Air compressor

Abstract

To provide an air compressor capable of continuous CO2 capture from the atmosphere. [Solution] The air compressor 1 includes a solenoid valve V3 that connects a first introduction passage D1 for introducing air to an adsorbent container 11 containing an adsorbent, and a solenoid valve V4 that connects a second introduction passage D2 for introducing exhaust air A3a to a containment container 12 that houses the adsorbent container 11. In the adsorption process, the solenoid valve V3 is opened to adsorb carbon dioxide contained in the air A2 introduced from the first introduction passage D1 onto the adsorbent. In the desorption process, the solenoid valve V4 is opened to introduce exhaust air A3a into the containment container 12, and carbon dioxide is desorbed from the adsorbent. In the recovery process, the adsorbent container 11 is connected to the suction side of the compressor 10 by the solenoid valve V1, and the discharge side of the compressor 10 is connected to the second discharge port 203 by the solenoid valve V2, and the desorbed carbon dioxide is discharged from the second discharge port 203.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air compression device having a function of recovering carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Background Art

[0002] As a measure to prevent global warming, reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is required on a global scale. DAC (Direct Air Capture), which is one of the carbon dioxide reduction methods, allows the atmosphere to pass through a filter enclosing an adsorbent that adsorbs carbon dioxide, thereby absorbing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The adsorbent or filter that has adsorbed carbon dioxide is recovered as it is, or is subjected to a desorption treatment for recovering only carbon dioxide, and the recovered adsorbent or carbon dioxide is immobilized so as not to be released into the atmosphere.

[0003] Here, when the adsorbent that has adsorbed carbon dioxide is immobilized as it is, it is necessary to continuously supply new adsorbent to the site, and care must be taken to ensure that the carbon dioxide generated in the steps of producing, transporting, and recovering the adsorbent does not exceed the carbon dioxide recovered by DAC. In addition, energy such as heating is required to recover carbon dioxide from the adsorbent, and it is necessary to consider the generation of carbon dioxide associated with the generation of such energy and the transportation of large-volume carbon dioxide gas to the immobilization facility.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a CO2 separation unit in a compressed air circuit, which is provided at the last stage of the compressed air circuit and includes a flow path connected to a utilization device and a flow path capable of separating and recovering CO2 in compressed air. The compressed air generated by the air compressor of the compressed air circuit is branched by a branch pipe connected to the subsequent stage of the compressed air circuit into a first flow path directly connected to the utilization device and a second flow path provided with a CO2 separation tank. The compressed air sent to the second flow path passes through the CO2 separation tank to separate and remove CO2 contained in the compressed air, and is then sent to the utilization device connected to the subsequent stage.

Prior Art Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-1420 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] Incidentally, while adsorbents are used to separate CO2 from compressed air in CO2 separation tanks, there is a limit to the amount of CO2 that can be adsorbed by the adsorbent, and the adsorption performance of the adsorbent decreases as the amount of CO2 adsorbed increases. Therefore, the adsorbent that has adsorbed CO2 needs to be recovered and disposed of or subjected to CO2 desorption treatment (regeneration treatment) for reuse. However, Patent Document 1 does not consider how to handle the adsorbent after CO2 has been adsorbed. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the CO2 separation tank from the device and carry out separate recovery and disposal or regeneration treatment of the adsorbent, and CO2 recovery cannot be performed during that time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An air compressor according to one aspect of the present invention includes a compressor comprising at least one compressor body, an adsorbent container storing an adsorbent for adsorbing carbon dioxide gas, a storage container housing the adsorbent container, a first valve connecting a first intake passage for introducing air to the adsorbent container, a second valve connecting a second intake passage for introducing heated gas heated by the compression heat of the compressor to the storage container, a first outlet for discharging compressed air, a second outlet for discharging carbon dioxide, a first switching unit for selectively connecting a compressed air inlet or the adsorbent container to the suction side of the compressor body, a second switching unit for selectively connecting the first outlet or the second outlet to the discharge side of the compressor body, and a control unit for controlling the first valve, the second valve, the first switching unit and the second switching unit. The device comprises an adsorption step of opening the first valve to adsorb carbon dioxide contained in the air introduced from the first inlet onto the adsorbent; a desorption step of opening the second valve to introduce the heated gas into the containment container and desorbing carbon dioxide from the adsorbent; and a recovery step of connecting the adsorbent container to the suction side of the compressor body by the first switching unit and connecting the discharge side of the compressor body to the second discharge port by the second switching unit and discharging the desorbed carbon dioxide from the second discharge port. When discharging compressed air from the first discharge port, the first switching unit connects the compressed air inlet to the suction side of the compressor body and the second switching unit connects the discharge side of the compressor body to the first discharge port. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, continuous adsorption and recovery of CO2 from the atmosphere becomes possible. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows the configuration of the main parts of an air compressor in an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a schematic configuration of the air compressor in Example 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 illustrates the adsorption process in Example 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the desorption process in Example 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the recovery process in Example 1. [Figure 6] Figure 6 illustrates the cooling process for cooling the adsorbent. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a time chart showing the status of the fan and solenoid valve during each process. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows a schematic configuration of the air compressor in Example 2. [Figure 9] Figure 9 illustrates the adsorption process in Example 2. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the desorption process in Example 2. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the recovery process in Example 2. [Figure 12] Figure 12 illustrates the cooling process in Example 2. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a time chart showing the state of the fan and solenoid valve during each process in Example 2. [Figure 14] Figure 14 shows a schematic configuration of the air compressor of Example 3. [Figure 15] Figure 15 illustrates the adsorption process in Example 3. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a diagram illustrating the desorption process in Example 3. [Figure 17] Figure 17 illustrates the recovery process in Example 3. [Figure 18] Figure 18 illustrates the cooling process in Example 3. [Figure 19] Figure 19 is a time chart showing the state of the fan and solenoid valve during each process in Example 3. [Figure 20] Figure 20 shows a schematic configuration of the air compressor of Example 4. [Figure 21] Figure 21 is a diagram illustrating the adsorption process in Example 4. [Figure 22] Figure 22 is a diagram illustrating the desorption step in Example 4. [Figure 23] Figure 23 is a diagram illustrating the recovery step in Example 4. [Figure 24] Figure 24 is a diagram illustrating the cooling step in Example 4. [Figure 25] Figure 25 is a time chart showing the states of the fan and the solenoid valve in each step in Example 4. [Description of Embodiments]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following description and drawings are examples for explaining the present invention, and are appropriately omitted and simplified for clarity of explanation. The contents described below merely show an example of the embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and can be implemented in various other modes.

[0011] An air compression device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the air compression device 1. The air compression device 1 sucks outside air by a compressor to supply compressed air to a user. Furthermore, in addition to supplying compressed air, the air compression device 1 of the present embodiment also has a function of adsorbing carbon dioxide gas (CO2 gas) contained in air with an adsorbent to recover carbon dioxide (CO2). The air compression device 1 includes a compressor 10, an adsorbent container 11 filled with an adsorbent that adsorbs CO2 gas, a storage container 12 in which the adsorbent container 11 is stored, solenoid valves V1 to V4, and a control device 13. The control device 13 controls the operations of the compressor 10 and the solenoid valves V1 to V4.

