Engineering topics

Stitt, Kyler

Publications and source records attributed to Stitt, Kyler.

At least 19 records

DOE OSTI2024

Vessel and method for solid-liquid separation

Devices, systems, and methods for separating solids from liquids are disclosed. A vessel includes an inlet, a carrier liquid outlet, a product outlet, a purifying section, and a heater. The inlet directs a slurry into the purifying section. The slurry comprises particles of a solid and a carrier liquid. The purifying section preferentially drives the particles of the solid towards a heating zone of the purifying section versus the carrier liquid. This displaces a first portion of the carrier liquid away from the heating zone of the purifying section. The heater heats the slurry. The carrier liquid outlet drives a majority of the carrier liquid out of the vessel. The product outlet is adjacent to the heating zone of the purifying section.

Baxter, Larry↗

DOE OSTI2024

Separation of compounds

A method for separating liquids is disclosed. A feed stream is passed into a separator. The feed stream comprising an organic compound, carbon dioxide, and oxides selected from the group consisting of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, ozone and combinations thereof. A portion an organic-rich stream is separated from a portion of an inorganic-rich stream through separation by gravity. The organic-rich stream contains a portion of the organic compound and a first portion of the carbon dioxide. The inorganic-rich stream contains a portion of the oxides and a second portion of the carbon dioxide.

Baxter, Larry↗

DOE OSTI2022

Energy-Storing Cryogenic Carbon Capture™ for Utility and Industrial-scale Processes (Final Report)

This project leverages work completed under funding from previous U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) projects and other sources of funding around the Cryogenic Carbon Capture Process™ (CCC). The purpose of this project is to further develop a perturbation of the CCC process that stores energy called the Cryogenic Carbon Capture™ Energy Storing (CCC-ES) process. The successful completion of the tasks in this project has prepared the CCC-ES process for scaling and developed initial plans and a feasibility analysis for an engineering-scale or small-commercial scale system that can store at least 10 MWh of energy. The specific areas of work in this project are: (1) Develop a conceptual, site-specific integrated process flow diagram: Sustainable Energy Solutions (SES) developed a conceptual, site-specific plan including a process flow diagram for integrating CCC-ES at a specific location. The proposed system was based on a typical engineering-scale CCC system designed to capture 30-50 metric tonnes of CO 2 per day (TPD), with modifications and additional changes and equipment put in place to add the energy storage element to the system. The 30-50 TPD scale corresponds to the required 10 MWh of stored energy. This task includes updating simulation software for transient analysis. SES also coordinated with the Jim Bridger Power Plant in Point of Rocks, Wyoming to get site-specific data. Using these data, SES completed site-specific preliminary process flow diagrams, estimated capital and operating costs for the CCC-ES system, and used the upgraded software package to estimate the primary figures of merit. (2) Complete a technoeconomic analysis (TEA): SES completed a full-scale TEA of the CCC-ES system to meet specific success criteria. This TEA used process information from the host site selected above. (3) Technology and data gap assessment for the CCC-ES process: As part of the technology gap assessment, SES performed an assessment of the best alternative energy storage solutions including figures of merit and operational strengths and weaknesses. SES then compared the proposed system with a discussion of how it addresses the weaknesses of alternative systems, showing for example a cost of stored energy at less than $50/MWh and with a roundtrip efficiency of greater than 95%. This assessment includes technical and other risk analyses and technology gaps with research and development needs to commercialize the process by 2030. Finally, work includes a commercialization roadmap/development pathway outlining the major milestones to move to a commercially operating CCC-ES system. (4) Phase II pre-FEED project plan: SES completed a project plan for the Phase II pre-FEED analysis using the same host site as in the Phase I conceptual study.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Method of separating components of a gas

The disclosure provides a method for separating components of a gas. A feed gas stream is cooled in a first vessel. The feed gas stream includes methane, water, carbon dioxide, and Natural Gas Liquids. The feed gas stream is cooled in a first vessel. A portion of the water condenses to form a primary liquid stream, resulting in a first depleted gas stream, which is cooled in a second vessel. A portion of the NGLs condense to form a secondary liquid stream, resulting in a second depleted gas stream, which is cooled in a condensing exchanger. A first portion of the methane condenses to form a liquid methane stream, resulting in a third depleted gas stream, which is cooled in a third vessel. A portion of the carbon dioxide condenses, desublimates, or condenses and desublimates as a final product stream, also resulting in a fourth depleted gas stream.

Baxter, Larry↗

DOE OSTI2021

Method for separating components of a gas

A method is disclosed for separating components of a gas. A feed gas stream is cooled in the first vessel. The feed gas stream comprises methane, carbon dioxide, and a secondary component. A first portion of the secondary component condenses, desublimates, or a combination thereof to form a primary stream, resulting in a first depleted gas stream. The first depleted gas stream is cooled in a condensing exchanger such that a first portion of the methane condenses as a first liquid methane stream, resulting in a second depleted gas stream. The second depleted gas stream is cooled in the second vessel such that a first portion of the carbon dioxide desublimates to form a solid product stream, resulting in a third depleted gas stream.

