Improved domestic carbon capture

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved carbon capture system to be utilised in air conditioning appliances, in particular, a dehumidifier. Wherein, the dehumidifier comprises a housing featuring an air inlet and air outlet coupled together via a channel, with one or more fans positioned within the channel to draw an airflow through the housing. Inside the housing, there are two systems; A dehumidifying system configured to remove moisture from the airflow and a carbon capture system positioned in the channel downstream from the dehydration system and configured to remove carbon dioxide from the airflow which preferably uses a replicable cartridge containing a porous carbon dioxide capturing material.

Description

[0001] Improved domestic carbon capture

[0002] The present invention relates to a system and method for carbon capture that may be used in a range of domestic air conditioning appliances, such as HVAC systems, boiler flumes, air conditioners and dehumidifiers.

[0003] Background

[0004] Carbon capture is becoming increasingly important, to reduce the carbon dioxide load on the atmosphere. Whilst there are many projects for carbon capture in power plants, and separate carbon capture facilities dedicated to that role. However, around 26 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom, for example, come from households. By way of example, through the use of hydrocarbon fuel, domestic boilers may release around 2.2 tons of carbon dioxide annually. However, boilers are not the only source of carbon emissions within a domestic setting.

[0005] Therefore, to help reduce the carbon footprint of such domestic settings we would require a carbon capture system that may be implemented within someone’s home. The difficulties that arise in addressing this problem is the need to provide a system that is relatively small compared to those used in factory settings as there will be less space within a domestic setting. There would also be less power available to operate the system meaning the use of a system that requires static charge to capture particles would be impractical as users would not be able to supply or afford the necessary electricity. There is also a question of where this device should be implemented within the domestic setting to help maximise the amount of carbon dioxide captured despite the system's relatively small size.

[0006] There is therefore a need for a simple and practical solution to enable carbon capture from domestic premises, households and related situations. More preferably the solution would be configured to be retrofitted or otherwise installed into existing appliances that may be present in these domestic premises. Especially, appliances that condition an airflow within the setting meaning that air is drawn through the device as this will increase the volume of air that is processed. Relevant prior art includes JP 2023 062240 and JP H0716427.

[0007] These situations provide several challenges; efficient carbon capture substrates and efficient management of the systems given that the average domestic premises does not have a high degree of technical competence or diligence in maintenance. Summary

[0008] The present invention is as set out in the appended claims.

[0009] The present invention provides a system and method of carbon capture that may be implemented within appliances in a domestic setting. In particular, the claimed system is configured to be used in air conditioning devices, this refers to devices that pump air through the device changing the properties of the air between the inlet and outlet of the device. Such devices may include air conditions or HVAC systems which change air temperature, boilers that heat the air, and dehumidifiers configured to alter the humidity of the air passing through the device. In the case of the invention the term air and airflow refer to both ambient air that is drawn into the claimed system, and refers to a mixture of gases produced by the exhaust or outlet of the appliance the claimed system is coupled to which may contain a different gaseous mixture compared to ambient air. In summary the term air or airflow in the context of the claim invention refers to the mixture of gases that is passing thorough the claimed system which may comprise ambient air.

[0010] The claimed system utilises a fitted carbon capture device positioned within the path of the airflow through the device, such that as the air flows over or through the surface of the carbon capture device a reaction occurs that will remove at least a portion of the carbon dioxide present in the airflow. In this case the term reaction may refer to a chemical reaction and / or a physical reaction wherein the carbon dioxide in the airflow will become bonded to or otherwise coupled to the carbon capture material. It is noted that the carbon capture material used in this device is preferably a regeneratable carbon capture material, this is to say that the capture material is configured to controllably release the captured carbon dioxide using a chemical or physical process after the device has been used. This way the captured carbon may be used for other processes inside or outside the domestic setting.

[0011] It is noted that the claimed carbon capture device is preferably in the form of a cartridge that can be removably inserted into the housing of the desired appliance. More specifically, as the carbon capture material will become saturated over time there is a need for the user to be able to remove and replace the carbon capture device, therefore the carbon capture system should be implemented as a removable cartridge that can be replaced easily without the need for specialist tools. In some cases, the cartridge may be inserted directly into the desired appliance somewhere within the appliance housing within the path between the air inlet and air outlet. In some cases, the cartridge may be inserted into its own housing which allows air to flow through the housing, the appliance may then be configured to receive the housing at a desired point along the airflow path through the device, including having the housing couple directly to the air input or air output.

[0012] In the claimed devices the carbon capture material may be any preferable form of carbon capture material. However, some preferable options include zeolite, melamine, and their derivatives. Both of these materials provide selective carbon dioxide removal, that is to say, they do not react with the other gases that would be present within the airflow of these appliances. Both are also effective over a range of temperatures, though it is noted that melamine is effective over a wider range of temperatures especially when treated with nitrogen compounds, such as amines like DETA (diethylenetriamine). Both materials are also environmentally friendly and are both regeneratable carbon capture materials that can re-release the captured carbon when desired this not only allows the carbon to be used in other processes but can also allow the cartridges to be reusable after saturation.

[0013] When comparing these two options it is noted that melamine after being treated with amines can function over a wider range of temperatures and humidity levels compared to zeolite allowing melamine to be effective in a wider range of applications. However, it is noted that melamine is more expensive and requires more careful handling, especially during the regeneration process as byproducts of the process may be dangerous and the melamine is more susceptible to being damaged when handled. Based on this it is noted that melamine is the preferable option as the material is effective over a wider range of conditions, allowing the cartridge to be used at more temperatures and humidities compared to other materials. It is also noted that the cost and handling risks are reduced by using the melamine as a replaceable cartridge, as the used only needs to handle the cartridge casing or housing.

[0014] Also, the cartridges may be recycled and made reusable by processing the used cartridge to remove the captured carbon dioxide thereby reducing the costs of production.