[0012] The control unit 13 consists of a computer equipped with processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU (Micro Processing Unit), and DSP (Digital Signal Processor), non-volatile memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, and hard disk drive, volatile memory known as RAM (Random Access Memory), input interfaces, output interfaces, and other peripheral circuits. These hardware components work together to run software and realize multiple functions.

[0013] The adsorbent container 11 is provided with an inlet 110 and an outlet 111 for introducing and discharging gas. Similarly, the containment container 12 is provided with an inlet 120 and an outlet 121 for introducing and discharging gas.

[0014] Solenoid valve V1, located on the suction side of compressor 10, is a three-way valve and functions as a first switching unit that selects and connects either the compressed air inlet 201 or the outlet 111 of the adsorbent container 11 to the suction side of compressor 10. Solenoid valve V2, located on the discharge side of compressor 10, is a three-way valve and functions as a second switching unit that selects and connects either the first outlet 202 for discharging compressed air A11 or the second outlet 203 for discharging CO2 gas C11 to the discharge side of compressor 10. Solenoid valve V3 connects the inlet 110 of adsorbent container 11 to the first introduction passage D1 for introducing air for CO2 gas desorption. Solenoid valve V4 connects the inlet 120 of containment container 12 to the second introduction passage D2 for introducing heated gas A3.

[0015] The air compressor 1 of this embodiment also includes an operation to adsorb and recover CO2 gas from the atmosphere, in addition to the operation to discharge compressed air A11 compressed by the compressor 10 from the first outlet 202. The operation to adsorb and recover CO2 gas includes an adsorption step in which CO2 gas from the atmosphere is adsorbed onto the adsorbent in the adsorbent container 11, a desorption step in which the CO2 gas adsorbed on the adsorbent is desorbed from the adsorbent, and a recovery step in which the desorbed CO2 gas C10 is compressed by the compressor 10 and discharged from the second outlet 203.

[0016] When supplying compressed air A11 to the customer, the solenoid valve V1 connects the compressed air inlet 201 to the suction side of the compressor 10, and the solenoid valve V2 connects the discharge side of the compressor 10 to the first discharge port 202.

[0017] In the adsorption process, solenoid valve V3 is opened to introduce air A2 for CO2 adsorption into the adsorbent container 11, and the CO2 gas contained in the introduced air is adsorbed by the adsorbent. In the desorption process following the adsorption process, solenoid valve V3 is closed and solenoid valve V4 is opened to introduce heating gas A3 into the containment container 12 to heat the adsorbent container 11 filled with adsorbent. The adsorbent is heated, and the adsorbed CO2 gas is desorbed from the adsorbent. In the recovery process following the desorption process, solenoid valve V1 connects the adsorbent container 11 to the suction side of the compressor 10, and solenoid valve V2 connects the second outlet 203 to the discharge side of the compressor 10. The desorbed CO2 gas C10 is introduced from the adsorbent container 11 into the compressor 10 and compressed. The compressed CO2 gas C11 is then discharged from the second outlet 203.

[0018] As described above, in this embodiment, CO2 gas can be desorbed and recovered from the adsorbent that has adsorbed it, making it possible to reuse the adsorbent by performing the recovery process. As a result, as long as there is no decrease in adsorption capacity due to deterioration of the adsorbent over time, CO2 gas can be continuously adsorbed and recovered without replacing the adsorbent filled in the adsorbent container 11. Furthermore, since the desorbed CO2 gas is compressed and discharged by the compressor 10, the volume of recovered CO2 gas can be reduced.

[0019] <Example 1> Figures 2 to 7 illustrate Example 1 of the above-described embodiment. Figure 2 shows the schematic configuration of the air compressor 1A of Example 1. In Example 1, the compressor 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises one compressor body 100. In the air compressor 1A of Example 1, CO2 gas is adsorbed and recovered from outside air blown to a heat exchanger 18 provided on the discharge side of the compressor body 100.

[0020] The switching section 14A, corresponding to solenoid valve V1 in Figure 1, consists of a solenoid valve V11, which acts as a suction throttle valve connecting a compressed air inlet 201 to the suction side of the compressor body 100, and a solenoid valve V12, which connects a primary tank 16, which communicates with the adsorbent container 11, to the suction side of the compressor body 100. The switching section 15A, corresponding to solenoid valve V2 in Figure 1, consists of a solenoid valve V21, which connects a first outlet 202 to the gas outlet side of a heat exchanger 18 provided on the discharge side of the compressor body 100, and a solenoid valve V22, which connects a second outlet 203 to the gas outlet side of the heat exchanger 18.

[0021] Atmospheric air A10, taken in via solenoid valves V3 and V5, is blown into the heat exchanger 18 by fan F1. The outlet 111 of the adsorbent container 11 is connected to the suction side of fan F1 via solenoid valve V6. The outside air intake 204 is also connected to the suction side of fan F1 via solenoid valve V5. Exhaust air A3a is the cooling air (atmospheric air A10) blown into the heat exchanger 18, which is heated by heat exchange with compressed gas and then discharged from the heat exchanger 18. The second introduction passage D2, connected to the exhaust side of the heat exchanger 18, is connected to the inlet 120 of the containment container 12 via solenoid valve V4. The second introduction passage D2 is equipped with fan F2 to take in the exhaust air A3a, which is the heated gas, into the second introduction passage D2.

[0022] The adsorbent container 11, located inside the containment container 12, is heated by exhaust air A3a introduced into the containment container 12 via the second introduction passage D2. The primary tank 16, which temporarily stores CO2 gas, is located in the flow path connecting the outlet 111 of the adsorbent container 11 and the solenoid valve V12. The flow path connecting the outlet 111 of the adsorbent container 11 and the primary tank 16 is equipped with a fan F3 for transferring CO2 gas and a solenoid valve V7 for opening and closing the flow path. The primary tank 16 is also equipped with a solenoid valve V8, which is a throttle valve for releasing air. A secondary tank 17 for storing CO2 gas compressed by the compressor body 100 is detachably connected to the second outlet 203 for discharging CO2 gas. Although the air compressor 1 shown in Figure 2 does not include the secondary tank 17, it may also be configured to include the secondary tank 17 in the air compressor 1. The control device 13 controls the opening and closing of solenoid valves V3~V8, V11, V12, V21, V22, and the starting and stopping of the compressor body 100 and fans F1~F3.

[0023] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the adsorption process in Example 1. During the adsorption process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V3, V6, V11, and V21, while closing solenoid valves V4, V5, V7, V8, V12, and V22. Furthermore, it drives fan F1 and stops fans F2 and F3.

[0024] Air A10, intended for CO2 adsorption (air A2 in Figure 1), is introduced into the adsorbent container 11 from the inlet 110 via the solenoid valve V3. The introduced air A10 passes through the adsorbent filling in the adsorbent container 11 and is discharged from the outlet 111, and is further blown as cooling air to the heat exchanger 18 by the fan F1. By closing the solenoid valves V4, V7, and V8 and stopping the fan F3, backflow of CO2 gas from the primary tank 16 into the containment container 12, inflow of air from the containment container 12 into the primary tank 16, and release of CO2 gas from the primary tank 16 to the outside are prevented. In this way, as the air A10 passes through the adsorbent, the CO2 gas contained in the air A10 is adsorbed by the adsorbent.

