Improved domestic carbon capture

Abstract

A dehumidifier comprising housing (10, fig. 1) featuring an air inlet (20, fig 1) and air outlet (21, fig. 1) coupled together via a channel, with one or more fans positioned within the channel to draw an airflow through the housing. Inside the housing, there are two systems; a dehumidifying system (10, fig. 1) configured to remove moisture from the airflow and a carbon capture system (40, fig.1 ) positioned in the channel downstream from the dehydration system and configured to remove carbon dioxide from the airflow. The carbon capture system may comprise a cartridge containing a porous, regenerative carbon dioxide sequestering material 46 such as a zeolite or melamine. The cartridge may comprise a weight sensor 47 and processor, configured to monitor the saturation of the carbon capture material by determining its weight. A hemi cylindrical dehumidifier cartridge is also described.

Description

The present invention relates to a system and method for carbon capture that may be used in a range of domestic air conditioning appliances, such as HVAC systems, boiler flumes, air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Background Carbon capture is becoming increasingly important, to reduce the carbon dioxide load on the atmosphere. Whilst there are many projects for carbon capture in power plants, and separate carbon capture facilities dedicated to that role. However, around 26 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom, for example, come from households. By way of example, through the use of hydrocarbon fuel, domestic boilers may release around 2.2 tons of carbon dioxide annually. However, boilers are not the only source of carbon emissions within a domestic setting. Therefore, to help reduce the carbon footprint of such domestic settings we would require a carbon capture system that may be implemented within someone’s home. The difficulties that arise in addressing this problem is the need to provide a system that is relatively small compared to those used in factory settings as there will be less space within a domestic setting. There would also be less power available to operate the system meaning the use of a system that requires static charge to capture particles would be impractical as users would not be able to supply or afford the necessary electricity. There is also a question of where this device should be implemented within the domestic setting to help maximise the amount of carbon dioxide captured despite the system's relatively small size. There is therefore a need for a simple and practical solution to enable carbon capture from domestic premises, households and related situations. More preferably the solution would be configured to be retrofitted or otherwise installed into existing appliances that may be present in these domestic premises. Especially, appliances that condition an airflow within the setting meaning that air is drawn through the device as this will increase the volume of air that is processed. These situations provide several challenges; efficient carbon capture substrates and efficient management of the systems given that the average domestic premises does not have a high degree of technical competence or diligence in maintenance. Summary The present invention provides a system and method of carbon capture that may be implemented within appliances in a domestic setting. In particular, the claimed system is configured to be used in air conditioning devices, this refers to devices that pump air through the device changing the properties of the air between the inlet and outlet of the device. Such devices may include air conditions or HVAC systems which change air temperature, boilers that heat the air, and dehumidifiers configured to alter the humidity of the air passing through the device. The claimed system utilises a fitted carbon capture device positioned within the path of the airflow through the device, such that as the air flows over or through the surface of the carbon capture device a reaction occurs that will remove at least a portion of the carbon dioxide present in the airflow. It is noted that the carbon capture material used in this device is preferably a regeneratable carbon capture material, this is to say that the capture material is configured to controllably release the captured carbon dioxide using a chemical or physical process after the device has been used. This way the captured carbon may be used for other processes inside or outside the domestic setting. It is noted that the claimed carbon capture device is preferably in the form of a cartridge that can be removably inserted into the housing of the desired appliance. More specifically, as the carbon capture material will become saturated over time there is a need for the user to be able to remove and replace the carbon capture device, therefore the carbon capture system should be implemented as a removable cartridge that can be replaced easily without the need for specialist tools. In some cases, the cartridge may be inserted directly into the desired appliance somewhere within the appliance housing within the path between the air inlet and air outlet. In some cases, the cartridge may be inserted into its own housing which allows air to flow through the housing, the appliance may then be configured to receive the housing at a desired point along the airflow path through the device, including having the housing couple directly to the air input or air output. In the claimed devices the carbon capture material may be any preferable form of carbon capture material. However, some