A carbon dioxide and fresh water capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202521629433.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-08
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-08-01
AI Technical Summary
[0009]本实用新型旨在解决现有空气捕集技术中结构复杂、能耗高、控制难度大以及捕集效率不稳定等问题,提供了一种基于吸附式换热器的二氧化碳和淡水捕集系统,公开了一种将吸附与再生功能集成于单一物理区域的换热结构设计,并通过冷热源切换装置实现吸附材料在不同温区的切换运行,支持多种吸附材料和能源类型的灵活组合,既可捕集空气中水分,也可高效捕集低浓度二氧化碳,达到结构简化、运行稳定、能效提高的整体目标
本申请通过将吸附区和再生区集成于吸附式换热器的同一物理空间中,通过引入内冷/热源实现了等温吸附/脱附,克服了转轮升温吸附的不足,提高了吸附剂的传质性能,并降低了驱动热源温度(40~80oC),并结合冷热源切换装置实现热源与冷源的自动切换,从而使吸附材料在无需移动或切换位置的条件下,即可完成吸附和解吸功能,有效简化了结构,避免了传统系统中复杂的气路切换与吸附模块移动所带来的能量损耗和运行不稳定问题,具有结构紧凑、控制简单、能耗低、材料使用效率高等优势,可广泛适用于多种环境条件下的碳捕集与淡水获取需求,在保持系统高效捕集能力的同时也有效降低制造与运行成本,显著提升了系统的实用性可维护性与推广应用价值。
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of carbon dioxide and freshwater capture technology, and particularly relates to a carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger. Background Technology
[0002] In terms of CO2 capture technology, existing methods mainly include post-combustion capture and direct air capture (DAC). Post-combustion capture is commonly used in stationary pollution sources such as power plants, mainly relying on chemical absorbents such as amine solutions for separation. However, this method has high energy consumption (approximately 3.5–5.0 GJ / ton CO2) and suffers from problems such as absorbent volatilization, corrosion, and secondary pollution. Direct air capture (DAC), on the other hand, can directly capture CO2 from the air, has a wider range of applications, and is particularly suitable for distributed deployment and low-concentration scenarios. Current DAC technologies mostly employ adsorption methods, which have relatively low energy consumption (approximately 331 kWh / ton CO2). However, traditional adsorption systems mostly rely on mechanically driven adsorption rotors, which have complex structures, severe component wear, high maintenance costs, and low energy management efficiency during system operation, limiting their widespread adoption and long-term economic viability.
[0003] In terms of air-based water collection technology, direct condensation and biomimetic fog collection are two mainstream methods. Direct condensation achieves water vapor condensation by compressing air to below the dew point temperature. However, in areas with low ambient temperature and humidity, the energy efficiency of this method decreases significantly, with power consumption per unit of water produced reaching 1.5–2.0 kWh / kg. On the other hand, biomimetic fog collection, inspired by nature, relies on special surface structures to guide water droplet condensation and aggregation. Although it requires no energy input, its water collection efficiency is extremely low (<0.5 L / m² / day) and it depends on high humidity conditions (RH>80%), making it unsuitable for arid or extreme environmental conditions.
[0004] Existing technologies generally suffer from three major bottlenecks: First: Existing CO2 capture and air-water extraction systems are mostly deployed independently and operate separately, failing to achieve resource sharing and energy efficiency synergy. This results in equipment redundancy and high system costs (the cost of a single system exceeds 500,000 yuan).
[0005] Second: Existing combined systems use semiconductor cooling or mechanical drive, and a large number of mechanical components in the equipment (such as electric rotors, fans, etc.) require continuous power supply during operation, resulting in a high proportion of carbon emissions from the carbon capture process itself.
[0006] Third: In arid and low-humidity (RH<30%) or high-temperature and high-dust (such as deserts and industrial areas) environments, adsorbent materials (such as hydrogels and zeolites) are prone to failure, mechanical parts (such as wheel bearings) have a high failure rate, and long-term operational reliability is poor.