[0015] The carbon capture system may also include a control system that is configured to monitor the cartridge providing feedback including an indication for when the cartridge should be replaced. This sensor may be coupled to the inlet or outlet of the appliance or as part of the cartridge housing. In some cases, the sensors would be configured to monitor the airflow entering or exiting the cartridge which may be used to estimate the amount of carbon that had been captured. For example, the sensor may be configured to monitor the total volume of air that had passed through the cartridge, using a predetermined estimate for the amount of carbon dioxide per unit volume to determine when the cartridge needs to be replaced. In other cases, the sensor may be configured to take samples from the airflow as it enters and leaves the appliance, the sample may then measure the amount of carbon dioxide present in the sample. Then the sensor would be configured to compare the carbon dioxide content of the different samples to determine an estimate of the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the cartridge. In this system, it is noted that the amount of carbon being absorbed would decrease as the cartridge becomes saturated as such once the absorption rate falls below a predetermined threshold the system would determine that the cartridge needs to be replaced.

[0016] The problem with these sensor methods is that the sensor needs to produce an estimate for the amount of carbon absorbed this means that the sensors may need to be calibrated for different devices and applications, especially when used in devices like a boiler that would generate more carbon dioxide compare to the surrounding ambient air and therefore would need to be calibrated differently for each appliance. Therefore, it is preferable to provide an alternative sensor that can detect the saturation of the carbon capture material without the need for repeated sampling or appliance-specific calibration. To this end, a preferable alternative may be to use a weight / mass sensor coupled to the housing of the cartridge, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor the mass of the cartridge material. It is noted that because the cartridge material is only configured to capture carbon dioxide there should be a known difference in mass between the initial mass of the carbon capture material and the mass of the same volume of material when saturated with carbon dioxide. As such the sensor need only be calibrated to the mass and / or size of the cartridge it is housed in, regardless of the appliance the cartridge is used in. Additionally, as this sensor provides a direct measurement rather than a derived estimation it would provide a more accurate reading for the current saturation of the cartridge and thereby provide a more accurate determination of when the cartridge needs to be replaced.

[0017] In some cases, the carbon capture system may comprise multiple sensors, which may be used to determine an average saturation measurement. In these cases, the readings from each mass sensor may be averaged to provide a more accurate reading for the mass of the carbon capture material before determining the saturation of the cartridge.

[0018] In some cases, the plurality of sensors may be used to monitor different portions of the carbon capture materials separately, by providing a reading for the mass of each section of the carbon capture material to provide a more accurate picture of the saturation rate, or absorption rate, referring to the rate at which each section of the carbon capture material absorbs carbon dioxide and becomes saturated. This may provide a more accurate image of the carbon capture system’s effectiveness as the carbon capture material will likely not saturate uniformly throughout its volume, as a result, the effective rate of absorption may fall off faster than the rate at which the saturation of the same material increases, therefore the system may be configured to alert the user when the absorption rate falls below an predetermined threshold based on the mass and / or rate of mass increase across each section of the carbon dioxide material.

[0019] It is also noted that in cases wherein the mass sensors monitor separate sections of the carbon capture material, the cartridge containing the carbon capture material may be configured to rotate relative to the airflow moving through the housing of the invention. This way the user can ensure the carbon capture material saturates uniformly by having the cartridge containing the carbon capture material rotate to change which facing of the carbon capture material receives the inlet of the airflow as the initial inlet will have a higher concentration of carbon dioxide meaning the side it initially reaches would have a higher rate of absorption. In some cases, the cartridge may be configured to rotate continuously, for example with an electric motor, or rotating to a different facing once the side, or facing, closest to the inlet has reached a predetermined saturation or the absorption rate, based on the rate of mass change, falls below a predetermined threshold.

[0020] As the rotation of the cartridge would require additional power, an alternative solution would be to use a cartridge configured to be inserted into the housing or appliance in different orientations relative to the airflow moving through the invention. For example, the cartridge may comprise at least two sides, wherein in the first orientation the first side of the cartridge faces the air inlet, and the second opposing side faces away from the air inlet. In this orientation, the first side should saturate faster than the second side. Once the mass reading for the sensor monitoring the first side reaches a predetermined threshold an alert may be sent to the user indicating to the user to reorientate the cartridge. At this time the user may remove the cartridge and reinsert it in the opposite orientation, such that the second side now faces the inlet, thereby allowing the sides of the cartridge to saturate more uniformly. It is noted that the cartridge may be shaped to have additional sides and may be inserted into the housing in more than two orientations depending on its shape.

[0021] Regardless of the type of sensor chosen the sensor would be coupled to a processor configured to analyse the sensor data to determine when the cartridge of the carbon capture system needs to be replaced as described above. The processor would be further configured to provide an indication of when the cartridge is ready to be replaced, which in this case refers to the point where the saturation of the carbon capture material meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold. This indication may include a visual and / or audio alert to the user. These alerts may be emitted from devices coupled to the cartridge housing such as a LED light or speaker. Alternatively, the alert may be communicated to a remote device such as the user’s mobile device, such as an application on a smartphone, or a mobile controller for the appliance containing the cartridge or a monitor device coupled wirelessly to the processor in the cartridge housing. Of these options, it would be preferable for the alerts to be sent to a mobile device such that the user would be alerted to the cartridge being saturated without needing to be proximate to the appliance using the cartridge, especially as the user may not be able to see or hear the alerts from the appliance when the appliance is in operation.

[0022] In cases where the cartridge can be reorientated within the appliance or housing, the processor may be configured to send a separate alert which may be different from the previous alert, to indicate to the user when they should reorientate the cartridge. This second alert may be sent using the same alerting means as described above for the saturation alert. It is noted that the cartridge may comprise one or more indicia to indicate the different possible orientations for the cartridge, the indicia would preferably be sequential such as using numbers so the user can more easily identify which orientations they have used and which to orientation should be used next. It is noted that the use of these sequential indicia may remove the need for the overall saturation alert as the user would know the cartridge was saturated after they receive the secondary alert when the cartridge is in the final orientation. It is also noted that the indicia may be configured to change once an alert has been sent when the cartridge is in the associated orientation.

[0023] For example, the indicum may be located proximate to the side that will face the air inlet in its associated orientation and the indicia will change when that side of the cartridge has passed a predetermined saturation threshold, for example, the indicum may be configured to change colour once the saturation of the associated portion of the carbon capture material has met or exceeded a predetermined threshold. Thereby providing a clear indication to the user as to which portions of the cartridge are saturated and therefore which section should be positioned towards the air inlet when the cartridge is reorientated.