preferable options include zeolite, melamine, and their derivatives. Both of these materials provide selective carbon dioxide removal, that is to say, they do not react with the other gases that would be present within the airflow of these appliances. Both are also effective over a range of temperatures, though it is noted that melamine is effective over a wider range of temperatures especially when treated with nitrogen compounds, such as amines like DETA (diethylenetriamine). Both materials are also environmentally friendly and are both regeneratable carbon capture materials that can re-release the captured carbon when desired this not only allows the carbon to be used in other processes but can also allow the cartridges to be reusable after saturation. When comparing these two options it is noted that melamine after being treated with amines can function over a wider range of temperatures and humidity levels compared to zeolite allowing melamine to be effective in a wider range of applications. However, it is noted that melamine is more expensive and requires more careful handling, especially during the regeneration process as byproducts of the process may be dangerous and the melamine is more susceptible to being damaged when handled. Based on this it is noted that melamine is the preferable option as the material is effective over a wider range of conditions, allowing the cartridge to be used at more temperatures and humidities compared to other materials. It is also noted that the cost and handling risks are reduced by using the melamine as a replaceable cartridge, as the used only needs to handle the cartridge casing or housing. Also, the cartridges may be recycled and made reusable by processing the used cartridge to remove the captured carbon dioxide thereby reducing the costs of production. The carbon capture system may also include a control system that is configured to monitor the cartridge providing feedback including an indication for when the cartridge should be replaced. This sensor may be coupled to the inlet or outlet of the appliance or as part of the cartridge housing. In some cases, the sensors would be configured to monitor the airflow entering or exiting the cartridge which may be used to estimate the amount of carbon that had been captured. For example, the sensor may be configured to monitor the total volume of air that had passed through the cartridge, using a predetermined estimate for the amount of carbon dioxide per unit volume to determine when the cartridge needs to be replaced. In other cases, the sensor may be configured to take samples from the airflow as it enters and leaves the appliance, the sample may then measure the amount of carbon dioxide present in the sample. Then the sensor would be configured to compare the carbon dioxide content of the different samples to determine an estimate of the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the cartridge. In this system, it is noted that the amount of carbon being absorbed would decrease as the cartridge becomes saturated as such once the absorption rate falls below a predetermined threshold the system would determine that the cartridge needs to be replaced. The problem with these sensor methods is that the sensor needs to produce an estimate for the amount of carbon absorbed this means that the sensors may need to be calibrated for different devices and applications, especially when used in devices like a boiler that would generate more carbon dioxide compare to the surrounding ambient air and therefore would need to be calibrated differently for each appliance. Therefore, it is preferable to provide an alternative sensor that can detect the saturation of the carbon capture material without the need for repeated sampling or appliance-specific calibration. To this end, a preferable alternative may be to use a weight sensor coupled to the housing of the cartridge, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor the mass of the cartridge material. It is noted that because the cartridge material is only configured to capture carbon dioxide there should be a known difference in mass between the initial mass of the carbon capture material and the mass of the same volume of material when saturated with carbon dioxide. As such the sensor need only be calibrated to the mass and / or size of the cartridge it is housed in, regardless of the appliance the cartridge is used in. Additionally, as this sensor provides a direct measurement rather than a derived estimation it would provide a more accurate reading for the current saturation of the cartridge and thereby provide a more accurate determination of when the cartridge needs to be replaced. Regardless of the type of sensor chosen the sensor would be coupled to a processor configured to analyse the sensor data to determine when the cartridge of the carbon capture system needs to be replaced as described above. The processor would be further configured to provide an indication of when the cartridge is ready to be replaced. This indication may include a visual and / or audio alert to the user. These alerts may be emitted from devices coupled to the cartridge housing such as a LED light or speaker. Alternatively, the alert may be communicated to a remote device such as the user’s mobile device, such as an application on a smartphone, or a mobile controller for the appliance containing the cartridge or a monitor device coupled wirelessly to the processor in the cartridge housing. Of these options, it would be preferable for the alerts to be sent to a mobile device such that the user would be alerted