[0025] Meanwhile, atmospheric air A10 is introduced into the compressor body 100 from the compressed air inlet 201, and the atmospheric air A10 is compressed into compressed air A11. The compressed air A11 discharged from the compressor body 100 is cooled in the heat exchanger 18 and then discharged from the first outlet 202 to be supplied to the customer.

[0026] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the detachment process in Example 1. In the detachment process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V4, V5, V7, V8, V11, and V21, while closing solenoid valves V3, V6, V12, and V22, and also drives fans F1 to F3.

[0027] Atmospheric air A10, taken in from the outside air intake 204, is supplied to the heat exchanger 18 as cooling air via the solenoid valve V5. The exhaust air A3a discharged from the heat exchanger 18 is introduced into the second inlet passage D2 by the fan F2, passes through the solenoid valve V4, and is supplied to the containment container 12 from the inlet 120. The exhaust air A3a supplied to the containment container 12 heats the adsorbent container 11 filled with adsorbent, and is then discharged from the outlet 121. As a result, the adsorbent filled in the adsorbent container 11 is heated, and the CO2 gas C10 adsorbed on the adsorbent is desorbed from the adsorbent. The desorbed CO2 gas C10 is transferred from the adsorbent container 11 to the primary tank 16 by the fan F3. In the desorption process, as in the adsorption process, compressed air A11, compressed by the compressor body 100 and cooled in the heat exchanger 18, is supplied to the customer from the first outlet 202.

[0028] Furthermore, the solenoid valve V8, which is a valve for releasing air, is temporarily opened at the start of the desorption process, allowing gas with a low CO2 concentration remaining in the flow path from the adsorbent container 11 to the primary tank 16 and in the primary tank 16 to be exhausted to the outside.

[0029] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the recovery process in Example 1. In the recovery process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V4, V5, V7, V12, and V22, closes solenoid valves V3, V6, V8, V11, and V21, and also drives fans F1 to F3.

[0030] CO2 gas C10 from the primary tank 16 is supplied to the compressor body 100 via the solenoid valve V12. The CO2 gas C10 is compressed by the compressor body 100, and the compressed CO2 gas C11 is discharged from the compressor body 100. The compressed CO2 gas C11, which has been heated by compression, is cooled by the heat exchanger 18 and discharged from the second outlet 203 to be stored in the secondary tank 17. In the recovery process as well, high-temperature exhaust air A3a is introduced into the containment container 12, similar to the desorption process, to ensure efficient removal and recovery of CO2 gas from the adsorbent.

[0031] Figure 6 illustrates the cooling process for cooling the adsorbent. In the recovery process described above, the adsorbent is continuously heated, causing its temperature to rise. Therefore, it is preferable to perform a cooling process to cool the adsorbent before entering the adsorption process so that the adsorption of CO2 gas in the next adsorption process can be carried out efficiently. In the cooling process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V3, V5, V6, V11, and V21, while closing solenoid valves V4, V7, V8, V12, and V22. Furthermore, it drives fan F1 and stops fans F2 and F3.

[0032] In the cooling process, air A10 is introduced into the adsorbent container 11 to cool the adsorbent. The air A10 supplied to the heat exchanger 18 via the solenoid valve V6 rises in temperature due to heat exchange with the high-temperature adsorbent. Therefore, since the cooling performance of the heat exchanger 18 relative to compressed air A11 would decrease if only air A10 supplied via the solenoid valve V6 were used, the solenoid valve V5 is opened to also draw in air A10 from the outside air intake 204. In the cooling process, as in the adsorption and desorption processes, compressed air A11, compressed by the compressor body 100 and cooled by the heat exchanger 18, is supplied to the customer from the first outlet 202.

[0033] Figure 7 is a time chart showing the status of the fan and solenoid valve during each process. In Figure 7, the numbers 0 and 1 indicating the open / closed state of the solenoid valve represent closed = 0 and open = 1, while the numbers 0 and 1 indicating the operating state of the fan represent stopped = 0 and driven = 1.

[0034] At the start of operation, the system enters the adsorption phase, with each solenoid valve and fan operating in the state corresponding to that phase. After the pre-set adsorption time is complete, the system switches to the desorption phase. After the pre-set desorption time is complete, the system switches to the cooling phase. In the cooling phase, when the temperature of the cooling air that has passed through the adsorbent falls below the set temperature, the system switches back to the adsorption phase. This cycle of "adsorption phase → desorption phase → cooling phase" is repeated, and when the number of repetitions reaches a pre-set number, the system switches to the recovery phase. After the pre-set recovery time has elapsed, the recovery phase ends, and the system switches back to the cooling phase. After the temperature of the cooling air discharged from the adsorbent container 11 falls below the set temperature, the cooling phase ends, and the system returns to the adsorption phase. The above flow is repeated, and continuous adsorption and recovery of CO2 gas takes place.

[0035] In Example 1, a solenoid valve V8 for releasing air was provided in the primary tank 16, and the low-concentration carbon dioxide gas present in the flow path from the primary tank 16 and the adsorbent to the primary tank 16 at the start of the desorption process was exhausted from the solenoid valve V8 by a fan F3. However, by omitting the fan F3 and performing the recovery operation until the primary tank 16 becomes negative pressure during the previous recovery process using the compressor body 100, it is possible to avoid the presence of low-concentration carbon dioxide gas in the flow path at the start of the desorption process.

[0036] Furthermore, regarding the determination of the end timing of the adsorption process, the adsorption time may be set as described above, or a CO2 sensor and a sensor for detecting the tank weight may be installed on the adsorbent container 11, and the process may be determined to be complete when the detected values ​​reach a set value. Similarly, regarding the end timing of the desorption process, instead of setting it by the desorption time, a CO2 sensor and a pressure sensor may be installed on the primary tank 16, and the process may be determined to be complete when the detected values ​​reach a set value. In addition to time, the end of the recovery process may be determined by the detected values ​​of the CO2 sensors and pressure sensors attached to the adsorbent container 11 and the primary tank 16, or by the detected value from a weighing scale attached to the adsorbent container 11. Furthermore, regarding the determination of the end timing of the cooling process, instead of determining it by the temperature of the cooling air, the process may be determined to be complete when a predetermined cooling time has elapsed.

[0037] The adsorption, desorption, and cooling processes are performed during the time when compressed air is being supplied to the customer (i.e., during normal operation), while the recovery process is performed during the time when compressed air is not being supplied to the customer.

[0038] As described above, in Example 1, the CO2 gas can be desorbed and recovered from the adsorbent that has adsorbed CO2 gas through the desorption and recovery steps, making it possible to reuse the adsorbent. As a result, as long as there is no decrease in adsorption capacity due to deterioration of the adsorbent over time, the adsorption and recovery of CO2 gas can be continuously performed without replacing the adsorbent filled in the adsorbent container 11. Furthermore, since the desorbed CO2 gas is compressed and discharged by the compressor 10, the volume of recovered CO2 gas can be reduced.

[0039] <Example 2> Figures 8-13 illustrate Example 2. Figure 8 shows the schematic configuration of the air compressor 1B of Example 2. The air compressor 1B of Example 2 is designed to adsorb and recover CO2 gas from compressed air (outside air) by a compressor. The air compressor 1B is equipped with a first outlet 202a, a third outlet 202b, a fourth outlet 202c, and a fifth outlet 202d for supplying compressed air to the customer.

