Patent ID: 8361425

Claim:
A method of removing CO 2 in an exhaust gas, the method comprising: introducing exhaust gas comprising oxygen and products from combustion of carbonaceous material into an absorption column; wherein the exhaust gas, when introduced into the absorption column, is dry; bringing the exhaust gas in countercurrent flow with a liquid CO 2 absorbent, the liquid CO 2 absorbent being an aqueous solution of amines, in a contact section of the absorption column, giving a CO 2 -rich absorbent and a CO 2 -depleted exhaust gas; cooling the CO 2 -depleted exhaust gas such that, as the CO 2 -depleted exhaust gas leaves the contact section, the CO 2 -depleted exhaust gas is at a substantially lower temperature than a temperature of the exhaust gas as the exhaust gas is introduced into the absorption column; wherein the cooling step is performed via evaporation of water from the liquid CO 2 absorbent to saturate the exhaust gas in a lower part of the contact section; releasing the CO 2 -depleted exhaust gas leaving the contact section into the atmosphere; withdrawing the CO 2 -rich absorbent from the absorption column; and wherein the temperature of the exhaust gas introduced into the absorption column is greater than about 90° C.