Methods and systems for co2 condensation

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, methods of condensing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from a CO 2 stream are provided. The method includes (i) compressing and cooling the CO 2 stream to form a partially cooled CO 2 stream, wherein the partially cooled CO 2 stream is cooled to a first temperature. The method includes (ii) cooling the partially cooled CO 2 stream to a second temperature by magneto-caloric cooling to form a cooled CO 2 stream. The method further includes (iii) condensing at least a portion of CO 2 in the cooled CO 2 stream to form a condensed CO 2 stream. Systems for condensing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from a CO 2 stream are also provided

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of condensing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from a CO 2  stream, comprising:
 (i) compressing and cooling the CO 2  stream to form a partially cooled CO 2  stream, wherein the partially cooled CO 2  stream is cooled to a first temperature;   (ii) cooling the partially cooled CO 2  stream to a second temperature by magneto-caloric cooling to form a cooled CO 2  stream; and   (iii) condensing at least a portion of CO 2  in the cooled CO 2  stream to form a condensed CO 2  stream.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (iii) comprises condensing at least a portion of CO 2  in the cooled CO 2  stream at a pressure in a range of from about 20 bar to about 60 bar. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (iii) comprises condensing at least a portion of CO 2  in the cooled CO 2  stream at a pressure in a range of from about 20 bar to about 40 bar. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is in a range of from about 5 degrees Celsius to about 35 degrees Celsius 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second temperature is in a range of from about 0 degrees Celsius to about −25 degrees Celsius 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (i) comprises cooling the CO 2  stream using one or more cooling stages comprising one or more heat exchangers. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising circulating a portion of the condensed CO 2  stream to one or more cooling stages used for cooling the CO 2  stream. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (i) comprises cooling the CO 2  stream to the first temperature by expanding the CO 2  stream in one or more expanders. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (ii) comprises cooling the partially-cooled CO 2  stream using a rotary magneto-caloric cooling device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising increasing a pressure of the condensed CO 2  stream using a pump to form a pressurized CO 2  stream. 
     
     
         11 . A method of condensing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from a CO 2  stream, comprising:
 (i) cooling the CO 2  stream in a first cooling stage comprising a first heat exchanger to form a first partially cooled CO 2  stream;   (ii) compressing the first partially cooled CO 2  stream to form a first compressed CO 2  stream;   (iii) cooling the first compressed CO 2  stream in a second cooling stage comprising a second heat exchanger to form a second partially cooled CO 2  stream;   (iv) compressing the second partially cooled CO 2  stream to form a second compressed CO 2  stream;   (v) cooling the second compressed CO 2  stream to a first temperature in a third cooling stage comprising a third heat exchanger to form a partially cooled CO 2  stream;   (vi) cooling the partially cooled CO 2  stream to a second temperature by magneto-caloric cooling to form a cooled CO 2  stream; and   (vii) condensing at least a portion of CO 2  in the cooled CO 2  stream at the second temperature, thereby condensing CO 2  from the cooled CO 2  stream to form a condensed CO 2  stream.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising circulating a portion of the condensed CO 2  stream to the third heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the third cooling stage further comprises an expander, and step (v) further comprises cooling the CO 2  stream to a first temperature by expanding the second compressed CO 2  stream in the expander. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the third cooling stage further comprises a fourth heat exchanger, and the method further comprises circulating a portion of the condensed CO 2  stream to the fourth heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . A system for condensing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from a CO 2  stream, comprising:
 (i) one or more compression stages configured to receive the CO 2  stream;   (ii) one or more cooling stages in fluid communication with the one or more compression stages,
 wherein a combination of the one or more compression stages and the one or more cooling stages is configured to compress and cool the CO 2  stream to a first temperature to form a partially-cooled CO 2  stream; 
   (iii) a magento-caloric cooling stage configured to receive the partially-cooled CO 2  stream and cool the partially-cooled CO 2  stream to a second temperature to form a cooled CO 2  stream; and   (iv) a condensation stage configured to condense a portion of CO 2  in the cooled CO 2  stream at the second temperature, thereby condensing CO 2  from the cooled CO 2  stream to form a condensed CO 2  stream.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the magneto-caloric cooling stage comprises a magneto-caloric cooling device and a heat exchanger,
 wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the one or more cooling stages and the one or more compression stages.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a pump configured to receive the condensed CO 2  stream and increase the pressure of the condensed CO 2  stream. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more cooling stages further comprises an expander. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more cooling stages comprises one or more heat exchangers configured to cool the CO 2  stream using air, water, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a circulation loop configured to circulate a portion of the condensed CO 2  stream to the one or more cooling stages.