Patent Publication Number: US-9897313-B2

Title: Water-based system and method of collecting and transporting exhaust gas

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/909,569 filed on Nov. 27, 2013. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to systems and methods of capturing, transporting, and treating airborne pollutants, such as greenhouses gases. The present method utilizes water, which is preferably drawn from a location near to the source of the emissions, to transport the gases to a remote processing center. The pollutant gases can then be stored and treated at this remote processing center, rather than being emitted into the atmosphere. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Current methods of removing pollutant compounds from flue gas streams known in the prior art rely upon systems that specifically target certain types of molecules. For example, flue gas can be desulfurized via a number of different methods, including wet scrubbing of the gas emissions with an alkaline sorbent, such as limestone, in order to remove sulfur dioxide. Carbon can also be captured from flue gas using an amine treatment method. These carbon capture systems generally collect carbon, usually in the form of carbon dioxide, from the post-combustion flue gas and then transport the carbon-containing compounds to a remote facility for storage and treatment. Nitrogen oxides are generally addressed via high-temperature reactions with ammonia or urea in order to produce nitrogen gas. 
     Ultimately, there is no so single method currently known in the prior art that is suitable for removing or otherwise neutralizing all of the pollutants and/or greenhouse gases from a flue gas stream, therefore flue gas must be treated using a combination of methods to address all of these different types of gaseous compounds. However, because these treatment systems all take place at the point source of the pollution, there are substantial space and design constraints that prevent all of these different treatment methods from being implemented simultaneously. Therefore, there is a need in the prior art for a system adapted to efficiently collect and transport exhaust gas from a point source of pollution to a remote facility so that the collected exhaust can be treated using a combination of methods in order to reduce the levels of pollutants and/or greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of exhaust collection and treatment systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new water-based system and method of collecting and transporting exhaust gases wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when seeking to minimize the amount of pollutants and/or greenhouse gases emitted into the Earth&#39;s atmosphere. The present system comprises a gas extraction cap for collecting exhaust gas emitted from a point source of pollution, a pump for drawing water from a water source, a mixer for mixing the captured exhaust gas with the drawn water, a pipeline for transporting the gas-water solution to a remote treatment facility, and one or more high-pressure boilers for separating the water from the gas-water solution, leaving the gases available for treatment at the facility. 
     The extraction cap is fitted onto a flue, a flare stack, or any other such pollution source and is adapted to completely collect all of the exhaust gas emitted therefrom. The captured gases are then mixed with water, which serves as a transport medium to facilitate the transport of these exhaust gases to a remote facility for processing. When the gases are mixed with water, some of the gases chemically react with the water to form a new compound and the remaining gases are simply dissolved into the water stream or simply drawn along therewith. Furthermore, any particulates contained within the exhaust gas are also drawn along through the pipeline system with the water. When the water is removed from the transported gas-water mixture via the boiler or system of boilers, the resulting greenhouse gases, particulates, and other pollutants are then available for individual processing within the enclosed system of the facility. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a diagram of the components of the present system. 
         FIG. 2  shows a diagram of the method of the present system. 
         FIG. 3  shows a first embodiment of the gas extraction cap of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a second embodiment of the gas extraction cap of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of the boiling chamber of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the system and method of collecting and transporting exhaust gas. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for collecting flue gas emitted as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels or gas emitted by flare stacks. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     The present invention is a system adapted to collect exhaust gas containing greenhouse gases and other pollutants originating from industrial sources, such as flue gas emitted as a result of the combustion of fossils fuels, pollutant gases emitted from a flare stack, and the like. The present system then mixes the captured gases with water, which is preferably drawn from a location near the source of the emissions, for ease of transporting the gases to a remote processing location. Once the gas-water mixture arrives at the processing location, it then goes through one or more boiling steps in order to separate the water from the captured gases. Once separated, the potable water is then available for other uses and the pollutants are available for further treatment at the processing location. The present invention thereby provides a system for capturing greenhouse gas emissions so that they can processed, and preferably neutralized, at a remote location, rather than them being released into the atmosphere. 
     As used herein, “pollutants” refers to greenhouse gases, particulates (e.g. soot) created as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels, and other gaseous compounds that have a negative impact on the environment, such as sulfur dioxide. Furthermore, “greenhouse gases” refers to carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, methane, fluorinated gases, and other such gases. Still further, “exhaust gas” refers to flue gas emitted as a result of the combustion of fossils fuels, gases emitted from a flare stack, and other such gases containing pollutants, greenhouse gases, and/or particulates emitted from an industrial source. Still further, a “point source of pollution” refers to a flue, a flare stack, and the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a diagram of the components of the present system. The present invention comprises an extraction cap  11  that is adapted to be fitted to a point source of pollution and a water pump and mixing system  12  that is connected thereto. The extraction cap  11  is provided in a number of different embodiments that are specifically designed to be fitted to different types of point sources of pollution, such as a flue or a flare stack. The extraction cap comprises a first open end, which is adapted to be situated about a point source of pollution, and a second open end to which the transport system  13  is attached. The extraction cap  11  comprises a blower or another such means for drawing the exhaust gas emitted from the point source of pollution into the interior volume of the extraction cap  11  in order to prevent the exhaust gas from being transmitted into the atmosphere. The enclosed interior volume of the extraction cap  11  collects exhaust gas being emitted and the combination of the blower disposed therein and the water pumped into the extraction cap  11  via the water pump and mixing system  12  forces the exhaust gas from the interior volume of the extraction cap  11  into the transport system  13  connected thereto. The extraction cap  11  is composed of heat-resistant materials that are adapted to resist the high temperatures associated with heated flue exhaust and flare stacks. 
