Module for treatment of carbon dioxide and treatment method thereof

Abstract

Liquid carbon dioxide separated from sour gas is expanded by throttling decompression and is gas-liquid separated at a low temperature so as to be supplied for shipping or the improvement of petroleum recovery. Methane generated from a stranded gas well is allowed to pass as a coolant through liquid carbon dioxide separated and discharged from sour gas generated from the stranded gas well so as to cool liquid carbon dioxide. Disclosed is a module for treating carbon dioxide, and a treatment method thereof for supplying liquid carbon dioxide at a proper temperature and state conditions when there is a need for liquid carbon dioxide of very low temperature for the storage or collection of carbon dioxide, the improvement of petroleum recovery, or the like by cooling carbon dioxide using a material separated from sour gas of a stranded gas well as a coolant.

Claims

1. A system for separating liquefied carbon dioxide, the system comprising: a separation unit comprising a controlled freezing zone (CFZ) and configured to process sour gas and to discharge methane upwards and a CO.sub.2-containing composition downwards; an expansion valve configured to cool the CO.sub.2-containing composition from the separation unit by expansion; a heat exchanger configured to further cool the CO.sub.2-containing composition from the expansion valve by heat-exchanging with the methane from the separation unit; and a gas-liquid separator configured to receive the CO.sub.2-containing composition from the heat exchanger and to separate a CO.sub.2-enriched liquid composition therefrom for loading to a transportation vehicle.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein temperature at an inlet of the expansion valve is higher than temperatures at a gas outlet and a liquid outlet of the gas-liquid separator.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the gas-liquid separator comprises: a liquid discharge pipe through which the CO.sub.2-enriched liquid composition is discharged downwards in a saturated liquid state at 55 C. to 20 C.; and a flow control valve mounted on an end portion of the liquid discharge pipe and configured to control supply of the CO.sub.2-enriched liquid composition to the transportation vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the gas-liquid separator comprises: a gas discharge pipe for discharging a gas composition separated from the CO.sub.2-containing composition upwards; and a pressure control valve mounted on the gas discharge pipe.

5. A method for separating liquefied carbon dioxide in the system of claim 1, the method comprising: separating, by the separation unit, methane and carbon dioxide from sour gas, wherein methane is discharged upwards while a CO.sub.2-containing composition is discharged downwards; expanding, by the expansion valve, the CO.sub.2-containing composition received from the separation unit for cooling the CO.sub.2-containing composition; heat-exchanging, in the beat exchanger, the CO.sub.2-containing composition received from the expansion valve with the methane discharged from the separation unit for further cooling the CO.sub.2-containing composition; receiving, by the gas-liquid separator, the CO.sub.2-containing composition from the heat exchanger; and separating, from the received CO.sub.2-containing composition by the gas-liquid separator, a CO.sub.2-enriched liquid composition in a saturated liquid state at 55 C. to 20 C. for loading to a transportation vehicle.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of a module for treatment of carbon dioxide according to one embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a method of treating carbon dioxide according to one embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a conceptual view of a module for treatment of carbon dioxide according to another embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a method of treating carbon dioxide according to another embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a conceptual view of a module for treatment of carbon dioxide according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a method of treating carbon dioxide according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS

(7) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(8) FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of an additional cooling module for carbon dioxide according to one embodiment of the present invention.

(9) As shown therein, the cooling module for carbon dioxide according to this embodiment of the present invention includes a separation unit 100 which separates and discharges carbon dioxide from sour gas generated in a stranded gas well 900, an expansion valve 200 which expands liquid carbon dioxide received from the separation unit 100 through throttling decompression, and a gas-liquid separator 300 which separates gas and liquid carbon dioxide from a two-phase fluid of gas and liquid carbon dioxide having passed through the expansion valve 200.

(10) The present invention is applicable to the foregoing embodiment and also applicable to the following embodiments.

