1. A method for separating carbon dioxide from a flue gas generated in a combustion plant, comprising supplying the flue gas to a membrane unit comprising at least one membrane module having a CO2-selective polymer membrane having a CO2N2 selectivity of 40:1, whereby a portion of the CO2 is separated in the module from the flue gas as enriched CO2 permeate, and a remaining portion of the flue gas that is CO2-depleted being retentate, supplying the retentate to at least one additional CO2 separating unit, whereby a portion of the CO2 in the retentate is separated from the flue gas by an absorbent.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the CO2 is separated from the flue gas by a plurality of membrane modules, each having a CO2-selective membrane.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a partial pressure difference is produced inside a membrane module either by pressure on the feed side, or by a vacuum on the permeate side, or by a flushing medium, or by the combination of two or more of these options.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one additional CO2 separating unit is an absorption scrubber or a membrane contactor.
5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising performing a multistage absorption in CO2 separating units.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least 30% by volume of the CO2 is separated from the flue gas in the membrane unit.
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least 80% by volume the CO2 is separated from the flue gas generated in the combustion plant through the combination of CO2 separation in the membrane unit and the additional CO2 separating unit.
8. A method according to claim 1, wherein more than 40% by volume of the CO2 is separated from the flue gas in the membrane unit.
9. A method according to claim 1, wherein more than 50% by volume of the CO2 is separated from the flue gas in the membrane unit.
10. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least 90% by volume of the CO2 is separated from the flue gas generated in the combustion plant through the combination of CO2 separation in the membrane unit and the additional CO2 separating unit.
11. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least 95% by volume of the CO2 is separated from the flue gas generated in the combustion plant through the combination of CO2 separation in the membrane unit and the additional CO2 separating unit.
12. A device for separating CO2 from a flue gas, having a membrane unit, comprising at least one membrane module having a CO2-selective polymer membrane having a CO2N2 selectivity of 40:1, and an additional CO2 separating unit, comprising an absorbent.
13. A device according to claim 12, comprising a plurality of membrane modules, each having a CO2-selective polymer membrane having a CO2N2 selectivity of 40:1.
14. A device according to claim 12, a wherein the additional CO2 separating unit comprises a means for regenerating an absorbent.
15. A device according to claim 14, wherein a heat exchanger is disposed between the membrane module and the means for regenerating the absorbent.
16. A device according to claim 12, further comprising a means for combining the CO2 obtained from the from the membrane unit and the additional CO2 separating unit.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A filling machine for filling product into a packaging container comprising:
at least one filling nozzle for ejection of liquid in a first general direction into the packaging container, wherein the filling nozzle is arranged in a dishbox having an opening through which the product is ejectable towards a package provided in a volume, the dishbox possessing a lower surface facing the volume, the opening being selectively sealable by a sealing valve having a valve body with a portion dimensioned to be inserted in said opening to seal the opening, and a recess in the lower surface of the dishbox such that the valve body is at least partly insertable into the recess in the lower surface of the dishbox to abut against the recess when the sealing valve is in a rest position during filling of the product into the packaging container.
2. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein an effective diameter of the opening is smaller than the effective diameter of the recess, referring to a diameter of engagement with the valve body, such that a part of the valve body exposed towards the filling nozzles in a use position has not been exposed to atmosphere inside the volume when in the rest position.
3. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein the sealing valve is movable in a first general direction and perpendicular to said first general direction between a use position and the rest position.
4. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein the valve body is coupled to a turning shaft extending from an annular channel in the dishbox, and further comprising sealing means for sealing between the turning shaft and said channel when the valve body is positioned in the recess.
5. The filling machine of claim 4, wherein the turning shaft comprises individual projections abutting the inner wall channel, said projections being distributed around the circumference of the shaft.
6. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein the valve body comprises a resilient cover.
7. The filling machine of claim 4, wherein the sealing means are vulcanized to the turning shaft.
8. The filling machine of claim 5, wherein the projections are arranged at a lower end of the turning shaft and are configured to allow passage of dishing or sterilizing agents.
9. A valve arrangement for sealing an opening in a dishbox of a filling machine relative to a volume in which packages to be filled may be arranged, said system comprising:
a sealing valve having a valve body for sealing the opening;
the dishbox possessing a lower surface facing the volume, the lower surface including a recess; and
the valve body being at least partly insertable into the recess in the lower surface of the dishbox to abut against the recess when the sealing valve is in a rest position during filling of the product into the packaging container.
10. A valve arrangement for sealing an opening in a dishbox of a filling machine relative to a volume in which packages to be filled may be arranged, said system comprising:
a sealing valve having a valve body for sealing the opening;
the valve body being at least partly insertable in a recess arranged in a lower surface of the dishbox; and
wherein the valve body is coupled to a turning shaft extending from an annular channel in the dishbox, further comprising sealing means for sealing between the turning shaft and the channel when the valve body is positioned in the recess, the sealing means having one state in which the opening is sealed by the valve body while the annular channel is open and another state in which the valve body is arranged in the recess and the sealing means provides a seal between the turning shaft and the channel.