[0040] The compressor 10 in Example 2 is a two-stage compressor comprising two compressor bodies 100 and 101. Primary compression is performed in the first compressor body 100, and the primary compressed gas is further secondary compressed in the second compressor body 101. The compressed air primary compressed in the first compressor body 100 is cooled by the first heat exchanger 18a, and the compressed air secondary compressed in the second compressor body 101 is cooled by the second heat exchanger 18b. Fans that blow cooling air to the heat exchangers 18a and 18b are not shown in the illustration.

[0041] The switching section 14B, corresponding to solenoid valve V1 in Figure 1, is composed of solenoid valves V31 and V32. Solenoid valve V31 is installed between the gas outlet side of the first heat exchanger 18a and the suction side of the second compressor body 101. Solenoid valve V32 is installed between the primary tank 16 and the suction side of the second compressor body 101. The gas outlet side of the first heat exchanger 18a is also connected to the third outlet 202b by solenoid valve V23. Meanwhile, compressed air is supplied to the customer by selecting one of the first outlet 202a, third outlet 202b, fourth outlet 202c, and fifth outlet 202d. Therefore, the switching section 15B, corresponding to solenoid valve V2 in Figure 1, is composed of solenoid valves V21, V22, V23, V24, and V25 installed at those outlets.

[0042] The discharge side of the second compressor body 101 is connected to the first inlet 120a of the containment container 12 via solenoid valve V4, and is also connected to the gas inlet side of the second heat exchanger 18b via solenoid valve V40. Furthermore, the gas inlet side of the second heat exchanger 18b is also connected to the first outlet 121a of the containment container 12 via solenoid valve V41. The gas outlet side of the second heat exchanger 18b is connected to solenoid valves V42 and V21. Solenoid valve V42 connects the gas outlet side of the second heat exchanger 18b to solenoid valves V22 and V43. Solenoid valve V43 is connected to the inlet 110 of the adsorbent container 11 via solenoid valve V3, and is also connected to the second inlet 120b of the containment container 12 via solenoid valve V44.

[0043] Similar to the first example, the outlet 111 of the adsorbent container 11 is connected to the primary tank 16 via a solenoid valve V7. The adsorbent container 11 is also connected to the fourth outlet 202c via a solenoid valve V24. The second outlet 121b of the containment container 12 is connected to the fifth outlet 202d via a solenoid valve V25. The control device 13 controls the opening and closing of solenoid valves V3, V4, V7, V21~V25, V31, V32, V40~V44, and the starting and stopping of the compressor bodies 100 and 101.

[0044] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the adsorption process in Example 2. During the adsorption process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V3, V24, V31, V40, V42, and V43, while closing solenoid valves V4, V7, V21, V22, V23, V25, V32, V41, and V44.

[0045] The atmospheric air A10 taken in from the compressed air inlet 201 is first compressed by the first compressor body 100. The compressed air A11 discharged from the first compressor body 100 is cooled in the first heat exchanger 18a and then secondarily compressed by the second compressor body 101. The compressed air A12 discharged from the second compressor body 101 flows into the second heat exchanger 18b through the solenoid valve V40. The compressed air A12 cooled in the second heat exchanger 18b flows into the adsorbent container 11 through the solenoid valves V42, V43, and V3. The CO2 gas contained in the compressed air A12 is adsorbed by the adsorbent and supplied to the customer from the fourth outlet 202c through the solenoid valve V24.

[0046] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the detachment process in Example 2. In the detachment process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V4, V7, V21, V31, and V41, while closing solenoid valves V3, V22, V23, V24, V25, V32, V40, V42, V43, and V44.

[0047] The atmospheric air A10 taken in through the compressed air inlet 201 is first compressed by the first compressor body 100. The compressed air A11 discharged from the first compressor body 100 is cooled in the first heat exchanger 18a and then secondarily compressed by the second compressor body 101. The compressed air A12, whose temperature has risen after being compressed in the second compressor body 101, flows into the containment container 12 through the solenoid valve V4. As a result, the adsorbent in the adsorbent container 11 placed inside the containment container 12 is heated, causing CO2 gas to be released, and the released CO2 gas is stored in the primary tank 16 through the solenoid valve V7.

[0048] Compressed air A12 flows into the inlet 120a of the containment container 12, is discharged from the outlet 121a, and flows into the second heat exchanger 18b through the solenoid valve V41. The compressed air A12 cooled in the second heat exchanger 18b is supplied to the customer from the first outlet 202a through the solenoid valve V21.

[0049] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the recovery process in Example 2. In the recovery process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V7, V22, V23, V32, V40, and V42, while closing solenoid valves V3, V4, V21, V24, V25, V31, V41, V43, and V44.

[0050] Since the primary tank 16 is connected to the discharge side of the second compressor body 101 via the solenoid valve V32, the CO2 gas C10 desorbed from the adsorbent in the desorption process is compressed by the second compressor body 101. The compressed CO2 gas C11 discharged from the second compressor body 101 flows into the second heat exchanger 18b through the solenoid valve V40. The compressed CO2 gas C11 cooled in the second heat exchanger 18b is discharged from the second outlet 203 through the solenoid valves V42 and V22 and stored in the secondary tank 17 connected to the second outlet 203.

[0051] Meanwhile, the atmospheric air A10 taken in from the compressed air inlet 201 is first compressed by the first compressor body 100. The compressed air A11 discharged from the first compressor body 100 is cooled by the first heat exchanger 18a and then supplied to the customer through the solenoid valve V23 and the third outlet 202b.

[0052] Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating the cooling process in Example 2. During the cooling process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V25, V31, V40, V42, V43, and V44, while closing solenoid valves V3, V4, V7, V21, V22, V23, V24, V32, and V41.

[0053] The atmospheric air A10 taken in from the compressed air inlet 201 is first compressed by the first compressor body 100. The compressed air A11 discharged from the first compressor body 100 is cooled in the first heat exchanger 18a and then secondarily compressed by the second compressor body 101. The compressed air A12, whose temperature has risen after being compressed in the second compressor body 101, flows into the second heat exchanger 18b through the solenoid valve V40. The compressed air A12 cooled in the second heat exchanger 18b flows into the containment container 12 through the solenoid valve V42, V43, and V44. The compressed air A12 that has flowed into the containment container 12 is discharged from the fifth outlet 202d through the solenoid valve V25 connected to the outlet 121b of the containment container 12 and supplied to the customer.

[0054] Figure 13 is a time chart showing the state of the fan and solenoid valve during each process. The way the operating state is represented is the same as in Figure 7 of Example 1. At the start of operation, the adsorption process begins, and each solenoid valve and fan is in the state corresponding to that process. As in Figure 7 of Example 1, the operation of "adsorption process → desorption process → cooling process" is repeated, and when the number of repetitions reaches a preset number, it switches to the recovery process. Then, when the preset recovery time has elapsed, the recovery process ends and it switches to the cooling process. After that, when the temperature of the cooling air discharged from the adsorbent container 11 falls below the set temperature, the cooling process ends and it returns to the adsorption process, and the above flow is repeated, and continuous recovery of CO2 gas is carried out.

[0055] In Example 2, the CO2 gas is recovered solely by the negative pressure created when the second compressor body 101 draws air from the primary tank 16. However, as in Example 1, a transfer fan F3 and a discharge solenoid valve V8 may be provided, and gas with a low carbon dioxide concentration present in the flow path may be discharged from the discharge solenoid valve V8. In addition, regarding the method for setting the end timing of each process, in addition to the method described above, the method described in the explanation of the time chart in Example 1 (Figure 7) may also be adopted.

