Carbon dioxide recovery system and air conditioning system

The integrated carbon dioxide capture system in air conditioners adjusts adsorbent use based on airflow velocity to enhance efficiency and reduce energy costs, addressing low capture efficiency and pressure loss issues.

WO2025225043A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2025-10-30MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/JP2024/027489
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-04-26
Filing Date
2024-08-01
Publication Date
2025-10-30

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing carbon dioxide capture systems face challenges with low capture efficiency and high energy costs due to the need for air conveyance, and there is a risk of reducing air conditioner performance from pressure loss in the adsorbent.

Method used

A carbon dioxide capture system integrated into an air conditioner's blower section, using a control unit to manage the amount of adsorbent based on air conditioning load, minimizing energy use and pressure loss by adjusting adsorbent supply and discharge in response to airflow velocity.

Benefits of technology

Reduces energy consumption for air transport without compromising air conditioner performance by optimizing adsorbent use based on airflow velocity, enhancing capture efficiency while minimizing pressure loss.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

This carbon dioxide recovery system is used in an air blowing unit of an air conditioner including a heat exchanger and a fan that generates an air flow, and comprises: an adsorption unit to which an adsorbent that adsorbs carbon dioxide contained in the air flow is supplied; and a control unit which controls the amount of the adsorbent in the adsorption unit, wherein the control unit controls the amount of the adsorbent in the adsorption unit according to the air conditioning load of the air conditioner.
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Description

Carbon dioxide capture system, air conditioning system

[0001] The present invention relates to a carbon dioxide recovery system and an air conditioning system. This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-072652, filed on April 26, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a system that captures low concentrations (approximately 400 ppm) of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere.

[0003] The technical challenges with DAC are that the captured carbon dioxide is of low concentration, resulting in low capture efficiency and high carbon dioxide capture costs.

[0004] DAC systems collect air from the atmosphere and capture carbon dioxide, so they require an air conveyance device and energy to convey the air. By using equipment with a blower, such as an air conditioner, to adsorb carbon dioxide onto an adsorbent, the energy required to convey the air can be reduced.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a carbon dioxide adsorption facility that can efficiently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by utilizing the airflow of a cooling device.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-131166

[0007] The carbon dioxide adsorption equipment disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the advantage of being able to reduce the energy required to transport air, but there is a possibility that the performance of the air conditioner may be reduced due to pressure loss in the adsorbent.

[0008] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a carbon dioxide capture system that can reduce air transport energy without reducing the performance of the air conditioner due to pressure loss in the adsorbent.

[0009] One aspect of the carbon dioxide capture system according to the present disclosure is a carbon dioxide capture system used in the blower section of an air conditioner that includes a heat exchanger and a fan that generates an airflow, and that includes an adsorption section to which an adsorbent that adsorbs carbon dioxide contained in the airflow is supplied, and a control section that controls the amount of the adsorbent in the adsorption section, and the control section controls the amount of the adsorbent in the adsorption section in accordance with the air conditioning load of the air conditioner.

[0010] According to the carbon dioxide capture system of the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the energy required to transport air without reducing the performance of the air conditioner.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of an air conditioner including a carbon dioxide capture system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the carbon dioxide capture system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the carbon dioxide capture system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the carbon dioxide capture system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the carbon dioxide capture system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the carbon dioxide capture system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the carbon dioxide capture system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the carbon dioxide capture system according to variant 1 of embodiment 1. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the carbon dioxide capture system according to variant 3 of embodiment 1. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the carbon dioxide capture system according to variant 2 of embodiment 1. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of an air conditioning system according to embodiment 1.

[0012] First Embodiment A carbon dioxide capture system 90 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of an air conditioner 100 including a carbon dioxide capture system 90 according to Embodiment 1. First, the general configuration of the air conditioner 100 will be described.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, the air conditioner 100 includes an indoor unit 10, an outdoor unit 20, and a circulation path section 30. The indoor unit 10 is located indoors. The outdoor unit 20 is located outdoors. The indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit 20 are connected to each other by the circulation path section 30, through which a refrigerant 33 circulates. The indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit 20 are heat exchange units that exchange heat between the refrigerant and air.

[0015] The air conditioner 100 is able to adjust the temperature of the indoor air by exchanging heat between the refrigerant 33 flowing in the circulation path section 30 and the air in the room where the indoor unit 10 is located. Examples of the refrigerant 33 include fluorine-based refrigerants and hydrocarbon-based refrigerants, which have a low global warming potential (GWP).

[0016] The outdoor unit 20 has a compressor 21, an outdoor heat exchanger 23, a flow rate adjustment valve 24, a blower (fan) 25, and a four-way valve 22. The compressor 21, the outdoor heat exchanger 23, the flow rate adjustment valve 24, and the four-way valve 22 are connected by a circulation path portion 30.

[0017] The four-way valve 22 is disposed in a portion of the circulation path section 30 that is connected to the discharge side of the compressor 21. The four-way valve 22 switches a portion of the path of the circulation path section 30, thereby reversing the direction of the refrigerant 33 flowing through the circulation path section 30. When the path connected by the four-way valve 22 is the path shown by the solid line on the four-way valve 22 in Fig. 1, the refrigerant 33 flows through the circulation path section 30 in the direction shown by the solid arrow in Fig. 1. On the other hand, when the path connected by the four-way valve 22 is the path shown by the dashed line on the four-way valve 22 in Fig. 1, the refrigerant 33 flows through the circulation path section 30 in the direction shown by the dashed arrow in Fig. 1.

[0018] The indoor unit 10 has an indoor blower 40 and an indoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 14 arranged around the indoor blower 40. The indoor unit 10 is capable of cooling operation to cool the air in the room where the indoor unit 10 is arranged, and heating operation to warm the air in the room where the indoor unit 10 is arranged.