to the cartridge being saturated without needing to be proximate to the appliance using the cartridge, especially as the user may not be able to see or hear the alerts from the appliance when the appliance is in operation. It is noted that the effectiveness of the carbon capture device may be affected by the humidity of the air within the airflow within the appliance. More specifically, in cases where there is high humidity the cartridge may be less effective as the moisture may cause condensation that will block and / or react with the carbon capture material. In some cases, the humidity in the air may simply dilute the concentration of carbon dioxide within the airflow reducing the amount of carbon that reaches the cartridge. In any case, it is preferable to reduce the humidity of the airflow before it enters the cartridge. Therefore, it is preferable for the cartridge to be used as part of a dehumidifier. This dehumidifier may be in the form of a standalone appliance configured to dehumidify the air within the domestic setting, or it may be part of another appliance such as an HVAC system, an air conditioning unit or a unit coupled to the output of another appliance like a boiler to reduce the amount of water vapour being released. Regardless of the specific type of device being used the simplest version of the air humidifier would comprise an air input and air output coupled by a channel that would allow an airflow to move through the dehumidifier, and at least one fan positioned somewhere within the channel configured to pull air through the channel. The channel would further comprise a dehumidifying system which may comprise an absorption material configured to remove water from the air as it passes over or through the material, alternatively, the dehumidifier may comprise a condenser system configured to cool the air to condense water out of the airflow, then heats the cooled air before it exits the channel. From the condenser system there will be two channels, one wherein the water formed by the condenser can flow into a collection system or out of the device, via a hose or similar channel, and a second channel wherein the airflow through the condenser can flow to the humidifier outlet, this channel may include a fan to help propel the air towards the outlet. In the claimed system the carbon capture cartridge would be positioned downstream of the condensing system, such that the dried air from the condenser is passed through the carbon capture cartridge. It is noted that the use of dry air can help increase the rate of carbon capture for a given volume of air. This is because when the water vapour is not removed from the air the droplet may interfere with the collisions between the carbon capture material and the carbon dioxide in the airflow, this is especially true if condensation forms on the surface of the cartridge. It is noted that the carbon capture material is preferably porous to allow the airflow to pass through the cartridge and to increase the surface area over which carbon dioxide can be captured, however, in high humidity environment moisture can build up within these pours blocking sections of the cartridge reducing the effectiveness of the carbon capture material. It is also noted that in some cases, the carbon capture material may react with the moisture in the air again reducing the effectiveness of the material. Therefore, it is preferable to pass dried air through the cartridge to help increase the amount of carbon dioxide that is captured by the claimed device. It is also noted that the channel through the dehumidifiers would preferably comprise a channel with a narrower section downstream from the inlet and fan to increase the pressure of the air within the channel. When the airflow has a higher pressure, it helps to increase the number of chemical collisions between the airflow and the carbon capture material thereby increasing the probability of the carbon dioxide reacting with the capture material. It is also noted that the increased pressure created by this narrower section can increase the volume of air passing through the humidifier over a given time. This narrow section of the channel may be located upstream from both the condenser system and the carbon capture system to increase the airflow through both systems to help increase the amount of water and carbon removed respectively. It is noted that in addition to drying the air and increasing the airflow pressure, the system may also control the airflow temperature to increase the carbon capture rate. In general, most carbon capture materials are more effective at higher temperatures as the number of chemical collisions increases, thereby increasing the likelihood of a successful reaction. In the case of the preferred carbon capture material, it is noted that they can be effective at temperatures over 100 degrees centigrade, therefore the carbon capture material can work effectively within the expected temperature ranges for the domestic appliances described above. In simple embodiments that use a moisture capture material, the force exerted on the airflow by the fan and the increase in airflow pressure may help slightly increase the temperature of the air to improve carbon capture. However, the temperature change would be minimal, therefore it may be preferable to include a heater positioned between the moisture capture material and the carbon capture material to increase the temperature of the dried air before the carbon dioxide is removed. This heater would be mounted to the wall of the channel between the two capture systems, it is noted that the