a gaseous fuel suitable for supplying the anodic compartment 6 , to which the
reformer 30 is connected via an anodic supply line 36.
In the case of primary fuels with low methane content, the primary fuel conversion section 9 comprises, instead of a steam reformer associated to a burner as described, a heat exchanger or other device designed to provide a suitable supply to the anodic compartment 6.
The section 9, in the case in point the burner 29, has an exhaust gas outlet, which is connected to the cathodic compartment 5 via the cathodic recirculation line 21 (which is joined to the exhaust gas supply line 7) ; the line 21 is provided with a blower 37 and is joined to the exhaust gas supply line 7 for transferring, through the oxidant-supply line 44, oxidizing gas to the cathodic compartment 5, after prior mixing with the exhaust gas coming from the heat- exchange assembly 11 and with the exhaust gas exiting from the section 9 and specifically from the burner 29 (exhaust gas produced by the combustion of the residual anodic fuel coming from the CO2 separation system 8 through the line 32 with the gas coming from the cathodic compartment 5 through the branch 27b) . The exhaust gas entering into the cathodic compartment 5 indicatively has temperatures of 575 to 6000C.
The steam generator 35 produces steam to be mixed with the primary fuel (methane) starting from demineralized water supplied through a water-inlet line 38, using the heat still present in the gas coming from the cathodic compartment 5 and that, after passing through the turbine 16 and the heat- exchange assembly 11, are sent to the steam generator 35 via a transfer line 39 that connects the heat exchanger 19 to the steam generator 35. After transferring heat in the steam generator 35, the gas coming from the cathodic compartment 5 are finally discharged from the apparatus 1, for example, via a chimney (for example, the chimney of the primary plant 3) .
The CO2 separation system 8 separates CO2 from the anodic gas coming from the anodic compartment 6, to which it is connected via an anodic outlet line 42. Preferably, the system 8 is based upon membranes operating at a high temperature and capable of separating CO2 from the anodic gas. The residual hydrogen not used in the MCFC system 2 , and possibly methane and CO, which are also residues, separated from the anodic gas and recovered, are sent to the burner 29 through the recovery line 32.
The electrical generator 17 is actuated by the turbine 16 and produces, according to the operating modalities, electrical energy, which is transferred, via a connection 43, to the electric power conditioning system 26, which also receives, as already described, the electrical energy produced by the MCFC system 2.
The method of the invention, implemented by the apparatus 1 just described, hence comprises the steps of: - supplying, without any addition of air, the combustion exhaust gas coming from the primary plant 3 to the cathodic compartment 5, and the gaseous fuel (hydrogen) to the anodic compartment 6 ; before the exhaust gas are supplied to the cathodic compartment, compressing the exhaust gas via the compressor
15, bringing the exhaust gas to the operating pressure of the
MCFC system 2 ; heating the exhaust gas to be supplied to the cathodic compartment 5 by means of the heat-exchange assembly 11 arranged upstream of the cathodic compartment 5, and hence by heat exchange with the gas flow taken from the outlet of the cathodic compartment 5 and passed through the turbine 16;
- generating an electric current via electrochemical reaction within the MCFC system 2 ; - discharging the anodic gas produced in the anodic compartment 6 into the CO2 separation system 8 and separating
CO2 from the anodic gas; sending the exhausted gas coming from the cathodic compartment 5 and exiting from the assembly 11 to the steam generator 35 for production of steam, and using the steam produced for a primary fuel reforming step, to convert the primary fuel into gaseous fuel (hydrogen) suitable for supplying the anodic compartment 6 , and sending the gaseous fuel to the anodic compartment 6; after removal of CO2, recovering residual fuel from the anodic exhausted gas by separating the water vapour either totally or partially, and using the residual fuel recovered in the burner 29 for sustaining the reforming reaction; and intercepting part of the gas coming from the cathodic compartment 5 and using said part as comburent in the burner 29 that sustains the reforming reaction.
From what has been set forth above, there clearly emerge the advantages achieved by the present invention.
In the first place, the specific plant configuration according to the invention enables choice and realization of operating conditions designed to privilege, according to the requirements of the case, CO2 capturing capacity, CO2 capturing efficiency or energy production, by acting in a combined way on the following parameters: electric current and fuel utilisation factor in the fuel cell; amount of steam removed from the anodic exhausted gas in the final CO2 separation section; and percentage of cathodic recirculation.