[0024] A similar method may be used for a carbon capture system that uses a plurality of cartridges. Where one or more mass sensors would monitor the mass of each cartridge separately. And when one cartridge reaches a predetermined threshold, the processor will send an alert to the user to rearrange the cartridges moving the upstream cartridges, referring to the cartridges closest to the inlet, downstream away from the inlet, thereby allowing all of the cartridges to saturate at a more uniform rate.

[0025] It is noted that the effectiveness of the carbon capture device may be affected by the humidity of the air within the airflow within the appliance. More specifically, in cases where there is high humidity the cartridge may be less effective as the moisture may cause condensation on the surface of the carbon capture material that will block and / or react with the carbon capture material, thereby preventing the material from reacting with the carbon dioxide in the same airflow. In some cases, the humidity in the air may simply dilute the concentration of carbon dioxide within the airflow reducing the amount of carbon that reaches the cartridge.

[0026] In any case, it is preferable to reduce the humidity of the airflow before it enters the cartridge. Therefore, it is preferable for the cartridge to be used as part of a dehumidifier. This dehumidifier may be in the form of a standalone appliance configured to dehumidify the air within the domestic setting, or it may be part of another appliance such as an HVAC system, an air conditioning unit or a unit coupled to the output of another appliance like a boiler to reduce the amount of water vapour being released into the surrounding environment.

[0027] Regardless of the specific type of device being used the simplest version of the air humidifier would comprise an air input and air output coupled by a channel that would allow an airflow to move through the dehumidifier, and at least one fan positioned somewhere within the channel configured to pull air through the channel. The channel would further comprise a dehumidifying system which may comprise an absorption material configured to remove water from the air as it passes over or through the material, alternatively, the dehumidifier may comprise a condenser system configured to cool the air to condense water out of the airflow, then heats the cooled air before it exits the channel. From the condenser system there will be two channels, one wherein the water formed by the condenser can flow into a collection system or out of the device, via a hose or similar channel, and a second channel wherein the airflow through the condenser can flow to the humidifier outlet, this channel may include a fan to help propel the air towards the outlet.

[0028] In the claimed system the carbon capture cartridge would be positioned downstream of the condensing system, such that the dried air from the condenser is passed through the carbon capture cartridge. It is noted that the use of dry air can help increase the rate of carbon capture for a given volume of air. This is because when the water vapour is not removed from the air the droplet may interfere with the collisions between the carbon capture material and the carbon dioxide in the airflow, this is especially true if condensation forms on the surface of the cartridge. It is noted that the carbon capture material is preferably porous to allow the airflow to pass through the cartridge and to increase the surface area over which carbon dioxide can be captured, however, in high humidity environment moisture can build up within these pours blocking sections of the cartridge reducing the effectiveness of the carbon capture material. It is also noted that in some cases, the carbon capture material may react with the moisture in the air again reducing the effectiveness of the material. Therefore, it is preferable to pass dried air through the cartridge to help increase the amount of carbon dioxide that is captured by the claimed device.

[0029] It is also noted that the channel through the dehumidifiers would preferably comprise a channel with a narrower section downstream from the inlet and fan to increase the pressure of the air within the channel. When the airflow has a higher pressure, it helps to increase the number of chemical collisions between the airflow and the carbon capture material thereby increasing the probability of the carbon dioxide reacting with the capture material. It is also noted that the increased pressure created by this narrower section can increase the volume of air passing through the humidifier over a given time. This narrow section of the channel may be located upstream from both the condenser system and the carbon capture system to increase the airflow through both systems to help increase the amount of water and carbon removed respectively.

[0030] It is noted that in addition to drying the air and increasing the airflow pressure, the system may also control the airflow temperature to increase the carbon capture rate. In general, most carbon capture materials are more effective at higher temperatures as the number of chemical collisions increases when the airflow is heated and therefore more energetic, thereby increasing the likelihood of a successful reaction. In the case of the preferred carbon capture material, it is noted that they can be effective at temperatures over 100 degrees centigrade, therefore the carbon capture material can work effectively within the expected temperature ranges for the domestic appliances described above. In simple embodiments that use a moisture capture material, the force exerted on the airflow by the fan and the increase in airflow pressure may help slightly increase the temperature of the air to improve carbon capture. However, the temperature change would be minimal, therefore it may be preferable to include a heater positioned between the moisture capture material and the carbon capture material to increase the temperature of the dried air before the carbon dioxide is removed. This heater would be mounted to the wall of the channel between the two capture systems, it is noted that the heat needs to be positioned downstream of the dehumidifying system as there would be less condensation when using hot air within the condensation elements, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the water capturing system.

[0031] In some cases, the system may comprise a heat exchanger coupled to the channel, such as one or more Peltier units, these heat exchangers would be configured to harvest heat from one point within the system’s channel and transport it to a different point within the channel. In particular, the exchangers would be configured to harvest heat from a point in the channel upstream from the water capture system and then use the gathered heat to heat the air in a point of the channel downstream from the water capture system but upstream from the carbon capture system. Thereby configuring the exchanger to simultaneously cool the airflow before the dehumidifier system while also heating the air entering the carbon capture system. This way the temperature of the airflow through the channel can be optimised for each of the capturing systems to optimise the amount of water and carbon dioxide removed from the air passing through the dehumidifier.

[0032] It is noted that some dehumidifiers have built-in heating and cooling systems, as described above these systems are configured to cool the airflow before entering the dehumidifying system and then reheat the air before it exits the outlet of the dehumidifier, so as to not alter the ambient temperature within the surroundings. In such a system the carbon capture material can simply be positioned between the heating system and the air outlet without the need for any further modifications.