Baxter, Larry↗

DOE OSTI2021

Method of separating components of a gas

A method is disclosed for separating components of a gas. A feed gas stream is passed into a vessel. The feed gas stream includes methane, carbon dioxide, and water. The feed gas stream is cooled in the vessel such that a portion of the methane and a portion of the carbon dioxide condense and a portion of the water desublimates, resulting in a product stream and a depleted gas stream exiting the vessel.

Baxter, Larry↗

DOE OSTI2021

Cryogenic Carbon Capture™ (CCC) Status Report

The Cryogenic Carbon Capture™ (CCC) process separates CO2 from light gases in essentially any continuous process. CCC cools the gases to the frost or desublimation point of CO2 (-100 to -135 °C), separates and pressurizes the solids, and warms all streams to produce a CO2-depleted stream at ambient pressure and a pure (99+%) pressurized liquid CO2 stream typically to about 150 bar, both at ambient temperature. The process also recovers all gas moisture and most gas impurities less volatile than CO2 (NOx, SOx, Hg, PM, UHC, CCC, etc.) in separable streams. CCC nearly eliminates refrigeration energy for sensible temperature changes through heat integration. CCC does require energy to change the CO2 phase from a mixed vapor to a pressurized fluid, which represents the minimum energy required of any process for this separation. CCC uses additional energy for turbomachinery inefficiencies, heat losses, moisture removal and overall process pressure drop. Aside from these real-world energy demands, CCC operates near the minimum energy required to perform this gas separation by minimizing stream recycling. CCC compresses CO2 as a liquid, which is one of several reasons it costs about about half as much and consumes about half as much energy as an amine process when using flue gases with about 15% CO2. The process also has several major additional advantages, including (a) it is a bolt-on retrofit technology that does not need steam or any modification of existing equipment, (b) it recovers water and nearly all pollutants in addition to CO2 from the flue gas, (c) it enables highly efficient and cost effective energy storage at grid scale and on time scales of minutes, (d) it enables NG storage if the energy storage option is used, and (d) it has a small footprint and is minimally disruptive to existing plants, requiring only electrical power and a gas source to operate. Sustainable Energy Solutions (SES) has scaled this technology through several levels, the largest of which captures nominally 1 tonne of CO2/day and is called the skid system. Skid system field tests include utility-scale power plants, cement plants, heating plants, and other utility or industrial sites that burn natural gas, biomass, coal, shredded tires, municipal waste, and combinations of these fuels. These field tests produced 95-99% CO2 capture with CO2 purities of 99+% and initial CO2 contents that range from 4 to 28%. SES currently seeks to scale the system to merchant scale (10-80 tonnes of CO2 per day). In the process of doing so, SES has demonstrated the potential for CCC to contribute to energy storage and direct air capture in innovative and cost-effective ways. This presentation discusses the overall process and highlights results from field and in-house tests. These include (a) measured CO2 capture rates and operating conditions from in-house and field tests, and (b) predicted utility-scale costs and energy demands. This discussion also includes the application of the CCC technology to energy storage and direct air capture.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Nested bubbling apparatus

A device for bubbling a gas into a liquid is disclosed. The device comprises a first bubbling apparatus nested inside a second bubbling apparatus. The first bubbling apparatus comprises a gas inlet for receiving the gas and a plurality of first openings for releasing the gas. The second bubbling apparatus at least partially encloses the plurality of first openings of the first bubbling apparatus. The second bubbling apparatus receives the gas from the plurality of first openings. The second bubbling apparatus comprises a plurality of second openings for bubbling the gas into the liquid.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2020

Component removal from a gas stream

In a first aspect, the disclosure provides a method for removing a component from a gas stream. A carrier gas stream is cooled by direct contact with a dehydrating solution stream. The dehydrating solution stream removes a portion of water present in the carrier gas stream and produces a dry gas stream and a wet solution stream. A portion of the component is removed from the dry gas stream by direct contact with a cold contact liquid stream. A depleted gas stream and a slurry stream are produced. Removing the portion of the component may include desublimating, freezing, condensing, depositing, or a combination thereof of the portion of the component out of the dry gas stream as a solid product. The slurry stream may include the solid product and a contact liquid. The solid product is separated from the contact liquid, producing a substantially pure solid product stream and the cold contact liquid stream.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2020

System with a direct contact desublimating heat exchanger and temperature regulation

A process to prevent fouling using a desublimating heat exchanger is disclosed. An outlet stream from the desublimating heat exchanger may be split into a plurality of parallel streams. The parallel streams may be sent through a plurality of discrete unit operations, and the unit operations may change the temperature of at least one of the parallel streams. Parallel streams of differing temperature may emerge from the unit operations. The parallel streams which are of a similar temperature may be mixed to form a warm stream and a cool stream. The warm stream and the cool stream may be sent to a mixing chamber. A mixed stream of substantially uniform temperature may emerge from the mixing chamber, and the mixed stream may be recycled back to the desublimating heat exchanger. The mixing chamber may be separate from the desublimating heat exchanger, or the parallel streams of differing temperature may be mixed in the desublimating heat exchanger.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2020