The present invention makes it possible then, in operation, to supply the apparatus using as only single source of oxidant for the fuel cell just the combustion exhaust (flue) gas, as released ordinarily from the primary power plant . For an effective operation of the fuel cell there is in fact required neither dilution of the CO2 in the exhaust (flue) gas by adding air nor alteration of the combustion process in the
primary plant to provide gas compositions more suitable for operativeness of the cell. Preferably, the exhaust (flue) gas to be treated ought to have an O2 content of not less than 5% vol .
The solution of the invention makes it possible moreover to use commonly available standard- technology fuel cells (in particular, with external reformer and external manifold) , proving fully efficient without requiring the use of special or non-consolidated technologies, materials and/or configurations, which would, instead, become necessary for operating in different operating fields that are more extensive than the usual ones.
The MCFC section of the apparatus is moreover able to operate autonomously as simple energy generator in the case where the primary plant is not operative and hence the function of capturing CO2 from the exhaust (flue) gas of the primary plant is interrupted.
It remains then understood that further modifications and variations may be made to what is described and illustrated herein, without this implying any departure from the scope of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus (1) for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from combustion exhaust gas and generating electrical energy by means of MCFC systems, comprising: at least one molten carbonate fuel cell (4) , having a cathodic compartment (5) and an anodic compartment (6) ; a supply line (44) for supplying oxidizing gas to the cathodic compartment (5) ; an exhaust gas supply line (7) for introducing exhaust gas into the oxidizing gas to be supplied to the cathodic compartment (5) ; a CO2 separation system (8) , connected to an outlet of the anodic compartment (6) and designed to separate CO2 from a flow of gas coming from the anodic compartment; the apparatus being characterized by comprising a heat-exchange assembly (11) set along the exhaust gas supply line (7) for controlling the temperature of the exhaust gas introduced into the oxidizing gas and, hence, the temperature at which the oxidizing gas containing the exhaust gas is introduced into the cathodic compartment (5) .
2. The apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the heat-exchange assembly (11) is configured so that the exhaust gas to be supplied to the cathodic compartment (5) exchanges heat with a flow of gas coming from the cathodic compartment (5) .
3. The apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 , comprising a turbo-compressor assembly (10) , and wherein the heat-exchange means (11) comprise at least one heat exchanger (19) for heating the compressed exhaust gas coming from a compressor (15) of the turbo-compressor assembly (10) by means of a flow of gas coming from the cathodic compartment (5) and passed through a turbine (16) of the turbo-compressor assembly
(10) .
4. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a turbo-compressor assembly (10), having a compressor (15) fitted on the exhaust gas supply line
(7) upstream of the heat-exchange assembly (11) for compressing the exhaust gas to be supplied to the cathodic compartment (5) .
5. The apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the turbo-compressor assembly (10) includes a turbine (16) having an inlet connected to an outlet of the cathodic compartment (5) and supplied with gas coming from the cathodic compartment (5) .
6. The apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the heat-exchange assembly (11) is connected to an outlet of the turbine (16) so that the gas coming from the cathodic compartment (5) and passed through the turbine (16) traverses the heat-exchange assembly (11) and transfers heat to the exhaust gas to be supplied to the cathodic compartment (5) .
7. The apparatus according to Claim 6 , wherein the heat-exchange assembly (11) is connected to a steam generator (35) to which the gas coming from the cathodic compartment (5) and exiting from the heat-exchange assembly (11) is sent for the production of steam.
8. The apparatus according to Claim 7 , wherein the steam generator (35) is connected to a primary fuel conversion section (9) , to which it supplies steam necessary for "steam reforming" of a primary fuel.
9. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the CO2 separation system (8) comprises a membrane separation device, having high- temperature operating membranes designed for separation of CO2 from the anodic gas .
10. The apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the CO2 separation system (8) is connected to a primary fuel conversion section (9) , to which residual fuel recovered from the anodic gas after removal of CO2 is sent .
11. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a cathodic recirculation line
(21) that recirculates part of the gas coming from the cathodic compartment (5) back to the exhaust gas supply line (7) .
12. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an inlet line (12) for introducing into the apparatus, as single source of oxidizing gas, combustion exhaust gas, without addition of air or other oxidizing gas.
