Bed regeneration using low value steam

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for regenerating a bed containing absorbed and/or adsorbed COusing a low value steam stream. The steam stream can have a pressure of 10 kPa-a to 50 kPa-a and a temperature of 46° C. to 81° C. The steam stream can be used to displace COfrom the bed, resulting in formation of a low pressure stream including water vapor and CO. The stream containing water vapor and COis then passed through a liquid ring pump that includes an associated ring cooler. The ring pump provides the suction necessary to draw the low value steam stream through the bed to displace the CO. Due to the nature of operation of the liquid ring pump, the majority of water in the steam containing HO and COcan be removed within the liquid ring pump, resulting in production of a stream comprising 90 vol % or more of COat a pressure of 90 kPa-a or more. An example of a bed that can be regenerated using a low value steam stream is a bed that corresponds to a liquid amine that is coated on/covering/impregnated into a porous solid, so that the liquid amine remains substantially in place during a cycle of sorption and desorption of CO.