(11) First, the separation unit 100 is formed at the middle thereof with a controlled freezing zone (CFZ) and discharges methane (CH.sub.4, sweet gas) upwards while discharging carbon dioxide contained in sour gas generated in the stranded gas well 900 downwards.

(12) The separation unit 100 distills and separates respective components, such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, and the like, contained in the sour gas generated from the stranded gas well.

(13) Specifically, in the separation unit 100, an upper side of a separation tank 110 constitutes an upper distillation sector (UDS) for discharging methane (CH4), and a lower side of the separation tank 110 constitutes a lower distillation sector (LDS) for discharging carbon dioxide.

(14) First, the separation tank 110 is connected to the stranded gas well 900 via piping, and the sour gas supplied from the stranded gas well 900 is cooled and expanded by decompression through a cooler 120 and a gas expansion valve 130 sequentially mounted on the piping connecting the stranded gas well 900 to the separation tank 110 to allow the sour gas to be cooled and expanded by decompression at a temperature suitable for distillation inside the separation tank 110.

(15) A reheater 160 is provided to a lower side of the separation tank 110 and heats the discharged liquid carbon dioxide such that some liquid carbon dioxide can return to the separation tank 110 and the remainder can be discharged, and a condenser 140 is provided to an upper side of the separation tank 110 and condenses sweet gas (CH.sub.4) in the heated sour gas vapor to be accommodated in a temporary storage tank 150 and supplied to a demand side requiring natural gas via a gas discharge pipe 142.

(16) In the CFZ, liquid gas mixed with carbon dioxide and the like is stored in a temporary reservoir 170, and injected by a pump 180 into the separation tank 110 via an injection pipe 190 having a nozzle (not shown) at one end thereof, thereby decreasing load due to separation of the sweet gas (CH.sub.4).

(17) The expansion valve 200 is connected to the separation unit 100, i.e., the lower side of the separation tank 110, and is mounted on a discharge pipe 400, from which liquid carbon dioxide is discharged, such that the liquid carbon dioxide is cooled to low temperature through expansion by throttling-compression.

(18) The gas-liquid separator 300 is connected to an end portion of the discharge pipe 400 and separates carbon dioxide into gas and liquid.

(19) Here, temperature at an inlet of the expansion valve 200 approximately ranges from 1 C. to 5 C., and is typically about 2.2 C., and temperature at a gas outlet or a liquid outlet of the gas-liquid separator 300 next the expansion valve 200 approximately ranges from 55 C. to 20 C.

(20) These temperature conditions are suitable for transportation for carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) or for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) using a ship.

(21) The gas-liquid separator 300 discharges carbon dioxide gas upwards and discharges liquid carbon dioxide downwards.

(22) That is, as shown therein, the gas-liquid separator 300 may include a liquid discharge pipe 310 for discharging liquid carbon dioxide downwards, and a flow control valve 320 mounted on an end portion of the liquid discharge pipe 310.

(23) The flow control valve 320 serves to adjust supply of liquid carbon dioxide for the carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) or the enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

(24) In addition, the gas-liquid separator 300 may further include a gas discharge pipe 330 for discharging carbon dioxide gas upwards, and a pressure control valve 340 mounted on the gas discharge pipe 330 to be opened or closed such that carbon dioxide gas can be discharged when inner pressure of the gas-liquid separator 300 is equal to or higher than a preset pressure.

(25) An additional cooling method of liquid carbon dioxide using the module for treatment of carbon dioxide according to the above embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

(26) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a method of treating carbon dioxide according to one embodiment of the present invention, and reference numerals not shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

(27) It will be appreciated that the present invention is applicable to an embodiment in which liquid carbon dioxide separated from sour gas is expanded by throttling decompression and is subjected to gas-liquid separation at low temperature to be supplied for shipping or enhanced oil recovery.

(28) That is, according to the embodiment of the present invention, liquid carbon dioxide discharged from the separation unit 100 is additionally cooled at low temperature and supplied at temperature and pressure suitable for shipping.