heat needs to be positioned downstream of the dehumidifying system as there would be less condensation when using hot air, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the water capturing system. In some cases, the system may comprise a heat exchanger coupled to the channel, such as one or more Peltier units configured to simultaneously cool the air before the dehumidifier system while also heating the air entering the carbon capture system. This way the temperature of the airflow through the channel can be optimised for each of the capturing systems to optimise the amount of water and carbon dioxide removed from the air passing through the dehumidifier. It is noted that some dehumidifiers have built-in heating and cooling systems, as described above these systems are configured to cool the airflow before entering the dehumidifying system and then reheat the air before it exits the outlet of the dehumidifier, so as to not alter the ambient temperature within the surroundings. In such a system the carbon capture material can simply be positioned between the heating system and the air outlet without the need for any further modifications. Some dehumidifiers are configured to have a temperature control system, wherein the system is configured to alter the temperature of the air that is ejected from the outlet of the dehumidifier to a desired temperature. In these systems, the airflow may follow different paths through the dehumidifier housing to create the desired temperature such as circulating the heating or cooling elements multiple times until the desired temperature is reached. In these systems, the airflow may follow an initial path passing through the cooling system before dehumidifying, and then through the heating system before undergoing carbon capture, after this, the airflow can be recirculated to either the heating or cooling system, this may be the same heating or cooling system used earlier or a separate larger system that can achieve a wider range of temperature. In either case, the processed airflow may be cycled through the heating or cooling system multiple times before being released to the outlet. As previously noted, it is preferable for the air to be heated at least once before passing through the carbon capture cartridge to maximise the amount of carbon dioxide being removed. If the air is being heated to a temperature above the ambient temperature the heater air may be passed through the carbon capture material multiple times as it circulates the heating system, and / or when the heated air is redirected towards the outlet. Any of the dehumidifiers described above can be implemented as a stand-alone device or an add-on that can be coupled to the outlet of other systems, such as a boiler system. In either case, the claim dehumidifier provides a simple means for conditioning the air in a domestic setting, in particular, this system can remove particulates that are greenhouse gases, namely carbon dioxide and water vapour. Further, the removed materials can be extracted from the dehumidifier for use in other systems. Using such a system the user can reduce the carbon footprint of a domestic setting. Detailed Description The present invention is depicted in the following figures: Figure 1 - depicts a simplified schematic of the claimed dehumidifier Figure 2 - depicts a schematic of the components inside the dehumidifier Figure 3 - depicts an example of the carbon capture cartridge used in the claimed invention Figure 4 - depicts a cross-section of the cartridge in Figure 3. Figure 5 - depicts a blown-up view of the cartridge in Figure 3. Figure 6 - depicts a cross-section through the cartridge shown in figure 5 illustrating airflow. The Figures comprise the following features, please note that like features are indicated with like reference numerals: 10 - dehumidifier 11- dehumidifier casing / housing 20 - air inlet 21 - air outlet 30 - dehumidifying system 31 - cooling coil 32 - heating element 33 - water collector 40 - carbon capture system 41 - housing, preferably with perforated outer surface 42 - carbon capture cartridge 43 - housing air inlet 44-housing air outlet 45 - housing handle 46 - carbon capture material 47 - weight sensor 48 - processor 49 - inlet 50 - cross-section of hemispherical carbon capture cartridge The claimed invention relates to an improved system for air purification by providing a means to remove carbon dioxide from the air within a domestic setting, in particular by providing a cartridge that can be installed into an appliance within the setting, removing carbon dioxide from the air that flows through the appliance. Though this system could in used in various devices the present invention is presented in the context of a dehumidifier as the appliance. It is further noted that said dehumidifier can be configured to couple to other appliances such that the dehumidifier receives the airflow from the outlet of the other appliance, either instead of or in addition to receiving air from the dehumidifier's surroundings. Figure 1 depicts a simplified schematic of the claimed dehumidifier. Wherein the dehumidifier 10 comprises a housing 11, wherein one end of the housing 11 comprises an air inlet 20 configured to draw air into the dehumidifier, and an air outlet 21 configured to eject the received air back into the surroundings after it has been processed. The inlet 20 and outlet 21 would be coupled to the ends of a channel that would allow air to flow through the housing 11 and into the various systems positioned within the housing. In the case of the depicted example, there are two systems