System and method of managing energy utilized in a flue gas processing system

Abstract

A method for managing an amount of energy utilized by a carbon dioxide capture system that includes providing a fuel and a feed stream including oxygen to a combustion system. The feed stream includes a portion of a flue gas stream generated upon combustion of the fuel in the combustion system. The flue gas stream is subjected to a carbon dioxide capture system to remove carbon dioxide therefrom and an amount of at least one of an oxygen stream or the portion of the flue gas stream introduced to the feed stream is adjusted such that the feed stream maintains an oxygen concentration in a range of between 10% to 90% by volume and the carbon dioxide capture system operates at an energy load between about 1.4 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide and about 3.0 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide.

1 . A method for managing an amount of energy utilized by a carbon dioxide capture system, the method comprising:
 providing a fuel and a feed stream comprising oxygen to a combustion system, the feed stream including a portion of a flue gas stream generated upon combustion of the fuel in the combustion system;   subjecting the flue gas stream to a carbon dioxide capture system to remove carbon dioxide therefrom; and   adjusting an amount of at least one of an oxygen stream or the portion of the flue gas stream introduced to the feed stream such that the feed stream maintains an oxygen concentration in a range of between 10% to 90% by volume and the carbon dioxide capture system operates at an energy load between 1.4 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide and 3.0 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide, thereby managing an amount of energy utilized by the carbon dioxide capture system.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the feed stream maintains an oxygen concentration in a range of between 40% to 60% by volume. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide capture system operates at an energy load between 1.4 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide and 2.5 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 subjecting the flue gas stream to a desulfurization system located downstream of the combustion system and upstream of the carbon dioxide capture system, thereby removing sulfur oxide from the flue gas stream.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 directing the portion of the flue gas stream from a location selected from the group consisting of a location upstream of the desulfurization system, a location downstream of the desulfurization system, and a combination thereof, to form the feed stream.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the feed stream further comprises fresh air and an oxidant stream. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 generating the oxidant stream in an oxygen producing unit.   
     
     
         8 . A method for managing an amount of energy utilized by a carbon dioxide capture system, the method comprising:
 providing a fuel and a feed stream comprising oxygen to a combustion system, the feed stream including a portion of a flue gas stream generated upon combustion of the fuel in the combustion system;   subjecting the flue gas stream to a carbon dioxide capture system to remove carbon dioxide therefrom; and   adjusting an amount of the feed stream directed to the combustion system such that the flue gas stream maintains a carbon dioxide concentration in a range of between 10% to 60% by volume and the carbon dioxide capture system operates at an energy load between 1.4 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide and 3.0 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide, thereby managing an amount of energy utilized by the carbon dioxide capture system.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the flue gas stream maintains a carbon dioxide concentration in a range of between 12% to 46% by volume. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the flue gas stream maintains a carbon dioxide concentration in a range of between 30% to 50% by volume. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the carbon dioxide capture system operates at an energy load between 1.4 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide and 2.5 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 subjecting the flue gas stream to a desulfurization system located downstream of the combustion system and upstream of the carbon dioxide capture system, thereby removing sulfur oxide from the flue gas stream.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 directing the portion of the flue gas stream from a location selected from the group consisting of a location upstream of the desulfurization system, a location downstream of the desulfurization system, and a combination thereof, to form the feed stream.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the feed stream further comprises an oxidant stream and a fresh air stream. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 generating the oxidant stream in an oxygen producing unit.   
     
     
         16 . A method for managing an amount of energy utilized by a carbon dioxide capture system, the method comprising:
 providing a fuel and a feed stream comprising oxygen to a combustion system, the feed stream including a portion of a flue gas stream generated upon combustion of the fuel in the combustion system;   subjecting the flue gas stream to a carbon dioxide capture system to remove carbon dioxide therefrom;   adjusting an amount of the feed stream directed to the combustion system such that the flue gas stream maintains a carbon dioxide concentration in a range of between 10% to 60% by volume; and   adjusting an amount of at least one of an oxygen stream or the portion of the flue gas stream introduced to the feed stream such that the feed stream maintains an oxygen concentration in a range of between 10% to 90% by volume and the carbon dioxide capture system operates at an energy load between 1.4 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide and 3.0 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide, thereby managing an amount of energy utilized by the carbon dioxide capture system, thereby managing an amount of energy utilized by the carbon dioxide capture system.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the flue gas stream maintains a carbon dioxide concentration in a range of between 40% and 60% by volume and the feed stream maintains an oxygen concentration in a range of between 12% to 46% by volume. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the carbon dioxide capture system operates at an energy load between 1.4 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide and 2.5 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 subjecting the flue gas stream to a desulfurization system located downstream of the combustion system and upstream of the carbon dioxide capture system, thereby removing sulfur oxide from the flue gas stream.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 directing the portion of the flue gas stream from a location selected from the group consisting of a location upstream of the desulfurization system, a location downstream of the desulfurization system, and a combination thereof, to form the feed stream.   
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the feed stream further comprises an oxidant stream and a fresh air stream. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 generating the oxidant stream in an oxygen producing unit.