     The water pump and mixing system  12  comprises a pump that is adapted to draw water from a water source and transport it to an extraction cap  11 , a series of sprinklers disposed along the interior surface of the extraction cap  11  that serve to cool the incoming exhaust gas and direct it to the second open end of the extraction cap  11  and into the transport system  13 . Once in the transport system  13 , the exhaust gas and the water are then physically mixed via one or more motors and one or more pumps. This physical mixing of the water pump and mixing system  12  results in some of the exhaust gas chemically reacting with the water to form new compounds (e.g. carbon dioxide reacting with water to form carbonic acid) and the remaining exhaust gas compounds dissolving into the water. Particulates that are too large to dissolve into the water are instead simply physically driven through the transport system  13  via the action of the motors and the pumps. By mixing the exhaust gas with water, the resulting gas-water mixture can be transported easily and efficiently through the pipes of the transport system  13 . 
     The transport system  13  comprises a pipe system connecting the extraction cap  11 , which is at the site of the site of the point source of pollution, and the separation system  15 , which is disposed at a remote location. The transport system  13  comprises pumps disposed along the length of the pipes that are adapted to drive the gas-water mixture therethrough to the subsequent systems. In one embodiment, the present system further comprises a chemical treatment system  14  disposed along the transport system  13 , prior to the separation system  15 . The chemical treatment system  14  pretreats the gas-water mixture with additional chemicals to assist in the neutralization of the greenhouse gases and other pollutants contained within the gas-water mixture. The pretreatment chemicals comprise desulfurization compounds, amines adapted to isolate carbon-containing compounds, ammonia or urea to react with nitrogen oxides to form nitrogen gas, and other chemicals known in the art that are adapted to neutralize or isolate pollutants or greenhouse gases commonly found within exhaust gas. In some embodiments of the present invention, the pretreatment chemicals act to immediately drop the targeted compound out of solution so that they can be filtered from the gas-water mixture as it enters the separation system  15 , prior to being the mixture being boiled. In another embodiment of the present invention, the pretreatment chemicals remain in solution with the gas-water mixture and act upon the targeted compounds only after the water is separated from the mixture at the processing facility. 
     The separation system  15  comprises an entry point at which the gas-water mixture enters, a boiler, a condenser, and a means for removing the resultant greenhouse gases, pollutants, and particulates for transport. The boiler raises the temperature of the gas-water mixture such that the water turns to steam. The steam is then siphoned off from the boiler, separating the water from the exhaust gas and chemical compounds contained with the gas-water mixture. The steam is then transported through a filter in order to minimize any particulates or other compounds that may be transported therewith, and then through a condenser. After the steam is condensed back to water, the separated and filtered water is then tested for purity. If the water is potable or otherwise satisfies purity standards, then the water is transported  16  from the present system. If the separated and filtered water does not satisfy purity standards, then it is recirculated through the boiling, separating, filtering, and condensing systems until all impurities are removed. 
     After the exhaust gas compounds are separated from the water, they are then removed from the separation system  15  and transmitted to the extraction system  17 . At the extraction system  17 , the resultant exhaust gas compounds can then be treated so that they are isolated and neutralized via means known in the prior art. The water mixed with the collected exhaust gases acts as a transport medium for transporting the gases from the collection location at the point source of pollution to the remote treatment facility. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a diagram of the method of the present system. The present method, embodied by the components discussed above, comprises the following steps. First, the exhaust gas, which comprise greenhouse gases, particulates, and other pollutants, are collected and extracted  31  from the point source of the pollution via the extraction cap, as described above. The exhaust gas is then physically mixed with water  32  via a series of sprinklers installed along the interior of the extraction cap, which assists in forcing the collected exhaust gas from the extraction cap into the transport system. Once inside the transport system, i.e. the series of pipes connecting the extraction cap to the remote treatment facility, a series of pumps propel the gas-water mixture therealong and assist in further mixing the exhaust gas into the water. Prior to reaching the treatment facility containing the boiler system, the gas-water mixture may be pretreated with chemicals  33 . The pretreatment chemicals comprise desulfurization compounds, amines adapted to isolate carbon-containing compounds, ammonia or urea to react with nitrogen oxides to form nitrogen gas, and other chemicals known in the art that are adapted to neutralize or isolate pollutants or greenhouse gases commonly found within exhaust gas. 