present within the dehumidifier 10. The first system is the dehumidifying system 30. This system 30 is configured to remove moisture from the air flowing through the channel, it is noted that different mechanisms may be used by this system. In some cases, the system 30 may comprise a moisture-absorbing material that uses chemical reactions to remove water from the air flowing through the system. In these systems, the dehumidifier may comprise a refillable housing or cartridge containing the dehumidifying material, wherein the user may replace the cartridge or refill the cartridge with the chosen dehumidifying material once all the material has been used. In other cases, the dehumidifier may use temperature-changing elements to condense moisture out of the air in the system. More specifically the system may use cooling elements to condense moisture out of the air. These systems may also include a heating element to return the air to its initial temperature before it is ejected from the system so as to not alter the ambient temperature in the setting. It is also noted that some systems may use the heating and cooling elements to condition the air to a desired temperature before it is ejected from the outlet. This system would be preferable as this system does not need to regularly replace the cartridge thereby reducing the amount of maintenance the user needs to perform and providing the additional benefit of conditioning the air to a desired temperature. Downstream from the dehumidifying system 30, there is a carbon capture system 40. While the system 30 is configured to remove water from the airflow the carbon capture system is configured to remove carbon dioxide from the same airflow. It is noted that the system 40 is preferably downstream from the dehumidifier system 30 as a higher humidity in the air can reduce the effectiveness of the carbon capture. More specifically, when there is more moisture in the air the carbon capture system may be less effective as the water vapour may cling to the surface of the carbon capture material thereby preventing it from reacting with the carbon dioxide. It is also noted that the moisture may result in condensation forming within the carbon capture system 40 this condensation may damage the system overtime. Therefore, it is preferable to configure the system to remove the moisture from the airflow before it enters the carbon capture system 40. Figure 2 depicts another schematic diagram showing the preferred embodiment for the dehumidifying system 30 and carbon capture system 40. In this example there is a fan 50 positioned upstream from both systems 30 and 40, this fan assists in drawing air into the system and accelerating it through the system, this can help direct the air towards the capturing material in each of the systems 30,40. This helps to increase the volume of air that is conditioned for a given amount of time thereby helping to increase the rate at which moisture and carbon dioxide are removed from the air. In this example, the dehumidifier system 30 comprises a cooling coil 31, a heating element 32 and a water container 33. In this system, the airflow first passes over the cooling coil 31 which is configured to lower the temperature of the airflow causing the moisture contained within to condense. The base of the cooling coil 31 is coupled to a water container configured to capture the condensed moisture thereby removing it from the airflow. This container would be configured to be removable such that the user can empty the water, when necessary, in other cases, the container may be coupled to a tap or hose to allow the user to controllably empty the container 33 without removing it from the housing 11. Downstream from the cooling coil 31 is a heating element 32 that is configured to receive the air ejected by the cooling coil 31. In use, the heating element will help to heat the air back to room temperature before it is released from the dehumidifier so as to not affect the ambient air temperature outside the dehumidifier 10. In this case, the heating element also ensures the air is heated before entering the carbon capture system. It is noted that generally the warmer the air the more effective the carbon capture as warmer air is more likely to undergo a successful chemical reaction compared to the cooled air from the cooling coil 31. In some cases, the heating element may be configured to heat the air to a temperature above the ambient temperature to further increase the amount of carbon dioxide that is removed from the airflow. Downstream from the heating element is the carbon capture system 30, in this example the carbon capture system comprises a housing 41 containing a suitable carbon capture material cartridge 42, wherein the housing 41 and cartridge 42 are preferably porous to allow the airflow to travel through the material to increase the area of contact between the air and the material 42, this will help to increase the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the airflow. It is noted that the carbon capture material is configured to chemically react with the air, to remove carbon dioxide. The material is preferably regenerable meaning that is it possible to remove the carbon dioxide from the material in another process thereby allowing the material 42 to be cleaned and reused. To achieve this the carbon capture material is preferably chosen from zeolite, melamine, or their derivatives, most preferably an amide-treated melamine. It is noted that the housing 41 is preferably configured to be removable from the housing 10 so that the carbon capture material can be