DAC plant

Abstract

To create a new type of DAC plant.SOLUTION: A DAC plant 10 for extracting carbon dioxide from ambient air is provided. The DAC plant 10 has: a first air flow channel 11 for ambient air from which carbon dioxide is extracted; a system 12 for drying the ambient air from which carbon dioxide is extracted; a carbon dioxide extraction device 13 for extracting carbon dioxide from the dried ambient air; and a second air flow channel 14 for waste air of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13. The system 12 for drying the ambient air comprises at least one first rotating storage body 12a, 12b, which carries an adsorbent for water. The carbon dioxide extraction device 13 comprises a second rotating storage body 13a, which carries an adsorbent for carbon dioxide. The second rotating storage body is rotatingly driven such that segments 18, 19, 20 are in flow connection periodically with the first air flow channel 11 and periodically with a carrier gas flow channel 17.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a DAC plant for extracting carbon dioxide from ambient air. [Background technology]

[0002] DAC plants are used to extract carbon dioxide from ambient air. DAC stands for "direct air capture." To extract carbon dioxide from ambient air, in DAC plants known in practice, the ambient air flows through a carbon dioxide extraction device, which extracts carbon dioxide from the ambient air. The carbon dioxide extraction device of a DAC plant used to extract carbon dioxide from ambient air may be based on various operating mechanisms. Thus, carbon dioxide extraction devices for DAC plants are known in practice, and are based on the principles of physical adsorption, chemical adsorption, electrochemical separation, membrane-based separation methods, or even cryogenic separation technology. In particular, when the carbon dioxide extraction device of a DAC plant is based on the principle of physical adsorption, i.e., when a physical adsorbent is used as the adsorbent, it is important that the ambient air is pre-dried. Therefore, DAC plants, particularly those using a carbon dioxide extraction device based on the principle of physical adsorption, include a system for drying the ambient air before supplying it to the carbon dioxide extraction device and thus before extracting carbon dioxide. Various methods are known in practice for drying ambient air. Thus, water or water vapor can be condensed and removed by cooling the ambient air below its dew point. Other air drying methods utilize the principles of physical adsorption to at least partially remove water from the air via physical adsorption, allowing the air to dry.

[0003] Paper “Investigation of Desiccants and CO2Sorbents for Exploration Systems 2016-2017, James C. Knox et al., 47 thFrom the International Conference on Environmental Systems 16-20 July 2017, Charleston, South Carolina, USA (ICES-2017-188), a plant for at least partially removing carbon dioxide from air is known for use in space exploration. In this plant, the air from which the carbon dioxide is to be at least partially removed is additionally dried and then passed through a carbon dioxide extraction device. There, both drying the air and separating the carbon dioxide from the air are based on the principle of physical adsorption. There, drying the air is based on the use of a solid sorbent bed in the so-called temperature oscillation method. This is highly energy intensive.

[0004] Patent document 1 discloses a drying device with a rotating storage body. Patent document 2 discloses a device for drying, scrubbing and separating gases using a rotating adsorbent. Furthermore, reference is made to patent document 3. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application No. 2023 / 0182067A1 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent Application No. 2005 / 0217481A1 [Patent Document 3] European Patent No. 3431890B1 [Non-patent literature]

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 1] Investigation of Desiccants and CO2 Sorbents for Exploration Systems 2016-2017, James C. Knox et al., 47th International Conference on Environmental Systems 16-20 July 2017, Charleston, South Carolina, USA (ICES-2017-188) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Starting from this, the present invention is based on the object of creating a new type of DAC plant. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This object is achieved through a DAC plant as claimed in claim 1.

[0009] In a DAC plant for extracting carbon dioxide from ambient air according to the invention, the system for drying the ambient air comprises at least one first rotating storage body carrying a water adsorbent, each first rotating storage body being rotatably driven in such a way that, as a result of its rotation, a segment of the same storage body is operatively fluidly connected periodically with the first air flow path and periodically with the second air flow path.

[0010] In a DAC plant for extracting carbon dioxide from ambient air according to the present invention, the carbon dioxide extraction device comprises at least one second rotating storage body carrying a carbon dioxide adsorbent, each second rotating storage body being rotatably driven in such a manner that, as a result of its rotation, a segment of the same storage body is operatively fluidly connected periodically with the first air flow path and periodically with the carrier gas flow path.

[0011] The DAC plant according to the invention comprises a system for drying ambient air, comprising at least one first rotating storage body carrying a water adsorbent.