[0056] As described above, in Example 2 as well, the CO2 gas can be desorbed and recovered from the adsorbent that has adsorbed CO2 gas through the desorption and recovery processes, making it possible to reuse the adsorbent. As a result, as long as there is no decrease in adsorption capacity due to deterioration of the adsorbent over time, the adsorption and recovery of CO2 gas can be continuously performed without replacing the adsorbent filled in the adsorbent container 11. Furthermore, since the desorbed CO2 gas is compressed and discharged by the compressor 10, the volume of recovered CO2 gas can be reduced. In addition, compressed air can be provided to the customer in any of the processes: the adsorption process, the desorption process, the recovery process, and the cooling process.

[0057] <Example 3> Figures 14-19 illustrate Example 3. Figure 14 shows the schematic configuration of the air compressor 1C of Example 3. In the air compressor 1C of Example 3, CO2 gas adsorption and recovery are performed from the atmosphere A10 supplied to the heat exchanger, as in Example 1. The air compressor 1C is equipped with a first outlet 202a and a third outlet 202b as outlets for supplying compressed air to the customer.

[0058] In the case of the air compressor 1C of Example 3, a two-stage compressor 10 equipped with two compressor bodies 100 and 101 is used, similar to the case of Example 2. The compressed air primarily compressed by the first compressor body 100 is cooled by the first heat exchanger 18a, and the compressed air primarily compressed by the second compressor body 101 is cooled by the second heat exchanger 18b. Fans that blow cooling air to the heat exchangers 18a and 18b are not shown in the illustration.

[0059] The switching section 14B, corresponding to solenoid valve V1 in Figure 1, is composed of solenoid valves V31 and V32. Solenoid valve V31 is installed between the gas outlet side of the first heat exchanger 18a and the suction side of the second compressor body 101. Solenoid valve V32 is installed between the primary tank 16 and the suction side of the second compressor body 101. The gas outlet side of the first heat exchanger 18a is also connected to the third outlet 202b by solenoid valve V23. On the other hand, compressed air is supplied to the customer by selecting either the first outlet 202a or the third outlet 202b. Therefore, the switching section 15C, corresponding to solenoid valve V2 in Figure 1, is composed of solenoid valves V21, V22, and V23.

[0060] The discharge side of the second compressor body 101 is connected to the gas inlet side of the second heat exchanger 18b. The gas outlet side of the second heat exchanger 18b is connected to the first outlet 202a via solenoid valve V21 and to the second outlet 203 via solenoid valve V22. Similar to the first embodiment, the inlet 110 of the adsorbent container 11 is provided with a solenoid valve V3 for taking in atmospheric air A10. The outlet 111 of the adsorbent container 11 is connected to the cooling air intake side of the heat exchangers 18a and 18b via solenoid valve V6 and to the primary tank 16 via solenoid valve V7 and fan F3. Atmospheric air A10 taken in from the outside air intake 204 is also supplied to the cooling air intake side of the heat exchangers 18a and 18b via solenoid valve V5.

[0061] A solenoid valve V8 is provided in the primary tank 16 as a valve for releasing air. The second inlet passage D2, which is connected to the exhaust side of the first heat exchanger 18a, is connected to the inlet 120 of the containment container 12 via a solenoid valve V4. The second inlet passage D2 is provided with a fan F2 for taking in the exhaust air A3a from the first heat exchanger 18a into the second inlet passage D2. In the example shown in Figure 14, the exhaust air A3a from the first heat exchanger 18a is introduced into the containment container 12 via the second inlet passage D2, but it is acceptable to configure it so that the exhaust air A3a from at least one of the first heat exchanger 18a and the second heat exchanger 18b is introduced into the containment container 12. The control device 13 controls the opening and closing of solenoid valves V3~V8, V21~V23, V31, V32, and the starting and stopping of the compressor bodies 100, 101, and fans F2, F3.

[0062] Figure 15 is a diagram illustrating the adsorption process in Example 3. During the adsorption process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V3, V6, V21, and V31, while closing solenoid valves V4, V5, V7, V8, V22, V23, and V32, and also stops fans F2 and F3.

[0063] When solenoid valves V3 and V6 are opened, atmospheric air A10, which is used as CO2 adsorption air, is introduced from the inlet 110 into the adsorbent container 11. After passing through the adsorbent container 11, it is then blown through solenoid valve V6 to the heat exchangers 18a and 18b. As atmospheric air A10 passes through the adsorbent container 11, the CO2 gas contained in atmospheric air A10 is adsorbed by the adsorbent.

[0064] Meanwhile, atmospheric air A10 taken in from the compressed air inlet 201 is first compressed by the first compressor body 100. The compressed air A11 discharged from the first compressor body 100 is cooled by the first heat exchanger 18a and then introduced to the suction side of the second compressor body 101 via the solenoid valve V31. The compressed air A11 is secondarily compressed by the second compressor body 101 and then cooled by the second heat exchanger 18b. The compressed air A12 cooled by the second heat exchanger 18b is discharged from the first outlet 202a through the solenoid valve V21 and supplied to the customer.

[0065] Figure 16 is a diagram illustrating the detachment process in Example 3. During the detachment process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V4, V5, V7, V8, V21, and V31, while closing solenoid valves V3, V6, V22, V23, and V32, and also drives fans F2 and F3.

[0066] The exhaust air A3a discharged from the first heat exchanger 18a is taken into the second inlet passage D2 by fan F2, passes through solenoid valve V4, and is introduced into the containment container 12 from the inlet 120. The exhaust air A3a introduced into the containment container 12 heats the adsorbent container 11 filled with adsorbent, and is then discharged from the outlet 121. As a result, the adsorbent filled in the adsorbent container 11 is heated, and the CO2 gas C10 adsorbed on the adsorbent is desorbed from the adsorbent. The desorbed CO2 gas C10 is transferred from the adsorbent container 11 to the primary tank 16 by fan F3. The solenoid valve V8, which is a valve for releasing air, is temporarily opened at the start of the desorption process, and gas with a low CO2 concentration remaining in the flow path from the adsorbent container 11 to the primary tank 16 and in the primary tank 16 is exhausted to the outside.

[0067] On the other hand, similar to the adsorption process, the atmospheric air A10 taken in from the compressed air inlet 201 is sequentially compressed by the compressor bodies 100 and 101, and the compressed air A12 is discharged from the first outlet 202a and provided to the customer.

[0068] Figure 17 is a diagram illustrating the recovery process in Example 3. In the recovery process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V4, V5, V7, V22, V23, and V32, while closing solenoid valves V3, V6, V8, V21, and V31, and also drives fans F2 and F3.

[0069] Similar to the desorption process, exhaust air A3a discharged from the first heat exchanger 18a is taken into the second inlet passage D2 by fan F2, introduced into the containment container 12 to heat the adsorbent container 11, and then discharged from outlet 121. This ensures the continued detachment of CO2 gas C10 from the adsorbent. The CO2 gas C10 detached from the adsorbent and the CO2 gas C10 stored in the primary tank 16 are supplied to the second compressor body 101 through the open solenoid valve V32. The CO2 gas C10 is compressed by the second compressor body 101, and the compressed CO2 gas C11 is discharged from the second compressor body 101. The compressed CO2 gas C11, which has been heated by compression, is cooled by the second heat exchanger 18b, discharged through solenoid valve V22 to the second outlet 203, and stored in the secondary tank 17.