[0033] Some dehumidifiers are configured to have a temperature control system, wherein the system is configured to alter the temperature of the air that is ejected from the outlet of the dehumidifier to a desired temperature. In these systems, the airflow may follow different paths through the dehumidifier housing to create the desired temperature such as circulating the heating or cooling elements multiple times until the desired temperature is reached. In these systems, the airflow may follow an initial path passing through the cooling system before dehumidifying, and then through the heating system before undergoing carbon capture, after this, the airflow can be recirculated to either the heating or cooling system, this may be the same heating or cooling system used earlier or a separate larger system that can achieve a wider range of temperature. In either case, the processed airflow may be cycled through the heating or cooling system multiple times before being released to the outlet. As previously noted, it is preferable for the air to be heated at least once before passing through the carbon capture cartridge to maximise the amount of carbon dioxide being removed. If the air is being heated to a temperature above the ambient temperature the heater air may be passed through the carbon capture material multiple times as it circulates the heating system, and / or when the heated air is redirected towards the outlet.

[0034] It is noted that in systems wherein the air can be recirculated through the heating and / or cooling system to achieve the desired temperature, the recirculating airflow may follow a different path compared to the channel that directs the airflow through the dehumidifier system and carbon capture system, via a secondary channel outside the initial channel, the secondary channels comprise a plurality of valves to control the airflow through the secondary channels directing the airflow to the heating system, cooling system or air outlet as necessary. The secondary channels may also comprise a plurality of temperature sensors to monitor the airflow at different points within the channel to determine if the desired temperature has been reached so then the system can actuate the valves to direct the desired temperature airflow towards the air outlet. It is noted that the valves may be operated to circulate the airflow over the heating and / or cooling element multiple times as several passes may be required to reached the desired temperature. The secondary channels may include chambers proximate the heating or cooling elements, wherein the chamber has a larger cross-section than the secondary channel to gather the air to be heated or cooled to allow a greater volume of air to be processed at once.

[0035] In some cases, the valves may be configured to direct the airflow back to the primary channel to pass through the water capture system and / or carbon capture system more than once. This can be used to remove additional pollutants from the airflow moving through the system. In some cases, the airflow may have needed the additional passes through the heating or cooling system to reach the optimal temperature for either the water capture system or carbon capture system. Therefore, the airflow may be heated or cooled in the secondary channels to the ideal temperature before being passed through the water capture system or carbon capture system a second time, after which the airflow may flow back into the secondary channel be heated or cooled to the desired temperature before being released via the outlet. As previously noted, the heating and cooling elements used by the secondary channel may be different from the heating element, cooling elements, and / or heat exchangers positioned in the primary channel, as these secondary heating and cooling elements would be larger to provide a wider range of temperatures.

[0036] It is also noted that the primary and / or secondary channels may comprise one or more fans configured to direct the airflow as it travels through the system, even in the absence of valve. These fans may also be used to alter the pressure of the air within the channel to increase the rate at which water and / or carbon dioxide is removed from the airflow by allowing a larger volume of air to be processed for a given amount of time.

[0037] Any of the dehumidifiers described above can be implemented as a stand-alone device or an add-on that can be coupled to the outlet of other systems, such as a boiler system. In either case, the claim dehumidifier provides a simple means for conditioning the air in a domestic setting, in particular, this system can remove particulates that are greenhouse gases, namely carbon dioxide and water vapour. Further, the removed materials can be extracted from the dehumidifier for use in other systems. Using such a system the user can reduce the carbon footprint of a domestic setting.

[0038] The system as described above may use further features to improve the carbon capture process, by either providing a more accurate reading of the cartridge saturation or features that help to maintain a relatively high carbon capture rate. For example, when the system uses one or more mass sensors to determine the saturation of the carbon capture material, there may be a problem where particulates, such as dust of condensation may fall onto the sensor resulting in a false reading. To help avoid this the system may comprise a filter upstream from the carbon capture material wherein the filter comprises a fine mesh or air-permeable membrane configured to catch the particulate in the airflow while still allowing air to move through the system. In some cases, the carbon capture material may be surrounded by such a filter, especially the air-permeable membrane to not only prevent particulates from reaching the carbon capture material, it will also help prevent the carbon capture material from leaking from the cartridge.

[0039] Additionally, the system may be configured to position the mass sensors above the carbon capture material or cartridge. In such cases, the mass sensors will be coupled to the cartridge and / or carbon capture material by a suspension means that is configured to suspend the cartridge and / or carbon capture material from the mass sensor such that the sensor may determine the mass of the suspended object using the downward force exerted on the sensor via the suspension means. The suspension means may be in the form of wires, hooks or any other suitable means of suspending the cartridge and / or carbon capture material from the mass sensor. By using such a system, any particulate of condensation that forms on the cartridge and / or carbon capture material will be able to fall from the cartridge without affecting the mass measurements.

[0040] It is noted that in these systems, where the moisture and particulate are expected to fall from the cartridge or filter, the system may comprise a tray, tank, or other storage unit underneath the cartridge that is configured to collect the falling particulate or condensation. In some cases, this storage unit may be the same tank that is used to collect the water from the moisture from the condensation system.

[0041] In some cases, wherein the system comprises a plurality of mass sensors, each sensor may be configured to monitor a different section of the carbon capture material. In these cases, the system may provide a more accurate indication of the cartridge absorption rate by monitoring the mass changes at different sections of the cartridge, this is because over time the front of the cartridge would be expected to saturate faster as the airflow entering the cartridge will have the highest concentration of carbon dioxide. As the saturation rate is none uniform the cartridge will become less effective over time as when the upstream portion of the cartridge becomes saturate the area over which carbon dioxide can be absorbed is decreased. Therefore, by deriving saturation over the volume of the cartridge a more accurate absorption rate from the cartridge can be determined and may be used to set the threshold for replacing the cartridge, meaning the user is alerted to change the cartridge when the absorption rate falls below a threshold value instead of using the mass.

[0042] One way to overcome, or at least reduce the effect created by this problem, would be to move the carbon capture material within the cartridge to achieve a more even saturation throughout the material’s volume. One what to achieve this would be to allow the cartridge to be rotated within the housing. This rotation may be continuous using a small motor, likely electric connected to the cartridge, however this would greatly increase the amount of power needed to operate the system, additionally it would increase the amount of maintenance the system would require as the motors will eventually be worn over time.

