Co2 separation module for a co2 separation apparatus for separating co2 from a supplied air stream

Abstract

The invention relates to a CO2 separation module (10) for a CO2 separation apparatus for separating CO2 from a supplied air flow (104), wherein an accommodating chamber (16) for accommodating a CO2 separation means (26) is divided into at least two sub-chambers (16a-e), each of which is bounded by two mutually opposed air-permeable chamber walls (18).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title

[0003] CO2 separation module for a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream

[0004] State of the art

[0005] The invention relates to a CO2 separation module for a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 (carbon dioxide) from a supplied air stream, comprising a receiving chamber for receiving a CO2 separation agent, wherein the receiving chamber has two air-permeable chamber walls arranged opposite one another; a supply channel arranged adjacent to one of the two air-permeable chamber walls and fluidically connected via said walls to the receiving chamber in order to guide the air stream through the receiving chamber and the CO2 separation agent; and a discharge channel arranged adjacent to the other of the two air-permeable chamber walls and fluidically connected via said walls to the receiving chamber in order to discharge the CO2-reduced air stream from the receiving chamber and the CO2 separation agent.The invention further relates to a CO2 separation device with such a CO2 separation module and a method for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream by means of a CO2 separation module.

[0006] In order to limit the warming of the Earth's atmosphere, so-called DAC systems (Direct Air Capture) are used to separate or remove CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the air.

[0007] WO 2020 / 212146 A1 discloses a DAC system with a container solution, wherein six separation chambers arranged in series and operable in parallel are provided inside the container.

[0008] US 2020 / 0391153 A1 describes a gas separation device with a ribbed structure in which a space that can be filled with sorption materials for CO2 is traversed by heat exchanger lines and heat exchanger fins.

[0009] WO 2014 / 170184 A1 discloses a gas separation device with stacked layers comprising a rigid frame on which flexible cloths are stretched on both sides. Particulate sorbent is arranged inside the layers and can be introduced through holes provided in the frame.

[0010] The performance of such CO2 separation modules or CO2 separation devices depends particularly on the locally prevailing air flow pressure. However, due to the pressure gradients in the supply and discharge channels, the pressure difference across the CO2 separation medium or sorbent is not locally constant.

[0011] Disclosure of the invention

[0012] The present invention therefore relates to a CO2 separation module according to the type described in the introduction, wherein the receiving chamber is divided into at least two sub-chambers, which are each arranged adjacent to the two air-permeable chamber walls arranged opposite one another.

[0013] The present invention further relates to a CO2 separation device with a CO2 separation module according to the type described above.

[0014] The present invention also relates to a method for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream by means of a CO2 separation module, in particular according to the type described above, and / or by means of a CO2 separation device for separating CO2, in particular according to the type described above, wherein a CO2 separation means used for this purpose is adapted to the pressure conditions between a supply channel for supplying the air stream through the CO2 separation means and a discharge channel for discharging the CO2-reduced air stream from the CO2 separation means such that during operation of the CO2 separation device or the separation module, when flowing through the CO2 separation means, a substantially spatially or locally uniform pressure difference and thus a homogeneous flow between the supply channel and the discharge channel results.

[0015] According to the invention, it is therefore proposed that the receiving chamber be divided into at least two subchambers, each of which is arranged adjacent to the two air-permeable chamber walls arranged opposite one another. This advantageously allows a defined combination of partial quantities of the CO2 separation agent to be used along the flow path, adapted to the pressure conditions in the CO2 separation module, without mixing them. Thus, during operation of the CO2 separation device or the separation module, a substantially spatially or locally uniform pressure difference and thus a homogeneous flow between the supply channel and the discharge channel can be achieved when the CO2 separation agent flows through.

[0016] In other words, the separate subchambers allow the CO2 capture agent to be arranged in the receiving chamber in subsets with different properties, allowing a suitable pressure drop to be "adjusted" to the pressure conditions in each subchamber. This, and the resulting homogeneous flow, optimizes the efficiency and performance of CO2 capture from the air.

[0017] The CO2 separation module has a receiving chamber for receiving a CO2 separation agent with two air-permeable chamber walls arranged opposite one another. According to the invention, the receiving chamber is divided into at least two sub-chambers, each of which is arranged adjacent to the two air-permeable chamber walls arranged opposite one another. Consequently, the supplied air flow can flow through the sub-chambers in parallel or simultaneously through one air-permeable chamber wall, and the discharged CO2-reduced air flow can flow through the sub-chambers in parallel or simultaneously through the other air-permeable chamber wall. Preferably, the receiving chamber is divided into a plurality of sub-chambers, each of which is arranged adjacent to the two air-permeable chamber walls arranged opposite one another.This design can theoretically improve the result to the point of gradual optimization. It should be noted that gradual optimization by simply "pouring" a graded mixture of the CO2 capture agent is not effective, as this expands and shrinks during cycling, and the associated transverse movements lead to mixing or demixing.

[0018] The receiving chamber is preferably flat or layered, particularly designed as a layered receiving chamber. The flat design allows for better absorption of the forces that occur.

[0019] The receiving chamber can have two further chamber walls arranged opposite one another in a circumferential direction, so that the receiving chamber is or will be delimited in its circumferential direction by four chamber walls or outer walls.

