US2012235087A1PendingUtilityA1

Method for the removal of heat stable amine salts from an amine absorbent

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 18, 2011Filed: Sep 29, 2011Published: Sep 20, 2012
Est. expiryMar 18, 2031(~4.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Nareshkumar B. HandagamaBarath BaburaoFrederic VitseStephen A. BedellJonathan W. LeisterRoss E. Dugas
B01D 2257/504C07C 209/84B01D 2252/20489B01D 2252/204B01D 53/1475B01J 47/00B01D 2259/4009B01D 2258/0283B01D 2252/20484B01D 53/1425B01D 53/1493B01D 61/422Y02A50/20Y02C20/40
47
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Claims

Abstract

The proposed invention relates to a method and a system for the removal of heat stable amine salts from an amine absorbent used in a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture process, the method comprising: withdrawing amine absorbent containing heat stable amine salts from the CO 2 capture process; subjecting the withdrawn amine absorbent containing heat stable amine salts to a residual CO 2 removal step; subjecting the amine absorbent from the residual CO 2 removal step to a separation step to separate heat stable amine salts from the amine absorbent; and returning the amine absorbent having a reduced concentration of heat stable amine salts to the CO 2 capture process.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for the removal of heat stable amine salts from an amine absorbent used in a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture process, comprising:
 withdrawing amine absorbent containing heat stable amine salts from the CO 2  capture process;   subjecting the withdrawn amine absorbent containing heat stable amine salts to a residual CO 2  removal step;   subjecting the amine absorbent from the residual CO 2  removal step to a separation step to separate heat stable amine salts from the amine absorbent; and   returning the amine absorbent having a reduced concentration of heat stable amine salts to the CO 2  capture process.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the residual CO 2  removal step comprises removing residual CO 2  from withdrawn amine absorbent by a method selected from the group consisting of stripping CO 2 , flashing CO 2  and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the residual CO 2  removal step comprises stripping the withdrawn amine absorbent to remove residual CO 2 . 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the residual CO 2  removal step comprises flashing the withdrawn amine absorbent to remove residual CO 2 . 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the residual CO 2  removal step comprises stripping and then flashing the withdrawn amine absorbent to remove residual CO 2 . 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the flashing is performed under near vacuum conditions. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the CO 2  capture process comprises:
 scrubbing a gas stream comprising CO 2  with an amine absorbent such that a CO 2  rich amine absorbent is formed;   regenerating the CO 2  rich amine absorbent by heating it to separate CO 2  from the amine absorbent, such that a CO 2  lean amine absorbent is formed; and   recycling regenerated CO 2  lean amine absorbent to the scrubbing step.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the withdrawn amine absorbent containing heat stable amine salts is regenerated CO 2  lean amine absorbent. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the regenerated CO 2  lean amine absorbent has a temperature of at least 100° C., such as at least 120° C. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the separation step comprises subjecting the amine absorbent from the residual CO 2  removal step to electrodialysis and/or ion exchange. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the separation step comprises subjecting the amine absorbent from the residual CO 2  removal step to electrodialysis. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the separation step comprises subjecting the amine absorbent from the residual CO 2  removal step to ion exchange. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising cooling the amine absorbent from the residual CO 2  removal step before subjecting it to the separation step. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising subjecting the amine absorbent from the residual CO 2  removal step to indirect heat exchange with the amine absorbent coming from the separation step. 
     
     
         15 . A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture system using an amine absorbent for absorption of CO 2  from a gas stream, having a subsystem for the removal of heat stable amine salts from an amine absorbent, said subsystem comprising:
 a residual CO 2  removal unit in liquid connection with, and configured to receive, an amine absorbent stream containing heat stable amine salts from the CO 2  capture system, and operative for separating residual CO 2  from said amine absorbent stream; and   an amine reclaimer in liquid connection with, and configured to receive, an amine absorbent stream containing heat stable amine salts and having a reduced concentration of CO 2  from the residual CO 2  removal unit, and operative for separating heat stable amine salts from said amine absorbent stream.   
     
     
         16 . A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture system according to  claim 15 , wherein the residual CO 2  removal unit is selected from the group consisting of a stripper, a flash drum and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture system according to  claim 16 , wherein the residual CO 2  removal unit comprises a stripper. 
     
     
         18 . A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture system according to  claim 16 , wherein the residual CO 2  removal unit comprises a flash drum. 
     
     
         19 . A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture system according to  claim 16 , wherein the residual CO 2  removal unit comprises a stripper and a flash drum arranged in series. 
     
     
         20 . A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture system according to  claim 15 , comprising:
 a CO 2  absorber operative for scrubbing a gas stream comprising CO 2  with an amine absorbent such that a CO 2  rich amine absorbent is formed; and   a regenerator operative for regenerating CO 2  rich amine absorbent by heating it to separate CO 2  from the amine absorbent, such that a CO 2  lean amine absorbent is formed.   
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein the residual CO 2  removal unit is in liquid connection with, and configured to receive, an amine absorbent stream from the regenerator, and operative for separating residual CO 2  from the CO 2  lean amine absorbent. 
     
     
         22 . A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture system according to  claim 15 , wherein the amine reclaimer is selected from the group consisting of an electrodialysis unit and an ion exchange unit. 
     
     
         23 . A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture system according to  claim 22 , wherein the amine reclaimer comprises an electrodialysis unit. 
     
     
         24 . A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture system according to  claim 22 , wherein the amine reclaimer comprises an ion exchange unit. 
     
     
         25 . A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture system according to  claim 15 , further comprising an amine absorbent cooler arranged between the residual CO 2  removal unit and the reclaimer and operative for cooling the amine absorbent from the residual CO 2  removal unit before it enters the reclaimer. 
     
     
         26 . A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture system according to  claim 25 , further comprising an indirect heat exchanger operative for subjecting the amine absorbent from the residual CO 2  removal unit to indirect heat exchange with the amine absorbent coming from the reclaimer.

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