[0007] In recent years, adsorption-based co-capture technology has become a research hotspot due to its ability to regenerate adsorbents using low-grade thermal energy (such as solar energy and industrial waste heat). For example, Chinese patent CN 115162464 A discloses a carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system and method. This system utilizes a series arrangement of water and carbon adsorption rotors, allowing water and CO2 in the air to be captured by different adsorption rotors. After saturation, desorption and condensation separation are achieved through heating regeneration, thus achieving the simultaneous capture of freshwater and CO2. This scheme proposes a structure for the simultaneous capture of CO2 and water resources in the air and realizes uninterrupted adsorption and regeneration operations. The overall system structure is relatively simple and has positive significance in the field of co-capture. However, this system still has several shortcomings in practical applications: (1) The drive of the adsorption wheel depends on mechanical components such as electric motors. Its continuous operation leads to significant energy consumption. In addition, the equipment has a complex structure and many wear parts, which increases the manufacturing and maintenance costs of the system. (2) The adsorption rotor has difficulty overcoming the negative impact of the heat of adsorption released during the dehumidification process, which causes the mass transfer capacity to continuously decrease with the reaction, affecting the efficiency of moisture and carbon capture, and resulting in a high driving heat source temperature (70~140) during the regeneration process. o C), the regeneration stage usually requires a continuous supply of heat through an electric heater, which limits the stability and sustainability of its capture.
[0008] Therefore, in view of the problems of high mechanical drive energy consumption, high maintenance cost and strong energy dependence of the existing combined capture system, there is an urgent need for a carbon dioxide and freshwater dual capture technology with simpler structure, lower energy consumption and stronger environmental adaptability. Utility Model Content
[0009] This invention aims to solve the problems of complex structure, high energy consumption, difficult control, and unstable capture efficiency in existing air capture technologies. It provides a carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger, and discloses a heat exchange structure design that integrates adsorption and regeneration functions into a single physical area. It also enables the adsorption material to switch between different temperature zones through a cold and heat source switching device, supporting flexible combinations of various adsorption materials and energy types. It can capture moisture in the air and efficiently capture low-concentration carbon dioxide, achieving the overall goals of simplified structure, stable operation, and improved energy efficiency.
[0010] In view of this, the present invention provides a carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger, comprising: An air pump is used to draw in ambient air and deliver it to the adsorption heat exchanger unit, providing gas flow power during the adsorption / regeneration phase. An adsorption heat exchanger unit includes two adsorption heat exchangers arranged in sequence, one of which is used to adsorb or regenerate moisture in the air at different temperature conditions, and the other adsorption heat exchanger is used to adsorb or regenerate carbon dioxide in the air at different temperature conditions. The cold and heat source switching device is connected to two adsorption heat exchangers respectively, and the function of the adsorption zone and the regeneration zone in the adsorption heat exchanger is switched by switching the cold and heat source. The switching valve has an inlet connected to the adsorption heat exchanger unit and an outlet including an adsorption path and a regeneration path, and is used to switch the adsorption / regeneration flow path. The condenser, connected to the regeneration path of the switching valve, is used to condense and separate the high-carbon vapor generated during the regeneration stage into liquid water and gaseous carbon dioxide. A carbon sequestration container, connected to a condenser, is used to store condensed gaseous carbon dioxide; A freshwater collection container, connected to a condenser, is used to store condensed liquid water.
[0011] In some examples of this application, the adsorption heat exchanger unit includes a first adsorption heat exchanger and a second adsorption heat exchanger. The first adsorption heat exchanger is a moisture storage heat exchanger, and the second adsorption heat exchanger is a carbon storage heat exchanger. The first adsorption heat exchanger and the second adsorption heat exchanger are connected through a gas pipeline, and the gas pump is located at the air inlet end of the first adsorption heat exchanger.
[0012] In some examples of this application, the trapping system includes an adsorption flow path and a regeneration flow path, wherein the adsorption flow path and the regeneration flow path share a pipeline that is sequentially connected between the air pump, the first adsorption heat exchanger, the second adsorption heat exchanger, and the switching valve.
[0013] In some examples of this application, the switching valve is a three-way valve, and the adsorption path of the switching valve is connected to the external environment.
[0014] In some examples of this application, the switching valve is disposed in the flow path between the second adsorption heat exchanger and the condenser.
[0015] In some examples of this application, a water adsorbent is provided in the first adsorption heat exchanger, and a carbon dioxide adsorbent is provided in the second adsorption heat exchanger. The water adsorbent and the carbon dioxide adsorbent are adsorbed at low temperature and regenerated at high temperature.
[0016] In some examples of this application, the water adsorption material is disposed in the physical region of the adsorption regeneration zone in the first adsorption heat exchanger. The water adsorption material includes any one of basic materials, inorganic porous materials, hydrogels, covalent organic frameworks, and metal-organic frameworks, or the water adsorption material includes any combination of two or more of basic materials, inorganic porous materials, hydrogels, covalent organic frameworks, and metal-organic frameworks.
[0017] In some examples of this application, the carbon dioxide adsorbent material is disposed in the physical region of the adsorption regeneration zone in the second adsorption heat exchanger. The carbon dioxide adsorbent material includes any one or at least two composite materials selected from amine-functionalized porous materials, amine-functionalized resins, metal-organic frameworks, and ionic liquid impregnated materials.
