Vehicle with a co-adsorption device, and service station

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a CO2-adsorption device which allows for the use, filling and removal of solid sorbents. The invention also relates to a corresponding vehicle-external service station for the further utilisation of the solid sorbent and the filling of the vehicle according to the invention with a solid sorbent.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Vehicle with a CO2 adsorption device and service station

[0003] The invention relates to a vehicle with a CO2 adsorption device and a corresponding service station.

[0004] To limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5°C, massive reductions in all greenhouse gas emissions are currently being called for. In the long term, greenhouse gas neutrality is to be achieved. According to current knowledge, this also requires the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. At the same time, the demand for Celsus as a starting material in various industrial applications is increasing.

[0005] Processes that capture carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere are generally referred to as direct air capture (DAC) processes. In this process, the CO2 is captured from the air through selective sorption on a sorbent and released in a controlled manner for further use. The type of capture depends on the sorbent and can occur chemically through the formation of covalent bonds or physically through non-covalent bonds between the CO2 and the sorbent, and the process is usually exothermic.

[0006] The DAC process essentially comprises two separate steps. In the first step, known as sorbent loading, the sorbent is brought into contact with atmospheric air, thus binding the CO2 to the sorbent. In stationary systems, large fans are required to force the air through the DAC system. The use of fans requires additional energy, which must logically be covered by CO2-neutral energy sources. Once the sorbent is saturated, the air supply is stopped, and the first step of the process is complete.

[0007] In the second step, regeneration, the bound CO2 is recovered. A common feature of all DAC technologies is that regeneration, i.e., the desorption of CO2 from the sorbent, requires considerable energy.

[0008] One approach to reducing the overall energy consumption of the DAC process is to integrate the process into moving objects, such as vehicles. The airflow generated by ferry operation is to be used to contact the sorbent. Approaches that involve in-vehicle desorption for sorbent regeneration are already being pursued, for example, in DE 10 2020 122 123 A1. However, this has the disadvantage that the heating or vacuum modules required for this increase the weight of the vehicle and thus also its energy consumption.

[0009] Approaches that provide for vehicle-external desorption have so far been based on pumpable sorbent solutions. For example, US 2011 / 0318231 A1 describes a hydroxide-containing solution as a sorbent, which is disadvantageous not least for safety reasons, since, for example, aluminum components commonly used in vehicles react with the hydroxide solution, forming hydrogen, in the event of a potential reactor leak. The inertial movement of additional fluids can also have a detrimental effect on the vehicle's handling characteristics.

[0010] The invention is based on the object of providing a vehicle with a CO2 adsorption device which at least reduces the disadvantages described above, in particular taking into account safety aspects and the energy efficiency of the vehicle.

[0011] According to the invention, a vehicle is provided with a CO2 adsorption device, i.e., a CO2 adsorption device integrated into the vehicle. The CO2 adsorption device comprises a solid sorbent for adsorbing carbon dioxide from (atmospheric) air and a reactor vessel containing the solid sorbent. The reactor vessel comprises a vessel wall, an air inlet element for introducing (atmospheric) air into the reactor vessel, and an air outlet element for discharging (CO2-reduced) air from the reactor vessel. According to the invention, the CO2 adsorption device comprises a reactor vessel having a closable connection in the vessel wall for removing the solid sorbent.

[0012] This has the advantage that the CO2-laden sorbent for vehicle-external CO2 desorption can be removed from the reaction vessel, and the reactor vessel can be filled with regenerated solid sorbent. In the context of the present invention, a solid sorbent is understood to mean a sorbent that is in the "solid" state of aggregation, i.e., is not liquid or gaseous. Compared to liquid sorbents, a solid sorbent has safety advantages with regard to the inertia of the sorbent and the vehicle's handling, as well as advantages with regard to a lower risk of short circuits in electrical vehicle components in the event of a leak in the reactor vessel.

