Gas treatment device

Abstract

To provide a carbon dioxide recovery facility which can be installed in a relatively compact manner.SOLUTION: A gas treatment device includes: a hollow housing having an inlet part and an outlet part of gas; an adsorption-desorption device including a carbon dioxide adsorption-desorption material; heating means capable of heating the adsorption-desorption material; and a blower which generates airflow for causing the gas to pass through the adsorption-desorption device and exhausts the gas to the outlet part. An internal space of the housing is partitioned into a plurality of spaces by a partition wall. The plurality of spaces include: a first space communicating with the inlet part; a second space located adjacent to the first space and housing the adsorption-desorption device disposed therein; and a third space located adjacent to the second space and housing the blower disposed therein. The adsorption-desorption device takes the gas from the first space and exhausts the gas to the third space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to carbon dioxide capture technology. [Background technology]

[0002] Technologies for recovering carbon dioxide from gases such as air are attracting attention. Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which a carbon dioxide adsorbent is made to flow through an adsorption vessel, a regeneration vessel, and a drying vessel, and the carbon dioxide adsorbed by the adsorbent is recovered. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-069424 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The system in Patent Document 1 is large in scale, requiring a site for installing each piece of equipment, a transport structure for the adsorbent, and lines connecting the equipment. There is a demand for a device that can be installed compactly adjacent to a carbon dioxide supply destination, such as an agricultural facility.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a carbon dioxide recovery facility that can be installed relatively compactly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, an adsorbent / desorber including an intake section, an exhaust section, and a carbon dioxide adsorbent / desorbent material between the intake section and the exhaust section; a heating means capable of heating the adsorbent / desorbent; a blower that generates an airflow that causes gas to pass through the adsorber / desorber; a hollow housing having a gas inlet and an outlet; A gas treatment device comprising: The internal space of the housing is divided into a plurality of spaces by partition walls, The plurality of spaces are: a first space communicating with the inlet; a second space adjacent to the first space and in which the adsorber / desorber is disposed; a third space adjacent to the second space and in communication with the outlet portion; the blower is disposed in the third space, the intake portion of the adsorber / desorber is exposed to the first space, the exhaust portion of the adsorber / desorber is exposed to the third space. A gas treatment device is provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a carbon dioxide recovery facility that can be installed in a relatively compact size. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an external view of a gas treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of the gas treatment device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of the gas treatment device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of another example of a gas treatment device. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of another example of a gas treatment device. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of another example of a gas treatment device. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of another example of a gas treatment device. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is an external view of a gas treatment device that uses a horizontal axis wind turbine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be combined in any desired manner. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used to designate identical or similar components, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0010] First Embodiment <Device configuration> Fig. 1 is an external view of a gas treatment device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of the gas treatment device 1. The gas treatment device 1 is installed outdoors, recovers carbon dioxide from gas, and discharges gas with a high concentration of carbon dioxide, and is installed, for example, adjacent to an agricultural facility such as a greenhouse. In this embodiment, the gas to be treated is air.

[0011] The gas processing device 1 includes a hollow housing 10. The housing 10 forms the outer wall of the gas processing device 1 and houses the components of the gas processing device 1. The housing 10 of this embodiment has a top portion 11, a bottom portion 12, and a cylindrical outer peripheral portion 13 between the top portion 11 and the bottom portion 12. The top portion 11 and the bottom portion 12 are disk-shaped, with the area of ​​the bottom portion 12 being larger than the area of ​​the top portion 11. The outer peripheral portion 13 has a tapered shape that tapers from the bottom portion 12 to the top portion 11, and includes a vertical portion 13a that extends approximately vertically from the top portion 11 to the bottom portion 12, and an inclined portion 13b that inclines outward from the top portion 11 to the bottom portion 12.

[0012] The outer circumferential portion 13 is provided with an inlet portion 14 which is an intake port for untreated air and an outlet portion 15 which is an outlet port for treated air. In this embodiment, the inlet portion 14 is an opening formed in the outer circumferential portion 13, and the outlet portion 15 is formed by an exhaust pipe 41. In this embodiment, the inlet portion 14 is formed in the lower portion of the outer circumferential portion 13, and the outlet portion 15 is formed in the upper portion of the outer circumferential portion 13.