[0043] A preferable solution would be to use a cartridge that is configured to be inserted into the system’s housing in different orientations. In the simplest example, the cartridge would be configured to be inserted into the system in two orientations where the cartridge in the first position has a first side facing the air inlet, wherein the airflow enters the cartridge, and a second side facing the air outlet, where the airflow exits the cartridge. In the second orientation, the positions of the first and second sides are inverted. In other designs, the cartridge may comprise additional sides with further orientations, each orientation having a different side facing towards the airflow inlet. By rotating the cartridge in this way, the user can spread the concentration of carbon dioxide absorbed by the carbon capture material over a wider area thereby allowing a more uniform saturation rate throughout the cartridge. This ensures that the absorption rate of the carbon capture material remains more consistent, even when the cartridge becomes more saturated.

[0044] In these cases, the processor of the cartridge would be configured to analyse the readings from each sensor and compare the readings to a first saturation threshold which will indicate when the user should reorientate the cartridge. This first threshold would be applied to the individual sensor reading and will highlight when the section closes to the inlet becomes too saturated relative to the rest of the cartridge. In these cases, the processor may have a second threshold which is higher than the first which is used to determine when the overall cartridge has become saturated and is ready to be replaced. This second threshold would be compared to the overall mass of the cartridge that may be recorded by combining the readings from the separate sensors. It is noted that the system may have different types of alerts, such as a different sound, colour change or alert message for when the first threshold is met and for when the second threshold is met.

[0045] The cartridge may include an indicium that indicates the different orientations for the cartridge, such as a number or unique symbol to ensure that the user can track which orientations they have used. In some cases, the indicum may change after the portion closest to the indicum has been saturated past the first threshold thereby clearly indicating to the user which sides should be placed closest to the airflow inlet. Additionally, these indicators may indicate when the cartridge is ready to be replaced when all of the indicia have been changed.

[0046] It is noted that each cartridge may require different thresholds depending on the volume and / or type of carbon capture material used. As such each cartridge may comprise an indicium that can be scanned by the processor, or a communication element, such as a microprocessor or computer chip, configured to communicate with the processor via a wired or wireless communication channel, wherein the indicium or communication element communicate the specific parameters and thresholds for the cartridge to the processor to allow the processor to reprogram the thresholds to a specific cartridge’s requirements.

[0047] A similar process as that described above may be used for a system that comprises a plurality of cartridges in the same housing. Wherein there would be separate mass sensors for each cartridge, the user may change the position of the individual cartridges within the housing to have all of the cartridges saturate at a constant or at least similar rate. In these cases, the first threshold and first alert would indicate when the cartridge closest to the inlet has become saturated to a predetermined threshold and should be swapped with one of the other cartridges.

[0048] By combining the dehumidifying system with the disclosed carbon capture system, the user can provide a stand-alone appliance or an attachment for other appliances that is able to remove pollutants from the air thereby reducing the amount of pollution emissions generated by the domestic setting without the need for large scale or complex equipment.

[0049] Detailed Description

[0050] The present invention is depicted in the following figures:

[0051] Figure 1 - depicts a simplified schematic of the claimed dehumidifier

[0052] Figure 2 - depicts a schematic of the components inside the dehumidifier

[0053] Figure 3 - depicts an example of the carbon capture cartridge used in the claimed invention

[0054] Figure 4 - depicts a cross-section of the cartridge in Figure 3.

[0055] Figure 5 - depicts a blown-up view of the cartridge in Figure 3.

[0056] Figure 6 - depicts a cross-section through the cartridge shown in figure 5 illustrating airflow.

[0057] The Figures comprise the following features, please note that like features are indicated with like reference numerals:

[0058] 10 - dehumidifier

[0059] 11 - dehumidifier casing / housing

[0060] 20 - air inlet

[0061] 21 - air outlet

[0062] 30 - dehumidifying system

[0063] 31 - cooling coil

[0064] 32 - heating element

[0065] 33 - water collector

[0066] 40 - carbon capture system

[0067] 41 - housing, preferably with perforated outer surface

[0068] 42 - carbon capture cartridge

[0069] 43 - housing air inlet

[0070] 44 - housing air outlet

[0071] 45 - housing handle 46 - carbon capture material

[0072] 47 - weight sensor

[0073] 48 - processor

[0074] 49 - inlet

[0075] 50 - cross-section of hemispherical carbon capture cartridge

[0076] The claimed invention relates to an improved system for air purification by providing a means to remove carbon dioxide from the air within a domestic setting, in particular by providing a cartridge that can be installed into an appliance within the setting, removing carbon dioxide from the air that flows through the appliance. Though this system could in used in various devices the present invention is presented in the context of a dehumidifier as the appliance. It is further noted that said dehumidifier can be configured to couple to other appliances such that the dehumidifier receives the airflow from the outlet of the other appliance, either instead of or in addition to receiving air from the dehumidifier's surroundings.

[0077] Figure 1 depicts a simplified schematic of the claimed dehumidifier. Wherein the dehumidifier 10 comprises a housing 11, wherein one end of the housing 11 comprises an air inlet 20 configured to draw air into the dehumidifier, and an air outlet 21 configured to eject the received air back into the surroundings after it has been processed. The inlet 20 and outlet 21 would be coupled to the ends of a channel that would allow air to flow through the housing 11 and into the various systems positioned within the housing.

[0078] In the case of the depicted example, there are two systems present within the dehumidifier 10. The first system is the dehumidifying system 30. This system 30 is configured to remove moisture from the air flowing through the channel, it is noted that different mechanisms may be used by this system. In some cases, the system 30 may comprise a moisture-absorbing material that uses chemical reactions to remove water from the air flowing through the system. In these systems, the dehumidifier may comprise a refillable housing or cartridge containing the dehumidifying material, wherein the user may replace the cartridge or refill the cartridge with the chosen dehumidifying material once all the material has been used.

[0079] In other cases, the dehumidifier may use temperature-changing elements to condense moisture out of the air in the system. More specifically the system may use cooling elements to condense moisture out of the air. These systems may also include a heating element to return the air to its initial temperature before it is ejected from the system so as to not alter the ambient temperature in the setting. It is also noted that some systems may use the heating and cooling elements to condition the air to a desired temperature before it is ejected from the outlet. This system would be preferable as this system does not need to regularly replace the cartridge thereby reducing the amount of maintenance the user needs to perform and providing the additional benefit of conditioning the air to a desired temperature.

