Carbon dioxide production

Abstract

Apparatus for the production of carbon dioxide from limestone includes a nuclear reactor ( 10 ) for generating heat and a rotary kiln ( 12 ). The rotary kiln ( 12 ) has an inlet ( 28 ) for the introduction of limestone and an outlet ( 30 ) for the release of carbon dioxide. A heat transfer arrangement is provided for transferring heat from the nuclear reactor ( 10 ) to the interior of the rotary kiln ( 12 ). The heat transfer arrangement includes feed and return primary conduits ( 17,18 ) for passing a heat transfer fluid ( 14 ) through the nuclear reactor ( 10 ) so that heat may be extracted from the nuclear reactor ( 10 ) for transfer to the interior of the rotary kiln ( 12 ). Limestone in the rotary kiln ( 12 ) is thereby heated to a temperature sufficient for the release of carbon dioxide.

1 . Apparatus for the production of carbon dioxide from limestone, comprising:
 a nuclear reactor for generating heat;   a rotary kiln having an inlet for the introduction of limestone and an outlet for the release of carbon dioxide; and   a heat transfer arrangement for transferring heat from the nuclear reactor to the interior of the rotary kiln, the heat transfer arrangement including feed and return primary conduits for passing a heat transfer fluid through the nuclear reactor to extract heat therefrom for transfer to the interior of the rotary kiln thereby to heat the limestone to a temperature sufficient for the release of carbon dioxide.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer arrangement includes a heat exchanger through which the heat transfer fluid is passed for the supply of heat from the nuclear reactor to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a water boiler to generate steam and a secondary conduit for the steam generated by the boiler, to feed steam to the rotary kiln for heating limestone therein. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the secondary conduit comprises a feed secondary conduit for the supply of steam to the rotary kiln and a return secondary conduit for the re-circulation of steam from the rotary kiln to the boiler. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the rotary kiln comprises an outer rotary vessel for the limestone and an inner stationary chamber, and wherein the secondary conduit feeds heated steam through the inner stationary chamber for the transfer of heat to limestone in the outer rotary vessel. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a feed third conduit for steam generated by the boiler, to feed steam to a hydrogen plant for the production of hydrogen. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a return third conduit for the re-circulation of steam from the hydrogen plant to the boiler. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an air-to-fluid heat exchanger in communication with the rotary kiln for receiving and cooling quicklime produced in the rotary kiln when the limestone is heated. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a pre-heater for heating the limestone prior to introduction of the limestone to the rotary kiln. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the pre-heater is connected to the air-to-fluid heat exchanger for the supply of heat from the air of the air-to-fluid heat exchanger to the pre-heater. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the nuclear reactor is a pebble bed nuclear reactor. 
     
     
         12 . A method for producing carbon dioxide from limestone comprising the steps of:
 a) generating heat using a nuclear reactor;   b) transferring heat from the nuclear reactor to the interior of a rotary kiln having an inlet for the introduction of limestone thereto and an outlet for the release of carbon dioxide therefrom, by circulating a heat transfer fluid through feed and return primary conduits through the nuclear reactor and transferring heat from the heated transfer fluid to the interior of the rotary kiln;   c) introducing limestone into the rotary kiln through the inlet thereof;   d) operating the rotary kiln to rotate and tumble limestone therein; and   e) collecting carbon dioxide released from the outlet of the rotary kiln;   
       wherein the heat transferred to the interior of the rotary kiln and rotation thereof causes calcination of the limestone therein to produce carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the heat transfer fluid is circulated through the feed and return primary conduits to a heat exchanger to supply the heat exchanger with heat from the nuclear reactor. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a water boiler in which steam is generated, and said steam is fed to the rotary kiln by a secondary conduit. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the steam is fed to the rotary kiln by a feed secondary conduit and the steam is re-circulated from the rotary kiln to the boiler by a return secondary conduit. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein steam generated by the boiler is fed to a hydrogen plant by a feed third conduit for the production of hydrogen. 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein steam from the hydrogen plant is re-circulated to the boiler by a return third conduit. 
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the limestone is heated by a pre-heater prior to introduction into the rotary kiln. 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein quicklime produced by the calcination of the limestone is collected at a lower end of the rotary kiln and is released to an air-to-fluid heat exchanger for cooling when the rotary kiln is stationary. 
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the pre-heater is supplied with heat from the fluid of the air-to-fluid heat exchanger.