[0013] The internal space of the housing 10 is divided into a plurality of spaces S1 to S3 by partition walls 16 and 17. Space S1 communicates with an inlet portion 14, and an outlet portion 15 is formed in the outer peripheral portion 13 that forms space S3. Space S2 is a space located between space S1 and space S3, and an adsorbent / desorber 20 is disposed therein.

[0014] The adsorbent / desorber 20 includes a hollow container 21 that extends vertically. An air inlet 21a is provided at the bottom end of the container 21, and an exhaust port 21b is formed at the top end. The inlet 21a opens to space S1, and the exhaust port 21b opens to space S3. A carbon dioxide adsorbent / desorbent 22 is provided inside the container 21. The adsorbent / desorbent 22 is made of a material that adsorbs carbon dioxide at room temperature and releases the adsorbed carbon dioxide at high temperatures, such as an amine-based material, a polymer material, or an inorganic material. A member 34 is disposed in the storage space for the adsorbent / desorbent 22. When the member 34 is heated or cooled, the adsorbent / desorbent 22 is heated or cooled by thermal conduction.

[0015] The gas treatment device 1 includes a heating unit 30 capable of heating the adsorbing / desorbing material 22. The heating unit 30 includes a heat source 31 and a supply unit 32. In this embodiment, the heat source 31 is a solar heat collector. An opening 13c is formed in the inclined portion 13b of the outer circumferential portion 13, and the heat source 31 is provided so as to close the opening 13c. The heat source 31 is a shell-shaped solar heat collecting panel and forms part of the outer circumferential portion 13.

[0016] By providing the heating source 31, which is a solar heat collector, on the inclined portion 13b, sunlight is more easily irradiated, allowing the heat of sunlight to be absorbed efficiently. The supply unit 32 is disposed in the space S2, and is a unit that circulates a liquid heating medium between the heating source 31 and the adsorbent / desorber 20 via piping 33 and a member 34. The member 34 is, for example, a member that forms a flow path through which the liquid heating medium passes. The supply unit 32 is, for example, an electric pump. By operating the supply unit 32, the heat of sunlight obtained by the heating source 31 can be supplied to the member 34 via the liquid, and the adsorbent / desorbent 22 can be heated.

[0017] A blower 40 is provided in the space S3. The blower 40 sucks in air within the space S3 and exhausts it to the outside of the housing 10 via the exhaust pipe 41. As the air within the space S3 is exhausted, a negative pressure is created in the space S3. As a result, the adsorbent / desorber 20, whose exhaust port 21b opens into the space S3, also becomes negative pressure, and air from outside the housing 10 is sucked into the adsorbent / desorber 20 via the inlet portion 14, the space S1, and the intake port 21a. In this way, an airflow that passes gas through the adsorbent / desorber 20 can be generated by operating the blower 40.

[0018] The driving source of the blower 40 is the windmill 50 or the motor 51. The windmill 50 is a vertical axis type (vertical axis type) windmill and is installed on the ceiling 11. By placing the windmill 50 in a high position, it is possible to more easily obtain wind power. The motor 51 is installed in the space S3. When the wind power is low, the blower 40 can be operated by driving the motor 51. The transmission mechanism 52 transmits the driving power of either the windmill 50 or the motor 51 to the blower 40. The transmission mechanism 52 includes, for example, a clutch that interrupts the drive transmission between the windmill 50 and the blower 40, and a clutch that interrupts the drive transmission between the motor 51 and the blower 40.

[0019] Carbon dioxide concentration sensors 61 and 62 are disposed in spaces S1 and S3. From the detection results of the concentration sensors 61 and 62, the difference between the carbon dioxide concentration of the air in space S1 and the carbon dioxide concentration of the air in space S3 can be identified. In the adsorption process, if this difference is large, the adsorption effect of the adsorbent / desorbent 22 on carbon dioxide is high (the degree of adsorption is low), and if this difference is small, the adsorption effect of the adsorbent / desorbent 22 is low (the degree of adsorption is high). Therefore, by transitioning to the desorption process when this difference is small, carbon dioxide can be efficiently captured.