[0070] Meanwhile, the atmospheric air A10 taken in through the compressed air inlet 201 is compressed by the first compressor body 100. The compressed air A11 discharged from the first compressor body 100 is cooled by the first heat exchanger 18a and then discharged from the third outlet 202b to be supplied to the customer.

[0071] Figure 18 illustrates the cooling process in Example 3. In the cooling process, compressed air A12 is supplied to the customer while the adsorbent is cooled. The control device 13 opens solenoid valves V3, V5, V6, V21, and V31, while closing solenoid valves V4, V7, V8, V22, V23, and V32, and also stops fans F2 and F3.

[0072] Similar to the adsorption process, the atmospheric air A10 taken in through the compressed air inlet 201 is sequentially compressed by the compressor bodies 100 and 101, and the compressed air A12 is discharged from the first outlet 202a and provided to the customer. In the cooling process, the atmospheric air A10 supplied to the heat exchangers 18a and 18b via the solenoid valve V6 rises in temperature due to heat exchange with the high-temperature adsorbent. Therefore, since the cooling performance of the heat exchangers 18a and 18b would decrease if only atmospheric air A10 via the solenoid valve V6 were used, the solenoid valve V5 is opened to also take in atmospheric air A10 from the outside air intake 204.

[0073] Figure 19 is a time chart showing the state of the fan and solenoid valve during each process. The way the operating state is represented is the same as in Figure 7 of Example 1. At the start of operation, the adsorption process begins, and each solenoid valve and fan is in the state corresponding to that process. As in Figure 7 of Example 1, the operation of "adsorption process → desorption process → cooling process" is repeated, and when the number of repetitions reaches a preset number, it switches to the recovery process. Then, when the preset recovery time has elapsed, the recovery process ends and it switches to the cooling process. After that, when the temperature of the cooling air discharged from the adsorbent container 11 falls below the set temperature, the cooling process ends and it returns to the adsorption process, and the above flow is repeated, and continuous recovery of CO2 gas is carried out.

[0074] In Example 3, a solenoid valve V8 for releasing air was provided in the primary tank 16, and the low-concentration carbon dioxide gas present in the flow path from the primary tank 16 and the adsorbent to the primary tank 16 at the start of the desorption process was exhausted from the solenoid valve V8 by fan F3. However, by omitting fan F3 and performing the recovery operation until the primary tank 16 becomes negative pressure during the recovery process using the second compressor body 101 as described above, it is possible to avoid the presence of low-concentration carbon dioxide gas in the flow path at the start of the desorption process. Furthermore, regarding the method for setting the end timing of each process, in addition to the method described above, the method described in the explanation of the time chart in Example 1 (Figure 7) may also be adopted.

[0075] As described above, in Example 3 as well, the CO2 gas can be desorbed and recovered from the adsorbent that has adsorbed CO2 gas through the desorption and recovery processes, making it possible to reuse the adsorbent. As a result, as long as there is no decrease in adsorption capacity due to deterioration of the adsorbent over time, the adsorption and recovery of CO2 gas can be continuously performed without replacing the adsorbent filled in the adsorbent container 11. Furthermore, since the desorbed CO2 gas is compressed and discharged by the compressor 10, the volume of recovered CO2 gas can be reduced. In addition, compressed air can be provided to the customer in any of the processes: the adsorption process, the desorption process, the recovery process, and the cooling process.

[0076] <Example 4> Figures 20-25 illustrate Example 4. Figure 20 shows the schematic configuration of the air compressor 1D of Example 4. In the air compressor 1D of Example 4, CO2 gas adsorption and recovery are performed from the atmosphere A10 supplied to the heat exchangers 18a and 18b, as in Example 3. The fans that supply cooling air to the heat exchangers 18a and 18b are not shown in the figure. The air compressor 1D is equipped with two first outlets 202a and a third outlet 202b as outlets for supplying compressed air to the customer. A two-stage compressor 10 equipped with two compressor bodies 100 and 101 is used.

[0077] Furthermore, the switching section 14B, which corresponds to solenoid valve V1 in Figure 1, is composed of solenoid valves V31 and V32. On the other hand, since compressed air is supplied to the customer through the first outlet 202a and the third outlet 202b, the switching section 15D, which corresponds to solenoid valve V2 in Figure 1, is composed of solenoid valves V21, V22, and V23.

[0078] A first heat exchanger 18a is provided on the discharge side of the first compressor body 100. The gas outlet side of the first heat exchanger 18a is connected to the third outlet 202b by a solenoid valve V23 and to the suction side of the second compressor body 101 by a solenoid valve V31. The suction side of the second compressor body 101 is also connected to the primary tank 16 by a solenoid valve V32. The discharge side of the second compressor body 101 is connected to the gas inlet side of the second heat exchanger 18b by a solenoid valve V40 and to the containment container 12 by a solenoid valve V4. The containment container 12 is connected to the gas inlet side of the second heat exchanger 18b by a solenoid valve 41.

[0079] The gas outlet side of the second heat exchanger 18b is connected to the first outlet 202a via solenoid valve V21 and to the second outlet 203 via solenoid valve V22. A secondary tank 17 is detachably connected to the second outlet 203.

[0080] The adsorbent container 11, housed in the containment container 12, is equipped with a solenoid valve V3 at its inlet 110 for taking in atmospheric air A10. The inlet 110 side of the adsorbent container 11 is connected to the primary tank 16 via a solenoid valve V7. The outlet 111 of the adsorbent container 11 is connected to the cooling air intake side of the heat exchangers 18a and 18b via a solenoid valve V6. Atmospheric air A10 taken in from the outside air intake 204 is also supplied to the cooling air intake side of the heat exchangers 18a and 18b via a solenoid valve V5. The control device 13 controls the opening and closing of solenoid valves V3-V7, V21-V23, V31, V32, V40, and V41, as well as the starting and stopping of the compressor bodies 100 and 101.

[0081] Figure 21 is a diagram illustrating the adsorption process in Example 4. During the adsorption process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V3, V6, V21, V31, and V40, while closing solenoid valves V4, V5, V7, V22, V23, V32, and V41.

[0082] When solenoid valves V3 and V6 are opened, atmospheric air A10, which is used for CO2 adsorption, is introduced from the inlet 110 into the adsorbent container 11. After passing through the adsorbent container 11, it is then blown through solenoid valve V6 to the heat exchangers 18a and 18b. As atmospheric air A10 passes through the adsorbent container 11, the CO2 gas contained in atmospheric air A10 is adsorbed by the adsorbent.

[0083] Meanwhile, atmospheric air A10 taken in from the compressed air inlet 201 is primary compressed by the first compressor body 100. The compressed air A11 discharged from the first compressor body 100 is cooled in the first heat exchanger 18a and then introduced to the suction side of the second compressor body 101 via the solenoid valve V31. The compressed air A11 is secondary compressed in the second compressor body 101 and then flows into the second heat exchanger 18b through the solenoid valve V40 where it is cooled. The compressed air A12 cooled in the second heat exchanger 18b is discharged from the first outlet 202a through the solenoid valve V21 and supplied to the customer.

