Patent ID: 7699914

Claim:
A triple-effect absorption system for processing a gas from a landfill, wherein the gas includes varying concentrations of methane, CO 2 , water, and combustible contaminants, the triple-effect absorption system comprising: a solvent comprising a first portion and a second portion; a first absorber conveying the first portion of the solvent at a first flow rate at a first pressure; a second absorber conveying the second portion of the solvent at a second flow rate at a second pressure; a third absorber conveying the first portion of the solvent at a third flow rate at a third pressure, wherein the combustible contaminants separate from the first portion of the solvent in the third absorber; an incinerator connected in fluid communication with the third absorber to receive the CO 2 and the combustible contaminants, the combustible contaminants burn in the incinerator to heat the CO 2 ; a flash system for separating CO 2 from the second portion of the solvent; a first solvent line extending between the first absorber and the third absorber for conveying the first portion of the solvent from the first absorber to the third absorber; a second solvent line extending between the second absorber and the flash system for conveying CO 2 and the second portion of the solvent from the second absorber to the flash system; a gas line extending between the first absorber and the second absorber for conveying the gas from the first absorber to the second absorber; a CO 2 line extending between the flash system and the third absorber, wherein the following conditions exist: a) the CO 2 line helps deliver CO 2 from the flash system to the third absorber to place the CO 2 and the first portion of the solvent in the third absorber in intimate contact with each other; b) the first pressure and the second pressure are within 10-percent of each other, yet the second flow rate is over 10 times greater than the first flow rate; and c) the first flow rate and the third flow rate are within 10-percent of each other, yet the first pressure is over 5 times greater than the third pressure: and a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the CO y line to help convey the CO 2 from flash system to the third absorber and to preheat the CO 2 before the CO 2 enters the third absorber.