[0018] In some examples of this application, the adsorption regeneration zone in the first adsorption heat exchanger and / or the second adsorption heat exchanger is a single physical region.
[0019] In some examples of this application, the cold source of the cold and heat source switching device includes cold water or cold air, and the heat source includes any one or more of electric heating, solar thermal collectors, geothermal energy, industrial waste heat, heat pump systems, biomass energy, or waste gas flow waste heat.
[0020] Compared with existing technologies, the carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger described in this invention has the following advantages: This application integrates the adsorption zone and regeneration zone into the same physical space of an adsorption heat exchanger, and achieves isothermal adsorption / desorption by introducing an internal cooling / heat source. This overcomes the shortcomings of rotary heating adsorption, improves the mass transfer performance of the adsorbent, and reduces the driving heat source temperature (40~80℃). o C), combined with a hot and cold source switching device, enables automatic switching between the heat source and the cold source, allowing the adsorbent material to complete adsorption and desorption functions without moving or changing its position. This effectively simplifies the structure and avoids the energy loss and operational instability caused by the complex gas path switching and adsorption module movement in traditional systems. It has advantages such as compact structure, simple control, low energy consumption, and high material utilization efficiency. It can be widely applied to carbon capture and freshwater acquisition needs under various environmental conditions. While maintaining the system's high-efficiency capture capability, it also effectively reduces manufacturing and operating costs, significantly improving the system's practicality, maintainability, and application value. Attached Figure Description
[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger as described in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the adsorption heat exchanger described in an embodiment of the present invention; The markings in the diagram are as follows: 1-Air pump; 2-First adsorption heat exchanger; 3-Second adsorption heat exchanger; 4-Switching valve; 5-Condenser; 6-Carbon storage container; 7-Fresh water collection container; 8-Heat source switching device; 9-Adsorption regeneration zone. Detailed Implementation
[0022] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0023] It should be noted that all directional and positional terms used in this utility model, such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," "back," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," "outer," "top," "lower," "lateral," "longitudinal," and "center," are only used to explain the relative positional relationships and connection arrangements between components in a specific state (as shown in the accompanying drawings). They are merely for the convenience of describing this utility model and do not require that this utility model be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. Furthermore, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., in this utility model are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated.
[0024] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.
[0025] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.
[0026] like Figures 1-2As shown, this application discloses a carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger, comprising: Air pump 1 is used to draw in ambient air and deliver it to the adsorption heat exchanger unit; An adsorption heat exchanger unit includes a first adsorption heat exchanger 2 and a second adsorption heat exchanger 3 arranged in sequence. One of the adsorption heat exchangers is equipped with a water adsorption material for adsorbing or regenerating moisture in the air at different temperature conditions. The other adsorption heat exchanger is equipped with a carbon dioxide adsorption material for adsorbing or regenerating carbon dioxide in the air at different temperature conditions. The cold and heat source switching device 8 is connected to the first adsorption heat exchanger 2 and the second adsorption heat exchanger 3 respectively. It realizes the conversion of the adsorption zone and the regeneration zone by switching the cold and heat sources. It is the adsorption zone when the temperature is low and the regeneration zone when the temperature is high. Switching valve 4 is located at the rear end of the flow path of the adsorption heat exchanger unit and is used to switch the adsorption path and regeneration path transmission channels. Condenser 5 is located at the rear end of the flow path of switching valve 4 and connected to the regeneration path. It is used to condense and separate the high-carbon vapor generated in the regeneration stage into liquid water and gaseous carbon dioxide. Carbon sequestration container 6 is connected to condenser 5 and is used to store condensed gaseous carbon dioxide; Freshwater collection container 7 is connected to condenser 5 and is used to store condensed liquid water.
