Apparatus and method for sequestering flue gas co2

Abstract

A fluidized bed reactor device for sequestering flue gas CO 2 from a flue gas source is provided. The fluidized bed reactor device comprises an operating portion having a first end and a second end. A flue gas inlet is formed at the first end of the operating portion with the flue gas inlet receiving flue gas from the flue gas source. A flue gas outlet formed at the second end of the operating portion. A distributor plate is mounted within the operating portion adjacent the first end of the operating portion. A volume of fly ash is encased within the operating portion between the second end and the distributor plate with the flue gas traveling through the distributor plate and the fly ash creating reacted flue gas wherein the reacted flue gas exits the operating portion through the flue gas outlet.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A fluidized bed reactor for sequestering flue gas CO 2  from a flue gas source, comprising:
 an operating portion having a first end and a second end;   a flue gas inlet formed at the first end of the operating portion, the flue gas inlet receiving flue gas from the flue gas source;   a flue gas outlet formed at the second end of the operating portion;   a distributor plate mounted within the operating portion adjacent to the first end of the operating portion; and   fly ash arranged within the operating portion between the second end and the distributor plate, wherein the flue gas is configured to travel through the distributor plate and the fly ash is configured to react with the flue gas and mineralize a portion of CO 2  with the fly ash at a rate of about 0.05 [grams of CO 2 /(min.*kg of flyash)] or greater.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the operating portion comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the operating portion comprises a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for sequestering flue gas CO 2  from a flue gas source, comprising:
 an operating portion having a first end and a second end;   a flue gas inlet formed at the first end of the operating portion, the flue gas inlet configured to receive flue gas from the flue gas source;   a flue gas outlet formed at the second end of the operating portion;   a distributor plate mounted within the operating portion adjacent to the first end of the operating portion;   a pump arranged between the operating portion and the flue gas source configured to provide the flue gas from the flue gas source through the operating portion from the first end to the second end at a predetermined pressure; and   fly ash encased within the operating portion between the second end and the distributor plate, wherein the flue gas is configured to travel through the distributor plate and the fly ash and the apparatus is configured to simultaneously capture and mineralize a portion of the CO 2  in the flue gas at a rate of about 0.05 [grams of CO 2 /(min.*kg of flyash)] or greater.   
     
     
         25 . The fluidized bed reactor of  claim 24 , wherein the operating portion comprises a transparent material. 
     
     
         26 . The fluidized bed reactor of  claim 24 , wherein the distributor plate comprises a plurality of holes configured to provide uniform distribution of the pressurized flue gas through at least a portion of the fly ash. 
     
     
         27 . The fluidized bed reactor of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a filtering mounted at the flue gas outlet configured to filter flue gas from fly ash.   
     
     
         28 . The fluidized bed reactor of  claim 27 , wherein the filter comprises a pleated fabric filter. 
     
     
         29 . The fluidized bed reactor of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a temperature gauge for measuring the temperature within the operating portion; and   a pressure gauge for measuring the pressure within the operating portion.   
     
     
         30 . A method using a fluidized bed reactor for sequestering CO 2  from a flue gas, comprising the steps of:
 providing industrial flue gas comprising carbon dioxide to the fluidized bed reactor; and   mineralizing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide by reacting the carbon dioxide with unprocessed power plant fly ash to form carbonated ash in the fluidized bed reactor at a rate of about 0.05 [grams of CO 2 /(min.*kg of flyash)] or greater.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the industrial flue gas comprises a flue gas from a solid waste incinerator. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the industrial flue gas comprises a flue gas from a coal combustion source. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the industrial flue gas comprises a flue gas from a cement plant. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the unprocessed power plant fly ash comprises bottom ash. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the step of stabilizing the carbonated ash. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the step of filtering the reacted flue gas with a filter to separate the reacted flue gas and return the fly ash for additional contact with the flue gas. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of providing the industrial flue gas comprises distributing the flue gas in a substantially uniform distribution in the fluidized bed reactor. 
     
     
         38 . A method using a fluidized bed reactor for simultaneously capturing and mineralizing CO 2  in flue gas, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing the flue gas comprising the CO 2  to an inlet of the fluidized bed reactor;   distributing the flue gas in a substantially uniform distribution in the fluidized bed reactor;   simultaneously capturing and mineralizing CO 2  by reacting the flue gas with unprocessed power plant fly ash, wherein the simultaneously capturing and mineralizing is conducted at a rate of about 0.05 [grams of CO 2 /(min.*kg of flyash)] or greater;   filtering the reacted flue gas and the fly ash to separate the reacted flue gas and return the fly ash for additional contact with the flue gas; and   stabilizing the mineralized CO 2 .   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the distributing step comprises providing flue gas at about 60 standard cubic feet per minute through a distributor plate. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising the steps of:
 measuring a temperature within the fluidized bed reactor; and   measuring the pressure within the fluidized bed reactor.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the flue gas comprises a flue gas from a solid waste incinerator. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the flue gas comprises a flue gas from a coal combustion source. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the flue gas comprises a flue gas from a cement plant. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the fly ash comprises power plant fly ash. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the fly ash comprises bottom ash. 
     
     
         46 . A method using a fluidized bed reactor for simultaneously capturing and mineralizing CO 2  in flue gas of a coal fired plant, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing the flue gas from the coal fired plant to an inlet of the fluidized bed reactor;   distributing the flue gas in a substantially uniform distribution in the fluidized bed reactor;   simultaneously capturing and mineralizing CO 2  by reacting flue gas with the unprocessed power plant fly ash to capture carbon dioxide at a rate of about 0.05 [grams of CO 2 /(min.*kg of flyash)] or greater;   filtering the reacted flue gas and the fly ash; and   stabilizing the reacted fly ash comprising mineralized CO 2 .   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the flue gas comprises a flue gas from a coal combustion source.