[0013] For the purposes of this document, a vehicle is defined as any mobile means of transport or traffic. It can include land vehicles, watercraft, and aircraft. For example, a vehicle can include a motor vehicle (e.g., automobile, bus, and truck), a rail vehicle, and a non-motorized vehicle (e.g., trailer, wagon).

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vessel wall is double-walled and thus consists of an inner vessel wall and an outer vessel wall. In this embodiment, the sorbent is not in direct contact with the outer vessel wall. Rather, this embodiment is to be understood as a vessel within a vessel, wherein the outer vessel wall encloses the inner vessel wall and thus only the inner vessel wall is in direct contact with the sorbent. In this embodiment, the air inlet element in the vessel wall enables the introduction of (atmospheric) air into the reactor vessel, in particular into the part of the reactor vessel whose volume is defined by the inner vessel wall.Accordingly, the (adjustable) air outlet element in the vessel wall enables the discharge of (CO2-reduced) air from the reactor vessel, particularly from the part of the reactor vessel whose volume is defined by the inner vessel wall. Furthermore, the closable connection in the vessel wall in this embodiment enables the removal (and filling) of the solid sorbent from the reactor vessel, namely from the part of the reactor vessel whose volume is defined by the inner vessel wall.

[0015] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the vessel wall is designed to be elastically deformable. This has the advantage that an elastically deformable vessel wall, when the reactor vessel is filled, enables optimal use of existing cavities in components of a conventional vehicle. Furthermore, an elastically deformable vessel wall facilitates complete removal of the solid sorbent when it returns to its original shape when the reactor vessel is emptied.

[0016] In the above-described embodiment of a double-walled vessel wall, the inner vessel wall can preferably be elastically deformable and the outer vessel wall can be dimensionally stable (rigid, non-deformable). The dimensionally stable outer vessel wall protects the inner, elastically deformable vessel wall from damage and also provides a second collecting container for the sorbent in the event of a leak in the inner vessel wall.

[0017] The vessel wall can be made of an elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer. Examples of elastomers according to the invention are polymers from the group comprising: silicone rubber, such as solid silicone rubber or liquid silicone rubber, in particular phenyl-vinyl-methyl polysiloxane (PVMQ), phenyl-methyl polysiloxane (PMQ), vinyl-methyl polysiloxane (VMQ), fluoro-vinyl-methyl polysiloxane (FVMQ), ethylene-acrylate rubber (AEM), acrylate rubber (ACM), and ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM). Examples of thermoplastic elastomers are polymers from the group comprising: thermoplastic starch (TPS), thermoplastic styrene block copolymers, urethane-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPU), thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) and olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPO).

[0018] In the embodiment of a double-walled vessel wall, the inner vessel wall preferably consists of one of the aforementioned elastomers. The outer vessel wall preferably consists of one of the aforementioned thermoplastic elastomers.

[0019] In addition, the vessel wall can have a non-stick coating on the inner surface. This has the advantage that the sorbent, which may be electrostatically charged due to friction or moist, does not adhere to the vessel wall when the reactor vessel is emptied. Examples of a non-stick coating according to the invention include coatings comprising or consisting of tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer (FEP) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The non-stick coating according to the invention can further comprise electrically conductive material, e.g., graphite, to prevent electrostatic charging of the sorbent or to ground the reactor vessel (e.g., to the vehicle body).

[0020] The solid sorbent must generally be suitable for adsorbing carbon dioxide. Examples of suitable solid sorbents include physical sorbents such as zeolites, silica materials, MOFs (metal organic frameworks), activated carbon, COFs (covalent organic frameworks), carbon molecular sieves, materials based on alkali metals or metal oxides, ordered porous carbon, ACFs (activated carbon fibers), graphene, CMS (carbon molecular sieves), and their composites. Other examples of suitable solid sorbents include chemical adsorbents such as potassium carbonate (K2CO3), sodium nitrate (NaNO3), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), titanium dioxide (TiO2), manganese dioxide (MnO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), and binary eutectic mixtures consisting of potassium nitrate (KNO3) and lithium nitrate (UNO3).