[0019] When the indoor unit 10 is in cooling operation, the refrigerant 33 flowing in the circulation path portion 30 flows in the direction shown by the solid arrow in Fig. 1. In other words, when the indoor unit 10 is in cooling operation, the refrigerant 33 flowing in the circulation path portion 30 circulates through the compressor 21, the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the outdoor unit 20, the flow control valve 24, and the indoor heat exchanger 14 of the indoor unit 10 in this order, before returning to the compressor 21. During cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 23 in the outdoor unit 20 functions as a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger 14 in the indoor unit 10 functions as an evaporator.

[0020] On the other hand, when the indoor unit 10 is in heating operation, the refrigerant 33 flowing in the circulation path portion 30 flows in the direction shown by the dashed line in Fig. 1. In other words, when the indoor unit 10 is in heating operation, the refrigerant 33 flowing in the circulation path portion 30 circulates through the compressor 21, the indoor heat exchanger 14 of the indoor unit 10, the flow control valve 24, and the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the outdoor unit 20 in that order, before returning to the compressor 21. In heating operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 23 in the outdoor unit 20 functions as an evaporator, and the indoor heat exchanger 14 in the indoor unit 10 functions as a condenser.

[0021] A carbon dioxide capture system 90 can be used in such an air conditioner 100. The carbon dioxide capture system 90 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the carbon dioxide capture system 90 according to the first embodiment.

[0022] The carbon dioxide capture system 90 is a system used in the blower section 55 of an air conditioner 100 that has an outdoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 23 and a fan 25 that generates an airflow. Here, the blower section 55 of the air conditioner 100 includes the housing 26, heat exchanger 23, fan 25, fan motor 50 that drives the fan 25, and fan motor control unit 60 that controls the drive of the fan motor 50, which are provided in the outdoor unit 20 of the air conditioner 100. The fan 25, fan motor 50, and heat exchanger 23 are housed within the housing 26.

[0023] The carbon dioxide capture system 90 includes an adsorption unit 70 that receives a supply of adsorbent 71 for adsorbing carbon dioxide contained in an airflow and accommodates the adsorbent 71, and a control unit 80 that controls the amount of adsorbent 71 in the adsorption unit 70. The control unit 80 controls the amount of adsorbent 71 in the adsorption unit 70 in accordance with the air conditioning load of the air conditioner 100. The control unit 80 is, for example, a device that controls the amount of adsorbent 71 supplied from the control unit 80 to the adsorption unit 70 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2 . The control unit 80 may also be a device that controls the amount of adsorbent 71 discharged from the adsorption unit 70. The control unit 80 may be a device that controls at least one of the amount of adsorbent 71 supplied and the amount of adsorbent 71 discharged. The control unit 80 may be a device that controls the amount of adsorbent 71 supplied to the adsorption unit 70 and the amount of adsorbent 71 discharged. Specific examples of the control unit 80 include a throttle valve on the supply side that controls the amount of adsorbent supplied to the adsorption unit 70, or a throttle valve on the discharge side that controls the amount of adsorbent discharged from the adsorption unit 70. The control unit 80 may be provided with either the supply-side throttle valve or the discharge-side throttle valve, or both. Note that the control unit 80 is not limited to a throttle valve, and may be an on-off valve or the like.

[0024] The adsorbent 71 contains a material capable of adsorbing carbon dioxide. Examples of materials capable of adsorbing carbon dioxide include amine, zeolite, silica gel, diatomaceous earth, alumina, and activated carbon. A plurality of materials may be selected from the above, or a material other than the above may be used. The adsorbent may be in a granular form (e.g., bead-like (spherical) or pellet-like (cylindrical)). Alternatively, a powdered adsorbent may be used. In this case, the powdered adsorbent may be supported on the surface of a substrate. The substrate may be, for example, honeycomb-shaped.

[0025] The adsorption unit 70 is a container that can accommodate and retain the adsorbent 71 therein. The adsorption unit 70 is a member through which the airflow generated by the fan 25 passes while coming into contact with the adsorbent 71 accommodated in the adsorption unit 70, thereby adsorbing carbon dioxide contained in the airflow to the adsorbent 71. The shape of the adsorption unit 70 is not limited as long as it can accommodate the adsorbent 71 therein and has openings (slits, holes, etc.) on the surface of the adsorption unit 70 through which the airflow passes so that the airflow can pass while coming into contact with the adsorbent 71 evenly. For example, the shape of the adsorption unit 70 may be a cylinder, a hollow rectangular parallelepiped, a hollow cube, etc.

[0026] Here, the carbon dioxide capture system 90 can be attached to the blower section 55 of an existing air conditioner 100. Therefore, by attaching the carbon dioxide capture system 90 to the blower section 55 of an existing air conditioner 100 that does not have the carbon dioxide capture system 90 attached, the benefits of the carbon dioxide capture system 90 can be added to the existing air conditioner 100. On the other hand, it is also possible to use an air conditioner 100 that is originally equipped with the carbon dioxide capture system 90. In the following description, an air conditioner 100 that is originally equipped with the carbon dioxide capture system 90 will be referred to as an air conditioning system 101. While FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which the carbon dioxide capture system 90 is attached to the intake side of the blower section 55 of the air conditioner 100, the attachment position of the carbon dioxide capture system 90 is not limited thereto. For example, the carbon dioxide capture system 90 may be attached to the outlet side of the blower section 55 of the air conditioner 100. Furthermore, while FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which the carbon dioxide capture system 90 is used in the blower section 55 of the outdoor unit 20, the carbon dioxide capture system 90 may also be used in the blower section of the indoor unit 10. The carbon dioxide capture system 90 may also be attached to a device having a blower, such as a ventilation fan. Here, the blower of the indoor unit 10 may be considered to be a configuration including the indoor blower 40 of the indoor unit 10. [Explanation of Operation]