Method for separating components using solids producing multi-stage direct and indirect-contact exchange

A process for forming a solid product or products is disclosed. The process is provided with n desublimating exchangers. An exchanger E1 being associated with a first exchanger and an exchanger En being associated with an nth exchanger, n representing the number of exchangers. The n exchangers comprise at least one direct-contact exchanger comprising a contact fluid. A process fluid is passed through the n exchangers in order from E1 through En. The process fluid comprises a product component or components. The solid product or products form from the product component or components in the plurality of exchangers by desublimation. The solid product or products are separated from the process fluid. In this manner, a solid product or products is formed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Method for removal of carbon dioxide from a carrier liquid

A method for removing carbon dioxide from a carrier liquid using a heat exchanger. A carrier liquid, containing carbon dioxide, is heated through the heat exchanger, causing the carbon dioxide to vaporize. The carrier liquid and the carbon dioxide gas pass to a liquid removal vessel. The carrier liquid is removed and the carbon dioxide gas is compressed. The compressed carbon dioxide gas is provided to the heat exchanger, cooling the carbon dioxide gas opposite the carrier liquid, producing a carbon dioxide liquid.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2020

Method for preventing fouling of a demister

A method for preventing fouling of a demister is disclosed. A process fluid is provided into a vessel. A gas is provided to a gas inlet of the vessel. The gas comprises a component that desublimates, crystallizes, solidifies, reacts, or a combination thereof, in the process fluid, forming a first solid. The gas is passed through the process fluid, the component of the gas forming the first solid, resulting in a component-depleted gas. The component-depleted gas is passed out of the process fluid, causing splashing or spurting of the process fluid and the first solid. The diverter section is provided between the demister and the gas inlet, the diverter section comprising a physical obstruction preventing the process fluid and the first solid from splashing or spurting onto the demister. In this manner, fouling of the demister is prevented.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2020

Process for component separation utilizing miscibility depression near a freezing point

A process for separating a mixture of components is disclosed. A liquid mixture is provided to a separation vessel substantially near a temperature at which a product component freezes. The liquid mixture comprises the product component and a carrier component. The product component and the carrier component are essentially immiscible substantially near the temperature. The liquid mixture is separated into two or more phases, the two or more phases comprising a product component-rich liquid phase and a product component-depleted liquid phase. In this manner, a mixture of components is separated.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2019

Circulating fluidized bed connected to a desublimating heat exchanger

Condensable vapors such as carbon dioxide are separated from light gases in a process stream. The systems and methods employ a circulating fluidized particle bed cooled by an out-bed heat exchanger to desublimate the solid form of condensable vapors from the process stream. Gas and solids may be sorted in a separator, and the solids may then be subcooled in a heat exchanger. The condensable vapors may be condensed on the bed particles or in the heat exchanger while the light gases from the process stream, which are not condensed, form a separated light-gas stream.

Baxter, Larry↗

DOE OSTI2019

Separation of components from a fluid by solids production

A method for separating components from a fluid is disclosed. A cooling element is provided and is disposed in contact with a distal side of one or more thermally-conductive surfaces. One or more resistive heating elements are provided and are disposed in contact with or embedded in a proximal side of the one or more thermally-conductive surfaces. A fluid comprising one or more secondary components is provided. The fluid is passed across the one or more thermally conductive surfaces, the one or more secondary components freezing, crystallizing, desublimating, depositing, condensing, or combinations thereof, out of the fluid. The one or more resistive heating elements engage such that the one or more solid secondary components detach and pass out the solids outlet. The one or more resistive heating elements disengage, restarting production of the one or more solid secondary components.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2019

Method for removal of a foulant from a carrier gas in a single vessel using recycled cold solids

A method for removal of a foulant from a carrier gas is disclosed. A solids conveyance device that spans a vessel and a solids coolant system are provided. A cold solid foulant is provided to the solid inlet of the vessel. The carrier gas containing the foulant is provided to the carrier gas inlet of the vessel. The foulant condenses or desublimates onto the recycled solid foulant, forming a foulant-depleted carrier gas and a solid foulant product. The solids conveyance device passes the solid foulant product out of the vessel. The foulant-depleted carrier gas leaves the vessel. The solid foulant product is split into a final solid foulant product and a recycled solid foulant. The recycled solid foulant is cooled through the coolant system to produce the cold solid foulant. In this manner, the foulant is removed from the carrier gas.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2019

Hoses with endcapsulated springs

A device is disclosed comprising a pinchable hose with an inner wall and an outer wall. The hose comprises a flexible material and one or more springs. A central axis of the one or more springs is contained within a space between the inner wall and the outer wall of the hose.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