Method and an apparatus for producing carbon dioxide and thermal energy

Abstract

A method and apparatus for producing very pure carbon dioxide containing gas and thermal energy and the use of such apparatus and method are described. The production apparatus (PA) includes at least one catalytic combustion unit ( 2 ) with at least one catalytic burner (NCB) for catalytic combustion of fuel, for burning the fuel efficiently at a temperature of 350 to 850° C. in a retention time of 0.01 to 0.1 s, and at least one heat exchanger (RHE, THE) for at least partial transfer of heat from the gas (CO2G) formed in the combustion to the combustion air (AIR) and the fuel (PG) to be supplied into the catalytic burner (NCB). The production apparatus (PA) also includes at least one catalytic after burner (ACB) for at least partial after purification of the gas (CO2G) formed in the combustion.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A production apparatus (PA) for thermal energy and/or very pure carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) containing gas, driven by gaseous and/or liquid fuel and comprising at least one injector (J) for injecting fuel (PG) and at least one main blower ( 1 ) for supplying combustion air (AIR), wherein the production apparatus (PA) comprises at least one catalytic combustion unit ( 2 ) with at least one catalytic burner (NCB) for catalytic combustion of fuel, for burning the fuel efficiently at a temperature of 350 to 850° C. in a retention time of 0.01 to 0.1 s, and at least one two-stage heat exchanger (RHE, THE) for transferring heat at least partly from the gas (CO2G) formed in the combustion to the combustion air (AIR) and the fuel (PG) to be supplied into the catalytic burner (NCB), and that the production apparatus (PA) comprises at least one catalytic afterburner (ACB) for at least partial after purification of the gas (CO2G) formed in the combustion, and that said production apparatus (PA) additionally comprises at least one main valve (MV) in the main channel for supplying gas to said catalytic afterburner (ACB), and at least one by-pass valve (BBV) for supplying gas to said catalytic afterburner (ACB) when the main valve (MV) in the main channel is closed. 
     
     
         21 . The production apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the temperature of the catalytic burner is 400 to 800° C., such as 500 to 700° C. or 600 to 800° C. 
     
     
         22 . The production apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the retention time of the fuel (PG) in the catalytic burner is 0.02 to 0.05 s. 
     
     
         23 . The production apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the production apparatus comprises at least one gas recirculation apparatus (CG) for at least partial recirculation of the gas (CO2G) formed in the combustion. 
     
     
         24 . The production apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the catalytic burner (NCB) comprises two or more stages. 
     
     
         25 . The production apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the catalytic production apparatus (PA) comprises gas guiding means for guiding the flow of gas (CO2G) from the first stage (NCB 1 ) of the catalytic burner (NCB) to a catalytic after burner (ACB) and/or to another stage (NCB 2 ) of the catalytic burner (NCB). 
     
     
         26 . The production apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the heat exchanger (RHE, THE) is selected from the group of a two-stage heat exchanger, a multi-stage heat exchanger, a rotary-bed heat exchanger. 
     
     
         27 . The production apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the catalytic combustion unit ( 2 ) comprises gas distribution means for guiding the gas flow during the change of direction of the gas supply. 
     
     
         28 . The production apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the production apparatus (PA) comprises at least one after heat exchanger (AHE) for recovering heat from the gas (CO2G) formed in the combustion. 
     
     
         29 . The production apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein the after heat exchanger (AHE) comprises means for producing hot water and/or district heat. 
     
     
         30 . The production apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the injector (J) comprises means for at least partial burning of the fuel (PG) to be supplied. 
     
     
         31 . The production apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the production apparatus (PA) comprises means for diluting the gas (CO2G) formed in the combustion and for leading it, for example, into a greenhouse. 
     
     
         32 . A method for manufacturing a production apparatus (PA) suitable for producing thermal energy and very pure carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) containing gas, wherein the production apparatus (PA) is equipped with at least one injector (J) for injecting fuel (PG), at least one main blower ( 1 ) for supplying combustion air (AIR), and that the production apparatus (PA) is equipped with at least one catalytic combustion unit ( 2 ) with at least one catalytic burner (NCB) for catalytic combustion of fuel, for burning the fuel at a temperature of 350 to 850° C. in a retention time of 0.01 to 0.05 s, and at least one two-stage regenerative heat exchanger (RHE) for at least partial transfer of heat from the gas (CO2G) formed in the combustion to the combustion air (AIR) and the fuel (PG) to be supplied into the catalytic burner (NCB), and that the production apparatus (PA) is equipped with at least one catalytic after burner (ACB) for at least partial after purification of the gas (CO2G) formed in the combustion, and that and that said production apparatus (PA) is additionally equipped with at least one main valve (MV) in the main channel for supplying gas to said catalytic afterburner (ACB), and at least one by-pass valve (BBV) for supplying gas to said catalytic afterburner (ACB) when the main valve (MV) in the main channel is closed. 
     
     
         33 . A method for utilizing a production apparatus (PA) for thermal energy according to  claim 20 , wherein the fuel (PG) is selected from the group of propane, butane, natural gas, fuel oil, biogas, bioalcohols, organic solvents, pyrolysis gases, and light fuel oil. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein said by-pass valve (BBV) is opened at the same time when said main valve (MV) is closed, and after this, the flow direction in that the production apparatus (PA) is reversed and during the time of the reversal of the flow direction, the gas is passed via by-pass valve (BBV) directly to afterburner (ACB), and after the reversal of the flow direction, said by-pass valve (BBV) is closed and said main valve (MV) is opened. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein in the gas formed in the combustion (CO2G), the level of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) is lower than 5 ppm and the level of ethene (C 2 H 4 ) is lower than 1 ppm, calculated for an oxygen content of 3 vol %. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein in the gas formed in the combustion (CO2G), the level of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) is lower than 2 ppm, calculated for an oxygen content of 3 vol %. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the production apparatus (PA) is used particularly for producing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) containing gas that is very pure in terms of nitrogen oxides, ethene (C 2 H 4 ) and hydrogen sulphide. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the production apparatus (PA) is applied particularly for producing thermal energy. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the production apparatus (PA) is applied particularly for producing both thermal energy and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) containing gas that is very pure in terms of nitrogen oxides, ethene (C 2 H 4 ) and hydrogen sulphide.