[0084] Figure 22 is a diagram illustrating the detachment process in Example 4. In the detachment process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V4, V5, V7, V21, V31, and V41, while closing solenoid valves V3, V6, V22, V23, V32, and V40.

[0085] Similar to the adsorption process described above, the atmospheric air A10 taken in from the compressed air inlet 201 is first compressed by the first compressor body 100, cooled in the first heat exchanger 18a, and then secondarily compressed by the second compressor body 101. The compressed air A12 discharged from the second compressor body 101 flows into the containment container 12 through the solenoid valve V4. As a result, the adsorbent container 11 filled with adsorbent is heated by the compressed air A12, which has become hot due to the secondary compression. When the adsorbent is heated, the adsorbed CO2 gas C10 is detached from the adsorbent. The detached CO2 gas C10 flows into the primary tank 16 through the solenoid valve V7 and is temporarily stored in the primary tank 16.

[0086] Meanwhile, the compressed air A12 that flows into the containment container 12 is discharged from the outlet 121 of the containment container 12 and flows into the second heat exchanger 18b through the solenoid valve V41. The compressed air A12 cooled in the second heat exchanger 18b is then discharged from the first outlet 202a through the solenoid valve V21 and supplied to the customer.

[0087] Figure 23 is a diagram illustrating the recovery process in Example 4. In the recovery process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V5, V7, V22, V23, V32, and V40, while closing solenoid valves V3, V4, V6, V21, V31, and V41.

[0088] In the recovery process, solenoid valves V7 and V32 are opened, and the primary tank 16 and adsorbent container 11 are connected to the suction side of the second compressor body 101. As a result, the CO2 gas C10 in the primary tank 16 and adsorbent container 11 is compressed by the second compressor body 101, and the compressed CO2 gas C11 is discharged from the second compressor body 101. The compressed CO2 gas C11 discharged from the second compressor body 101 flows into the second heat exchanger 18b through solenoid valve V40 and is cooled. The compressed CO2 gas C11 cooled in the second heat exchanger 18b is discharged from the second outlet 203 through solenoid valve V22 and provided to the customer. The cooling air blown to the heat exchangers 18a and 18b is atmospheric air A10 taken in from the outside air intake 204.

[0089] Figure 24 is a diagram illustrating the cooling process in Example 4. During the cooling process, the control device 13 opens solenoid valves V3, V5, V6, V21, V31, and V40, while closing solenoid valves V4, V7, V22, V23, V32, and V41.

[0090] Similar to the adsorption process, the atmospheric air A10 taken in from the compressed air inlet 201 is sequentially compressed by the compressor bodies 100 and 101, and the compressed air A12 is discharged from the first outlet 202a and provided to the customer. In the cooling process, the atmospheric air A10 supplied to the heat exchangers 18a and 18b via the solenoid valve V6 rises in temperature due to heat exchange with the high-temperature adsorbent. Therefore, since the cooling performance of the heat exchangers 18a and 18b would decrease with only the atmospheric air A10 supplied via the solenoid valve V6, the solenoid valve V5 is also opened to blow atmospheric air A10 taken in from the outside air intake 204 to the heat exchangers 18a and 18b.

[0091] Figure 25 is a time chart showing the state of the fan and solenoid valve during each process. The way the operating state is represented is the same as in Figure 7 of Example 1. At the start of operation, the adsorption process begins, and each solenoid valve and fan is in the state corresponding to that process. As in Figure 7 of Example 1, the operation of "adsorption process → desorption process → cooling process" is repeated, and when the number of repetitions reaches a preset number, it switches to the recovery process. Then, when the preset recovery time has elapsed, the recovery process ends and it switches to the cooling process. After that, when the temperature of the cooling air discharged from the adsorbent container 11 falls below the set temperature, the cooling process ends and it returns to the adsorption process, and the above flow is repeated, and continuous recovery of CO2 gas is carried out.

[0092] In Example 4, the CO2 gas is recovered solely by the negative pressure created when the second compressor body 101 draws air from the primary tank 16. However, as in Example 1, a transfer fan F3 and a discharge solenoid valve V8 may be provided, and gas with a low carbon dioxide concentration present in the flow path may be discharged from the discharge solenoid valve V8. In addition, regarding the method for setting the end timing of each process, in addition to the method described above, a method such as the one described in the explanation of the time chart in Example 1 (Figure 7) may be adopted.

[0093] As described above, in Example 4 as well, the CO2 gas can be desorbed and recovered from the adsorbent that has adsorbed CO2 gas through the desorption and recovery processes, making it possible to reuse the adsorbent. As a result, as long as there is no decrease in adsorption capacity due to deterioration of the adsorbent over time, the adsorption and recovery of CO2 gas can be continuously performed without replacing the adsorbent filled in the adsorbent container 11. Furthermore, since the desorbed CO2 gas is compressed and discharged by the compressor 10, the volume of recovered CO2 gas can be reduced. In addition, compressed air can be provided to the customer in any of the processes: the adsorption process, the desorption process, the recovery process, and the cooling process.

[0094] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments only represent a part of the application examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configurations of the above embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0095] 1,1A,1B,1C...Air compressor, 10...Compressor, 11...Adsorbent container, 12...Container container, 13...Control device, 16...Primary tank, 17...Secondary tank, 18...Heat exchanger, 18a...First heat exchanger, 18b...Second heat exchanger, 100,101...Compressor body, 201...Compression air inlet, 202,202a...First outlet, 202b...Third outlet, 202c...Fourth outlet, 202d...Fifth outlet, 203...Second outlet, A3a...Exhaust air, D1...First inlet, D2...Second inlet, F1~F3...Fans, V1~V8,V11,V12,V21~V25,V31,V32,V40~V44...Solenoid valves

Claims

1. A compressor comprising at least one compressor body, An adsorbent container containing an adsorbent that adsorbs carbon dioxide gas, A container in which the adsorbent container is housed, A first valve connects the first air intake passage to the adsorbent container, A second valve connects the second introduction passage, which introduces the heated gas heated by the compression heat of the compressor, to the containment container, A first outlet for discharging compressed air, The second outlet emits carbon dioxide, A first switching unit is provided to select and connect either a compressed air inlet or the adsorbent container to the suction side of the compressor body. A second switching unit is provided to select and connect either the first or second discharge port to the discharge side of the compressor body. The system comprises the first valve, the second valve, the first switching unit, and a control device for controlling the second switching unit, The control device is An adsorption step in which the first valve is opened and carbon dioxide contained in the air introduced from the first intake passage is adsorbed onto the adsorbent, A desorption step is performed by opening the second valve and introducing the heated gas into the containment container, thereby desorbing carbon dioxide from the adsorbent. The first switching unit connects the adsorbent container to the suction side of the compressor body, and the second switching unit connects the discharge side of the compressor body to the second discharge port, thereby performing a recovery step in which the desorbed carbon dioxide is discharged from the second discharge port. When compressed air is discharged from the first outlet, the first switching unit connects the compressed air inlet to the suction side of the compressor body, and the second switching unit connects the discharge side of the compressor body to the first outlet. Air compressor.