[0020] The CO2 separation module further comprises a supply channel, which is arranged adjacent to one of the two air-permeable chamber walls and is fluidly connected to the receiving chamber via said walls, in order to guide the air flow through the receiving chamber and the CO2 separation medium (during operation). The supply channel can have a supply channel inlet on an upstream side of the CO2 separation module through which the air flow is supplied. The supply channel can have several subchannels.

[0021] The supply channel can be flat or layered, in particular as a supply channel layer. The supply channel can be tapered, in particular continuously or constantly tapered, along the inflow direction or flow direction of the air flow, for example from the upstream side of the CO2 separation module to an downstream side of the CO2 separation module. The supply channel is preferably closed on the downstream side, but is not necessarily air-tight. The CO2 separation module also has a discharge channel, which is arranged adjacent to one of the two air-permeable chamber walls and is fluidly connected via this to the receiving chamber in order to discharge the CO2-reduced air flow from the receiving chamber and the CO2 separation medium (during operation). The discharge channel can have a discharge channel outlet on an downstream side of the CO2 separation module, from which the CO2-reduced air flow is discharged.The discharge channel can have several sub-channels.

[0022] The discharge channel can be flat or layered, in particular as a single discharge channel layer. The discharge channel can be designed to widen, in particular to widen continuously or constantly, along the outflow direction or flow direction of the CO2-reduced air flow, for example, from the upstream side of the CO2 separation module to the downstream side of the CO2 separation module. The discharge channel is preferably closed on the upstream side, but is not necessarily airtight.

[0023] Advantageously, the receiving chamber is arranged between the supply channel and the discharge channel in such a way that the air flow from the supply channel can be guided directly through the receiving chamber and the two air-permeable chamber walls into the discharge channel. In other words, the supply channel, the receiving chamber, and the discharge channel preferably form a sandwich-type arrangement.

[0024] The subchambers of the receiving chamber are preferably each separated from one another by at least one partition wall impermeable to the CO2 separation agent. The subchambers are preferably arranged along the inflow direction of the air flow established in the supply channel during operation of the CO2 separation device or separation module and / or the outflow direction of the CO2-reduced air flow established in the discharge channel. The subchambers can be arranged, in particular, parallel, from the inflow side to the outflow side.

[0025] It is advantageous if the supply channel and at least one of the sub-chambers and / or the discharge channel and at least one of the sub-chambers are formed or shaped from a single, i.e., single-piece or individual curved air-permeable plate. Understandably, the individual curved air-permeable plate is designed to be flexible or bendable. Furthermore, the individual curved air-permeable plate is preferably designed to be stretchable or elastic.

[0026] The one-piece, curved, air-permeable plate is preferably designed as a perforated or perforated metal plate, in particular a perforated or perforated metal sheet or expanded metal sheet or woven wire mesh or metal mesh. The one-piece, curved, air-permeable plate is further preferably impermeable to the CO2 separation agent, for example, a granular or particulate and / or fibrous CO2 separation agent to be used.

[0027] Expanded metal sheeting is particularly advantageous due to its flexible and stretchable, or elastic, properties. Wire mesh structures, such as those used for ventilating storage silos, can also be advantageously constructed using a multilayer mesh structure, in which a fine structure that securely retains the CO2 capture agent is mechanically supported by a coarser structure. This allows for the production of mechanically stable, yet formable, air-permeable panels with minimal pressure loss.

[0028] The sub-chambers can be joined to form a structure, for example, by bending and flanging a suitably designed, air-permeable endless belt. Two wall ends can be joined together, for example, by folding or flanging, since no airtight seal is required, but only flow guidance and retention of the CO2 separation agent. The structures can be fixed by the bending process alone and / or additionally or exclusively by folding or flanging and / or additionally or exclusively by other known form-fitting or material-fitting types of connection such as rivets, screws, spot welding, friction welding, or gluing. In this way, for example by means of a continuous sheet metal bending process, a CO2 separation module can be provided that is easy and cost-effective to manufacture and has a receiving chamber divided into sub-chambers and that can withstand mechanical loads such as those caused by the cycling of, for example, granular or powdery materials.particulate, fibrous, or mat-shaped sorbents. For particularly fine CO2 separation agents, it can preferably be provided that the receiving chamber or the sub-chambers of the receiving chamber are additionally covered, inside or outside, with a polymer fleece or a membrane before or after shaping.

[0029] Advantageously, the subchambers of the receiving chamber each have at least one opening, in particular two openings arranged opposite one another, for introducing and / or discharging the respective portion of the CO2 separation agent. Each opening can be bounded, for example, by the two air-permeable chamber walls, one of the two other chamber walls, and the partition wall. The at least one opening can extend over substantially the entire longitudinal and vertical extent of the respective subchamber.

[0030] For example, the two air-permeable chamber walls arranged opposite one another can be arranged on a top side and a bottom side of the receiving chamber, the two further chamber walls arranged opposite one another can be arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the CO2 separation module and the openings can be arranged on a transverse side arranged transversely to the upstream side and the downstream side or the openings arranged opposite one another can be arranged on the two transverse sides arranged transversely to the upstream side and the downstream side.

[0031] At least one of the two openings of a subchamber can be designed to be temporarily closable. Thus, at least one of the two openings of a subchamber can be designed to be closable, for example, after the introduction of the CO2 separation agent and to be opened again for the removal or replacement of the CO2 separation agent. The other opening can be permanently closed, for example.