[0027] Next, the operation of the carbon dioxide capture system 90 will be described. Hereinafter, the air conditioning load will be used as an indicator of the operating volume of the air conditioner 100. When the air conditioner 100 is operating vigorously, the air conditioning load is said to be high. For example, when there is a large difference between the current temperature of the target space conditioned by the air conditioner 100 and the set temperature of the target space, the air conditioning load is high. When the air conditioner 100 is operating lightly, the air conditioning load is said to be low. For example, when there is a small difference between the current temperature of the target space conditioned by the air conditioner 100 and the set temperature of the target space, the air conditioning load is said to be low. For example, when the air conditioner 100 has a maximum output of X kilowatts, the air conditioning load is said to be high when the power consumption of the air conditioner 100 is 0.8X kilowatts, and when it is 0.2X kilowatts, the air conditioning load is said to be low. Note that, as a specific example, a power consumption of 0.8X kilowatts is described as a high air conditioning load, but this value is not limiting. Similarly, when the power consumption is 0.2X kilowatts, it is not limited to this value. A known watt meter (watt checker) or the like can be used to check the power consumption of the air conditioner 100. Note that when the air conditioner 100 is operating hard, it means that the air conditioner 100 is in a full operating state. Therefore, when the air conditioner 100 is operating hard, the air conditioning load becomes high. [Operation 1]

[0028] The control unit 80 can grasp the air conditioning load of the air conditioner 100 by being connected to a known watt maker (watt checker) or the like via wired or wireless communication. The control unit 80 may then prevent the adsorbent 71 from being retained in the adsorption unit 70 when the air conditioning load of the air conditioner 100 is higher than a predetermined air conditioning load, and may retain the adsorbent 71 in the adsorption unit 70 when the air conditioning load is lower than the predetermined air conditioning load. For example, if the maximum output of the air conditioner 100 is X kilowatts and the predetermined air conditioning load is 0.5X kilowatts, when the air conditioning load of the air conditioner 100 is higher than 0.5X kilowatts and the air conditioner 100 is operating relatively intensely, the control unit 80 may close the supply-side throttle valve and open the discharge-side throttle valve to prevent the adsorbent 71 from being retained in the adsorption unit 70. This allows the adsorbent 71 to be discharged from the adsorption unit 70 without being retained therein, thereby suppressing pressure loss caused by the adsorbent 71 coming into contact with a high-velocity airflow. Furthermore, when the air conditioning load of the air conditioner 100 is lower than 0.5 kilowatts and the air conditioner 100 is operating relatively slowly, for example, the supply-side throttle valve is opened and the discharge-side throttle valve is closed so that the adsorbent 71 remains in the adsorption unit 70. This allows the adsorbent 71 to remain in the adsorption unit 70, allowing the adsorbent 71 to absorb carbon dioxide contained in the airflow generated by the fan 25. Furthermore, because the air conditioner 100 is operating relatively slowly and the airflow velocity generated by the fan is low, pressure loss is kept low even when the adsorbent 71 comes into contact with a low-velocity airflow. This is because pressure loss is proportional to the square of the flow velocity, and therefore pressure loss is kept low when the flow velocity is low. Therefore, when the air conditioner 100 is operating relatively vigorously, the airflow velocity is high, so the adsorbent 71 does not remain in the adsorption unit 70 and does not come into contact with a high-velocity airflow, thereby suppressing the occurrence of large pressure loss. Note that a high flow velocity can be said to be a fast flow velocity, and a low flow velocity can be said to be a slow flow velocity. [Action 2]

[0029] The control unit 80 may reduce the amount of adsorbent 71 supplied to the adsorption unit 70 when the air conditioning load of the air conditioner 100 is higher than a predetermined air conditioning load, and may increase the amount of adsorbent 71 supplied to the adsorption unit 70 when the air conditioning load is lower than the predetermined air conditioning load. For example, if the maximum output of the air conditioner 100 is X kilowatts and the predetermined air conditioning load is 0.5X kilowatts, when the air conditioning load of the air conditioner 100 is higher than 0.5X kilowatts and the air conditioner 100 is operating relatively intensely, the control unit 80 reduces the amount of adsorbent 71 supplied to the adsorption unit 70. Reducing the amount of adsorbent 71 supplied to the adsorption unit 70 can be achieved, for example, by narrowing the aperture of the throttle valve on the supply side. In this way, less adsorbent 71 is supplied to the adsorption unit 70, thereby suppressing pressure loss caused by the adsorbent 71 coming into contact with the airflow generated by the fan 25. Furthermore, when the air conditioning load of the air conditioner 100 is lower than 0.5× kilowatts and the air conditioner 100 is operating relatively slowly, the amount of adsorbent 71 supplied to the adsorption unit 70 is increased. Increasing the amount of adsorbent 71 supplied to the adsorption unit 70 can be achieved, for example, by increasing the opening of the supply-side throttle valve. By doing so, more adsorbent 71 is supplied to the adsorption unit 70, allowing more adsorbent 71 to absorb carbon dioxide contained in the airflow generated by the fan 25. As explained in [Operation 1], pressure loss is proportional to the square of the flow velocity. Therefore, when the air conditioner 100 is operating relatively slowly, the airflow velocity is low, and therefore, even if the adsorbent 71 comes into contact with a slow airflow, pressure loss is kept low. Therefore, even if a larger amount of adsorbent 71 is supplied to the adsorption unit 70 when the air conditioner 100 is operating relatively slowly, carbon dioxide can be absorbed while suppressing an increase in pressure loss. Furthermore, when the air conditioner 100 is operating relatively vigorously, the airflow velocity is high, so by supplying a smaller amount of adsorbent 71 to the adsorption unit 70, the adsorbent 71 is less likely to come into contact with high-velocity airflow, and the occurrence of large pressure loss can be suppressed. [Operation 3]