[0012] Each of the first rotating storage bodies may be rotationally driven in such a manner that, as a result of its rotation, a segment of the same storage body is periodically operatively connected to the first air flow path and periodically connected to the second air flow path, and then, when one of the segments of each of the rotating first storage bodies is in operative flow connection with the first air flow path, water is adsorbed by the adsorbent material of each of the segments of each of the rotating first storage bodies from the ambient air to be dried, and then, when one of the segments of each of the rotating first storage bodies is in operative flow connection with the second air flow path, water is released from the adsorbent material of each of the segments of each of the rotating first storage bodies to the exhaust of the carbon dioxide extraction device.

[0013] The DAC plant according to the invention further comprises a carbon dioxide extraction device comprising at least one second rotating storage body carrying a carbon dioxide adsorbent.

[0014] Each rotating second storage body may be rotationally driven in such a manner that, as a result of its rotation, a segment of the same storage body is periodically operatively connected to the first air flow path and periodically connected to the second air flow path carrier gas flow path, and then adsorbs carbon dioxide from the dried ambient air through the adsorbent material of each segment of each rotating second storage body when one of the segments (of each rotating second storage body) is in operative flow connection with the first air flow path, and then releases carbon dioxide from the adsorbent material of each segment of each rotating second storage body into the carrier gas when one of the segments of each rotating second storage body is in operative flow connection with the carrier gas flow path.

[0015] The DAC plant according to the present invention allows for efficient extraction of carbon dioxide from ambient air. Carbon dioxide can be extracted from ambient air in a continuous, quasi-steady-state process. Thus, the previously required batch process can be avoided. The DAC plant according to the present invention requires less installation space and less assembly. The amount of adsorbent required for both adsorption of water from ambient air and carbon dioxide from further dried ambient air is also reduced.

[0016] According to a first variant of the DAC plant according to the invention, each second rotating storage body can be driven in rotation in such a way that, as a result of its rotation, a segment of the same storage body is periodically in operative fluid connection with the first air flow path, then periodically with the carrier gas flow path, then periodically with the second air flow path, and then periodically with the first air flow path again. In particular, the adsorbent material of each segment of each second rotating storage body is cooled and / or dried when one of the segments of each rotating second storage body is in operative fluid connection with the second air flow path.

[0017] According to a first variant of the DAC plant according to the invention, it preferentially comprises a redirection flow path for redirecting the air emerging from the rotating second storage segment of each carbon dioxide extraction device in operative flow connection with the first air flow path towards the rotating second storage segment of each carbon dioxide extraction device in operative flow connection with the second air flow path.

[0018] The first variant of the DAC plant according to the invention is therefore preferred when steam is used in particular as carrier gas.

[0019] According to a second variant of the DAC plant according to the invention, the second rotating reservoir of each of the carbon dioxide extraction devices can be rotationally driven in such a way that, as a result of its rotation, it is operatively fluidly connected periodically with the first air flow path, then periodically with the carrier gas flow path, then subsequently periodically with the first air flow path again.

[0020] According to a second variant of the DAC plant according to the invention, in particular when one of the segments of the second rotating reservoir of each of the carbon dioxide extraction devices is in operative flow connection with the first air flow path, the same segment of the second rotating reservoir of each of the carbon dioxide extraction devices is also in direct operative flow connection with the second air flow path.

[0021] A second variant of the DAC plant according to the invention is particularly preferred when hydrogen is used as the carrier gas.

[0022] Preferred further developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail, without being limited thereto, by means of the drawings, the description of which is given below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a highly schematic representation of a first DAC plant according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a highly schematic representation of a second DAC plant according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The DAC plant 10 comprises a first air flow path 11, which is used to conduct ambient air from which carbon dioxide is extracted.

[0025] Furthermore, the DAC plant 10 comprises a system 12 for drying the ambient air from which carbon dioxide is extracted, the system 12 for drying the ambient air comprising at least one first rotating storage body 12a, 12b carrying a water adsorbent.

[0026] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, there are two first rotating stores 12a, 12b for drying the ambient air, each carrying a water adsorbent and connected in series.

[0027] The DAC plant 10 further comprises a carbon dioxide extraction device 13 used to extract carbon dioxide from the dried ambient air. The carbon dioxide extraction device 13 comprises at least one second rotating reservoir 13a carrying a carbon dioxide adsorbent.

[0028] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the carbon dioxide extraction device 13 comprises a single rotating reservoir 13a containing a carbon dioxide adsorbent material.

[0029] The DAC plant 10 further comprises a second air flow path 14 for the exhaust of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13 .