13. A method for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from combustion exhaust gas and generating electrical energy by means of MCFC systems, using at least one molten carbonate fuel cell having a cathodic compartment and an anodic compartment; the method comprising the steps of:
- supplying oxidizing gas containing combustion exhaust gas to the cathodic compartment, and a gaseous fuel to the anodic compartment ;
- generating an electric current via electrochemical reaction within the cell;
- discharging from the cell anodic gas produced in the anodic compartment and separating CO2 from the anodic gas,- the method being characterized by comprising the step of:
- heating the exhaust gas to be introduced into the oxidizing gas to be supplied to the cathodic compartment by means of a heat-exchange assembly set upstream of the cathodic compartment, for controlling the temperature of the exhaust gas introduced into the oxidizing gas and hence the temperature at which the oxidizing gas containing the exhaust gas is introduced into the cathodic compartment.
14. The method according to Claim 13, wherein the heat-exchange assembly is moreover provided with a by-pass as further element for controlling the temperature of the exhaust gas to be supplied to the cathodic compartment.
15. The method according to Claim 13 or Claim 14 , wherein the exhaust gas is heated prior to being supplied to the cathodic compartment by means of heat exchange with a flow of gas coming from the cathodic compartment .
16. The method according to any one of Claims 13 to 15, comprising, prior to the step of heating the exhaust gas, a step of compressing the exhaust gas by means of a compressor.
17. The method according to Claim 16, wherein the compressor is part of an auxiliary turbo-compressor assembly, and the compressed exhaust gas coming from the compressor is heated via a flow of gas coming from the cathodic compartment and passed through a turbine of the turbo-compressor assembly.
18. The method according to any one of Claims 13 to 17, wherein the gas coming from the cathodic compartment and exiting from the heat-exchange assembly are sent to a steam generator for the production of steam.
19. The method according to Claim 18, wherein the steam produced by the steam generator is used for a step of
"steam reforming" of a primary fuel.
20. The method according to any one of Claims 13 to 19, wherein the step of separating CO2 from the anodic gas is conducted via high-temperature operating separation membranes apt to separate CO2 from the anodic gas .
21. The method according to Claim 20, wherein residual fuel recovered from the anodic gas after removal of CO2 is used for sustaining a reforming reaction.
22. The method according to any one of Claims 13 to 21, comprising a reforming step, in which a primary fuel is converted into hydrogen, which is then supplied to the anodic compartment .
23. The method according to Claim 22, comprising a step of intercepting part of the gas coming from the cathodic compartment and using said part in a burner that sustains the reforming reaction.
24. The method according to Claim 23 , wherein the gas coming from the burner that sustains the reforming reaction is sent to join the exhaust gas to be supplied to the cathodic compartment .
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP08876074A EP2356715A1 (en) | 2008-10-15 | 2008-10-15 | Apparatus and method for capturing carbon dioxide from combustion exhaust gas and generating electric energy by means of mcfc systems |
| PCT/IT2008/000647 WO2010044113A1 (en) | 2008-10-15 | 2008-10-15 | Apparatus and method for capturing carbon dioxide from combustion exhaust gas and generating electric energy by means of mcfc systems |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IT2008/000647 WO2010044113A1 (en) | 2008-10-15 | 2008-10-15 | Apparatus and method for capturing carbon dioxide from combustion exhaust gas and generating electric energy by means of mcfc systems |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2010044113A1 true WO2010044113A1 (en) | 2010-04-22 |
Family
ID=40329422
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IT2008/000647 WO2010044113A1 (en) | 2008-10-15 | 2008-10-15 | Apparatus and method for capturing carbon dioxide from combustion exhaust gas and generating electric energy by means of mcfc systems |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP2356715A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2010044113A1 (en) |
Cited By (19)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8945368B2 (en) | 2012-01-23 | 2015-02-03 | Battelle Memorial Institute | Separation and/or sequestration apparatus and methods |
| WO2015048628A1 (en) * | 2013-09-30 | 2015-04-02 | Exxonmobil Research And Engineering Company | Power generation and co2 capture with turbines in series |
| US9077008B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2015-07-07 | Exxonmobil Research And Engineering Company | Integrated power generation and chemical production using fuel cells |
| US9077005B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2015-07-07 | Exxonmobil Research And Engineering Company | Integration of molten carbonate fuel cells in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis |
| CN105612648A (en) * | 2013-09-30 | 2016-05-25 | 埃克森美孚研究工程公司 | Power generation and co2 capture with turbines in series |
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