[0032] A permanently sealed opening can be achieved, for example, solely by folding or flanging, and / or additionally or exclusively by folding or flanging, and / or additionally or exclusively by other known form-fitting or material-fitting connection methods such as riveting, screwing, spot welding, friction welding, or gluing. This is possible because no airtight seal is required, but only a flow guide and retention of the CO2 separation agent.

[0033] An opening designed for temporary closure can be designed to be opened without tools, either as a sliding cover with guide grooves, by clamping with spring elements, a bayonet lock, or with tools, for example, by screw connections. In this case, one side is secured via a swivel joint, particularly a detachable swivel joint, so that the side to be secured allows quick access for changing the CO2 separation medium.

[0034] In the case that the CO2 separation means is designed in the form of a mat, it is advantageous if both oppositely arranged openings can be opened so that the mat can also be pulled through the respective sub-chamber instead of just being pushed into it.

[0035] It is advantageous if at least one heating element, in particular a heating tube or heating rod or an air-permeable heating mat or heating grid, is provided, which is arranged in the receiving chamber or one of the subchambers or all subchambers and can be introduced and / or removed via the respective at least one opening. Alternatively or additionally, one of the air-permeable chamber walls or plates can also be designed to be heatable.

[0036] The CO2 separation module preferably has an arrangement stacked in a stacking direction of the CO2 separation module with a plurality of receiving chambers, supply channels, and discharge channels, wherein a supply channel and a discharge channel are arranged alternately between the receiving chambers in the stacking direction. The receiving chambers, the supply channels, and the discharge channels can be layered. In other words, the receiving chambers or receiving chamber layers, the supply channels or supply channel layers, and the receiving chambers or discharge channel layers are arranged alternately and adjacent to one another, forming a stacked layer arrangement or stack. The receiving chambers or receiving chamber layers can be aligned, for example, at an angle of less than 30° to the horizontal or substantially horizontally.The stack is preferably designed to be airtight on a top and / or bottom side, so that the air flow cannot escape from the CO2 separation module on these sides. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a suitable coating and / or a closed stack wall, in particular a closed metal wall or metal plate.

[0037] Advantageously, a spacer element is arranged in each of the supply channels and / or in the discharge channels, which spacer element is connected to the two adjacent chamber walls of the respective or adjacent receiving chambers, wherein the spacer element is formed from a curved, in particular air-permeable plate. The spacer elements preferably have a wave shape and are in particular elastic. It is particularly advantageous if the spacer elements are designed as a perforated metal plate, in particular perforated metal sheet or expanded metal sheet or woven wire mesh or metal knitted fabric. Further preferably, the chamber walls and the spacer elements are formed from the same perforated metal plate, in particular perforated metal sheet or expanded metal sheet or woven wire mesh or metal knitted fabric.

[0038] Preferably, the spacer elements extend over a substantially entire longitudinal and transverse extent of the chamber walls.

[0039] It is advantageous if the supply channels and / or the discharge channels together with the respective spacer elements have a varying height in a flow direction of the air flow (during operation), in particular the supply channels with the respective spacer elements are designed to taper continuously from the inflow side of the CO2 separation module to the outflow side of the CO2 separation module, i.e. in the inflow direction of the air flow, and / or the discharge channels with the respective spacer elements are designed to widen continuously from the inflow side of the CO2 separation module to the outflow side of the CO2 separation module, i.e. in the outflow direction of the CO2-reduced air flow.

[0040] The spacer elements of the supply channels are preferably of identical design. The spacer elements of the discharge channels are preferably of identical design. Further preferably, the spacer elements of the supply channels and the discharge channels are of identical design. In particular, the supply channels with the spacer elements and the discharge channels with the spacer elements can be of identical design and arranged in the stack merely rotated by 180° (around the stacking direction) relative to one another.

[0041] The spacer elements serve to mechanically support or "keep open" the supply and discharge channels, as well as to guide the air flow longitudinally. Due to the appropriate design of the spacer elements, the air-permeable chamber walls or plates of the receiving chambers can bulge or bend into the unsupported areas of the supply and discharge channels when the CO2 separation agent or sorbent expands, particularly during the hot and humid desorption process. Since the support is preferably implemented in a wave-like manner, the resulting forces are evenly distributed, and thermal expansion during desorption or changes in the material volume of the sorbent during cyclic adsorption and desorption within one or more receiving chambers with air flow are compensated for. The elastic overall structure consisting of the chamber walls and the spacer elements recovers upon cooling.Furthermore, the air flow creates less flow resistance in the supply and discharge ducts.

[0042] Geometric optimization of the waveform follows the design aspects for branched flow channels familiar from other stacked systems such as plate heat exchangers, fuel cell stacks, and electrolyzer stacks. For example, the height and width of the wave can be adjusted depending on the desired airflow for the specific application, the volume of the receiving chamber, and the performance characteristics of the CO2 capture agent.

[0043] The spacers can be manufactured using a pressure forming process. The air-permeable panels can be profiled in a wave-like pattern, for example, by embossing, to create the wave-shaped spacers. When manufactured as an "endless strip," it is also possible to stack two strips alternately in a zigzag fold and / or fold them mirror-inverted at the receiving chamber during production. The manufacturing direction of a spacer would be transverse or perpendicular to the direction of the taper or widening, i.e., transverse to the direction of the airflow during operation.