[0030] As already explained, the system 12 for drying ambient air comprises at least one first rotating reservoir 12 a, 12 b. Each first rotating reservoir 12 a, 12 b can be rotationally driven in such a way that, as a result of its rotation, segments 15, 16 of the same reservoir are operatively fluidly connected periodically with the first air flow path 11 and periodically with the second air flow path 14.

[0031] In particular, when one of the segments 15, 16 of the respective first rotating reservoir 12a, 12b is in operative fluid connection with the first air flow path 11, it is preferentially positioned within the first air flow path 11. In particular, when one of the segments 15, 16 of the respective first rotating reservoir 12a, 12b is in operative fluid connection with the second air flow path 14, it is preferentially positioned within the second air flow path 14.

[0032] In particular, when one of the segments 15, 16 of each of the first rotating storage bodies 12a, 12b is in operative flow connection with the first air flow path 11, the other of the segments 15, 16 of each of the first rotating storage bodies 12a, 12b is preferentially in operative flow connection with the second air flow path 14.

[0033] In particular, when each segment 15, 16 of each rotating first storage body 12a, 12b is positioned within the first air flow path 11, water from the ambient air to be dried can be adsorbed by the adsorbent material of each segment 15, 16 of the first rotating storage body 12a, 12b.

[0034] In particular, when each segment 15, 16 of each rotating first storage body 12a, 12b is positioned within the second air flow path 14, water from the adsorbent material of each segment 15, 16 of each first rotating storage body 12a, 12b can be released into the exhaust of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13.

[0035] The second rotating reservoir 13a of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13 shown in FIG. 1 can likewise be rotationally driven in such a manner that, as a result of its rotation, segments 18, 19, 20 of the same reservoir are periodically in operative fluid connection with the first air flow path 11 and periodically with the carrier gas flow path 17.

[0036] In particular, when one of the segments 18, 19, 20 of each second rotating storage body 13a is in operative flow connection with the first air flow path 11, it is preferentially positioned within the first air flow path 11. In particular, when one of the segments 18, 19, 20 of each second rotating storage body 13a is in operative flow connection with the carrier gas flow path 17, it is preferentially positioned within the carrier gas flow path 17.

[0037] In particular, when each segment 18, 19, 20 of the second rotating storage body 13a is positioned within or in operative fluid connection with the first air flow path 11, carbon dioxide can be adsorbed by the adsorbent material of each segment of the rotating second storage body 13a from the dried ambient air.

[0038] In particular, carbon dioxide can be released from the adsorbent material of each segment of the rotating second storage body 13a when each segment 18, 19, 20 of the second storage body 13a is positioned within or in operative flow connection with the carrier gas flow path 17.

[0039] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the rotating second storage body 13a of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13 comprises three segments 18, 19, and 20, and the second rotating storage body 13a of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13 of FIG. 1 can be rotationally driven in such a manner that, as a result of its rotation, the same storage body segments 18, 19, 20 are operatively fluidly connected periodically with the first air flow path 11, then periodically with the carrier gas flow path 17, then periodically with the second air flow path 14, and then periodically again with the first air flow path 11.

[0040] In particular, when one of the segments 18, 19, 20 of the rotating second storage body 13a of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13 is in operative fluid connection with the second air flow path 14, the adsorbent material of the segment of the second rotating storage body 13a that is in operative fluid connection with the second air flow path 14 is cooled and / or dried.

[0041] When each segment 18, 19, 20 of the rotating second storage body 13a is arranged within or in operative fluid connection with the first air flow path 11, the adsorbent material of each segment 18, 19, 20 adsorbs carbon dioxide from the dried ambient air.

[0042] When each segment 18, 19, 20 of the rotating second storage body 13a is arranged within or in operative fluid connection with the carrier gas flow path 17, the adsorbent material of each segment 18, 19, 20 of the rotating second storage body 13 releases carbon dioxide to the carrier gas so that a mixture of the carrier gas and carbon dioxide flows out through the release line 21.

[0043] The carrier gas in FIG. 1 is a carbon dioxide-free carrier gas, in particular water vapor.

[0044] In particular, when the respective segments 18, 19, 20 of the rotating second storage body 13 a in Fig. 1 are arranged in the region of or in operative flow connection with the second air flow path 14, the adsorbent material of the respective segments of the second rotating storage body 13 may be cooled and / or dried, and then, for this purpose according to Fig. 1, air is redirected from the first air flow path 11 towards the second air flow path 14, i.e., upstream of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13, via the redirection channel 22. By using the redirection channel 22, the direction of the air exiting the segments 18, 19, 20 of the rotating second storage body 13 a of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13, whose segments 18, 19, 20 are in operative flow connection with the first air flow path 11, is redirected towards the segments of the rotating second storage body 13 a of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13, whose segments 18, 19, 20 are in operative flow connection with the second air flow path 14. In particular, when one of the segments 18, 19, 20 of the second rotating storage body 13a of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13 is in operative fluid connection with the first air flow path 11, that segment is in operative fluid connection with another of the segments of the second rotating storage body 13a, the segment of which is in operative fluid connection with the second air flow path 14, via the direction change flow path 22.

