Recently, Jinjie Company, a subsidiary of China Shenhua, was granted an invention patent by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) for its CO₂ Mineralization Curing Device and Safety Device.
The CO₂ mineralization curing autoclave, as the core equipment in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), directly converts captured CO₂ into building materials for permanent sequestration. During the pressure relief process of high-pressure CO₂ curing, CO₂ leakage from the autoclave can create a risk of operator asphyxiation in enclosed spaces. To address this, the project team researched the CO₂ release mechanism within the curing autoclave, and focused on existing issues such as inadequate safety features and the failure of safety valves to trigger precisely. They developed a safety device for the CO₂ mineralization curing device and its method of use. Leveraging the physical property that CO₂ is denser than air and tends to accumulate near the bottom, a concentration detection instrument was positioned at the lower part of the device. As CO₂ gas overflows, it contacts the blades of a one-way fan from bottom to top. Upon detection of CO₂, the instrument activates the fan, and the fan draws fresh air through a duct into the breathing valve body to mix with the CO₂. Then the mixed air is expelled, diluting the concentration to below 10% and preventing hazardous accumulation in the work area.
The successful development and application of this device have significantly enhanced operational safety, effectively mitigating the safety hazards associated with CO₂ brimming from the curing autoclave. The company will continue to strengthen its commitment to sci-tech innovation, integrate R&D closely with production, and leverage high-quality innovation to drive new momentum for high-quality development.