[0027] This application discloses a carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on adsorption heat exchangers, including a gas pump 1, two adsorption heat exchangers, a cold / heat source switching device 8, a condenser 5, a carbon sequestration container 6, and a freshwater collection container 7. The outlet of the gas pump 1 is sequentially connected to the adsorption inlets of the first adsorption heat exchanger 2 and the second adsorption heat exchanger 3. The first adsorption heat exchanger 2 is filled with water adsorption material to adsorb moisture in the air at low temperatures and release water vapor at high temperatures. The second adsorption heat exchanger 3 is filled with carbon dioxide adsorption material to adsorb carbon dioxide in the air at low temperatures and release carbon dioxide gas at high temperatures. The two adsorbers independently complete the adsorption function, and the system is controlled by the cold / heat source switching device 8 according to... During operation, a cold or heat source is provided to enable dynamic switching of functional areas. In the adsorption stage, the two heat exchangers are in a low-temperature state to adsorb water and carbon dioxide respectively. The gas coming out of the second adsorption heat exchanger 3 is directly discharged to the outside through the switching valve 4. When the adsorbent material is close to saturation, the cold and heat source switching device 8 provides a heat source to make the two heat exchangers enter the regeneration stage. At this time, water vapor and carbon dioxide are released and driven by the air pump 1. The transmission path of the switching valve 4 is switched to the regeneration path and enters the condenser 5 for gas-liquid separation. The condensed water flows into the fresh water collection container 7, and the carbon dioxide gas enters the carbon sequestration container 6 for storage, realizing the efficient synergistic capture of water and carbon resources in the air. The system structure does not require rotating devices, the overall operation is stable, and it is easy to integrate, deploy and maintain.
[0028] The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger described in this application, through a collaborative design that integrates the structure and clearly defines the functional modules, can simultaneously capture carbon dioxide and water resources from the air without any mechanical rotating parts in the heat exchanger. This solves the problems of equipment duplication, high energy consumption, large footprint, and unstable operation in traditional DAC and AWH systems. By switching between cold and heat sources, the system achieves the conversion of adsorption and regeneration functions of the adsorbent in the same area, effectively reducing structural complexity and operation and maintenance costs. In particular, during the regeneration stage, the system does not rely on chemical reaction processes, thus avoiding the introduction and emission of harmful substances. The overall solution takes into account high efficiency, low carbon emissions, and environmental friendliness, and is suitable for various application scenarios such as drought and water scarcity, high carbon emissions, or energy shortages.
[0029] As a preferred example of this application, the first adsorption heat exchanger 2 is a moisture storage heat exchanger, and the second adsorption heat exchanger 3 is a carbon storage heat exchanger. The first adsorption heat exchanger 2 and the second adsorption heat exchanger 3 are connected by an air passage pipe. The air pump 1 is set at the air inlet end of the first adsorption heat exchanger 2 and the second adsorption heat exchanger 3 to sequentially input ambient air into the first adsorption heat exchanger 2 and the second adsorption heat exchanger 3. During the adsorption stage, the ambient air is directly discharged through the adsorption path of the switching valve 4 after being adsorbed by the water and carbon storage in the first adsorption heat exchanger 2 and the second adsorption heat exchanger 3. During the regeneration stage, the air pump 1 drives the airflow to sequentially pass through the first adsorption heat exchanger 2 and the second adsorption heat exchanger 3, and then the outlet of the switching valve 4 is switched to the regeneration path, and the airflow flows into the condenser 5 through the regeneration path. With the above setup, during system operation, air pump 1 introduces ambient air into the first adsorption heat exchanger 2, which serves as a moisture storage heat exchanger. When this heat exchanger is at a low temperature, the water adsorption material fully adsorbs and dries the moisture in the air to form low-humidity air. This airflow then enters the second adsorption heat exchanger 3, which serves as a carbon storage heat exchanger. The carbon dioxide adsorption material at this low temperature efficiently captures carbon dioxide from the dried air and discharges it through the adsorption path of the switching valve 4. As the adsorption process continues, when both the water and carbon dioxide adsorption materials become saturated, the cold / heat source switching device 8 provides a heat source to keep the two adsorption materials saturated. When the heat exchanger enters the high-temperature regeneration stage, similarly, the air pump 1 starts, driving the airflow to flow through the moisture storage heat exchanger and the carbon storage heat exchanger in sequence, thereby carrying the carbon dioxide and water vapor released by desorption to form a mixed gas through the switching valve 4 and guiding it to the condenser 5. After the water vapor in the mixed gas is cooled to the dew point, it condenses into liquid water, while the carbon dioxide remains in a gaseous state. After being separated by the condenser 5, the two flow into the corresponding fresh water collection container 7 and carbon sequestration container 6 respectively. After completing one complete adsorption-desorption cycle, the system can start a new round of capture process, realizing the continuous and efficient capture function of carbon dioxide and water in the air.
[0030] This application clarifies the functional division between the moisture storage heat exchanger and the carbon storage heat exchanger, and combines it with the sequential guidance design of the airflow path. It can fully dehumidify the air using water adsorbent material during the adsorption stage, providing a dry gas source for the subsequent efficient capture of carbon dioxide, thereby significantly improving the utilization rate and capture concentration of carbon dioxide adsorbent. At the same time, during the regeneration stage, the regeneration gas is driven by the air pump 1 to flow sequentially along the path of "moisture storage → carbon storage → condenser". The adsorption and regeneration process of the adsorption heat exchanger unit can be completed by the air pump 1 alone, without the need to add an additional regeneration pump.