[0045] 2 shows a modification of the DAC plant 10 in which the second rotating storage 13a of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13 simply comprises two segments 18, 19, which can be driven in rotation in such a way that, as a result of its rotation, the same storage segments 18, 19 are periodically arranged in the first air flow path 11 and periodically in the carrier gas flow path 17. This modification is particularly preferred when hydrogen is used as the carrier gas and drying of the adsorbent material of the second rotating storage 13a is not required.

[0046] 2, when one of the segments 18, 19 of the second rotating reservoir 13a of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13 is in operative fluid connection with the first air flow path 11, this segment 18, 19 of the respective second rotating reservoir 13a of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13 is also in direct operative fluid connection with the second air flow path 14. This segment is then disposed both within the first air flow path 11 and simultaneously within the second air flow path 14.

[0047] In the region of the first rotating storage body 12a, 12b of the system 12 for drying ambient air, preferentially an adsorbent for physical adsorption of water is employed as the adsorbent, which may be, for example, silica gel or zeolite.

[0048] In the second rotating reservoir 13a of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13, adsorbents for physical or chemical adsorption are preferentially employed as adsorbents, and chemical adsorbents can be accommodated in MOFs.

[0049] In the carbon dioxide extraction device 13, the desorption, i.e., release, of carbon dioxide into the carrier gas is substantially based on the different CO2 partial pressures between the partial pressure in the adsorbent and the partial pressure in the carrier gas.

[0050] 1 and 2, the system 12 for drying ambient air comprises two rotating stores 12a, 12b, between which a heating device 23 is provided for heating the ambient air to be dried in the area of ​​the first air flow path 11. This heating device 23 is optional.

[0051] 1 and 2, cooling devices 24 are each shown upstream of rotating reservoir 12b to cool the exhaust of carbon dioxide extraction device 13. Cooling devices 24 are optional.

[0052] In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1, redirection flow path 22 is assigned a heating device 25 for heating the air redirected through carbon dioxide extraction device 13. In Figure 2, by contrast, a heating device 26 is assigned to carrier gas flow path 17 for heating the carrier gas upstream of carbon dioxide extraction device 13.

[0053] The DAC plant 10 according to the invention therefore utilizes at least one rotating storage body in the region of the system for drying ambient air 12 and in the region of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13. Each rotating storage body carries an adsorbent material, i.e., for water adsorption in the region of the at least one first rotating storage body 12, 12b of the system for drying ambient air 12, and for CO2 adsorption in the region of the rotating storage body 13a of the carbon dioxide extraction device 13.

[0054] The DAC plant according to the invention is used for the continuous extraction of carbon dioxide from ambient air in a quasi-steady state manner.

[0055] The DAC plant 10 has low space requirements, requires less assembly, and also requires less amount of adsorbent material.

[0056] It is possible to efficiently extract carbon dioxide CO2 from ambient air. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 10 DAC Plant 11 First air flow path 12 System for drying ambient air 12a First reservoir 12b Second reservoir 13 Carbon dioxide extraction device 13a Second reservoir 14 Second air flow path 15 segments 16 segments 17 Carrier gas flow path 18 segments 19 segments 20 segments 21 Release line 22 Change of direction channel 23 Heating Devices 24 Cooling Device 25 Heating Devices 26 Cooling Device

Claims

1. 1. A DAC plant (10) for extracting carbon dioxide from ambient air, comprising: a first air flow path (11) for ambient air from which carbon dioxide is extracted, a system (12) for drying the ambient air from which carbon dioxide is extracted, a carbon dioxide extraction device (13) for extracting the carbon dioxide from the dried ambient air; a second air flow path (14) for exhausting the carbon dioxide extraction device (13); the system (12) for drying the ambient air comprises at least one first rotating reservoir (12a, 12b) carrying a water adsorbent, each of the first rotating reservoirs (12a, 12b) being rotatably driven in such a way that, as a result of its rotation, a segment (15, 16) of the same reservoir is operatively fluidly connected periodically with the first air flow path (11) and periodically with the second air flow path (14); The carbon dioxide extraction device (13) comprises at least one second rotating storage body (13a) carrying a carbon dioxide adsorbent, and each of the second rotating storage bodies (13a) can be rotationally driven in such a manner that, as a result of its rotation, segments (18, 19, 20) of the same storage body are operatively fluidly connected periodically with the first air flow path (11) and periodically with the carrier gas flow path (17).