[0044] The CO2 separation agent is designed to separate CO2 from a supplied air stream. Preferably, different portions of the CO2 separation agent are arranged in each of the at least two subchambers. In other words, the CO2 separation agent is arranged in a receiving chamber of the CO2 separation module located between the supply channel and the discharge channel, or different portions of the CO2 separation agent are arranged in at least two subchambers of the receiving chamber. Accordingly, a portion of the CO2 separation agent is arranged in each of the subchambers, with the portions differing from one another.

[0045] In the context of the present invention, the term “partial quantity” is also to be understood as meaning a quantity with only a part, in particular also a partial section or partial area of ​​the CO2 separation agent.

[0046] The CO2 separation agent is preferably solid. The CO2 separation agent can, for example, be particulate, fibrous, or mat-shaped. The CO2 separation agent can, in particular, comprise a solid (appropriately functionalized) sorbent, for example an adsorbent and / or an absorbent. Accordingly, the CO2 separation agent can, for example, have a particulate, fibrous, or nonwoven solid as a carrier structure with a base material selected from the group consisting of: resins, polymers, ceramics, zeolites, silicates, organometallic compounds, organic materials such as cellulose or activated carbon, and combinations thereof. The base material can, in turn, be specifically functionalized with amines, potassium carbonate, or other components designed to chemically or physically bind CO2. The CO2 separation agent can also be designed to be permeable to air.

[0047] The CO2 separation agent can comprise or be formed as a granular ion exchange resin. The CO2 separation agent can comprise or consist of, for example, granular Lewatit VP OC 1065 or zeolite X13.

[0048] Advantageously, the different partial quantities of the CO2 separation agent exhibit a variable or increasing pressure drop value during operation of the CO2 separation device or separation module as the supplied air flow flows through the supply channel along the inflow direction or flow direction of the air flow. Accordingly, due to its properties, the CO2 separation agent generates spatially or locally different pressure drop values ​​during operation of the CO2 separation device or separation module, particularly an increasing pressure drop value in the inflow direction of the air flow in the supply channel.

[0049] The different partial quantities of the CO2 separation agent preferably differ from one another in at least one of the following properties: size, in particular number; particle diameter and / or particle size and / or fiber size; density, in particular particle density and / or fiber density; distribution, in particular particle distribution and / or fiber distribution; thickness, in particular layer thickness and / or mat thickness; material and / or materials.

[0050] In other words, the CO2 separation agent is divided into different subsets for generating the spatially or locally different pressure loss values, which subsets differ from one another in at least one of the following properties: size, in particular number; particle diameter and / or particle size and / or fiber size; density, in particular particle density and / or fiber density; distribution, in particular particle distribution and / or fiber distribution; thickness, in particular layer thickness and / or mat thickness; material and / or materials.

[0051] Preferably, the different partial quantities of the CO2 separation agent are designed and coordinated with one another in such a way that, during operation of the CO2 separation device or the separation module, when the supplied air flow flows through the different partial quantities of the CO2 separation agent between the supply channel and the discharge channel, a substantially spatially or locally uniform pressure difference results across the respective receiving chamber.

[0052] For example, the pressure difference may be greatest at the supply channel inlet, i.e., on the upstream side, and decrease toward the end of the supply channel, i.e., the downstream side. To compensate for this, a first portion of the CO2 separation agent, which is designed to be more "airy," can be arranged or inserted at the supply channel inlet or on the upstream side in a first subchamber. Accordingly, a second portion of the CO2 separation agent, which is designed to be more "dense," can be arranged or inserted at the discharge channel outlet or on the downstream side in a second subchamber.

[0053] The "airy" first subset can be achieved, for example, by using coarser granular CO2 capture material, i.e., material with a larger average particle diameter or a narrower particle size distribution, compared to the "denser" second subset, where a denser packing is achieved by using broader particle size distributions or a bimodal particle size distribution. The latter also leads to a higher absorption capacity.

[0054] For example, a base quantity of granular CO2 capture material can first be divided into two sub-quantities, and one of these sub-quantities can be sieved. The narrowly distributed particle sizes can then be placed in the upstream sub-chamber, and the sieved particles can be mixed with the remaining portion of the base quantity and placed in the downstream sub-chamber.

[0055] The filling of the granular CO2 separation agent or ion exchange resin into the receiving chamber(s) can, for example, be carried out by first (at least temporarily) suspending the granular ion exchange resin in a liquid, in particular by slurrying it in water, and then filling this suspension into the receiving chamber(s) or sub-chambers of the CO2 separation module. Since at least the chamber walls of the receiving chamber are permeable to air, the liquid can drain or flow out unhindered, with the granular CO2 separation agent or ion exchange resin remaining in the receiving chamber. In other words, a liquid is used to fluidize the granular CO2 separation agent during filling, and the air-permeable chamber walls are used as a filter or sieve to filter the suspended granular CO2 separation agent from the liquid during filling.

[0056] The liquid is preferably water. The advantage here is that water is omnipresent in the humid air during the sorption process and in the form of water vapor during the desorption process for years, so it does not interfere with the filling process or later in the CO2 capture device. However, the liquid can also be a solvent, in particular a solvent used in the production of the granular CO2 capture agent.

[0057] Consequently, a combination or suspension comprising ion exchange resins and water is particularly advantageous, since ion exchange resins were developed for use in water and form dense fluidized packings there, which, however, can be easily moved due to the comparable density and spherical shape.