treated or replaced. To this end, the carbon capture system 40 is preferably in the form of a replaceable cartridge. Figures 3 to 5 depict the preferable embodiment for the carbon capture cartridge. In the example depicted in Figure 3, the cartridge comprises an elongated housing with openings on the front and rear faces, these openings create an inlet 43 and outlet 44 that will allow air to flow through the housing 41. The housing is also preferably elongated to extend the surface of the inlet 43 and outlet 44 to maximise the amount of air travelling through the housing 41. The housing may also comprise a handle 45 on at least one side of the housing 41 to allow the user to more easily transport the cartridge and may also allow the user to remove and insert the cartridge into the dehumidifier more easily. Figure 4 depicts a cross-section of the carbon capture system 40 from Figure 3. In this figure, it can be seen that the system 40 comprises a carbon capture material 46 contained within a cartridge 42 placed within the housing 41. This cartridge 42 comprises openings in the front and rear face that are configured to align with the openings in the housing 41 to allow the air travelling between the inlet 43 and outlet 44 to pass over or through the carbon capture material 46. The cartridge 42 can also be configured to help prevent the carbon capture material from leaking through the housing 41, in some cases the cartridge 42 may comprise an air-permeable membrane that will only allow air to go through the cartridge while trapping the material 46 inside. This also helps prevent the carbon capture material from leaving a residue on the inside of the housing 41 that may erode the housing 41 over time. The image also depicts a sensor 47 and a processor 48. Wherein the sensor 47 is configured to monitor the carbon capture material 46. More specifically, the sensor is configured to provide data that can indicate the saturation of the carbon capture material 46, this may include a measure of the air that has passed through the housing 41, or a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide in a sample of the air entering and leaving the dehumidifier, comparing the samples to determine the rate of carbon capture or the amount of carbon removed. With this data, the sensor could estimate the amount of carbon dioxide that has been absorbed by the material 46, this value can then be used to determine how saturated the material is. However, it is preferable to use a sensor that can directly measure the saturation of the material 46 directly. To this end, the preferable sensor to use is a weight sensor located at the base of the housing 41 or cartridge 42. Wherein the sensor 47 monitors the mass of the carbon capture material 46 for as the material 46 becomes saturated with carbon dioxide its mass will increase by a predictable amount, as such the mass may be used to directly determine the saturation of the carbon capture material 46. The system also comprises a processor 48 that is configured to receive and analyse the data from the sensor 47. As previously noted, the data from the sensor is used to determine how saturated the carbon capture material 46 is, the processor 48 will be programmed with a predetermined threshold for the system wherein once the value from the sensor 47 reaches the threshold the processor will be configured to provide an alert indicating that the cartridge 42 is ready to be replaced. This alert may be in the form of a visual and / or audio alert produced by the dehumidifier. In some cases, the alert may be in the form of a signal sent to a remote device, such as a controller for the dehumidifier or the user’s mobile device, at which point the remote device may display a message, or a visual and / or audio alert to indicate that the cartridge is ready to be replaced. It is noted that a similar weight sensor system may be coupled to the water capture unit 33 to provide indications for when the water tank within the dehumidifier needs to be emptied. Figure 5 depicts a blown-up view of the housing from Figure 4, this image depicts how a user can open the housing 41 to replace the cartridge 42. In the case of the depicted example, the back of the housing 41 can be removed to allow access to the cartridge 42. If the carbon capture material 46 is solid, as with the depicted example, the user may simply remove it from the housing 41 and replace it with a new piece of material. In some cases, the material 46 may be in a foam or liquid state in which case it may be in a secondary cartridge housing 42 that would also be replaced once the material 46 is saturated. The image also depicts the above-mentioned sensor 47 positioned on the base of the carbon capture material 46 the sensor is positioned on the base as it is preferably a weight sensor monitoring the mass of the material 46, this sensor may remain in the housing 41 when the material is replaced. In some cases, the sensor 47 may be part of the cartridge 42 such that the sensor is configured for the specific material and mass of material used in the cartridge, this would be especially useful in cases wherein the material 46 is regenerative thereby allowing the same sensor to be used to monitor the desaturating process to ensure the material has returned to a suitable starting mass. It is noted that the specific material 46 used within the carbon capture system 40 may have a different optimum temperature at which the rate of carbon capture would be at its optimum value. The problem is that this tends to be a temperature that is much higher than room temperature. This means it