[0030] With respect to air conditioning system 101 shown in FIG. 11 , which is an air conditioner 100 that is initially equipped with a carbon dioxide capture system 90, the air conditioning load may be determined by comparing the set temperature of the target space to be conditioned by air conditioner 100 with the measured temperature of the target space. The determination of the air conditioning load may be performed by control unit 80. The set temperature of the target space can be set by a known air conditioner 100. The measured temperature of the target space may also be determined by providing a thermometer in air conditioner 100, or by transmitting the measurement results of a thermometer provided at any location in the target space to control unit 80 via wired or wireless communication. In the air conditioner 100, if there is a large difference between the current temperature of the target space to be conditioned by air conditioner 100 and the set temperature of the target space, the air conditioner 100 will operate vigorously, resulting in a high air conditioning load. Furthermore, when the difference between the current temperature of the target space to be air-conditioned by the air conditioner 100 and the set temperature of the target space is small, the air conditioner 100 operates slowly, resulting in a low air-conditioning load. Therefore, the air-conditioning load can be determined by comparing the set temperature of the target space with the measured temperature of the target space. For example, assuming that the air-conditioning load is evaluated on a 10-point scale, if the maximum output of the air conditioner 100 is X kilowatts and the difference between the set temperature of the target space and the measured temperature of the target space is 10°C or more, the air-conditioning load may be considered to be the maximum output X kilowatts. Furthermore, if the difference between the set temperature of the target space and the measured temperature of the target space is 9°C or more but less than 10°C, the air-conditioning load may be considered to be 0.9X kilowatts.Similarly, if the difference between the set temperature of the target space and the measured temperature of this target space is 8°C or more and less than 9°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.8X kilowatts; if the difference between the set temperature of the target space and the measured temperature of this target space is 7°C or more and less than 8°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.7X kilowatts; if the difference between the set temperature of the target space and the measured temperature of this target space is 6°C or more and less than 7°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.6X kilowatts; if the difference between the set temperature of the target space and the measured temperature of this target space is 5°C or more and less than 6°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.5X kilowatts; if the difference between the set temperature of the target space and the measured temperature of this target space is 10°C or more and less than 12°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.5X kilowatts; If the difference is between 4°C and 5°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.4X kilowatts. If the difference between the set temperature of the target space and the measured temperature of the target space is between 3°C and 4°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.3X kilowatts. If the difference between the set temperature of the target space and the measured temperature of the target space is between 2°C and 3°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.2X kilowatts. If the difference between the set temperature of the target space and the measured temperature of the target space is between 0°C and 2°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.1X kilowatts. If the difference between the set temperature of the target space and the measured temperature of the target space is 0°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0 kilowatts. The above example is merely an example, and the air conditioning load corresponding to the difference between the set temperature of the target space and the measured temperature of the target space may be set as appropriate. [Operation 4]

[0031] The control unit 80 may stop the supply of adsorbent 71 to the adsorption unit 70 when the air conditioning load is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit Xmax, and may supply adsorbent 71 to the adsorption unit 70 when the air conditioning load is less than the predetermined upper limit Xmax. For example, the upper limit of the air conditioning load may be set to 0.7X kilowatts, which is 70% of the maximum output X kilowatts of the air conditioner 100, and the control unit 80 may stop the supply of adsorbent 71 to the adsorption unit 70 when the air conditioning load is equal to or greater than 0.7X kilowatts, and may supply adsorbent 71 to the adsorption unit 70 when the air conditioning load is less than 0.7X kilowatts. The predetermined upper limit Xmax of the air conditioning load is a value greater than the predetermined air conditioning load described in [Operation 1] and [Operation 2]. This may be used in combination with [Operation 2], for example. In [Operation 2], where the maximum output of the air conditioner 100 is X kilowatts, a predetermined air conditioning load is set to 0.5X kilowatts. When the air conditioning load of the air conditioner 100 is higher than 0.5X kilowatts, the amount of adsorbent 71 supplied to the adsorption unit 70 is reduced, and when the air conditioning load is lower than 0.5X kilowatts, the amount of adsorbent 71 supplied to the adsorption unit 70 is increased. Then, in [Operation 4], the amount of adsorbent 71 supplied to the adsorption unit 70 is reduced when the air conditioning load is higher than 0.5X kilowatts, and the supply of adsorbent 71 to the adsorption unit 70 is stopped when the air conditioning load is 0.7X kilowatts or higher. Then, when the air conditioning load is lower than 0.7X kilowatts, adsorbent 71 is supplied to the adsorption unit 70, and when the air conditioning load is lower than 0.5X kilowatts, the amount of adsorbent 71 supplied to the adsorption unit 70 is increased. When the air conditioning load is above a predetermined upper limit, the air conditioner 100 operates vigorously, resulting in a high airflow velocity. Therefore, if more adsorbent 71 is supplied to the adsorption section 70 than the current supply of adsorbent 71, the packing density of the adsorbent 71 in the adsorption section 70 increases, reducing the effective cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path through which the airflow passes. In this case, coupled with the high airflow velocity, the pressure loss increases. This is because pressure loss is inversely proportional to the effective cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path, i.e., the distance between adjacent adsorbents 71, and therefore a decrease in the effective cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path increases pressure loss. [Flow 1]

[0032] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air conditioning system 101 (see FIG. 11) including the carbon dioxide capture system 90 according to the first embodiment.