[0021] The solid sorbent is preferably a polymer. The polymer is particularly preferably a polymer with a nitrogen-containing functional group, e.g., with an amino group or an imine group. Furthermore, the solid sorbent is preferably selected from one of the following polymers: polyethyleneimine (PEI), polyallylamine (PAA), tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), pentaethylenehexamine (PEHA), or polyethyleneimine-modified silica (gel). The solid sorbent is particularly preferably a (macroporous) divinylbenzene-crosslinked polymer with primary amino groups. An example of a (macroporous) divinylbenzene-crosslinked polymer with primary amino groups is Lewatit® VP OG 1065.

[0022] The solid sorbent can be a granulate, preferably consisting of spherical particles to ensure a more homogeneous distribution of the sorbent in the reactor vessel. The diameter of the spherical particles is preferably 0.2 mm to 5.0 mm, particularly preferably 0.2 mm to 4.0 mm, as determined by sieve analysis.

[0023] Alternatively, the solid sorbent can be in the form of briquettes, which are preferably cylindrical in shape. The cylinder height is preferably 0.2 mm to 5.0 mm. Within the inventive ranges for sphere diameter or cylinder height, a suitable packing density is achieved that, on the one hand, provides sufficient adsorption surface and, on the other hand, ensures sufficient air permeability. The solid sorbent can also consist of hollow fibers.

[0024] Within the scope of the invention, it is provided that when the vehicle is moving, atmospheric air flows into the vehicle and via the air inlet element in the vessel wall into the reactor vessel of the CO2 adsorption device. In the reactor vessel, the introduced atmospheric air comes into contact with the solid sorbent, thus adsorbing the CO2. The CO2-reduced air is then returned from the reactor vessel to the ambient air via the air outlet elements. The driving force for the process is preferably the air flow generated by the movement of the vehicle. With the air inlet element(s) and air outlet element(s) open, CO2 adsorption can also take place when the vehicle is stationary. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the air inlet element in the vessel wall comprises at least one of the following elements: valve, flap, and membrane.The air inlet element is preferably a valve or a flap, which can also be designed to be controllable. The air inlet element can be a membrane that is permeable to air and impermeable to sorbent. A single or several of the aforementioned air inlet elements, or combinations thereof, can be provided to enable the introduction of atmospheric air into the reactor vessel from different directions in the case of multiple air inlet elements (e.g., several independently controllable valves).

[0025] The air outlet element arranged in the vessel wall can also comprise at least one of the following elements: valve, flap, and membrane. The air outlet element is preferably a valve or flap, which can also be designed to be controllable. The air outlet element can be a membrane that is permeable to air and impermeable to sorbent. One or more of the aforementioned air outlet elements, or combinations thereof, can be provided.

[0026] In a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the air inlet element comprises a (regulatable) valve or a (regulatable) flap and a membrane, wherein the (regulatable) valve or the (regulatable) flap is arranged in the outer vessel wall and the membrane is arranged in the inner vessel wall. In this preferred embodiment, the air inlet element comprises a (regulatable) valve or a (regulatable) flap and a membrane, wherein the (regulatable) valve or the (regulatable) flap is arranged in the outer vessel wall and the membrane is arranged in the inner vessel wall. Alternatively, in this embodiment, the air inlet element and the air outlet element, which are arranged in the inner vessel wall as described above, can be in the form of the same membrane. The membrane is permeable to air and impermeable to sorbent.

[0027] In a further preferred embodiment, the CO2 adsorption device further comprises a central processing unit (CPU) designed to control the controllable air inlet elements and the adjustable air inlet elements, each for example controllable valves or controllable flaps, independently of one another and to enable gradual or complete closing and opening. Furthermore, the central processing unit can be designed to control the controllable first fan and / or the controllable second fan. In a further preferred embodiment, the CO2 adsorption device further comprises a controllable first fan, which is connected upstream of the air inlet element and is designed to supply atmospheric air (as needed) to the reactor vessel through the air inlet elements. This has the advantage that a defined air flow can be generated even at low vehicle speeds.Alternatively or in addition to the first fan, the CC>2 adsorption device may comprise a controllable second fan arranged downstream of the air outlet element and designed to remove air from the reactor vessel through the air outlet elements.