     Once the gas-water mixture reaches the treatment facility, the mixture is boiled  34  in order to separate the water, as steam, from the exhaust gas compounds. At this point, the exhaust gas compounds drop out of solution  35  and can then be collected for individual treatment. Simultaneously, the steam generated from the boiling process is collected  36  and condensed  37  back to water. The condensed water can then be tested  38  to determine whether is satisfies objective purity requirements. If is satisfies those objective criteria, then it is free to be re-distributed  38  as needed. If it does not satisfy those objective criteria, then it is re-boiled  34 , collected  36 , and condensed  37  until the water is completely separated from the compounds from the exhaust gas and has the requisite level of purity. For each boiling cycle, the exhaust gas compounds drop out of solution  35  and are collected for individual treatment. The present system and method utilizes water as a transport medium to carry collected greenhouse gases from a point source of pollution to a remote treatment facility, at which point the exhaust gases are separated therefrom so that they can be treated and neutralized utilizing appropriate, compound-specific methods without the need to perform all of the different types of treatment steps on-site at the point source of the pollution. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a first embodiment of the gas extraction cap of the present invention. The first embodiment of the gas extraction cap  51  is adapted to be affixed to a smokestack  91 . The first embodiment of the gas extraction cap  51  comprises a housing  53  having a first end  54  adapted to be affixed to a smokestack  91  and a second end  55  adapted to be connected to the transport system  52 . The first embodiment of the extraction cap  51  further comprises a blower  61  adapted to pull exhaust gas  101  through the extraction cap  51 , into the transport system  52  so that it can be transported to the remote facility for processing. 
     The extraction cap  51  further comprises a plurality of sprinklers  57  disposed on the interior surface of the housing  53 . The sprinklers  57  are angled so that they assist the blower  61  in communicating exhaust gas  101  from the interior volume of the housing  53  to the transport system  52 . The sprinklers  57  preferably draw water from a nearby water source via a pump  56  that is connected thereto. In addition to assisting in communicating exhaust gas  101  from the extraction cap  51  to the transport system  52 , the sprinklers  57  also act to begin cooling the exhaust gas  101  and begin the process of mixing the exhaust gas  101  with water for transport. An alternative embodiment of the extraction cap  51  further comprises an emergency-release  58  for venting exhaust gas  101  from the interior volume of the extraction cap  51  when the pressure therein reaches dangerously high levels. The emergency-release  58  can be automatically triggered by an internal pressure sensor or manually triggered. 
     The transport system  52  connects the extraction cap  51  to a remote treatment facility (not shown). The extraction cap  51  comprises piping  59  and a plurality of pumps  60  disposed therealong. The pumps  60  act to mix the exhaust gas  101  with the water introduced into the piping  59  and propel the gas-water mixture therealong to the remote treatment facility for processing. The water acts as a transport medium for the exhaust gas  101 , chemically reacting with some of the exhaust gas compounds  101  and dissolving the non-reactive exhaust gas  101  compounds. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a second embodiment of the gas extraction cap of the present invention. The second embodiment of the gas extraction cap  51  is adapted to be affixed to a flare stack  92 . Although alterations to the composition and design of the housing  53  of the extraction cap  51  are necessary to accommodate the higher temperatures associated with the fire generated by the flare stack  92 , the principal of the operation of the second embodiment of the extraction cap  51  is otherwise identical to that of the first embodiment of the extraction cap  51 . The housing  53  completely contains the discharge end of the point source of pollution, i.e. the flare stack  92 , and captures all of the exhaust gas  101  emitted therefrom. A blower  61  draws the exhaust gas  101  from the interior volume of the housing  53  and transmits it to the transport system  52 . A plurality of sprinklers  57  disposed along the interior surface of the housing  53  cool the exhaust gas  101  emitted from the flare stack  92 , begin the process of mixing the exhaust gas  101  with water, and assist in directing the exhaust gas  101  from the interior volume of the housing  53  to the transport system  52  connected thereto. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown an embodiment of the boiling chamber of the present invention. The boiling chamber  71  comprising a housing  72 , an inlet  73  connected to the transport system for conveying the gas-water mixture to the boiling chamber  71 , a base surface  77  on which the gas-water mixture is supported, a heating element  76 , and a steam collector  74  for collecting the water that has boiled and separated from the exhaust gas components of the mixture. As the heating element  76  raises the temperature within the housing  72 , the water of the gas-water mixture supported on the base surface  77  turns to steam, at which point it separates from the other compounds in the mixture that have a higher boiling point. The steam is then siphoned off via the steam collector  74 , which then transmits the steam to a condenser  75  to be condensed back to water for testing. The steam collector  74  comprises a vent with a blower for removing the low-density steam that has risen to the top portion of the housing during the boiling process, a cooled funnel that causes the steam to condense when the steam comes in contact therewith, or another such means of siphoning steam from the remaining solution. Once the boiling process has completed, the heating element  76  is deactivated and the boiler  71  is allowed to return to ambient temperature. Once the boiler  71  has cooled, the remaining compounds with the water separated therefrom may be removed from the boiler  71  for additional processing. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.