(29) Here, additional cooling is achieved as liquid carbon dioxide discharged from the separation unit 100 is expanded by throttling decompression while passing through the expansion valve 200.

(30) That is, additional cooling is achieved as a two-phase fluid of gas and liquid carbon dioxide expanded by throttling decompression is separated into gas carbon dioxide and liquid carbon dioxide while passing through the gas-liquid separator 300.

(31) Liquid carbon dioxide having a temperature of about 2.2 C. and discharged from the separation unit 100 is cooled to a temperature of about 55 C. to about 20 C. through the expansion valve 200 and the gas-liquid separator 300, and then loaded onto a ship for transporting carbon dioxide.

(32) Below, a module for treatment of carbon dioxide and a treatment method thereof will be described according to another embodiment.

(33) FIG. 3 is a conceptual view of a module for treatment of carbon dioxide according to another embodiment of the present invention.

(34) As shown therein, the present invention has a structure wherein methane discharged from a separation unit 100 separating and discharging carbon dioxide from sour gas produced in a stranded gas well 900 passes as a coolant through a heat exchanger 500 mounted on piping 400 forming a flow passage for liquid carbon dioxide discharged from the separation unit 100, such that the liquid carbon dioxide is cooled using the methane while passing through a heat exchanger 500.

(35) The present invention is applicable to the foregoing embodiment and also applicable to the following embodiments.

(36) First, the separation unit 100 is formed at the middle thereof with a controlled freezing zone (CFZ) and discharges methane (CH.sub.4) upwards while discharging carbon dioxide contained in sour gas generated in the stranded gas well 900 downwards.

(37) The separation unit 100 distills and separates respective components, such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, and the like, contained in the sour gas generated from the stranded gas well.

(38) Specifically, in the separation unit 100, an upper side of a separation tank 110 constitutes an upper distillation sector (UDS) for discharging methane, and a lower side of the separation tank 110 constitutes a lower distillation sector (LDS) for discharging carbon dioxide.

(39) First, the separation tank 110 is connected to the stranded gas well 900 via piping, and the sour gas supplied from the stranded gas well 900 is cooled and expanded by decompression through a cooler 120 and a gas expansion valve 130 sequentially mounted on the piping connecting the stranded gas well 900 to the separation tank 110 to allow the sour gas to be cooled and expanded by decompression at a temperature suitable for distillation inside the separation tank 110.

(40) A reheater 160 is provided to a lower side of the separation tank 110 and heats the discharged liquid carbon dioxide such that some liquid carbon dioxide can return to the separation tank 110 and the remainder can be discharged, and a condenser 140 is provided to an upper side of the separation tank 110 and condenses methane in the heated sour gas vapor to be accommodated in a temporary storage tank 150 and supplied to a demand side requiring natural gas via a gas discharge pipe 142.

(41) In the CFZ, liquid gas mixed with carbon dioxide and the like is stored in a temporary reservoir 170, and injected by a pump 180 into the separation tank 110 via an injection pipe 190 having a nozzle (not shown) at one end thereof, thereby decreasing load due to separation of methane.

(42) The heat exchanger 500 is mounted on piping 400 through which liquid carbon dioxide is discharged from the separation unit 100, and serves to cool liquid carbon dioxide discharged from the separation unit 100 using the methane discharged from the separation unit 100 as a coolant.

(43) To this end, the heat exchanger 500 communicates with the foregoing gas discharge pipe 142, and the liquid carbon dioxide flowing in the piping 400 is cooled by cold methane (having a temperature of about 90 C. to 80 C.) supplied into the heat exchanger 500 via the gas discharge pipe 142.

(44) Here, temperature at an inlet of the heat exchanger 500 approximately ranges from 1 C. to 5 C., and is typically about 2.2 C., and the temperature of liquid carbon dioxide having passed through the heat exchanger 500 approximately ranges from 55 C. to 20 C.