can take a long time for the temperature to be reached and if the air leaves the dehumidifier 10 at this temperature it can make the surround setting uncomfortable for the user. Therefore, the system preferably provides a means for heating the air quickly and then cooling the air downstream from the carbon capture system 40. To address this problem, the dehumidifier may be configured to circulate the air around the heating element 32 to allow the air to reach higher temperatures before entering the carbon capture system 40. Then the outlet 43 may be configured to direct the air to a cooling coil, which may be the same cooling coil 31 used by the dehumidifying system, to cool the air before it is released from the outlet 21. In some cases, the dehumidifier may comprise conditioning units configured to adjust the temperature of the air to a desired value before releasing the air back into the surroundings. In these cases, the conditioning system would be positioned downstream from the carbon capture system to ensure the air is at a desired temperature before returning to the surroundings. In some embodiments, the housing 11 of the dehumidifier 10 may be configured to be coupled to the inlet or outlet of other appliances to condition the air entering or leaving the other appliance. For example, the housing may be coupled to the outlet of a boiler to remove pollutants from the air exiting the boiler or may be attached to the inlet of an air conditioning unit to remove pollutants from the air within a domestic setting before it is recirculated by the conditioner. Also disclosed herein, as part of the present invention or as an additional invention is the carbon capture cartridge as shown in figure 5. This figure illustrates airflow through the cartridge. Specifically, the cartridge 46, whether used with the dehumidifier, boiler HVAC or other source of air from which comedy oxide is to be captured and which air is warmed (such as due to the action of the dehumidifier, boiler or HVAC) and exits that area into an ambient environment, in particular with the product on a domestic scale, i.e. the cartridge is of radius typically no more than 45 cm, preferably between 15 and 30 cm. provides carbon capture scavenging with optimal efficiency. The importance of these general dimensions and the warming of the air is that as the air inlets the cartridge through plate 44 by means of aperture 49 the air is high in carbon dioxide and is warm. Therefore, in portion A of carbon capture material 46 there is a relatively high airflow and warm temperature. Carbon dioxide absorption is therefore relatively high. As this initial region become saturated then absorption takes place more significantly in portion B of the carbon capture material 46. Here the air is cooler and is travelling less quickly and this combination together with a larger volume of carbon capture material means that carbon capture remains effective even though the air is cooler as the flow is lower and a larger volume is present. Similarly, when portion B is becoming used portion C becomes active and here, yet again, airflow is lower, yet more carbon capture material is present and temperature is again lower. The reduction temperature is relevant because domestic appliances exiting warm air are doing just that, exiting warm are not particularly hot air and do so with a relatively high surface area, because of the size of the cartridge therefore there is a significant potential for cooling of the air as it goes through the cartridge, which affects absorption efficiency. This feature of the invention, is combinable with weight sensor 47 with optional feedback such that the airflow is moderated through the Hemi cylindrical cartridge in proportion to its usage. I.e. airflow is reduced as the cartridge become saturated. However the hemi cylindrical cartridge reduces the need for this even though it can further improve efficiency. It is also noted that the hemi cylindrical cartridge is more space effective than a hemispherical cartridge, which in principle would make the effect even greater but in that instance the surface area for heat loss is lower and, in domestic environments the service area is typically not available to be placing large hemispherical objects. For example, with HVAC this would lead to a reduction in ceiling height, with the boiler this would require a large external surface wall area and with the dehumidifier it would lead to a device which would be difficult to accommodate, as a shape, in the norm of conventional domestic equipment (absent a large external box which would defeat the space efficiency). This feature of the present invention / invention in its own right is therefore of improved efficiency and optimal use in presenting, in particular, a cartridge for carbon capture. This invention / feature of the invention may thus be described as a (dehumidifier) carbon capture cartridge (for use with a dehumidifier) in which the cartridge is a hemi cylindrical cartridge configured with an air inlet at the focus of the radius and air outlet at the circumference. The carbon capture make material may be any suitable material but 5 preferably a material as herein disclosed. By using a device as described above the user will be able to remove common pollutants from a domestic setting, in this case, both water vapours and carbon dioxide both of which contribute to greenhouse gas effects. The system also utilises weight sensors to more accurately monitor the pollutant capturing systems allowing the user to replace or empty 10 them when necessary to maximise the device's capture rate.