[0020] The control circuit 60 is an electronic circuit that controls the operation of the gas treatment device 10. The control circuit 60 includes, for example, a processor represented by a CPU, a storage device, an input / output interface that relays between the processor and an external device, a communication interface that communicates with a higher-level controller (e.g., a user's mobile terminal or personal computer), a drive circuit that drives the actuator, and a signal processing circuit that processes detection signals from the sensor. The storage device is a semiconductor memory such as ROM or RAM, a hard disk, or the like. The processor executes a control program stored in the storage device to control the operation of the gas treatment device 1 (particularly the operation of the supply unit 32 and the motor 51).

[0021] <Operation example> 3(A) and 3(B) are diagrams illustrating the operation of the gas treatment device 1. Fig. 3(A) shows an adsorption step in which carbon dioxide is adsorbed onto the adsorbent / desorbent 22, and Fig. 3(B) shows a desorption step in which the carbon dioxide adsorbed onto the adsorbent 22 is released from the adsorbent / desorbent 22.

[0022] In either process, the blower 40 is driven by the rotation of the windmill 50 caused by wind power or the rotation of the motor 51. The motor 51 is driven when the wind power is small, and for example, the windmill 50 or the motor 51 is selected as the drive source in response to an instruction from the user. When the blower 40 is driven, outside air is drawn in from the inlet 14, passes through the space S1, the adsorber / desorber 20, the space S3, the blower 40, and the exhaust pipe 41, and is exhausted from the outlet 15.

[0023] During the adsorption process, the supply unit 32 is stopped and the liquid heating medium is not circulated. The temperature of the adsorbent / desorber 20 is approximately the same as the outside air temperature, and as the air passes through the adsorbent / desorbent material 22, the carbon dioxide contained in the air is adsorbed by the adsorbent / desorbent material 22. Air with a reduced carbon dioxide concentration is exhausted from the outlet 15. The adsorption process is carried out, for example, at night.

[0024] When the difference in carbon dioxide concentration between the spaces S1 and S3 based on the detection results of the carbon dioxide concentration sensors 61, 62 (FIG. 2) falls below a threshold, it is determined that the adsorption of carbon dioxide by the adsorbent / desorbent 22 is saturated, and the process proceeds to the desorption step.

[0025] The desorption process is basically carried out during the day when solar heat can be utilized by the heating source 31, which is a solar collector. The supply unit 32 is driven to circulate the liquid heating medium. When the liquid heating medium is supplied to the member 34, the adsorbent / desorbent material 22 is heated and carbon dioxide is released from the adsorbent / desorbent material 22. Air with an increased carbon dioxide concentration is exhausted from the outlet 15. The exhausted air can be used in agricultural equipment, etc. The exhausted air may be stored in a tank.

[0026] In this manner, the gas treatment device 1 of this embodiment can recover carbon dioxide contained in the air by repeating the adsorption step and the desorption step.

[0027] In the gas treatment device 1 of this embodiment, the interior of the housing 10 is divided into multiple spaces S1 to S3 by partition walls 16 and 17, and the spaces S1 and S3 are used as gas intake and exhaust paths for the adsorbent / desorber 20. The piping to the adsorbent / desorber 20 is reduced, preventing the device configuration from becoming complicated and making it more compact. By performing carbon dioxide adsorption and desorption in a common adsorbent / desorber 20, the device can be made more compact than a configuration provided with an adsorption tower and a desorption tower (capture tower).

[0028] By using a solar heat collector as the heat source 31, it is possible to utilize natural energy and save power, and by using the solar heat collector as part of the outer periphery 13 of the housing 10, it is possible to make the device more compact. In addition, by placing the solar heat collector, which is the heat source 31, on the inclined portion 13b, it is possible to make the area that receives sunlight larger.

[0029] By using the windmill 50 as the driving source for the blower 40, it is possible to utilize natural energy and achieve power saving. By arranging the blower 40 and the outlet 15 in the upper part of the housing 10, the heated air containing carbon dioxide released from the adsorbent / desorbent material 22 by heating in the heating unit 30 can be efficiently exhausted to the outside by utilizing the rising air current.