(45) Thus, the liquid carbon dioxide is cooled to a temperature suitable for shipping and loaded onto a ship for transportation for carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) or enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

(46) A decompression valve 600 may be mounted on the piping 400 connecting the separation unit 100 to the heat exchanger 500 or may be mounted on the piping 400 at the outlet of the heat exchanger 500.

(47) The decompression valve 600 is connected to the separation unit 100, i.e., the lower side of the separation tank 110, and mounted on the piping 400 through which the liquid carbon dioxide is discharged, thereby lowering the pressure of the liquid carbon dioxide to be suitable for shipping.

(48) Since the liquid carbon dioxide separated through the separation unit 100 has a high pressure of about 37 bar, the decompression valve 600 lowers the pressure of the liquid carbon dioxide to a saturated pressure of 5.5 bar 19.7 bar at a temperature of 55 C. to 20 C.

(49) In general, saturated carbon dioxide having a temperature of 50 C. to 30 C. is considered suitable for shipping. Therefore, the decompression valve 600 preferably performs decompression to achieve a pressure of 6.8 bar 14.3 bar.

(50) A method of treating carbon dioxide using the module for treatment of carbon dioxide according to the above embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

(51) FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a method of treating carbon dioxide according to another embodiment of the present invention, and reference numerals not shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

(52) It will be appreciated that the present invention is applicable to an embodiment in which liquid carbon dioxide separated from sour gas generated from a stranded gas well is cooled by allowing methane generated from the stranded gas well to pass as a coolant through liquid carbon dioxide.

(53) That is, according to the embodiment of the present invention, liquid carbon dioxide discharged from the separation unit 100 is additionally cooled to a low temperature and supplied in a state suitable for shipping.

(54) More specifically, in first step S1, sour gas is supplied to the separation unit 100 that is connected to the stranded gas well via by piping and forms the controlled freezing zone (CFZ), thereby producing methane via distillation.

(55) In second step S2, the sour gas is distilled in the separation unit 100 such that the separation unit 100 discharges methane upwards while discharges liquid carbon dioxide downwards.

(56) In third step S3, methane discharged through the gas discharge pipe 142 connected to the separation unit 100 is forced to pass as a coolant through the heat exchanger 500 mounted on the piping 400 for discharging liquid carbon dioxide from the separation unit 100, thereby performing cooling operation.

(57) Subsequently, in fourth step S4, the liquid carbon dioxide having passed through the heat exchanger 500 is loaded onto a ship and transported for carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) or for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

(58) In second step S2, the liquid carbon dioxide is subjected to decompression to a pressure suitable for shipping through the decompression valve 600 mounted on the piping 400 between the separation unit 100 and the heat exchanger 500 or at an outlet of the heat exchanger 500.

(59) Liquid carbon dioxide having a temperature of about 2.2 C. and discharged from the separation unit 100 is cooled to a temperature from about 55 C. to about 20 C., more preferably from about 50 C. to 30 C., through the decompression valve 600 and the heat exchanger 500, and then loaded onto a ship for transporting carbon dioxide.

(60) At this time, the liquid carbon dioxide may have a pressure of 5.5 bar to 19.7 bar, more preferably about 14.3 bar and then be loaded onto the ship for transporting carbon dioxide.

(61) Below, a module for treatment of carbon dioxide and a treatment method thereof will be described according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

(62) FIG. 5 is a conceptual view of a module for treatment of carbon dioxide according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

(63) As shown therein, the module for treatment of carbon dioxide according to this embodiment of the present invention includes a separation unit 100 which separates and discharges carbon dioxide from sour gas generated in a stranded gas well 900, a heat exchanger 500 mounted on piping 400 forming a flow passage for liquid carbon dioxide discharged from the separation unit 100, and a gas-liquid separator 300 which separates gas and liquid carbon dioxide from a two-phase fluid of gas and liquid carbon dioxide having passed through the expansion valve 500.