[0028] In a further preferred embodiment, the CO2 adsorption device is arranged in the front area of ​​the vehicle, preferably under or integrated into the front hood (e.g., engine hood, radiator hood, front trunk lid) of a car, bus, or truck. This has the advantage that the air flow can be optimally utilized while the vehicle is moving. Alternatively or additionally, the CO2 adsorption device, in particular the reactor vessel, can be arranged in the underbody area of ​​the vehicle (e.g., a car, bus, or truck) to prevent overheating of the CO2 adsorption device and thus desorption of the CO2. Furthermore, the CO2 adsorption device can be arranged in the roof area, side area, or rear area of ​​the vehicle.

[0029] A further aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle-external service station which is designed to remove the CC>2-saturated solid sorbent from the reactor vessel (e.g. by suction) and enables filling of the reactor vessel with regenerated solid sorbent.

[0030] For this purpose, the service station comprises a delivery unit (e.g., a pump) that can be connected to the connection 28 via a delivery hose with a filling head. The service station further comprises a reservoir for the solid sorbent. Furthermore, the service station can comprise a desorption module for desorbing bound CO2 from the solid sorbent. The desorption module can comprise heating elements and / or vacuum pumps to effect the desorption of the CO2.

[0031] The various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another, unless otherwise stated in the individual case.

[0032] The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of a

[0033] Vehicle with a CO2 adsorption device which is arranged in the front area of ​​the vehicle.

[0034] Figure 2 Schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the CO2

[0035] Adsorption device with a double-walled reactor vessel. The vehicle and sorbent are not shown.

[0036] Figure 3 Schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the CO2

[0037] Adsorption device with elastically deformable vessel wall. The vehicle is not shown.

[0038] Figure 4 Schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of a

[0039] Vehicle with exemplary arrangement positions of the CO2 adsorption device in the vehicle body.

[0040] Figure 1 shows a vehicle 100 with a CO2 adsorption device 200. The CO2 adsorption device 200 is arranged in the front area of ​​the vehicle, here, for example, under the front hood (front hood not shown). The CO2 adsorption device 200 can also be integrated into the front hood, so that the CO2 adsorption device 200 functions as part of the front hood. The CO2 adsorption device comprises a solid sorbent 10 (e.g., a granulate of a polymer consisting of spherical particles) for adsorbing carbon dioxide from atmospheric air and a reactor vessel 20 containing the solid sorbent 10 (the viewing window serves only as a schematic representation of the solid sorbent in the reaction vessel).The reactor vessel 20 comprises a vessel wall 22, an air inlet element 24 for introducing atmospheric air into the reactor vessel 20, and an air outlet element 26 for discharging CO2-reduced air from the reactor vessel 20. In addition, the reactor vessel 20 comprises at least one closable connection 28 in the vessel wall 22 for removing the solid sorbent 10.

[0041] According to the invention, during vehicle operation of the vehicle 100, atmospheric air is introduced into the reactor vessel 20 via the air inlet element 24. In this way, the solid sorbent 10 contained therein comes into contact with the introduced air, and CO2 binds to the sorbent 10. The air is then discharged from the reactor vessel 20 via the air outlet element 26. The CO2-laden sorbent can be removed via the closable connection 28. The closable connection 28 also serves to fill the reactor vessel with sorbent. The removal can be carried out by suction at a corresponding service station external to the vehicle (service station not shown). For this purpose, the service station comprises a conveying device (pump) that can be coupled to the connection 28 via a conveying hose with a filling head (service station not shown).