[0033] First, the control unit 80 checks the operating status of the air conditioner 100 (ST1). By checking the power consumption of the air conditioner 100, it can be determined whether the air conditioner 100 is operating or stopped. That is, if the air conditioner 100 is consuming power, it is determined that the air conditioner 100 is operating; if it is not consuming power, it is determined that the air conditioner 100 is stopped. The power consumption of the air conditioner 100 may be checked by reading the measurement value of a known wattmeter (watt checker) connected to the control unit 80 by wire or wireless. Alternatively, it may be determined whether the air conditioner 100 is operating or stopped by checking whether the fan motor 50 is operating. For example, this can be done by connecting the control unit 80 by wire or wireless to a tachometer (not shown) capable of detecting the rotation of the rotor of the fan motor 50 and determining whether the fan motor 50 is operating.

[0034] If it is determined in ST1 that the air conditioner 100 is operating, the air conditioning load is determined by comparing the set temperature of the target space to be air-conditioned by the air conditioner 100 with the temperature measured by a room temperature measuring device in this target space (ST2a). This temperature comparison is performed by a central control unit (not shown) provided in the air conditioner 100. The result of the temperature comparison is communicated from the central control unit (not shown) to the control unit 80 via a wired or wireless connection.

[0035] When the temperature difference is large, it can be assumed that the air conditioner 100 is operating at rated speed and rotating the fan 25 at high speed, so the control unit 80 does not supply the adsorbent 71 into the adsorption unit 70 (ST3). On the other hand, when the temperature difference is small, it can be assumed that the air conditioner 100 is operating at medium speed and rotating the fan 25 at low speed, so the control unit 80 supplies the adsorbent 71 into the adsorption unit 70 (ST4). As explained in [Operation 1] and [Operation 2], pressure loss is proportional to the square of the flow rate. Therefore, when the temperature difference is small and the fan of the air conditioner 100 is rotating at low speed, the airflow rate is low, and even if the adsorbent 71 comes into contact with a slow airflow, pressure loss is kept low. Therefore, even if the adsorbent 71 is supplied to the adsorption unit 70 when the fan 25 of the air conditioner 100 is rotating at low speed, carbon dioxide can be absorbed while suppressing an increase in pressure loss. Furthermore, when the temperature difference is large and the fan 25 of the air conditioner 100 is rotating at high speed, the airflow velocity is high, so by not supplying the adsorbent 71 to the adsorption section 70, the adsorbent 71 does not come into contact with the high-velocity airflow, and the occurrence of large pressure loss can be suppressed.

[0036] The magnitude of the temperature difference may be determined, for example, by whether the difference between the set temperature and room temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold. For example, it may be determined by whether the difference between the set temperature and room temperature is greater than or equal to 5°C or less than 5°C. This threshold can be set arbitrarily. Furthermore, in ST4, if adsorption breakthrough occurs, the control unit 80 may discharge the adsorbent 71 from the adsorption unit 70 (ST5). Breakthrough of adsorption may be determined, for example, by providing carbon dioxide concentration measuring devices (not shown) upstream and downstream of the adsorption unit 70 with wired or wireless communication and communicatively connected to the control unit 80. Breakthrough of adsorption may be determined when the decrease in carbon dioxide concentration before and after the airflow passes through the adsorption unit 70 falls below a predetermined threshold. If the control unit 80 determines that adsorption has broken through, the control unit 80 fully opens the throttle valve on the discharge side to discharge the adsorbent 71 from the adsorption unit 70. Note that ST5 is not essential in the air conditioning system 101 including the carbon dioxide capture system 90 according to embodiment 1 and may be omitted. In addition, ST5 may discharge the adsorbent from the adsorption section even if the adsorption has not broken through, as long as the adsorbent has been in contact with the atmosphere for a certain period of time in the adsorption section. [Flow 2]

[0037] Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a different operation of carbon dioxide capture system 90 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 4 differs only in that ST2a in Fig. 3 is replaced with ST2b, so this difference will be mainly described, and explanations of points that overlap with Fig. 3 will be omitted.

[0038] If the control unit 80 determines in ST1 that the air conditioner 100 is operating, the control unit 80 compares the power consumption of the air conditioner 100 with the power consumption threshold of the air conditioner 100 to determine the air conditioning load (ST2b). If the power consumption of the air conditioner 100 is higher than the power consumption threshold of the air conditioner 100, it can be assumed that the air conditioner 100 is operating at rated speed and rotating the fan 25 at high speed, and the control unit 80 does not supply the adsorbent 71 into the adsorption unit 70 (ST3). If the power consumption of the air conditioner 100 is lower than the power consumption threshold, it can be assumed that the air conditioner 100 is operating at intermediate speed and rotating the fan 25 at low speed, and the control unit 80 supplies the adsorbent 71 into the adsorption unit 70 (ST4). The power consumption threshold of the air conditioner 100 may be set as appropriate. Because pressure loss is proportional to the square of the flow velocity, when the power consumption of the air conditioner 100 is higher than the power consumption threshold, the air conditioner 100 is operating at rated speed, rotating the fan 25 at high speed, resulting in a high airflow velocity. Therefore, by not supplying the adsorbent 71 to the adsorption unit 70 and preventing the adsorbent 71 from coming into contact with a high-velocity airflow, the occurrence of a large pressure loss can be suppressed. Furthermore, when the power consumption of the air conditioner 100 is lower than the power consumption threshold, the air conditioner 100 is operating at medium speed, rotating the fan 25 at low speed, resulting in a low airflow velocity. Therefore, even if the adsorbent 71 comes into contact with a low-velocity airflow, pressure loss can be suppressed. Therefore, even if the adsorbent 71 is supplied to the adsorption unit 70 when the fan 25 of the air conditioner 100 is rotating at low speed, carbon dioxide can be absorbed while suppressing an increase in pressure loss. In the case of ST4, if adsorption breaks through, the control unit 80 may discharge the adsorbent 71 from the adsorption unit 70 (ST5). Whether or not adsorption has broken through can be determined in the same manner as in [Flow 1]. [Modification 1 of Embodiment 1]