[0031] As a preferred example of this application, the switching valve 4 is a three-way valve, whose adsorption path is connected to the external environment. By selecting a three-way valve and connecting its adsorption path to the external environment, the flow path switching between the adsorption stage and the regeneration stage is realized, and the airflow after the adsorption stage is directly discharged to the external environment without the need for additional pipeline guidance, thus simplifying the airflow path.
[0032] As a preferred example of this application, the system includes an adsorption flow path and a regeneration flow path. The adsorption flow path includes an air path that is sequentially connected between the adsorption paths of the air pump 1, the first adsorption heat exchanger 2, the second adsorption heat exchanger 3, and the switching valve 4. The regeneration flow path includes an air path that is sequentially connected between the regeneration path of the air pump 1, the first adsorption heat exchanger 2, the second adsorption heat exchanger 3, the switching valve 4, and the condenser 5. In the carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger described in this application, the adsorption flow path and the regeneration flow path are configured as a single airflow channel, used to perform gas transport tasks in the adsorption and regeneration stages at different times. The adsorption flow path sequentially connects to the air pump 1, the first adsorption heat exchanger 2, the second adsorption heat exchanger 3, and the switching valve 4, forming the inflow and treatment path for ambient air. In this path, air first enters the first adsorption heat exchanger 2, where the water-absorbing material filled inside adsorbs and dehumidifies the moisture in the air under the action of a cold source, ensuring that the air subsequently entering the second adsorption heat exchanger 3 is in a dry state. This ensures that the carbon dioxide adsorption material inside can efficiently complete the capture of carbon dioxide from the air. The air after the two-stage adsorption is discharged from the system through the switching valve 4. In the regeneration stage, the system switches to the regeneration flow path, and the outlet of the switching valve 4 switches to the regeneration path. The regeneration flow path is sequentially connected to the air pump 1, the first adsorption heat exchanger 2, the second adsorption heat exchanger 3, the switching valve 4, and the condenser 5. It is used to guide the gas mixture generated by the desorption of the adsorbent material to be transported and separated in a set order. At this time, the cold and heat source switching device 8 provides a heat source to raise the temperature of the two adsorption heat exchangers and put them into the desorption state. Carbon dioxide and water vapor are released from their respective adsorbent materials in sequence. The air pump 1 drives the regeneration airflow to form a regeneration airflow. This airflow first carries away the desorbed water vapor through the first adsorption heat exchanger 2, and then carries away the carbon dioxide through the second adsorption heat exchanger 3 to form a mixed gas. Finally, it enters the condenser 5 to achieve phase separation of water and carbon dioxide. The entire system completes the adsorption and regeneration work at different stages through a clearly defined flow path, and achieves cyclic operation through the state switching of key components such as the cold and heat source and the switching valve 4, which effectively improves the efficiency and continuity of air treatment and resource recovery.
[0033] This application clearly distinguishes between the adsorption and regeneration flow paths during operation, enabling the system to complete its tasks using the same airflow path in both adsorption and regeneration phases. This avoids cross-interference of airflows. Furthermore, the flow paths are connected to the switching valve 4, leading to different flow paths during the adsorption / desorption phases without requiring additional hardware resources. This reduces system complexity and manufacturing costs, and simplifies piping connections and system control logic. In addition, adsorption / desorption at different time periods ensures that gas flows under hot and cold conditions do not interfere with each other, guaranteeing balanced internal heat management, controllable energy consumption, and structural stability and reliability at all times. This further reduces the risk of leakage and maintenance requirements during system operation.
[0034] As a preferred example of this application, the adsorption-regeneration zone 9 in the first adsorption heat exchanger 2 and / or the second adsorption heat exchanger 3 is a single physical region. In the example of this application, by using a single physical region in the adsorption heat exchanger to complete the functional switching of the adsorption and regeneration processes, problems such as volume expansion, uneven heat transfer, and chaotic control logic caused by complex region division or component switching in traditional devices are avoided. The single-region design allows the adsorbent material to be evenly distributed throughout the region, improving material utilization and reducing dead zones. At the same time, it eliminates movable structures inside the heat exchanger, reducing mechanical failure rate and maintenance costs. The switching method of cold and heat sources can respond quickly under different operating conditions, completing a seamless connection between adsorption and regeneration, shortening switching time, reducing energy waste caused by system stagnation, and improving overall operating efficiency.
