System and method for carbon dioxide removal

Abstract

A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) removal system includes an external heat transfer device. The CO 2 removal system also includes a magnetocaloric heat transfer device coupled in flow communication with the external heat transfer device. The CO 2 removal system further includes a cryogenic CO 2 capture system coupled in flow communication with the magnetocaloric heat transfer device.

1 . A carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) removal system comprising:
 an external heat transfer device;   a magnetocaloric heat transfer device coupled in flow communication with said external heat transfer device; and   a cryogenic CO 2  capture system coupled in flow communication with said magnetocaloric heat transfer device.   
     
     
         2 . A CO 2  removal system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said external heat transfer device is configured to channel a fluid stream to said magnetocaloric heat transfer device at temperatures between approximately 35° C. and −4° C. 
     
     
         3 . A CO 2  removal system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said magnetocaloric heat transfer device comprises:
 a refrigerant heat exchanger; and   an external magnetic refrigeration device coupled in flow communication with said refrigerant heat exchanger.   
     
     
         4 . A CO 2  removal system in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said external magnetic refrigeration device is configured to use the magnetocaloric effect to remove heat from a refrigerant. 
     
     
         5 . A CO 2  removal system in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said refrigerant heat exchanger is configured to:
 receive a fluid stream from said external heat transfer device; and   transfer heat from the fluid stream to the refrigerant.   
     
     
         6 . A CO 2  removal system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said cryogenic CO 2  capture system comprises:
 a compressor coupled in flow communication with said magnetocaloric heat transfer device;   a heat exchanger coupled in flow communication with said compressor; and   an expander device coupled in flow communication with said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger and said expander device are configured to cooperate to generate a fluid stream having temperatures less than approximately −60° C.   
     
     
         7 . A CO 2  removal system in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said cryogenic CO 2  capture system further comprises a cyclone separator configured to remove substantially solid CO 2  from the fluid stream. 
     
     
         8 . A combustion facility comprising:
 at least one combustion device; and   a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) removal system comprising:
 an external heat transfer device; 
 at least one magnetocaloric heat transfer device coupled in flow communication with said external heat transfer device; and 
 at least one cryogenic CO 2  capture system coupled in flow communication with said magnetocaloric heat transfer device. 
   
     
     
         9 . A combustion facility in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said at least one combustion device comprises at least one of:
 a gas turbine;   a boiler; and   a reciprocating engine.   
     
     
         10 . A combustion facility in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said external heat transfer device is configured to channel a fluid stream to said at least one magnetocaloric heat transfer device at temperatures between approximately 35° C. and −4° C. 
     
     
         11 . A combustion facility in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said magnetocaloric heat transfer device comprises:
 a refrigerant heat exchanger; and   an external magnetic refrigeration device coupled in flow communication with said refrigerant heat exchanger.   
     
     
         12 . A combustion facility in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said external magnetic refrigeration device is configured to use the magnetocaloric effect to remove heat from a refrigerant. 
     
     
         13 . A combustion facility in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said at least one cryogenic CO 2  capture system comprises:
 a compressor coupled in flow communication with said at least one magnetocaloric heat transfer device;   a heat exchanger coupled in flow communication with said compressor; and   an expander device coupled in flow communication with said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger and said expander device are configured to cooperate to generate a fluid stream having temperatures less than approximately −60° C.   
     
     
         14 . A combustion facility in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said at least one cryogenic CO 2  capture system further comprises a cyclone separator configured to remove substantially solid CO 2  from the fluid stream. 
     
     
         15 . A method of removing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from a fluid stream, said method comprising:
 channeling a fluid stream to a magnetocaloric heat transfer device;   removing heat from the fluid stream via the magnetocaloric heat transfer device; and   channeling the fluid stream to a cryogenic CO 2  capture system.   
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein channeling a fluid stream to a magnetocaloric heat transfer device comprises channeling a fluid stream to the magnetocaloric heat transfer device at temperatures between approximately 35° C. and −4° C. 
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein removing heat from the fluid stream via the magnetocaloric heat transfer device comprises:
 channeling a refrigerant from an external magnetic refrigeration device to a refrigerant heat exchanger;   channeling the fluid stream through the refrigerant heat exchanger;   channeling the refrigerant from the refrigerant heat exchanger to the external magnetic refrigeration device; and   using the magnetocaloric effect to remove heat from the refrigerant within the external magnetic refrigeration device.   
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein removing heat from the fluid stream via the magnetocaloric heat transfer device comprises:
 removing at least some water vapor from the fluid stream; and   cooling the fluid stream to temperatures between approximately −50° C. and −60° C. (−76° F.).   
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein channeling the fluid stream to a cryogenic CO 2  capture system comprises:
 compressing the fluid stream channeled from the magnetocaloric heat transfer device, thereby pressurizing and heating the fluid stream;   transferring heat from the fluid stream;   expanding the fluid stream such that CO 2  in the fluid stream transitions to a solid phase; and   separating at least some of the CO 2  from the fluid stream.   
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein transferring heat from the fluid stream comprises:
 channeling the fluid stream from a compressor to a heat transfer device; and   channeling a fluid stream from a solid CO 2  removal device to the heat transfer device.