[0058] In the event that the sub-chambers each have a second opening through which the granular CO2 separation agent could escape during filling, these openings are closed, at least for the filling step, by means of a closure element that is impermeable to the granular CO2 separation agent. The closure element can be designed to be airtight. The closure element can be designed, for example, as a closed chamber wall, in particular a closed metal wall or metal plate.

[0059] After the filling step, the remaining open openings are then preferably closed using a (further) closure element, so that the granular CO2 separation agent remains in the subchambers. The (further) closure element is thus impermeable at least to the granular CO2 separation agent. The (further) closure element can be designed to be airtight. The (further) closure element can be designed, for example, as a closed chamber wall, in particular a closed metal wall or metal plate.

[0060] The filling step can be carried out using a filling device, wherein the suspension is filled into the subchambers, in particular into several subchambers simultaneously, through the openings by means of at least one supply line and / or filling aperture. Advantageously, the CO2 separation module can be rotated before the filling step so that the openings point upwards for the filling step.

[0061] The CO2 separation module is designed for use in a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream using a CO2 separation process. Within the scope of the present invention, the term "separation" encompasses any reasonable type of separation or capture of CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the air, whereby a binding and / or adhesion and / or storage and / or absorption of CO2 molecules occurs on a CO2 separation agent.

[0062] In this case, the CO2 separation module or the CO2 separation device can be designed, in particular, to separate the CO2 from the supplied air stream by means of a CO2 separation process, in which the separation occurs with the release of energy or heat to the air stream. The CO2 separation process preferably comprises a sorption process, in particular an adsorption process and / or an absorption process. Accordingly, the CO2 separation can be carried out, in particular, by means of at least one of the following processes or combinations thereof:

[0063] - chemical adsorption process

[0064] - physical adsorption process

[0065] - chemical absorption process

[0066] - physical absorption process

[0067] The CO2 separation module or CO2 separation device is further designed to release CO2 from the CO2 separation medium by means of a CO2 release process. Within the scope of the present invention, the term "release" encompasses any reasonable method of releasing or expelling CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the CO2 separation medium, whereby a dissolution and / or release and / or discharge of CO2 molecules from the CO2 separation medium occurs.

[0068] In this case, the CO2 separation module or the CO2 separation device is particularly designed to release or dissolve the CO2 from the CO2 separation agent by means of a CO2 release process in which the CO2 is released from the CO2 separation agent by introducing energy or heat into the CO2 separation agent.

[0069] The CO2 release process preferably includes a desorption process. Accordingly, the CO2 release can be carried out in particular using at least one of the following processes or combinations thereof:

[0070] - chemical desorption process

[0071] - physical desorption process

[0072] Preferably, the CO2 separation device is designed to perform the CO2 separation process and the CO2 release process cyclically. In this case, the CO2 separation device is particularly designed to perform the sorption process and the desorption process cyclically. The basic functionality of the CO2 separation module or the CO2 separation device can be implemented, for example, analogously to the aforementioned WO 2020 / 212146 A1 and US 2020 / 0391153 A1.

[0073] Within the scope of the present invention, the term "supply" or "supplied" primarily encompasses an actively conducted or initiated, and thus technically controlled or regulated, supply of the air flow by means of a blower unit or fan unit of the CO2 separation device. However, the term "supply" or "supplied" can also encompass a passively conducted or initiated supply of the air flow without departing from the scope of the present invention. Consequently, the air flow can be supplied in any desired manner, for example, naturally (as wind).

[0074] The CO2 separation device preferably has at least one separation chamber with at least one CO2 separation module. The CO2 separation device further preferably has a plurality of separation chambers arranged one above the other and / or next to one another. The separation chambers can be operated in groups in parallel in the CO2 separation process and the CO2 release process. In other words, if one group of separation chambers is operating in the CO2 separation process, the other group of separation chambers can be operated in the CO2 release process, and vice versa.

[0075] The CO2 separation device can have a valve unit with a plurality of, in particular controllable, valves to close the separation chamber for the CO2 release process. The valve unit can have an inlet valve, which is arranged in an inlet channel for the supplied or sucked-in air flow and is designed to close the inlet channel and to isolate the separation chamber upstream. The valve unit can further have an outlet valve, which is arranged in an outlet channel for the CO2-reduced air flow and is designed to close the outlet channel and to isolate the separation chamber downstream. The valve unit can also have a CO2 valve, which is arranged in a CO2 discharge channel for discharging separated CO2 and is designed to open the CO2 discharge channel in order to specifically discharge the separated / bound and released CO2 from the separation chamber.

[0076] The CO2 separation device may further comprise at least one of the following units:

[0077] - blower unit, in particular with a plurality of fans for supplying the air flow;

[0078] - Pump unit or vacuum pump for providing overpressure and / or negative pressure for the CO2 release process or desorption process;

[0079] - Water vapor generator to provide water vapor for the CO2 release or desorption process;

[0080] - Inerting unit for supplying an inert gas stream, such as nitrogen, oxygen-free air and / or water vapor, to remove oxygen before the CO2 release process or desorption process to protect the CO2 removal agent from chemical degradation;

[0081] - Electric heating unit for additional heating of the CO2 separation agent for the CO2 release or desorption process; sensor unit for the CO2 separation and CO2 release processes;

[0082] Control unit for controlling and / or regulating the CO2 separation and CO2 release process.

[0083] The control unit can be designed to be connected to other control units and / or a central control unit of the CO2 separation device or a higher-level system by means of radio transmission such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, near-field communication, etc.