[0035] As a preferred example of this application, the water adsorption material is disposed in the physical region of the adsorption regeneration zone 9 in the first adsorption heat exchanger 2. The water adsorption material includes any one of basic materials, inorganic porous materials, hydrogels, covalent organic frameworks, and metal-organic frameworks, or the water adsorption material includes any combination of two or more of the following: basic materials, inorganic porous materials, hydrogels, covalent organic frameworks, and metal-organic frameworks. In the example of this application, the adsorption regeneration zone 9 of the first adsorption heat exchanger 2 is arranged with multiple types of water adsorption materials with high moisture absorption performance to enhance the ability to capture moisture from the air. The water adsorption material is selected from basic materials, inorganic porous materials, hydrogels, covalent organic framework materials, metal-organic framework materials, and their composites. For example, it can use LiCl-loaded activated carbon fiber felt, silica gel / activated carbon impregnated with lithium salt, calcium chloride (CaCl2), magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and other halides combined with porous carriers (such as diatomaceous earth, alumina), activated carbon / activated carbon fiber (ACF), activated alumina and other porous materials composite structures. It can also use structures such as... Organic framework materials with high specific surface areas, such as polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogels, MIL-101(Cr), and ZIF-8, greatly expand the system's adaptability to different climatic conditions and humidity environments. Base materials have good hygroscopicity and can improve stability and adsorption rate when combined with porous carriers. Hydrogels have strong water retention capacity and can self-regulate adsorption state. Meanwhile, metal or covalent organic framework materials, with their high specific surface area and designable structure, can improve adsorption capacity while ensuring complete desorption. The combined use of multiple materials not only improves the overall adsorption capacity and cycle stability, but also reduces dependence on the performance fluctuations of a single material and lowers operational risks.
[0036] As a preferred example of this application, the carbon dioxide adsorbent material is disposed in the physical region of the adsorption regeneration zone 9 in the second adsorption heat exchanger 3, and the carbon dioxide adsorbent material includes any one or at least two composite materials selected from amine functionalized porous materials, amine functionalized resins, metal-organic frameworks, and ionic liquid impregnation materials. In the examples of this application, the carbon dioxide adsorption materials include amine-functionalized porous materials, amine-functionalized resins, metal-organic frameworks, ionic liquid adsorption materials, covalent organic frameworks, and other high-performance carbon dioxide adsorption materials and their composite forms. These materials include, but are not limited to, porous substrate materials impregnated with polyethyleneimine (PEI), amino-modified molecular sieves, polystyrene-amine resins, chitosan-amine resins, NH2-MIL-101(Cr), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and porous carriers impregnated with ionic liquids. These materials have high specific surface areas and abundant amine groups or other active functional groups, enabling them to rapidly adsorb carbon dioxide from the air through physical adsorption and chemical bonding at low temperatures. After adsorption saturation, they switch to a heat source to raise the temperature and achieve desorption. The released carbon dioxide is carried away by the air pump 1 and enters the subsequent processing stage. After cooling, the desorbed adsorption material can be put back into the adsorption cycle, effectively improving the system's adaptability to carbon dioxide capture under different concentrations and humidity conditions. At the same time, the design of composite materials reduces the performance dependence on a single material and improves the system's operational stability and reliability.
[0037] As a preferred example of this application, the cold source of the cold and heat source switching device includes cold water or cold air, and the heat source includes any one or more of electric heating, solar thermal collectors, geothermal energy, industrial waste heat, heat pump systems, biomass energy, or waste gas flow waste heat. The cold and heat source switching device described in this application is connected to the moisture storage heat exchanger and the carbon storage heat exchanger respectively. It is used to alternately provide cold and heat sources to their adsorption and regeneration zones according to the operating status, so as to realize the dynamic switching of the adsorption and desorption functions of moisture and carbon dioxide. The cold source includes, but is not limited to, cold water and cold air. It is low in cost and has high cooling efficiency, which can quickly cool the adsorbent material to the optimal adsorption state. The heat source can be various types of energy, including the heat energy obtained by indirect conversion of renewable energy such as solar energy, geothermal energy, and wind energy, or the waste heat generated in the industrial field such as waste heat from power plants, industrial production, and transportation equipment. It can also be the heat generated by the conversion of electrical energy, such as electric heating elements or heat pump systems, as well as the heat energy in biomass energy and waste gas flow. The flexible combination of cold and heat source switching device 8 provides dynamic temperature control support for system operation and has a wide range of energy adaptability.