2. In the air compressor according to claim 1, The compressor body is further equipped with a heat exchanger connected to the discharge side, The second introduction path guides the exhaust air from the heat exchanger to the containment container as the heated gas. The first switching unit includes a third valve that connects the compressed air inlet to the suction side of the compressor body, and a fourth valve that connects the adsorbent container to the suction side of the compressor body. The second switching unit includes a fifth valve that connects the first outlet to the gas outlet side of the heat exchanger, and a sixth valve that connects the second outlet to the gas outlet side of the heat exchanger. In the adsorption step, the first valve, the third valve, and the fifth valve are opened to introduce air into the adsorbent container to adsorb carbon dioxide onto the adsorbent, and the compressed air cooled by the heat exchanger is discharged from the first outlet. In the desorption step, the second valve, the third valve and the fifth valve are opened, the heated gas is introduced into the containment container to desorb carbon dioxide from the adsorbent, and the compressed air cooled by the heat exchanger is discharged from the first outlet. In the recovery process, the fourth valve and the sixth valve are opened to discharge the carbon dioxide compressed by the compressor body and cooled by the heat exchanger from the second outlet. Air compressor.

3. In the air compressor according to claim 1, The compressor comprises a first compressor body whose suction side is connected to the compressed air inlet and a second compressor body that performs secondary compression. A first heat exchanger for cooling the gas discharged from the first compressor body, A second heat exchanger for cooling the gas discharged from the second compressor body, Third, fourth, and fifth outlets for discharging compressed air, A third valve, which is opened and closed by the control device, connects the adsorbent container and the fourth discharge port, A fourth valve, which is opened and closed by the control device, connects the discharge side of the second compressor body and the gas inlet side of the second heat exchanger. A fifth valve, which is controlled to open and close by the control device, connects the containment container and the gas inlet side of the second heat exchanger. Furthermore, The first valve connects the gas outlet side of the second compressor body to the adsorbent container via the second heat exchanger. The second valve connects the discharge side of the second compressor body to the containment container. The first switching unit includes a sixth valve that connects the gas outlet side of the first heat exchanger to the suction side of the second compressor body, and a seventh valve that connects the adsorbent container to the suction side of the second compressor body. The second switching unit includes an eighth valve that connects the gas outlet side of the second heat exchanger to the first outlet, a ninth valve that connects the gas outlet side of the second heat exchanger to the second outlet, a tenth valve that connects the gas outlet side of the first heat exchanger to the third outlet, an eleventh valve that connects the adsorbent container to the fourth outlet, and a twelfth valve that connects the gas outlet side of the second heat exchanger to the fifth outlet via the containment container. In the adsorption process, With the first valve, the fourth valve, the sixth valve and the eleventh valve open, compressed air cooled by the second heat exchanger is introduced into the adsorbent container to adsorb carbon dioxide onto the adsorbent, and the compressed air introduced into the adsorbent container is discharged from the fourth outlet. In the aforementioned detachment step, With the second valve, fifth valve, sixth valve, and eighth valve open, compressed air discharged from the second compressor body is introduced into the containment container to remove carbon dioxide from the adsorbent, and compressed air that flows out of the containment container and is cooled by the second heat exchanger is discharged from the first outlet. In the aforementioned recovery process, By opening the fourth valve, the seventh valve, the ninth valve, and the tenth valve, carbon dioxide compressed by the second compressor body and cooled by the second heat exchanger is discharged from the second outlet, and compressed air cooled by the first heat exchanger is discharged from the third outlet. Air compressor.

4. In the air compressor according to claim 1, The compressor comprises a first compressor body whose suction side is connected to the compressed air inlet and a second compressor body that performs secondary compression. A first heat exchanger for cooling the gas discharged from the first compressor body, A second heat exchanger for cooling the gas discharged from the second compressor body, A third outlet for discharging compressed air, Furthermore, The second introduction path guides the exhaust air from at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to the containment container as the heated gas. The first switching unit includes a third valve that connects the discharge side of the first compressor body to the suction side of the second compressor body via the first heat exchanger, and a fourth valve that connects the adsorbent container to the suction side of the second compressor body. The second switching unit includes a fifth valve that connects the discharge side of the second compressor body to the first discharge port via the second heat exchanger, a sixth valve that connects the discharge side of the second compressor body to the second discharge port via the second heat exchanger, and a seventh valve that connects the discharge side of the first compressor body to the third discharge port via the first heat exchanger. In the adsorption process, The first valve, the third valve, and the fifth valve are opened, air is introduced into the adsorbent container to adsorb carbon dioxide onto the adsorbent, and the compressed air cooled by the second heat exchanger is discharged from the first outlet. In the aforementioned detachment step, The second valve, the third valve, and the fifth valve are opened, the heated gas is introduced into the containment container to remove carbon dioxide from the adsorbent, and the compressed air cooled by the second heat exchanger is discharged from the first outlet. In the aforementioned recovery process, By opening the fourth valve and the sixth valve, carbon dioxide compressed by the second compressor body and cooled by the second heat exchanger is discharged from the second outlet, and compressed air cooled by the first heat exchanger is discharged from the third outlet. Air compressor.

5. In the air compressor according to claim 1, The compressor comprises a first compressor body whose suction side is connected to the compressed air inlet and a second compressor body that performs secondary compression. A first heat exchanger for cooling the gas discharged from the first compressor body, A second heat exchanger for cooling the gas discharged from the second compressor body, A third outlet for discharging compressed air, A third valve, which is opened and closed by the control device, connects the discharge side of the second compressor body and the gas inlet side of the second heat exchanger, A fourth valve, which is opened and closed by the control device, connects the containment container and the gas inlet side of the second heat exchanger, Furthermore, The second valve connects the discharge side of the second compressor body to the containment container. The first switching unit includes a fifth valve that connects the discharge side of the first compressor body to the suction side of the second compressor body via the first heat exchanger, and a sixth valve that connects the adsorbent container to the suction side of the second compressor body. The second switching unit includes a seventh valve that connects the gas outlet side of the second heat exchanger to the first outlet, an eighth valve that connects the gas outlet side of the second heat exchanger to the second outlet, and a ninth valve that connects the discharge side of the first compressor body to the third outlet via the first heat exchanger. In the adsorption process, The first valve, the third valve, the fifth valve, and the seventh valve are opened, air is introduced into the adsorbent container to adsorb carbon dioxide onto the adsorbent, and the compressed air cooled by the first heat exchanger is discharged from the first outlet. In the aforementioned detachment step, With the second valve, the fourth valve, the fifth valve, and the seventh valve open, compressed air discharged from the second compressor body is introduced into the containment container to remove carbon dioxide from the adsorbent, and the compressed air flowing out of the containment container is cooled by the second heat exchanger and discharged from the first outlet. In the aforementioned recovery process, By opening the third valve, the sixth valve, the eighth valve, and the ninth valve, the carbon dioxide compressed by the second compressor body is cooled by the second heat exchanger and discharged from the second outlet, while the compressed air cooled by the first heat exchanger is discharged from the third outlet. Air compressor.

6. In the air compressor according to any one of claims 2, 4, or 5, A cooling step is performed after the recovery step, in which the first valve is opened to introduce air into the adsorbent container and the adsorbent is cooled. Air compressor.

7. In the air compressor according to claim 3, The system further includes a thirteenth valve connecting the gas outlet side of the second heat exchanger to the containment container, After the recovery step, a cooling step is performed in which the sixth valve, the fourth valve, and the thirteenth valve are opened, and compressed air, compressed by the second compressor body and cooled by the second heat exchanger, is introduced into the containment container to cool the adsorbent. Air compressor.

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