[0084] The CO2 separation device is preferably designed to be stationary.

[0085] In particular, the CO2 capture device can be part of a building's air conditioning system, particularly integrated into an air conditioning system within a building. The capture chamber of the CO2 capture device can be integrated into the building's air conditioning circuit.

[0086] Drawings

[0087] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

[0088] Fig. 1 shows a basic structure of a CO2 separation device according to the prior art;

[0089] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a CO2 separation module according to the invention;

[0090] Fig. 3 a side sectional view of the CO2 separation module from

[0091] Fig. 2;

[0092] Fig. 4 is a perspective detailed view of the CO2 separation module from Fig. 2;

[0093] Fig. 5 schematically shows the pressure difference between the supply channel and the discharge channel of a CO2 separation module without an adapted CO2 separation agent; Fig. 6 schematically shows the pressure difference between the supply channel and the discharge channel of a CO2 separation module with an adapted CO2 separation agent according to the invention;

[0094] Fig. 7 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of a

[0095] CO2 separation module with heating elements; and

[0096] Fig. 8 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of a

[0097] CO2 separation module with heating mats.

[0098] In the following description of the prior art and preferred embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements shown in the various figures and having a similar effect, whereby a repeated description of the elements is omitted.

[0099] Fig. 1 shows the basic structure of a CO2 separation device 100 according to the prior art. The CO2 separation device 100 is designed to separate CO2 (carbon dioxide) from an air stream 104 supplied by a blower unit 102 using a cyclically performed sorption-desorption process.

[0100] For this purpose, the CO2 separation device 100 has a separation chamber 106 for accommodating a CO2 separation module (not shown) with a granular CO2 separation agent or granular sorbent. The separation chamber 106 has an inlet valve 108 on an inlet channel 110 for the drawn-in air stream 104, which is designed to close the inlet channel 110 and to isolate the separation chamber 106 upstream. The separation chamber 106 further has an outlet valve 112 on an outlet channel 114 for the CO2-reduced air stream 104', which is designed to close the outlet channel 114 and to isolate the separation chamber 106 downstream. The separation chamber 106 also has a CO2 valve 116, which is arranged in a CO2 discharge channel 118 and is designed to open the CO2 discharge channel 118 in order to separate, ie sorbed and released again, ie desorbed CO2 and, if applicable,to remove vaporous water from the separation chamber 106. The separated CO2 and vaporous water are pumped from the separation chamber 106 by means of a pump unit 120 or vacuum pump 120, with a water vapor condenser 122 arranged outside the separation chamber 106 being connected upstream of the vacuum pump 120.

[0101] The CO2 separation device 100 also has a heating and cooling unit 124 for heating and cooling the sorbent and a water vapor generation unit 126 arranged outside the separation chamber 106 for providing water vapor for the CO2 release process or desorption process.

[0102] Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show an embodiment of a CO2 separation module 10 according to the invention, which can be used, for example, in the CO2 separation device 100 of Fig. 1, in a perspective view and a sectional view. In the perspective view of Fig. 2, a front part of the CO2 separation module 10 has been cut out to allow a better view of the interior of the CO2 separation module 10. The sectional view of Fig. 3 illustrates the flow paths of the air streams 104, 104'.

[0103] The CO2 separation module 10 comprises a stacked arrangement or stack of a plurality of supply channels 12, discharge channels 14, and receiving chambers 16, which are arranged alternately and adjacent to one another in a stacking direction 17 of the CO2 separation module 10. A supply channel 12 and a discharge channel 14 are arranged alternately between the receiving chambers 16.

[0104] The receiving chambers 16 are flat or layered. Each receiving chamber 16 has two air-permeable chamber walls 18 arranged opposite one another and two further chamber walls 20 arranged opposite one another.

[0105] According to the invention, the receiving chambers 16 are each divided into two subchambers 16a, 16b. The two subchambers 16a, 16b are each arranged adjacent to the two air-permeable chamber walls 18 arranged opposite one another. The two subchambers 16a, 16b are arranged along an inflow direction 22 of the air flow 104 that is established in the supply channel 12 during operation of the CO2 separation device 100 or the separation module 10, and along an outflow direction 24 of the CO2-reduced air flow 104' that is established in the discharge channel 14.

[0106] The subchambers 16a, 16b are filled with a CO2 separation agent 26 or sorbent 26, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a granular ion exchange resin 26. For illustrative purposes, the subchambers 16a, 16b are shown filled with only one receiving chamber 16.

[0107] Different partial quantities 26a, 26b of the CO2 separation agent 26 are arranged in the two partial chambers 16a, 16b, respectively, which differ in their particle diameter and particle size. To prevent mixing of the different partial quantities 26a, 26b, the partial chambers 16a, 16b of a receiving chamber 16 are further separated from each other by a partition wall 28 that is impermeable to the granular ion exchange resin 26.

[0108] According to the invention, the different sub-quantities 26a, 26b are designed and adapted to one another or to the pressure conditions in such a way that, during operation of the CO2 separation device 100, when the supplied air flow 104 flows through it along the inflow direction 22 of the air flow 104 into the supply channel 12, they have an increasing pressure loss value, so that - as will be explained in more detail below in Figs. 5 and 6 - an essentially spatially uniform pressure difference across the sub-chambers 26a, 26b advantageously results between the supply channel 12 and the discharge channel 14.