[0039] A carbon dioxide capture system 90a according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a carbon dioxide capture system 90a according to a first modification of the first embodiment. Note that a description of the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0040] The carbon dioxide capture system 90a according to the first modification of the first embodiment differs from the carbon dioxide capture system 90 of the first embodiment in that a tachometer 105 capable of measuring the rotation speed of the fan 25 and connected to the control unit 80 for wired or wireless communication is provided in the housing 26. In this carbon dioxide capture system 90a, the air conditioning load can be determined using the rotation speed of the fan 25. [Flow 3]

[0041] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of carbon dioxide capture system 90a according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1. Fig. 5 differs from Fig. 3 only in that ST2a is replaced by ST2c, and therefore this difference will be mainly described, and explanations of points that overlap with Fig. 3 will be omitted.

[0042] If the control unit 80 determines in ST1 that the air conditioner 100 is operating, the control unit 80 determines the air conditioning load by comparing the rotation speed of the fan 25 of the air conditioner 100 with a threshold rotation speed of the fan 25 (ST2b). If the rotation speed of the fan 25 of the air conditioner 100 is greater than the threshold rotation speed, it can be assumed that the air conditioner 100 is operating at rated speed and rotating the fan 25 at high speed, so the control unit 80 does not supply the adsorbent 71 into the adsorption unit 70 (ST3). On the other hand, if the rotation speed of the fan 25 of the air conditioner 100 is less than the threshold rotation speed, it can be assumed that the air conditioner 100 is operating at intermediate speed and rotating the fan 25 at low speed, so the control unit 80 supplies the adsorbent 71 into the adsorption unit 70 (ST4). This is because pressure loss is proportional to the square of the flow velocity, and therefore, when the rotation speed of the fan 25 of the air conditioner 100 is greater than the rotation speed threshold, the air conditioner 100 is operating at rated speed, rotating the fan 25 at high speed, resulting in a high airflow velocity. Therefore, by not supplying the adsorbent 71 to the adsorption unit 70, the adsorbent 71 is prevented from coming into contact with a high-velocity airflow, thereby suppressing the occurrence of a large pressure loss. Furthermore, when the rotation speed of the fan 25 of the air conditioner 100 is less than the fan 25 rotation speed threshold, the air conditioner 100 is operating in intermediate mode, rotating the fan 25 at low speed, resulting in a low airflow velocity. Therefore, even if the adsorbent 71 comes into contact with a low-velocity airflow, pressure loss can be suppressed. Therefore, even if the adsorbent 71 is supplied to the adsorption unit 70 when the fan 25 of the air conditioner 100 is rotating at low speed, carbon dioxide can be absorbed while suppressing an increase in pressure loss. In the case of ST4, if the adsorption breakthrough occurs, the control unit 80 may discharge the adsorbent 71 from the adsorption unit 70 (ST5). Whether the adsorption breakthrough occurs can be determined in the same manner as in [Flow 1]. The threshold value of the rotation speed of the fan 25 may be set appropriately. [Modification 2 of Embodiment 1]

[0043] A carbon dioxide capture system 90c according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a carbon dioxide capture system 90c according to the second modification of the first embodiment. Note that a description of the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0044] The carbon dioxide capture system 90c according to the second variation of the first embodiment differs from the carbon dioxide capture system 90 of the first embodiment in that it includes a vibration meter (accelerometer) 110 that is communicatively connected to the control unit 80 via wired or wireless communication and is provided on the housing 26 of the outdoor unit 20′. The vibration meter 110 measures the vibration of the outdoor unit 20′, but since this vibration is primarily due to the vibration of the compressor 21, it can be considered to be measuring the vibration of the compressor 21. The compressor 21 operates vigorously when the air conditioner 100′ operates vigorously and operates slowly when the air conditioner 100 operates slowly. Therefore, in this carbon dioxide capture system 90c, the air conditioning load of the air conditioner 100′ can be determined using the vibration meter 110. Note that although the control unit 80 is not shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, the carbon dioxide capture systems 90 of FIGS. 1 and 11 include a control unit 80 as shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, providing the vibration meter 110 in the housing 26 of the outdoor unit 20' is one example, and the installation location of the vibration meter 110 is not limited to the housing 26 of the outdoor unit 20'. The vibration meter 110 may also be provided in a housing (not shown) of the compressor 21. [Flow 4] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of a carbon dioxide capture system 90c according to Modification 2 of Embodiment 1. Figure 6 differs from Figure 3 only in that ST2a in Figure 3 is replaced by ST2d, and therefore this difference will be mainly described, and descriptions of points that overlap with Figure 3 will be omitted.