(64) The separation unit 100 is formed at the middle thereof with a controlled freezing zone (CFZ) and discharges, methane upwards while discharging carbon dioxide contained in the sour gas generated in the stranded gas well 900 downwards.

(65) The separation unit 100 is similar to those of the foregoing embodiments and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted for convenience.

(66) The heat exchanger 500 cools liquid carbon dioxide discharged from the separation unit 100 using methane discharged from the separation unit 100 as a coolant and is mounted on piping, through which the liquid carbon dioxide is discharged from the separation unit 100.

(67) To this end, the heat exchanger 500 communicates with the gas discharge pipe 142, and the liquid carbon dioxide flowing in the piping 400 is cooled by cold methane (having a temperature of about 90 C. to 80 C.) supplied into the heat exchanger 500 via the gas discharge pipe 142.

(68) The gas-liquid separator 300 is connected to the heat exchanger 500 and separates carbon dioxide into gas and liquid carbon dioxide in a saturated liquid state at 55 C. to 20 C., and discharges carbon dioxide gas upwards while discharging liquid carbon dioxide downwards.

(69) The gas-liquid separator 300 is connected to an end portion of the discharge pipe 400 and separates carbon dioxide into gas and liquid carbon dioxide.

(70) Here, an expansion valve 200 is mounted on piping connecting the separation unit 100 to the heat exchanger 500, or on the piping at an outlet of the heat exchange 500, such that the liquid carbon dioxide is cooled to low temperature through expansion by throttling decompression.

(71) Here, temperature at an inlet of the expansion valve 200 approximately ranges from 1 C. to 5 C., and is typically about 2.2 C., and temperature at a gas outlet or a liquid outlet of the gas-liquid separator 300 next the expansion valve 200 approximately ranges from 55 C. to 20 C.

(72) These temperature conditions are suitable for transportation for carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) or for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) using a ship.

(73) A method of treating carbon dioxide using the foregoing module for treatment of carbon dioxide according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

(74) FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a method of treating carbon dioxide according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, and reference numerals not shown in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

(75) It will be appreciated that the present invention is applicable to an embodiment in which methane generated in a stranded gas well is used as a coolant, and carbon dioxide also separated from the stranded gas well passes through the heat exchanger 500 to be cooled by methane used as a coolant and is separated into gas and liquid in the gas-liquid separator 300.

(76) More specifically, in first step S1, sour gas is supplied to the separation unit 100 that is connected to the stranded gas well by piping and forms the controlled freezing zone (CFZ).

(77) In second step S2, methane is forced to pass as a coolant through the heat exchanger 500 mounted on the piping for discharging liquid carbon dioxide from the separation unit 100, thereby performing cooling operation.

(78) In third step S3, the liquid carbon dioxide cooled by heat exchange is separated by the gas-liquid separator 300 connected to the heat exchanger 500 into gas and liquid.

(79) In fourth step S4, the liquid carbon dioxide having passed through the gas-liquid separator 300 is loaded onto a ship and transported for carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) or enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

(80) Here, liquid carbon dioxide having a temperature of about 2.2 C. and discharged from the separation unit 100 is cooled to a temperature from about 55 C. to about 20 C., more preferably about 30 C., through the decompression valve 600 and the heat exchanger 500, and then loaded onto a ship for transporting carbon dioxide.

(81) At this time, the liquid carbon dioxide may have a pressure of 5.5 bar to 19.7 bar, more preferably about 14.3 bar, and then be loaded onto the ship for transporting carbon dioxide.

(82) As described above, the present invention provides a module for treatment of carbon dioxide and a treatment method thereof, in which carbon dioxide supplied at proper temperature and pressure to a demand side requiring liquid carbon dioxide having a cryogenic temperature for carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) or enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(83) It will be understood by a person having ordinary knowledge in the art that various modifications and applications not only to additional cooling and treatment for carbon dioxide but also to shipping or carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) or enhanced oil recovery (EOR) are possible within the scope of the present invention.