Claims

1. A dehumidifier comprising:A housing featuring an air inlet and air outlet coupled together via a channel; One or more fans positioned within the channel to draw an airflow through the housing;A dehumidifying system housed within the channel is configured to remove moisture from the airflow;A carbon capture system is positioned in the channel downstream from the dehydration system and configured to remove carbon dioxide from the airflow;wherein the system further comprises a heating element positioned between the dehumidifying system and carbon capture system configured to heat the airflow before it enters the carbon capture system.

2. The dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein the carbon capture system comprises a porous cartridge containing carbon capture material.

3. The dehumidifier of claim 2 wherein the carbon capture material comprises zeolite, melamine, or their derivatives.

4. The dehumidifier of claims 2 and 3, wherein the carbon capture material is a regenerative carbon capture material.

5. The dehumidifier of claims 2 to 4 wherein the cartridge further comprises a processor, and one or more sensors configured to monitor the saturation of the carbon capture material.

6. The dehumidifier of claims 5 wherein the processor is configured to provide an audio and / or visual alert to indicate that the cartridge is ready to be replaced when the saturation of the carbon capture material reaches a predetermined threshold.

7. The dehumidifier of claim 6 wherein the processor is configured to communicatethe alert wirelessly to a mobile device.

8. The dehumidifier of any preceding claim wherein the dehumidifying system comprises a cartridge comprises a suitable moisture absorbing material.

9. The dehumidifier of claims 1 to 8 wherein the dehumidifying system comprises a condenser coil configured to cool the airflow to condense the moisture out of the air.

10. The dehumidifier of claim 1 wherein the heating element comprises a heat exchange device configured to extract heat from the airflow upstream from the dehumidifying system, and use that heat to heat the air downstream from the dehumidifying system and upstream from the carbon capture system.11.The dehumidifier any preceding claim wherein the dehumidifier comprises a temperature control system configured to adjust the temperature of the airflow before it is ejected from the outlet, this system comprising one or more heating elements and one or more cooling elements.

12. The dehumidifier of claim 11, wherein the one or more cooling elements comprise the condensing coil of the dehumidifier system.

13. The dehumidifier of claims 11 and 12, wherein the one or more heating elements comprise the heating element positioned between the dehumidifying system and carbon capture system.

14. The dehumidifier of claims 11 to 13 wherein the airflow downstream of the carbon capture system is configured to re-circulate over the heat elements or cooling elements until a desired temperature is achieved.cm15. The dehumidifier of any preceding claim wherein the housing is configured to be coupled to the air outlet of another appliance.

16. The dehumidifier of any preceding claim wherein the cartridge is a hemi cylindrical cartage with air inlet at the focus of the radius.

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