[0080] Downstream from the dehumidifying system 30, there is a carbon capture system 40. While the system 30 is configured to remove water from the airflow the carbon capture system is configured to remove carbon dioxide from the same airflow. It is noted that the system 40 is preferably downstream from the dehumidifier system 30 as a higher humidity in the air can reduce the effectiveness of the carbon capture. More specifically, when there is more moisture in the air the carbon capture system may be less effective as the water vapour may cling to the surface of the carbon capture material thereby preventing it from reacting with the carbon dioxide. It is also noted that the moisture may result in condensation forming within the carbon capture system 40 this condensation may damage the system over time. Therefore, it is preferable to configure the system to remove the moisture from the airflow before it enters the carbon capture system 40.

[0081] Figure 2 depicts another schematic diagram showing the preferred embodiment for the dehumidifying system 30 and carbon capture system 40. In this example there is a fan 50 positioned upstream from both systems 30 and 40, this fan assists in drawing air into the system and accelerating it through the system, this can help direct the air towards the capturing material in each of the systems 30,40. This helps to increase the volume of air that is conditioned for a given amount of time thereby helping to increase the rate at which moisture and carbon dioxide are removed from the air.

[0082] In this example, the dehumidifier system 30 comprises a cooling coil 31, a heating element 32 and a water container 33. In this system, the airflow first passes over the cooling coil 31 which is configured to lower the temperature of the airflow causing the moisture contained within to condense. The base of the cooling coil 31 is coupled to a water container configured to capture the condensed moisture thereby removing it from the airflow. This container would be configured to be removable such that the user can empty the water, when necessary, in other cases, the container may be coupled to a tap or hose to allow the user to controllably empty the container 33 without removing it from the housing 11.

[0083] Downstream from the cooling coil 31 is a heating element 32 that is configured to receive the air ejected by the cooling coil 31. In use, the heating element will help to heat the air back to room temperature before it is released from the dehumidifier so as to not affect the ambient air temperature outside the dehumidifier 10. In this case, the heating element also ensures the air is heated before entering the carbon capture system. It is noted that generally the warmer the air the more effective the carbon capture as warmer air is more likely to undergo a successful chemical reaction compared to the cooled air from the cooling coil 31. In some cases, the heating element may be configured to heat the air to a temperature above the ambient temperature to further increase the amount of carbon dioxide that is removed from the airflow.

[0084] Downstream from the heating element is the carbon capture system 30, in this example the carbon capture system comprises a housing 41 containing a suitable carbon capture material cartridge 42, wherein the housing 41 and cartridge 42 are preferably porous to allow the airflow to travel through the material to increase the area of contact between the air and the material 42, this will help to increase the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the airflow. It is noted that the carbon capture material is configured to chemically react with the air, to remove carbon dioxide. The material is preferably regenerable meaning that is it possible to remove the carbon dioxide from the material in another process thereby allowing the material 42 to be cleaned and reused. To achieve this the carbon capture material is preferably chosen from zeolite, melamine, or their derivatives, most preferably an amide- treated melamine. It is noted that the housing 41 is preferably configured to be removable from the housing 10 so that the carbon capture material can be treated or replaced. To this end, the carbon capture system 40 is preferably in the form of a replaceable cartridge.

[0085] Figures 3 to 5 depict the preferable embodiment for the carbon capture cartridge. In the example depicted in Figure 3, the cartridge comprises an elongated housing with openings on the front and rear faces, these openings create an inlet 43 and outlet 44 that will allow air to flow through the housing 41. The housing is also preferably elongated to extend the surface of the inlet 43 and outlet 44 to maximise the amount of air travelling through the housing 41. The housing may also comprise a handle 45 on at least one side of the housing 41 to allow the user to more easily transport the cartridge and may also allow the user to remove and insert the cartridge into the dehumidifier more easily.

[0086] Figure 4 depicts a cross-section of the carbon capture system 40 from Figure 3. In this figure, it can be seen that the system 40 comprises a carbon capture material 46 contained within a cartridge 42 placed within the housing 41. This cartridge 42 comprises openings in the front and rear face that are configured to align with the openings in the housing 41 to allow the air travelling between the inlet 43 and outlet 44 to pass over or through the carbon capture material 46. The cartridge 42 can also be configured to help prevent the carbon capture material from leaking through the housing 41 , in some cases the cartridge 42 may comprise an air-permeable membrane that will only allow air to go through the cartridge while trapping the material 46 inside. This also helps prevent the carbon capture material from leaving a residue on the inside of the housing 41 that may erode the housing 41 over time.

[0087] The image also depicts a sensor 47 and a processor 48. Wherein the sensor 47 is configured to monitor the carbon capture material 46. More specifically, the sensor is configured to provide data that can indicate the saturation of the carbon capture material 46, this may include a measure of the air that has passed through the housing 41, or a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide in a sample of the air entering and leaving the dehumidifier, comparing the samples to determine the rate of carbon capture or the amount of carbon removed. With this data, the sensor could estimate the amount of carbon dioxide that has been absorbed by the material 46, this value can then be used to determine how saturated the material is.

[0088] However, it is preferable to use a sensor that can directly measure the saturation of the material 46 directly. To this end, the preferable sensor to use is a weight sensor located at the base of the housing 41 or cartridge 42. Wherein the sensor 47 monitors the mass of the carbon capture material 46 for as the material 46 becomes saturated with carbon dioxide its mass will increase by a predictable amount, as such the mass may be used to directly determine the saturation of the carbon capture material 46.

[0089] Though in the depicted example the sensor 47 is located below the carbon capture material 46 configured to measure the mass of the material 46 pressing down on the sensor. However, in some cases the sensor 47 may be positioned above the carbon capture material 46, with a suitable suspension means such as a wire or hook suspending the carbon capture material 46 or the cartridge 42 from the sensor 47 thereby allowing the mass of the material 46 to apply a downward force to the sensor 47 to provide a mass reading to determine the saturation of the carbon capture material 46.