[0038] The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger disclosed in this application is used as follows: After the system starts, the power is turned on to activate the air pump 1, the switching valve 4, and the cold and heat source switching device 8. During the adsorption stage, considering that the adsorption rate of the desiccant may vary due to factors such as ambient humidity during actual operation, the system can be guaranteed to operate periodically through time control. The weight change curve of the adsorbent under standard operating conditions is recorded by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) or dynamic adsorption test to determine the time required for the material to reach 80% of the theoretical saturation adsorption capacity. A fixed adsorption time is set accordingly. If the adsorption heat exchanger does not gain 5% of its weight within this time, the adsorption stage can be considered to have reached a cycle. During the adsorption period, ambient air is pressurized by air pump 1 and first enters the first adsorption heat exchanger 2 to store moisture. At this time, the cold source switching device 8 introduces a low-temperature cold source (such as cold water or cold air) into it. The water adsorbent (base-based composite material, porous material, etc.) in the first adsorption heat exchanger 2 captures moisture in the air through physical adsorption at low temperature, causing the outlet air humidity to drop significantly. The dehumidified dry air then enters the second adsorption heat exchanger 3 to store carbon. This heat exchanger is simultaneously introduced with a low-temperature cold source, and the carbon dioxide adsorbent (amine-functionalized porous material, etc.) captures CO2 through chemical or physical adsorption at low temperature. The CO2 concentration of the treated air drops to below 400 ppm and is discharged outside the system through the switching valve 4. When the preset adsorption time (such as 60 minutes) is reached, the system triggers an alarm. Regeneration process: The cold / heat source switching device 8 shuts off the low-temperature cold source and introduces a high-temperature heat source (from industrial waste heat, electric heating, etc.) into the first adsorption heat exchanger 2. The water adsorbent desorbs water vapor due to the increased temperature. At the same time, a high-temperature heat source is introduced into the second adsorption heat exchanger 3, and the carbon dioxide adsorbent desorbs and releases CO2. The air pump 1 blows air into the first adsorption heat exchanger 2, and the high-carbon vapor formed by the two enters the condenser 5 through the switching valve 4. In the condenser 5, the condensation temperature is controlled below the dew point temperature, so that the water vapor condenses into liquid water, and the CO2 remains in a gaseous state. The liquid water flows into the fresh water collection container 7 through the pipeline, and the gaseous CO2 is dried and stored in the carbon sequestration container 6. After regeneration is completed, the cold / heat source switching device 8 reintroduces the low-temperature cold source, and the system returns to the adsorption stage to achieve cyclic operation.
[0039] The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger described in this application includes an adsorption stage and a regeneration stage in a complete cycle. The adsorption stage includes water adsorption and carbon adsorption, and the regeneration stage includes water regeneration and carbon regeneration. Multiple complete cycles can be performed throughout the day. The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on adsorption heat exchangers described in this application operates with the first adsorption heat exchanger 2 (moisture storage heat exchanger) and the second adsorption heat exchanger 3 (carbon storage heat exchanger) running synchronously, making synchronous regeneration suitable for high-load scenarios. In terms of energy, it prioritizes the use of industrial waste heat and solar energy, and only uses electric heating when there is no waste heat, significantly reducing regeneration energy consumption compared to traditional technologies. The system precisely controls the switching of cold and heat sources by preset adsorption / desorption times and combining the capacity feedback of the carbon sequestration container 6 and the freshwater collection container 7, avoiding ineffective regeneration when the adsorbent is not saturated or efficiency reduction caused by oversaturation. The entire process has no mechanical rotating parts, and efficient capture is achieved through the switching of cold and heat sources in a single physical area. The structure is greatly simplified, and it combines low consumption, environmental protection, and economy. It can operate stably in various scenarios such as arid regions and industrial parks, achieving synchronous and efficient recovery of freshwater and carbon dioxide from the air.
[0040] The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger described in this application has the following advantages compared to existing technologies: 1. The adsorbent material used in this application has a high specific surface area and rapid adsorption kinetics, enabling efficient capture under low humidity and low carbon dioxide concentration (such as atmospheric environment). It supports the mixed use of multiple adsorbents (such as silica gel impregnated with lithium salt and MIL-101 (Cr) composite), and the ratio can be flexibly adjusted for different environments (such as high humidity / dryness, high carbon / low carbon concentration scenarios), thus broadening the application boundaries. The adsorbent's adsorption characteristics at low temperature and desorption characteristics at high temperature are deeply matched with the cold and heat source switching mechanism. The regeneration process does not require chemical reagents, and the adsorbent can be activated by temperature change alone, avoiding material loss and secondary pollution caused by traditional chemical regeneration.
[0041] 2. This application eliminates the moving parts such as motors and bearings present in traditional traps, and adopts a single physical area moisture storage heat exchanger and carbon storage heat exchanger. Functional conversion is achieved by switching between cold and heat sources (low temperature adsorption, high temperature regeneration), which significantly reduces equipment costs and maintenance difficulty.