[0109] Each sub-chamber 16a, 16b also has two narrow openings 30 arranged opposite one another for introducing and / or discharging the respective partial quantity 26a, 26b of the granular ion exchange resin 26, wherein the two openings 30 are delimited by the two air-permeable chamber walls 18, one of the two further chamber walls 20, and the partition wall 28. The supply channels 12 are arranged between two receiving chambers 16 adjacent to the respective air-permeable chamber walls 18 and are fluidly connected via these to the receiving chambers 16 in order to guide the air flow 104 through the respective partial quantity 26a, 26b of the granular ion exchange resin 26.

[0110] Analogously, the discharge channels 14 are arranged between two receiving chambers 16 adjacent to the respective air-permeable chamber walls 18 and are fluidly connected via these to the receiving chambers 16 in order to discharge the CO2-reduced air flow 104' from the respective partial quantity 26a, 26b of the granular ion exchange resin 26.

[0111] In this case, a wave-shaped spacer element 32 is arranged in each of the supply channels 12 and in the discharge channels 14, which is connected to two adjacent air-permeable chamber walls 18 of the respective or adjacent receiving chambers 16.

[0112] The wave-shaped spacer elements 32 are formed from a curved, particularly air-permeable plate 32, which is designed as an expanded metal sheet. The wave-shaped spacer elements 32 extend over substantially the entire longitudinal and transverse extent of the chamber walls 18.

[0113] The supply channels 12 and the discharge channels 14, together with the respective spacer elements 32, have a varying height along the inflow direction 20 of the air flow 104. The supply channels 12, with the respective spacer elements 32, are tapered along the inflow direction 20 of the air flow 104 from an inflow side 34 to an outflow side 36 of the CO2 separation module 10, and the discharge channels 14, with the respective spacer elements 32, are widened along the outflow direction 22 of the CO2-reduced air flow 104' from the inflow side 34 to the outflow side 36 of the CO2 separation module 10.

[0114] The supply channels 12 with the spacer elements 32 and the discharge channels 14 with the spacer elements 32 are of identical design and are arranged in the stacked arrangement or in the stack only rotated by 180° (around the stacking direction 17) relative to each other.

[0115] Accordingly, the two air-permeable chamber walls 22 arranged opposite one another are arranged on an upper side and a lower side of the receiving chambers 16, the two further chamber walls 20 arranged opposite one another are arranged on the inflow side 34 and the outflow side 36 of the CO2 separation module 10 and the openings 30 are arranged on the transverse side 38 arranged transversely to the inflow side 34 and the outflow side 36.

[0116] Fig. 4 shows a perspective detailed view of the CO2 separation module 10 from Fig. 2 with an arrangement of only one supply channel 12, one discharge channel 12 and a receiving chamber 16 arranged therebetween. It can be seen from this that the supply channel 12 and the partial chamber 16b as well as the discharge channel 14 and the partial chamber 16b are each formed from a one-piece curved air-permeable plate 40 which is designed as an expanded metal sheet or the same expanded metal sheet as the plate 32.

[0117] Fig. 5 schematically shows the pressure difference 42' between the supply channel 12 and the discharge channel 14 of a CO2 separation module 10' according to the prior art, which has a receiving chamber 16' with only one chamber and without an adapted CO2 separation means 26. It can be seen that the pressure curve 44' (real and idealized) of the supplied air flow 104 decreases along the inflow direction 22 and the pressure curve 46' of the CO2-reduced air flow 104 decreases along the outflow direction 24, so that the pressure difference 42' varies across the receiving chamber 16 or decreases from the inflow side 34 to the outflow side 36.

[0118] In contrast, Fig. 6 shows the pressure difference 42 between the supply channel 12 and the discharge channel 14 of a CO2 separation module 10 according to the invention having a receiving chamber 16 with sub-chambers 16a-e and adapted sub-quantities 26a-e of the CO separation agent 26. The sub-quantities 26a-e are adapted to the pressure conditions in such a way that the pressure profile 44 of the supplied air flow 104 along the inflow direction 22 and the pressure profile 46 of the CO2-reduced air flow 104' along the outflow direction 24 are constant, thereby resulting in an essentially spatially uniform pressure difference 42 across the receiving chamber 16.

[0119] This is achieved in the embodiment shown in that the subset 26a in the upstream sub-chamber 16a has a narrower particle size distribution (loose, loose), which becomes wider towards the subset 26e of the downstream sub-chamber 16e (narrow, compact).

[0120] In Fig. 7 and 8, further embodiments of the CO2 separation module 10 with heating elements 48a, 48b, ie heating tubes 48a (Fig. 7) and air-permeable heating mats 48b (Fig. 8) are shown, which are arranged in the partial chambers 16a, 16b of the receiving chambers 16 and can be introduced and removed via the openings 30.

[0121] If an embodiment comprises an “and / or” link between a first feature and a second feature, this is to be read as meaning that the embodiment according to one embodiment has both the first feature and the second feature and according to another embodiment has either only the first feature or only the second feature.