[0030] Second Embodiment In preparation for weather changes, a device for storing heat generated by the heating source 31, which is a solar collector, may be provided. FIG. 4 shows one example. In the example of FIG. 4, a tank 36 is provided in the circulation path of the liquid by the supply unit 32. The tank 36 is connected to the piping 33 and stores a certain amount of liquid. By providing the tank 36, the amount of circulating liquid can be increased, and solar heat can essentially be stored in the tank 36. When sunlight decreases due to changes in weather or after sunset, heating of the adsorbent / desorbent material 22 can be continued, and the time for the desorption process can be extended.

[0031] Third Embodiment When adsorbing carbon dioxide, the adsorption efficiency of the adsorbent / desorber 22 may decrease due to moisture in the gas. Therefore, the adsorbent / desorber 20 may be provided with a moisture adsorbent / desorber. FIG. 5 shows an example. In the illustrated example, the adsorbent / desorber 20 accommodates a moisture adsorbent / desorber 23 in addition to the carbon dioxide adsorbent / desorber 22. The adsorbent / desorber 23 is arranged upstream of the adsorbent / desorber 22 in the gas flow direction. Specifically, the adsorbent / desorber 23 is arranged between the adsorbent / desorber 22 and the inlet 21a. The adsorbent / desorber 23 is, for example, silica gel, zeolite, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), or activated carbon.

[0032] In this embodiment, a condenser 70 is disposed in the space S3 to reduce the moisture content of the gas exhausted from the blower 40. The condenser 70 is provided midway along the exhaust pipe 15, condenses the moisture in the gas being exhausted, and drains the condensed moisture through a drain pipe 71. A known condenser can be used as the condenser 70, such as an air-cooled or water-cooled cooler that cools the gas.

[0033] In this embodiment, by providing the adsorbent / desorbent 23, moisture in the gas is adsorbed by the adsorbent / desorbent 23 in the adsorption step. A drier gas is supplied to the adsorbent / desorbent 22, improving the carbon dioxide adsorption performance. In the desorption step, the moisture adsorbed by the adsorbent / desorbent 23 by heating is desorbed (vaporized) from the adsorbent / desorbent 23 and is exhausted together with the carbon dioxide desorbed from the adsorbent / desorbent 22. However, since the moisture in the gas exhausted by the blower 40 is removed by the condenser 70, it is possible to exhaust dry gas with a high carbon dioxide content from the outlet 15.

[0034] <Fourth embodiment> A configuration may be adopted in which a gas with a low carbon dioxide content (lean gas) that is discharged to the outside of the device in the adsorption process and a gas rich in carbon dioxide (rich gas) that is discharged to the outside of the device in the desorption process are separately discharged to the outside of the device. Figure 6 shows an example of such a configuration.

[0035] In the illustrated example, a switch 42 is connected to an exhaust pipe 41, and exhaust pipes 43 and 44 are connected to the switch 42. The switch 42 switches which of the exhaust pipes 43 and 44 is connected to the exhaust pipe 41. For example, in the adsorption process, the switch 42 connects the exhaust pipe 41 to the exhaust pipe 43, and lean gas is exhausted from the exhaust pipe 43. On the other hand, in the desorption process, the switch 42 connects the exhaust pipe 41 to the exhaust pipe 44, and rich gas is exhausted from the exhaust pipe 44.

[0036] By switching the exhaust pipe for exhausting lean gas and rich gas, the effort of removing lean gas can be eliminated in agricultural equipment and storage tanks that receive a supply of rich gas from the gas treatment device 1.

[0037] Fifth Embodiment Instead of the solar heat collector used as the heat source 31, a solar power generator (solar panel) may be used as the power source. FIG. 7 shows one example. In the example of FIG. 7, a solar power generator 31' is provided instead of the heat source 31 which is a solar power generator. The solar power generator 31' constitutes part of the outer periphery 13, similar to the solar heat collector of the first embodiment. A power supply device 81 and a capacitor 82 are provided in the space S2. The power supply device 81 stores the power generated by the solar power generator 31' in the capacitor 82, and supplies power from the capacitor 82 to each component of the gas treatment device 1.