[0090] The system may comprise a plurality of sensors 47 to provide a more accurate reading. In some cases, the system will average the reading from the plurality of sensors to provide a more accurate reading by removing any noise or deviations in the individual readings. In other cases, the plurality of sensors may be configured to monitor specific portions or sections of the carbon capture material 46 to provide a more accurate picture of the saturation throughout the material by showing any deviations in the overall mass of each section of the carbon capture material 46.

[0091] In cases where the plurality of sensors 47 monitor separate sections of the carbon capture material 46, the cartridge 42 would be configured to be rotated within the housing 41. It is noted that this rotation would occur when the portion of the carbon capture material 46 closes to the air inlet 44 is saturated beyond a predetermined threshold, this is because the portion closes to the inlet 44 will saturate at a faster rate due to the air entering the cartridge having the highest concentration of carbon dioxide compared to the air traveling through or pass the material 46. As the material 46 does not saturate uniformly the overall mass of the material may not provide an accurate image of the carbon capture system’s effectiveness.

[0092] By using the system described above the cartridge may be rotated automatically, using a means such as an electric motor, or manually by having the user rotate the cartridge 42 into different orientations within the housing 41, or reorientating the housing 41 within the surrounding appliance. This way the user can spread the saturation rate more uniformly across the entire material 46 thereby improving the effectiveness of the carbon capture system by maintaining a more consistent absorbing rate.

[0093] In the latter case, the carbon capture system 40 may be configured to provide an alert each time a mass sensor 47 meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold to indicate to the user when the cartridge 42 or housing 41 needs to be reorientated. In some cases, the cartridge 42 and / or housing 41 may comprise indicia indicating the different orientations to the user, these indicia may be sequential, such as numbers, or may change when the portion of the material 46 closest to the indicia meets the predetermined saturation threshold. In both cases the indicia may be used to indicate to the user the next orientation they should use and to help avoid the risk of the user using the same orientation more than once. Once all the orientations have been used the user would know that the material 46 is ready to be replaced. In some cases, the system 40 may provide a different alert to indicate when the total mass of the carbon capture material 46 has exceeded a predetermined threshold that is different from the previous alert to indicate that the material 46 is ready to be replaced rather than reorientated.

[0094] The system also comprises a processor 48 that is configured to receive and analyse the data from the sensor 47. As previously noted, the data from the sensor is used to determine how saturated the carbon capture material 46 is, the processor 48 will be programmed with a predetermined threshold for the system wherein once the value from the sensor 47 reaches the threshold the processor will be configured to provide an alert indicating that the cartridge 42 is ready to be replaced. This alert may be in the form of a visual and / or audio alert produced by the dehumidifier. In some cases, the alert may be in the form of a signal sent to a remote device, such as a controller for the dehumidifier or the user’s mobile device, at which point the remote device may display a message, or a visual and / or audio alert to indicate that the cartridge is ready to be replaced. It is noted that a similar weight sensor system may be coupled to the water capture unit 33 to provide indications for when the water tank within the dehumidifier needs to be emptied. In cases where there are multiple sensors 47 the processor may be configured to provide an alert to indicate when the average of the sensor readings or when an individual sensor 27 meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0095] It is noted that the cartridge within the housing may require different thresholds, either because of the size of the cartridge 42 or because of the type of carbon capture material 46 used within the cartridge 42. In these cases, the cartridge 42 may comprise an indicium which may be scanned by the processor 48, or a communication element such as a microprocessor or another chip which is in communication with the processor 48 via a wireless or wired connection. Wherein the communication element is configured to communicate the specific thresholds needed for that specific cartridge 42, so that the thresholds within the processor can be reprogrammed to the cartridge’s specifications.

[0096] Figure 5 depicts a blown-up view of the housing from Figure 4, this image depicts how a user can open the housing 41 to replace the cartridge 42. In the case of the depicted example, the back of the housing 41 can be removed to allow access to the cartridge 42. If the carbon capture material 46 is solid, as with the depicted example, the user may simply remove it from the housing 41 and replace it with a new piece of material. In some cases, the material 46 may be in a foam or liquid state in which case it may be in a secondary cartridge housing 42 that would also be replaced once the material 46 is saturated. The image also depicts the above-mentioned sensor 47 positioned on the base of the carbon capture material 46 the sensor is positioned on the base as it is preferably a weight sensor monitoring the mass of the material 46, this sensor may remain in the housing 41 when the material is replaced. In some cases, the sensor 47 may be part of the cartridge 42 such that the sensor is configured for the specific material and mass of material used in the cartridge, this would be especially useful in cases wherein the material 46 is regenerative thereby allowing the same sensor to be used to monitor the desaturating process to ensure the material has returned to a suitable starting mass.

[0097] It is noted that the specific material 46 used within the carbon capture system 40 may have a different optimum temperature at which the rate of carbon capture would be at its optimum value. The problem is that this tends to be a temperature that is much higher than room temperature. This means it can take a long time for the temperature to be reached and if the air leaves the dehumidifier 10 at this temperature it can make the surround setting uncomfortable for the user. Therefore, the system preferably provides a means for heating the air quickly and then cooling the air downstream from the carbon capture system 40. To address this problem, the dehumidifier may be configured to circulate the air around the heating element 32 to allow the air to reach higher temperatures before entering the carbon capture system 40. Then the outlet 43 may be configured to direct the air to a cooling coil, which may be the same cooling coil 31 used by the dehumidifying system, to cool the air before it is released from the outlet 21. In some cases, the dehumidifier may comprise conditioning units configured to adjust the temperature of the air to a desired value before releasing the air back into the surroundings. In these cases, the conditioning system would be positioned downstream from the carbon capture system to ensure the air is at a desired temperature before returning to the surroundings.

[0098] In some embodiments, the housing 11 of the dehumidifier 10 may be configured to be coupled to the inlet or outlet of other appliances to condition the air entering or leaving the other appliance. For example, the housing may be coupled to the outlet of a boiler to remove pollutants from the air exiting the boiler or may be attached to the inlet of an air conditioning unit to remove pollutants from the air within a domestic setting before it is recirculated by the conditioner.