2. In particular, when one of the segments (15, 16) of each rotating first storage body (12a, 12b) is in operative fluid connection with the first air flow path (11), the adsorbent material of each of the segments (15, 16) of each rotating first storage body adsorbs water from the ambient air to be dried; and wherein one of the segments of each of the rotating first storage bodies is then in operative fluid connection with the second air flow path, and the adsorbent of each of the segments of each of the rotating first storage bodies releases water to the exhaust of a carbon dioxide extraction device.

3. In particular, when one of the segments (18, 19, 20) of each of the rotating second storage bodies (13 a) is in operative fluid connection with the first air flow path (11), the adsorbent material of each of the segments of each of the rotating second storage bodies (13 a) adsorbs carbon dioxide from the dried ambient air; 3. The DAC plant (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in particular, when one of the segments (18, 19, 20) of each of the rotating second storage bodies (13a) is in operative fluid connection with the carrier gas flow path (17), the adsorbent of each of the segments of each of the rotating second storage bodies (13a) releases carbon dioxide into the carrier gas.

4. each said second rotating reservoir (13a) such that, as a result of its rotation, said segments (18, 19, 20) of the same reservoir are periodically in operative fluid connection with said first air flow path (11), then periodically with said carrier gas flow path (17), then periodically with said second air flow path (14), and then periodically with said first air flow path (11) again; 4. The DAC plant (10) according to claim 1, wherein one of the segments (18, 19, 20) of each rotating second storage body (13 a) can then be rotationally driven in such a manner as to cool and / or dry the adsorbent material of each of the segments of each of the second rotating storage bodies (13 a) that is in operative flow connection with the second air flow path (14), when that segment is in operative flow connection with the second air flow path (14).

5. 5. The DAC plant (10) of claim 4, characterized by a redirection flow path (22) for redirecting air emerging from the segment of the rotating second storage body (13 a) of each of the carbon dioxide extraction devices (13) that is in operative fluid connection with the first air flow path (11) towards the segment of the rotating second storage body (13 a) of each of the carbon dioxide extraction devices (13) that is in operative fluid connection with the second air flow path (14).

6. DAC plant (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, in particular, when one of the segments (18, 19, 20) of the respective second rotating reservoir (13 a) of the carbon dioxide extraction device (13) is in operative flow connection with the first air flow path (11), the same segment is in operative flow connection with another of the segments (18, 19, 20) of the respective second rotating reservoir (13 a) of the carbon dioxide extraction device (13) via the direction change flow path (22), i.e., with the segment in operative flow connection with the second air flow path (14).

7. DAC plant (10) according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that the carrier gas is water vapor.

8. 4. The DAC plant (10) of claim 1, wherein the respective second rotating reservoirs (13a) of the carbon dioxide extraction devices (13) can be driven in rotation in such a way that, as a result of the rotation, segments (18, 19) of the same reservoir are operatively fluidly connected periodically with the first air flow path (11), then with the carrier gas flow path (17), and then with the first air flow path (11) again.

9. 9. The DAC plant (10) of claim 8, characterized in that, in particular, when one of the segments (18, 19) of the respective second rotating storage (13a) of the carbon dioxide extraction device (13) is in operative fluid connection with the first air flow path (11), the same segment of the respective second rotating storage (13a) of the carbon dioxide extraction device (13) is also in operative fluid connection directly with the second air flow path (14).

10. DAC plant (10) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the carrier gas is hydrogen.

11. The system (12) for drying the ambient air comprises a plurality of first rotating storage bodies (12a, 12b) connected in series, 11. The DAC plant (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a heating device (23) for heating the ambient air is arranged in the first air flow path (11) between two first rotating stores (12a, 12b) connected in series.

12. DAC plant (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a cooling device (24) for cooling the exhaust air of the carbon dioxide extraction device (13) is arranged in the second air flow path (14) downstream of the or each second rotating storage body (13a) and upstream of the or each first storage body (12a, 12b).

13. DAC plant (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that each first storage body (12a, 12b) carries an adsorbent material for the physical adsorption of water.

14. DAC plant (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that each second storage body (13a) carries an adsorbent material for physical or chemical adsorption of carbon dioxide.

15. DAC plant (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it is provided for the continuous extraction of carbon dioxide from ambient air.

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