Claims

Claims 1 . CO2 separation module (10) for a CO2 separation device (100) for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream (104) with - a receiving chamber (16) for receiving a CO2 Separation means (18), wherein the receiving chamber (16) has two air-permeable chamber walls (18) arranged opposite one another; - a supply channel (12) arranged adjacent to one of the two air-permeable chamber walls (18) and fluidly connected via this to the receiving chamber (16) in order to guide the air flow (104) through the receiving chamber (16) and the CO2 separation means (26); and - a discharge channel (14) arranged adjacent to the other of the two air-permeable chamber walls (18) and fluidly connected via said walls to the receiving chamber (16) in order to discharge the CO2-reduced air flow (104') from the receiving chamber (16) and the CO2 separation means (26); characterized in that the receiving chamber (16) is divided into at least two sub-chambers (16a-e), each of which is arranged adjacent to the two air-permeable chamber walls (18) arranged opposite one another.

2. CO2 separation module (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving chamber (16) is divided into a plurality of sub-chambers (16a-e), which are each arranged adjacent to the two air-permeable chamber walls (18) arranged opposite one another.

3. CO2 separation module (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sub-chambers (16a-e) are each separated from one another by means of at least one partition wall (28) which is impermeable to the CO2 separation means (26).

4. CO2 separation module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sub-chambers (16a-e) are arranged along an inflow direction (22) of the air flow (104) which is established in the supply channel (12) during operation of the CO2 separation device (100) and / or an outflow direction (24) of the CO2-reduced air flow (104') which is established in the discharge channel (14).

5. CO2 separation module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply channel (12) is tapered along an inflow direction (22) of the air flow (104) and / or the discharge channel (14) is widened along an outflow direction (24) of the CO2-reduced air flow (104').

6. CO2 separation module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the supply channel (12) and at least one of the sub-chambers (16a-e); and / or - the discharge channel (14) and at least one of the partial chambers (16a-e) are formed from a one-piece curved air-permeable plate (40).

7. CO2 separation module (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the one-piece curved air-permeable plate (40) is designed as a perforated metal plate, in particular perforated metal sheet or expanded metal sheet or woven wire mesh or metal knitted fabric.

8. CO2 separation module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that different partial quantities (26a-e) of the CO2 separation agent (26) are arranged in each of the at least two partial chambers (16a-e).

9. CO2 separation module (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the different partial quantities (26a-e) of the CO2 separation agent (26) differ from one another in at least one of the following properties: size, in particular number; particle diameter and / or particle size and / or fiber size; density, in particular particle density and / or fiber density; distribution, in particular particle distribution and / or Fiber distribution; thickness, in particular layer thickness and / or mat thickness; Material and / or materials.

10. CO2 separation module (10) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the different partial quantities (26a-e) of the CO2 separation agent (26) have an increasing pressure loss value during operation of the CO2 separation device (100) when the supplied air flow (104) flows through it along an inflow direction (22) of the air flow (104) into the supply channel (12).

11. CO2 separation module (10) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the different partial quantities (26a-e) of the CO2 separation means (26) are designed and coordinated with one another in such a way that, during operation of the CO2 separation device (100), when the supplied air stream (104) flows through the different partial quantities (26a-e) of the CO2 separation means (26) between the supply channel (12) and the discharge channel (14), a substantially spatially uniform pressure difference (42) across the partial chambers (26a-e) results.

12. CO2 separation module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an arrangement stacked in a stacking direction (17) of the CO2 separation module (10) with a plurality of receiving chambers (16), supply channels (12) and discharge channels (14), wherein a supply channel (12) and a discharge channel (14) are arranged alternately between the receiving chambers (16) in the stacking direction (17).

13. CO2 separation module (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that in the supply channels (12) and / or in the discharge channels (14) there is arranged in each case a spacer element (32), in particular a wave-shaped one, which is connected to the two adjacent chamber walls (18) of the respective receiving chambers (16), wherein the spacer element (32) is formed from a curved, in particular air-permeable plate (32).

14. CO2 separation module (10) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the spacer elements (32) are designed as perforated Metal plate, in particular perforated metal sheet or expanded metal sheet or woven wire mesh or metal knitted fabric.

15. CO2 separation device (100) with a CO2 separation module (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

16. A method for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream (104) by means of a CO2 separation module (10), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 14, and / or by means of a CO2 separation device (100) for separating CO2, in particular according to claim 15, wherein a CO2 separation means (26) used for this purpose is adapted to the pressure conditions between a supply channel (12) for supplying the air stream (104) through the CO2 separation means (26) and a discharge channel (14) for discharging the CO2-reduced air stream (104') from the CO2 separation means (26) in such a way that, during operation of the CO2 separation device (100), a substantially spatially uniform pressure difference (42) results between the supply channel (12) and the discharge channel (14) when flowing through the CO2 separation means (26).

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the CO2 separation means (26) during operation of the CO2 separation device (100) generates spatially different pressure loss values ​​due to its properties, in particular an increasing pressure loss value in the inflow direction (22) of the air flow (104) in the supply channel (12).

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the CO2 separation means (26) for generating the spatially different pressure loss values ​​is divided into different subsets (26a-e), which differ from one another in at least one of the following properties: size, in particular number; particle diameter and / or particle size and / or fiber size; density, in particular particle density and / or fiber density; distribution, in particular particle distribution and / or fiber distribution; thickness, in particular layer thickness and / or mat thickness; material and / or materials.

19. Method according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the CO2 separation means (26) is arranged in a receiving chamber (16) of the CO2 separation module (10) arranged between the supply channel (12) and the discharge channel (14), in particular in at least two sub-chambers (16a-e) of the receiving chamber (16) different Partial quantities (26a-e) of the CO2 separation agent (26) are arranged.

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