[0099] Also disclosed herein, as part of the present invention or as an additional invention is the carbon capture cartridge as shown in figure 5. This figure illustrates airflow through the cartridge. Specifically, the cartridge 46, whether used with the dehumidifier, boiler HVAC or other source of air from which comedy oxide is to be captured and which air is warmed (such as due to the action of the dehumidifier, boiler or HVAC) and exits that area into an ambient environment, in particular with the product on a domestic scale, i.e. the cartridge is of radius typically no more than 45 cm, preferably between 15 and 30 cm. provides carbon capture scavenging with optimal efficiency.

[0100] The importance of these general dimensions and the warming of the air is that as the air inlets the cartridge through plate 44 by means of aperture 49 the air is high in carbon dioxide and is warm. Therefore, in portion A of carbon capture material 46 there is a relatively high airflow and warm temperature. Carbon dioxide absorption is therefore relatively high. As this initial region become saturated then absorption takes place more significantly in portion B of the carbon capture material 46. Here the air is cooler and is travelling less quickly and this combination together with a larger volume of carbon capture material means that carbon capture remains effective even though the air is cooler as the flow is lower and a larger volume is present. Similarly, when portion B is becoming used portion C becomes active and here, yet again, airflow is lower, yet more carbon capture material is present and temperature is again lower. The reduction temperature is relevant because domestic appliances exiting warm air are doing just that, exiting warm are not particularly hot air and do so with a relatively high surface area, because of the size of the cartridge therefore there is a significant potential for cooling of the air as it goes through the cartridge, which affects absorption efficiency.

[0101] This feature of the invention, is combinable with weight sensor 47 with optional feedback such that the airflow is moderated through the Hemi cylindrical cartridge in proportion to its usage. I.e. airflow is reduced as the cartridge become saturated. However, the hemi cylindrical cartridge reduces the need for this even though it can further improve efficiency. It is also noted that the hemi cylindrical cartridge is more space effective than a hemispherical cartridge, which in principle would make the effect even greater but in that instance the surface area for heat loss is lower and, in domestic environments the service area is typically not available to be placing large hemispherical objects. For example, with HVAC this would lead to a reduction in ceiling height, with the boiler this would require a large external surface wall area and with the dehumidifier it would lead to a device which would be difficult to accommodate, as a shape, in the norm of conventional domestic equipment (absent a large external box which would defeat the space efficiency). This feature of the present invention / invention in its own right is therefore of improved efficiency and optimal use in presenting, in particular, a cartridge for carbon capture.

[0102] This invention / feature of the invention may thus be described as a (dehumidifier) carbon capture cartridge (for use with a dehumidifier) in which the cartridge is a hemi cylindrical cartridge configured with an air inlet at the focus of the radius and air outlet at the circumference. The carbon capture make material may be any suitable material but preferably a material as herein disclosed.

[0103] By using a device as described above the user will be able to remove common pollutants from a domestic setting, in this case, both water vapours and carbon dioxide both of which contribute to greenhouse gas effects. The system also utilises weight sensors to more accurately monitor the pollutant capturing systems allowing the user to replace or empty them when necessary to maximise the device's capture rate.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 25 November 2025 (25.11 .2025)Claims1. A dehumidifier comprising:A housing featuring an air inlet and air outlet coupled together via a channel; One or more fans positioned within the channel to draw an airflow through the housing;A dehumidifying system housed within the channel is configured to remove moisture from the airflow;A carbon capture system is positioned in the channel downstream from the dehydration system and configured to remove carbon dioxide from the airflow; wherein the system further comprises a heating element positioned between the dehumidifying system and carbon capture system configured to heat the airflow before it enters the carbon capture system wherein the dehumidifier comprises a temperature control system configured to adjust the temperature of the airflow before it is ejected from the outlet, this system comprising one or more heating elements and one or more cooling elements.

2. The dehumidifier of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cooling elements comprise the condensing coil of the dehumidifier system.

3. The dehumidifier of claims 1 and 2, wherein the one or more heating elements comprise the heating element positioned between the dehumidifying system and carbon capture system.

4. The dehumidifier of claims 1 to 3 wherein the airflow downstream of the carbon capture system is configured to re-circulate over the heat elements or cooling elements until a desired temperature is achieved.

5. The dehumidifier of claim 4, wherein the airflow is recirculated through a plurality of secondary channels.

6. The dehumidifier of claim 5, wherein the secondary channel comprises a plurality of chambers proximate the one or more heating element, and one or more cooling elements, wherein the chamber has a larger cross-section than the secondary channel.

287. The dehumidifier of claims 5 and 6 wherein the secondary channels comprise one or more fans configured to control the air pressure within each secondary channel.

8. The dehumidifier of claims 4 to 7, further comprising one or more valves configured to direct the airflow downstream of the carbon capture system towards the one or more heating elements, one or more cooling elements or the air outlet.

9. The dehumidifier of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the carbon capture system comprises a porous cartridge containing carbon capture material.

10. The dehumidifier of claims 9 wherein the cartridge further comprises a processor, and one or more sensors configured to monitor the saturation of the carbon capture material.11 . The dehumidifier of claims 10 wherein the processor is configured to provide an audio and / or visual alert to indicate that the cartridge is ready to be replaced when the saturation of the carbon capture material reaches a predetermined threshold.

12. The dehumidifier of claim 1 wherein the heating element comprises a heat exchange device configured to extract heat from the airflow upstream from the dehumidifying system, and use that heat to heat the air downstream from the dehumidifying system and upstream from the carbon capture system.

13. The dehumidifier of claims 1 to 12, wherein the sensor comprises one or more mass sensor housed within the housing configured to monitor the mass of the carbon capture material.

14. The dehumidifier of claim 13, comprising a plurality of mass sensors, wherein the processor is configured to send an alert when each of the mass sensors measures a mass at or above a predetermined threshold.

15. The dehumidifier of claim 13, comprising a plurality of mass sensors, wherein the processor is configured to average the values measured by the plurality of sensors; and is configured to send the alert when the averaged value meets or exceeds the predetermine threshold.

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