[0042] 3. This application achieves simultaneous carbon dioxide capture and freshwater collection in a single system, avoiding equipment redundancy in traditional independent systems and reducing carbon emissions during the manufacturing stage by more than 30%. The high-carbon vapor released during the regeneration stage is condensed and separated, and the CO2 can be directly sealed or utilized as a resource (such as food-grade CO2 or chemical raw materials), while the freshwater meets drinking standards (conductivity <10μS / cm), achieving "zero waste discharge".
[0043] 4. In the regeneration stage of this application, waste heat or renewable energy (such as industrial waste heat) is used directly as a high-temperature heat source, and solar collectors heat cold water as a low-temperature cold source. This achieves significant energy savings compared to the traditional electric heating regeneration method. The same heat exchanger is reused in the adsorption and regeneration processes in a time-sharing manner, avoiding the energy consumption of traditional rotors that need to rotate continuously to maintain the adsorption / regeneration zones. The system's standby power consumption is significantly reduced.
[0044] The embodiments of this application have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can make many other forms under the guidance of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and all of these forms are within the protection scope of this application.
Claims
1. A carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger, characterized in that, include: Air pump (1) is used to draw in ambient air and deliver it to the adsorption heat exchanger unit; An adsorption heat exchanger unit includes two adsorption heat exchangers arranged in sequence, one of which is used to adsorb or regenerate moisture in the air at different temperature conditions, and the other adsorption heat exchanger is used to adsorb or regenerate carbon dioxide in the air at different temperature conditions. The cold and heat source switching device (8) is connected to two adsorption heat exchangers respectively, and the function of the adsorption zone and the regeneration zone in the adsorption heat exchanger is switched by switching the cold and heat source. The switching valve (4) has an inlet connected to the adsorption heat exchanger unit and an outlet including an adsorption path and a regeneration path, used to switch the adsorption / regeneration flow path. The condenser (5) is connected to the regeneration path of the switching valve (4) and is used to condense and separate the high-carbon vapor generated in the regeneration stage into liquid water and gaseous carbon dioxide. A carbon sequestration container (6) is connected to a condenser (5) and is used to store condensed gaseous carbon dioxide. A freshwater collection container (7) is connected to a condenser (5) and is used to store condensed liquid water.
2. The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adsorption heat exchanger unit includes a first adsorption heat exchanger (2) and a second adsorption heat exchanger (3). The first adsorption heat exchanger (2) is a moisture storage heat exchanger, and the second adsorption heat exchanger (3) is a carbon storage heat exchanger. The first adsorption heat exchanger (2) and the second adsorption heat exchanger (3) are connected through a gas pipeline. The gas pump (1) is located at the air inlet end of the first adsorption heat exchanger (2).
3. The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger according to claim 2, characterized in that, The capture system includes an adsorption flow path and a regeneration flow path. The adsorption flow path and the regeneration flow path share the pipeline that is sequentially connected between the air pump (1), the first adsorption heat exchanger (2), the second adsorption heat exchanger (3), and the switching valve (4).
4. The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger according to claim 2, characterized in that, The switching valve (4) is a three-way valve, and the adsorption path of the switching valve (4) is connected to the external environment.
5. The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger according to claim 4, characterized in that, The switching valve (4) is located in the flow path between the second adsorption heat exchanger (3) and the condenser (5).
6. The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger according to claim 2, 3, 4, or 5, characterized in that, A water adsorption material is provided in the first adsorption heat exchanger (2), and a carbon dioxide adsorption material is provided in the second adsorption heat exchanger (3). The water adsorption material and the carbon dioxide adsorption material are adsorbed at low temperature and regenerated at high temperature.
7. The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger according to claim 6, characterized in that, The water adsorption material is disposed in the physical area of the adsorption regeneration zone (9) in the first adsorption heat exchanger (2).
8. The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger according to claim 6, characterized in that, The carbon dioxide adsorbent material is disposed in the physical region of the adsorption regeneration zone (9) in the second adsorption heat exchanger (3).
9. The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The adsorption regeneration zone (9) in the first adsorption heat exchanger (2) and / or the second adsorption heat exchanger (3) is a single physical region.
10. The carbon dioxide and freshwater capture system based on an adsorption heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cold source of the cold and heat source switching device (8) includes cold water or cold air, and the heat source includes any one or more of electric heating, solar thermal collector, geothermal, industrial waste heat, heat pump system, biomass energy or waste gas flow waste heat.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Carbon dioxide and fresh water trapping system and trapping method thereof
CN115162464A