[0038] The heating unit 30′ of this embodiment is disposed in the space S2 and includes a heat source (electric heater) 35 driven by power from a capacitor 82. The supply unit 32 circulates a liquid, which is a heating medium, between the heat source 35 and the adsorbent / desorber 20 via pipes 33′ and 34. The power stored in the capacitor 82 can also be used to drive the motor 51.

[0039] Sixth Embodiment A horizontal-axis wind turbine may be used instead of the vertical-axis wind turbine 50 that drives the blower 40. FIG. 8 is an external view of a gas treatment device 1 incorporating a horizontal-axis wind turbine 100. The wind turbine 100 is rotatably supported on a vertical support shaft 150 erected on the ceiling 11. The wind turbine 100 comprises a main body 101, wind turbine blades 102, and a vertical tail 104. When the vertical tail 104 receives wind pressure, it rotates around the support shaft 50, causing the wind turbine blades 102 to point upwind. By placing the wind turbine 100 at a high location, it is possible to more easily obtain wind power. The rotational force of the rotation shaft of the wind turbine blades 102 is transmitted to the transmission mechanism 52 illustrated in FIG. 2 via a drive shaft that passes through the hollow support shaft 150.

[0040] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 gas treatment device, 10 housing, 20 adsorber / desorber, 30 heating unit, 40 blower

Claims

1. a housing having a gas inlet and an outlet; an adsorbent / desorber equipped with a carbon dioxide adsorbent / desorbent; a heating means capable of heating the adsorbent / desorbent; a blower that generates an airflow that causes gas to pass through the adsorber / desorber and exhausts the air to the outlet portion; A gas treatment device comprising: The internal space of the housing is divided into a plurality of spaces by partition walls, The plurality of spaces are: a first space communicating with the inlet; a second space adjacent to the first space and in which the adsorber / desorber is disposed; a third space adjacent to the second space and in which the blower is disposed, The adsorber / desorber draws gas from the first space and exhausts the gas to the third space. A gas treatment device characterized by:

2. The gas treatment device according to claim 1, a wind turbine disposed outside the housing; The driving force of the wind turbine is transmitted to the blower. A gas treatment device characterized by:

3. The gas treatment device according to claim 2, The wind turbine is disposed on the top of the housing. A gas treatment device characterized by:

4. The gas treatment device according to claim 1, The heating means is a heat source for heating the liquid; a supply means for supplying the liquid to the adsorbent / desorber, The supply means is disposed in the second space. A gas treatment device characterized by:

5. The gas treatment device according to claim 4, the heat source is a solar collector; the supply means circulates the liquid between the adsorbent / desorber and the solar collector. A gas treatment device characterized by:

6. The gas treatment device according to claim 5, a tank provided in a circulation path of the liquid in the second space and configured to store the liquid; A gas treatment device characterized by:

7. The gas treatment device according to claim 5, The solar collector is a solar collector panel that forms part of the outer wall of the housing. A gas treatment device characterized by:

8. The gas treatment device according to claim 7, The housing includes: A top portion, a bottom portion, and a cylindrical outer circumferential portion between the top portion and the bottom portion, The solar thermal collection panel forms the outer periphery. A gas treatment device characterized by:

9. 9. The gas treatment device according to claim 8, the outer circumferential portion has an inclined portion inclined outward from the top portion toward the bottom portion, The solar heat collecting panel forms the inclined portion. A gas treatment device characterized by:

10. The gas treatment device according to claim 1, the adsorbent / desorber includes a moisture adsorbent / desorbent material located upstream of the adsorbent / desorbent material in the gas flow direction, a condenser that reduces moisture in the gas exhausted from the blower is disposed in the third space, The gas that has passed through the condenser is exhausted from the outlet portion. A gas treatment device characterized by:

11. The gas treatment device according to claim 1, A control means is provided, The control means When carbon dioxide is desorbed from the adsorbent / desorbent, the adsorbent / desorbent is heated by the heating means; When carbon dioxide is adsorbed onto the adsorbent / desorbent, heating of the adsorbent / desorbent by the heating means is stopped. A gas treatment device characterized by:

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