[0042] As shown in Figure 2, the vessel wall 22 of the CO2 adsorption device 200 can also be double-walled and consist of an inner vessel wall 22a and an outer vessel wall 22b. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer vessel wall 22b is dimensionally stable, and the inner vessel wall 22a is elastically deformable. Air inlet elements 24 and air outlet elements 26 are arranged in both the inner vessel wall 22a and the outer vessel wall 22b. The air inlet elements and air outlet elements of the outer vessel wall 22b are preferably controllable valves and / or controllable flaps. For example, the air inlet elements and air outlet elements of the inner vessel wall 22a are membranes that are air-permeable and sorbent-tight.The air inlet elements 24 of the inner vessel wall 22a and the outer vessel wall 22b can be coupled, so that the air can enter the space between the outer vessel wall 22b and the inner vessel wall 22a only via the air outlet elements 26 of the inner vessel wall 22a. The connection 28 is enclosed in the inner vessel wall 22a and the outer vessel wall 22b in such a way that the solid sorbent 10 is transported exclusively into or removed from the part of the reactor vessel whose volume is defined by the inner vessel wall 22a.

[0043] Figure 3 shows a further preferred embodiment (vehicle 100 not shown) of the CO2 adsorption device 200 with an elastically deformable vessel wall 22 of the reactor vessel, which contains the solid sorbent 10 (the viewing window serves only to schematically depict the solid sorbent in the reaction vessel). In this embodiment, the reactor vessel of the CO2 adsorption device 200 also comprises an air inlet element 24 and several air outlet elements 26, as well as a closable connection 28. An advantage of this embodiment is the possibility of arranging the CO2 adsorption device in existing cavities of a conventional vehicle.

[0044] Corresponding cavities and preferred arrangements of the CO2 adsorption device 200 are shown in Figure 4 as examples and not exhaustively. List of reference symbols 0 Vehicle 0 CO2 adsorption device Solid sorbent Reactor vessel Vessel wall a Inner vessel wall b Outer vessel wall Air inlet element Air outlet element Closable connection

Claims

Patent claims 1. Vehicle (100) with a CO2 adsorption device (200), the CO2 adsorption device (200) comprising: • a solid sorbent (10) for adsorbing carbon dioxide from air; and • a reactor vessel (20) containing the solid sorbent, the reactor vessel comprising: • a vessel wall (22), • an air inlet element (24) in the vessel wall for introducing air into the reactor vessel, and • an air outlet element (26) in the vessel wall for discharging air from the reactor vessel; characterized in that the reactor vessel (20) has a closable connection (28) in the vessel wall (22) for removing the solid sorbent.

2. Vehicle (100) with a CO2 adsorption device according to claim 1, wherein the vessel wall (22) is double-walled, comprising an inner vessel wall (22a) and an outer vessel wall (22b).

3. Vehicle (100) with a CO2 adsorption device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the vessel wall (22) is designed to be elastically deformable.

4. Vehicle (100) with a CO2 adsorption device according to claim 2, wherein the inner vessel wall (22a) is designed to be elastically deformable and the outer vessel wall (22b) is designed to be dimensionally stable.

5. Vehicle (100) with a CO2 adsorption device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vessel wall (22) consists of an elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer.

6. Vehicle (100) with a CO2 adsorption device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vessel wall (22) has a non-stick coating on the inner surface.

7. Vehicle (100) with a CO2 adsorption device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the solid sorbent (10) is a polymer.

8. Vehicle (100) with a CC>2 adsorption device according to claim 7, wherein the solid sorbent (10) is a polymer with a nitrogen-containing functional group, preferably selected from one of the following polymers: polyethyleneimine (PEI), polyallylamine (PAA), tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), pentaethylenehexamine (PEHA) and polyethyleneimine-modified silica.

9. Vehicle (100) with a CO2 adsorption device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the solid sorbent (10) is a granulate, preferably consisting of spherical particles or briquette-shaped particles.

10. Service station for emptying and filling the reactor vessel (20) of the CO2 adsorption device (200) according to one of the preceding claims with the solid sorbent (10) via the closable connection (28) in the vessel wall of the reactor vessel (20), the service station comprising: a conveying unit which can be coupled to the connection (28) according to one of the preceding claims via a conveying hose with a filling head.

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