Method and apparatus for rapid adsorption-desorption co2 capture

Abstract

An apparatus for capture and sequestration of CO 2 from fossil fuel-fired power plant flue gas includes a polymer matrix embedded with a sorbent suitable for removing CO 2 from the flue gas and a spacer mated with the polymer matrix. The spacer is adapted to create channels between adjacent portions of the polymer matrix such that the flue gas flows through the channels and comes in contact with the sorbent. Further, an apparatus for the capture and sequestration of CO 2 from fossil fuel-fired power plant flue gas includes a hollow fiber membrane embedded with an adsorbent or other suitable material for removing CO 2 from the flue gas. The adsorbent particles may be embedded into a wall of the membrane.

1 . An apparatus for capture and sequestration of CO 2  from fossil fuel-fired power plant flue gas, comprising:
 (a) a polymer matrix embedded with a sorbent suitable for removing CO 2  from the flue gas;   (b) a spacer mated with the polymer matrix and adapted to create channels between adjacent portions of the polymer matrix such that the flue gas flows through the channels and comes in contact with the sorbent.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacer is flexible and includes a matrix of channels therein adapted to allow the flue gas to flow through. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix and spacer are alternately layered to create the flow channels between adjacent portions of the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for capture and sequestration of gas species from fossil fuel-fired power plant flue gas, comprising:
 (a) a vessel adapted to be pressurized, the vessel including a lumen-side having first and second lumen-side ports disposed at opposing ends of the vessel and a shell-side having first and second shell-side ports disposed on opposing sides of a shell of the vessel; and   (b) a hollow fiber membrane disposed in the vessel, the hollow fiber membrane having a sorbent embedded in a wall of the membrane for removing one or more species of a gas from the flue gas.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the hollow fiber membrane is made of the sorbent. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the flue gas enters the lumen-side and is pressurized such that the gas flows through the hollow fiber membrane to allow the sorbent to remove the gas species. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the non-adsorbed gas species is collected in the shell-side. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein most of the non-adsorbed gas is gradually removed. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the lumen-side is de-pressurized to allow the non-adsorbed gas to backflow into the lumen-side and regenerate the sorbent. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further including a plurality of hollow fiber membranes disposed in the vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the flue gas enters the first shell-side and is pressurized such that the gas flows through the hollow fiber membrane to allow the sorbent to remove the gas species. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the non-adsorbed gas species is collected in the lumen-side. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein most of the non-adsorbed gas is gradually removed. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the shell-side is de-pressurized to allow the non-adsorbed gas to backflow into the shell-side and regenerate the sorbent. 
     
     
         16 . A method of capturing and sequestering a gas species from fossil fuel-fired power plant flue gas, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a polymer matrix embedded with a sorbent, the polymer matrix being adapted to be heated and cooled rapidly;   (b) placing the polymer matrix parallel to a flow of flue gas; and   (c) subjecting the flue gas to the polymer matrix to allow the sorbent to remove one or more gas species from the flue gas.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the polymer matrix is made of a water repellent material. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the water repellent material is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , further including the step of heating the polymer matrix to regenerate the sorbent. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the step of heating is performed by direct contact with steam. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , further including the step of cooling the polymer matrix to allow the sorbent to remove the gas species. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of cooling is performed by direct water spray onto the surface of the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         23 . A method of capturing and sequestering a gas species from a fossil fuel-fired power plant flue gas, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing an apparatus having:
 (i) a vessel adapted to be pressurized; and 
 (ii) a hollow fiber membrane contained in the vessel and having a sorbent embedded therein; 
   (b) subjecting the hollow fiber membrane to a flow of flue gas;   (c) removing one or more gas species from the flue gas with the hollow fiber membrane; and   (d) regenerating the sorbent contained in the hollow fiber membrane.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , further including the steps of:
 (a) flowing the flue gas through a lumen-side of the vessel;   (b) pressurizing the lumen-side to promote flow of the gas through the hollow fiber membrane;   (c) collecting non-adsorbing gas species of the flue gas in a shell-side of the vessel; and   (d) de-pressurizing the lumen-side of the vessel to promote backflow of the non-adsorbing gas species from the shell-side and into the hollow fiber membrane to regenerate the sorbent.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , further including the step of removing most of the non-adsorbed gas species from the shell-side. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 23 , further including the steps of:
 (a) flowing the flue gas through a shell-side of the vessel;   (b) pressurizing the shell-side to promote flow of the gas through the hollow fiber membrane;   (c) collecting non-adsorbing gas species of the flue gas from a lumen-side of the vessel; and   (d) de-pressurizing the shell-side of the vessel to promote backflow of the non-adsorbing gas species from the lumen-side and into the hollow fiber membrane to regenerate the sorbent.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 23 , further including the steps of:
 (a) cooling the flue gas or vessel;   (b) flowing the flue gas into a lumen-side of the vessel;   (c) flowing the flue gas through the hollow fiber membrane;   (d) collecting non-adsorbing gas species of the flue gas from a shell-side of the vessel; and   (e) heating the sorbent to regenerate the sorbent.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 23 , further including the steps of:
 (a) cooling the flue gas or vessel;   (b) flowing the flue gas into a shell-side of the vessel;   (c) flowing the flue gas through the hollow fiber membrane;   (d) collecting non-adsorbing gas species of the flue gas in a lumen-side of the vessel; and   (e) heating the sorbent to regenerate the sorbent.