[0045] If the control unit 80 determines in ST1 that the air conditioner 100' is operating, the control unit 80 compares the vibration magnitude of the outdoor unit 20' of the air conditioner 100' with the threshold value for the vibration magnitude of the outdoor unit 20' (ST2d) to determine the air conditioning load. If the vibration magnitude of the outdoor unit 20' of the air conditioner 100' is greater than the threshold value for the vibration magnitude of the outdoor unit 20', it can be assumed that the air conditioner 100' is operating at rated speed and rotating the compressor 21 at high speed, and the control unit 80 does not supply the adsorbent 71 into the adsorption unit 70 (ST3). On the other hand, if the vibration magnitude of the outdoor unit 20' of the air conditioner 100' is less than the threshold value for the vibration magnitude of the outdoor unit 20', it can be assumed that the air conditioner 100' is operating at intermediate speed and rotating the compressor 21 at low speed, and the control unit 80 supplies the adsorbent 71 into the adsorption unit 70 (ST4). This is because pressure loss is proportional to the square of the flow velocity, and therefore, when the vibration magnitude of the outdoor unit 20' of the air conditioner 100' is greater than the threshold value of the vibration magnitude of the outdoor unit 20', the air conditioner 100' is operating at rated speed, rotating the compressor 21 and fan 25 at high speed, and the airflow velocity is high. Therefore, by not supplying the adsorbent 71 to the adsorption section 70, the adsorbent 71 is not exposed to airflow with high flow velocity, thereby suppressing the occurrence of large pressure loss. Furthermore, when the vibration magnitude of the outdoor unit 20' of the air conditioner 100' is less than the threshold value of the vibration magnitude of the outdoor unit 20', the air conditioner 100' is operating at intermediate speed, rotating the compressor 21 and fan 25 at low speed, and the airflow velocity is low. Therefore, pressure loss is kept low even when the adsorbent 71 comes into contact with airflow with low flow velocity. Therefore, even if the adsorbent 71 is supplied to the adsorption unit 70 while the fan 25 of the air conditioner 100' is rotating at a low speed, carbon dioxide can be absorbed while suppressing an increase in pressure loss. In the case of ST4, if adsorption breakthrough occurs, the control unit 80 may discharge the adsorbent 71 from the adsorption unit 70 (ST5). Whether or not adsorption breakthrough has occurred can be determined in the same way as in [Flow 1]. [Flow 5]

[0046] Here, if the control unit 80 determines in ST1 of [Flow 1] shown in FIG. 3 that the air conditioner 100 is stopped, the fan motor control unit 60, which controls the operation of the fan 25, rotates the fan 25, and the control unit 80 supplies the adsorbent 71 into the adsorption unit 70 (ST6), as shown in FIG. 7 . In this case, the fan 25 is operated, but the compressor 21 is not. The fan motor control unit 60 may be connected to the control unit 80 via a wired or wireless connection so as to be able to communicate with the control unit 80, and may obtain information from the control unit 80 as to whether the air conditioner 100 is operating. Alternatively, the fan motor control unit 60 may determine whether the air conditioner 100 is operating by checking the power consumption of the air conditioner 100 separately from the control unit 80 in a manner similar to that of the control unit 80.

[0047] By having the control unit 80 perform this type of control, the air conditioner 100 can be effectively used as a carbon dioxide capture device during intermediate periods when the air conditioner 100 is not in operation, such as in spring or autumn when the climate is warm.

[0048] Furthermore, if the control unit 80 or the fan motor control unit 60 determines that the air conditioner 100 is stopped, the fan motor control unit 60 rotates the fan 25 at high speed, as in the case where the air conditioning load is high (ST6 in FIG. 7 ). By rotating the fan 25 at high speed, the amount of carbon dioxide captured by the air conditioner 100 as a carbon dioxide capture device can be increased when the air conditioner 100 is not in use. Therefore, the air conditioner 100 can be more effectively used as a carbon dioxide capture device during intermediate periods when the air conditioner 100 is not operating, such as in spring or autumn when the weather is warm. Note that ST6 is not limited to the case shown in FIG. 7 , in which ST6 is combined with [Flow 1] shown in FIG. 3 . ST6 may also be combined with each of [Flow 2] to [Flow 4] shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 . Note that in the first embodiment, as an example of a case where the air conditioner 100 has a maximum output of X kilowatts and its power consumption is 0.8X kilowatts. However, when the air conditioning load is high, the power consumption of the air conditioner 100 is not limited to 0.8X kilowatts, and may be, for example, 0.7X kilowatts or more. [Variation 3 of Embodiment 1]

[0049] A carbon dioxide capture system 90b according to a third modification of the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a carbon dioxide capture system 90b according to the third modification of the first embodiment. Note that a description of the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0050] A carbon dioxide capture system 90b according to a third modification of the first embodiment differs from the carbon dioxide capture system 90 of the first embodiment in that it includes a first temperature measurement unit 3a that is provided upstream of the heat exchanger 23 in the airflow f and is communicatively connected to the control unit 80 by wire or wirelessly, and a second temperature measurement unit 3b that is provided downstream of the heat exchanger 23 in the airflow f and is communicatively connected to the control unit 80 by wire or wirelessly. Note that the arrow indicated by the symbol f in Fig. 9 indicates the direction of the airflow.

[0051] Such a carbon dioxide capture system 90b determines the air conditioning load by comparing the temperature measurement results of the first temperature measurement unit 3a and the second temperature measurement unit 3b. For example, assuming that the air conditioning load is evaluated on a 10-point scale, if the maximum output of the air conditioner 100 is X kilowatts and the difference in the temperature measurement results is 10°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be the maximum output X kilowatts. Similarly, if the difference in the temperature measurement results is 9°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.9X kilowatts, if the difference in the temperature measurement results is 8°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.8X kilowatts, if the difference in the temperature measurement results is 7°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.7X kilowatts, if the difference in the temperature measurement results is 6°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.6X kilowatts, and if the difference in the temperature measurement results is 5°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.5X kilowatts. If the difference in the temperature measurement results is 4°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.4X kilowatts, if the difference in the temperature measurement results is 3°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.3X kilowatts, if the difference in the temperature measurement results is 2°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.2X kilowatts, if the difference in the temperature measurement results is 1°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0.1X kilowatts, and if the difference in the temperature measurement results is 0°C, the air conditioning load may be considered to be 0 kilowatts or the air conditioner 100 may be stopped. The above example is one example, and the air conditioning load corresponding to the difference in the temperature measurement results may be set as appropriate.

[0052] In addition to comparing the temperature measurement results by the temperature measurement unit, an anemometer (not shown) may be installed downstream of the airflow f from the heat exchanger 23, and the air conditioning load may be determined from the results of wind speed measurement by the anemometer. In other words, when the wind speed is high, it may be determined that the air conditioner 100 is operating at rated speed and therefore the air conditioning load is high; when the wind speed is low, it may be determined that the air conditioner 100 is operating at intermediate speed and therefore the air conditioning load is low; and when there is no wind speed, it may be determined that the air conditioner 100 is stopped. The correspondence relationship between wind speed and air conditioning load may be set appropriately, as in the case of the difference in temperature measurement results described above.

[0053] [Fourth Modification of First Embodiment] The control unit 80 may use artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the air conditioning load in the near future and control the amount of adsorbent based on the prediction results. For example, the control unit 80 may predict the air conditioning load by accumulating information on the date and time throughout the year and the usage status of the air conditioner 100, and taking into account information obtained from the weather forecast for that day, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and sunrise and sunset times, and may control the amount of adsorbent for the near future (e.g., 10 minutes in the future) based on the prediction results. In other words, if the air conditioning load is predicted to be high, the amount of adsorbent may be reduced so as not to degrade the performance of the air conditioner 100 due to pressure loss. If the air conditioning load is predicted to be low, the amount of adsorbent may be increased to increase the amount of carbon dioxide absorption.

[0054] Note that part or all of the control unit 80 may be implemented using a microcomputer including a processor and memory. The microcomputer may be configured as an electronic control unit (ECU). The processor may include a central processing unit (CPU). The memory may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The control unit 80 may be configured with dedicated hardware or may include a computer system. The computer system may execute the processing related to the control unit 80 by loading a program stored in a computer-readable storage medium and executing the loaded program. "Loading a program stored in a storage medium and executing it" includes installing the program in a computer system. The "computer system" includes not only a processor and main memory, but also software such as an operating system (OS) and hardware such as peripheral devices. The "computer system" is not limited to a single computer device, but may also include multiple computer devices connected via a network including communication lines such as the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), or a dedicated line. "Computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs (Read Only Memory), and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems. In this way, the recording medium storing the program may also be a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

[0055] In addition, the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined as appropriate.

[0056] Various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices.

[0057] (Supplementary Note 1) A carbon dioxide capture system used in a blower section of an air conditioner equipped with a heat exchanger and a fan that generates an airflow, comprising: an adsorption section to which an adsorbent that adsorbs carbon dioxide contained in the airflow is supplied; and a control section that controls the amount of the adsorbent in the adsorption section, wherein the control section controls the amount of the adsorbent in the adsorption section in accordance with the air conditioning load of the air conditioner.

[0058] (Supplementary Note 2) The carbon dioxide capture system described in Supplementary Note 1, wherein the control unit does not retain the adsorbent in the adsorption unit when the air conditioning load is higher than a predetermined air conditioning load, and retains the adsorbent in the adsorption unit when the air conditioning load is lower than the predetermined air conditioning load.

[0059] (Supplementary Note 3) The carbon dioxide capture system according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the control unit reduces the amount of adsorbent supplied when the air conditioning load is higher than a predetermined air conditioning load, and increases the amount of adsorbent supplied when the air conditioning load is lower than the predetermined air conditioning load.

[0060] (Appendix 4) The carbon dioxide capture system described in any one of Appendices 1 to 3, wherein the control unit stops supplying the adsorbent to the adsorption unit when the air conditioning load is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit, and supplies the adsorbent to the adsorption unit when the air conditioning load is less than a predetermined upper limit.

[0061] (Appendix 5) An air conditioning system comprising: the carbon dioxide capture system described in any one of Appendices 1 to 4; and the air conditioner, wherein the air conditioning load is determined by comparing the set temperature of a target space to be air-conditioned by the air conditioner with the measured temperature of the target space.

[0062] (Supplementary Note 6) The carbon dioxide capture system according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 4, wherein the air conditioning load is determined by comparing the power consumption of the air conditioner with a power consumption threshold of the air conditioner.

[0063] (Supplementary Note 7) The carbon dioxide capture system according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 4, further comprising a tachometer for measuring the rotation speed of the fan, and the air conditioning load is determined by comparing the rotation speed of the fan with a threshold value for the rotation speed of the fan.

[0064] (Appendix 8) The carbon dioxide capture system according to any one of Appendices 1 to 4, wherein the air conditioner further comprises a compressor, and a vibration meter is provided for measuring vibrations of the compressor, and the air conditioning load is determined by comparing the vibration amount of the compressor with a threshold value for the vibration amount of the compressor.

[0065] (Appendix 9) A carbon dioxide capture system described in any one of Appendices 1 to 4, wherein, when the operating status of the air conditioner is checked and it is determined that the operation of the air conditioner has stopped, a fan motor control unit that controls the operation of the fan rotates the fan, and the control unit supplies the adsorbent into the adsorption unit.

[0066] (Supplementary Note 10) The carbon dioxide capture system according to Supplementary Note 9, wherein the rotation speed of the fan is the same as when the air conditioning load is high.

[0067] (Appendix 11) A carbon dioxide capture system as described in any one of Appendices 1 to 4, comprising: a first temperature measuring unit provided upstream of the airflow relative to the heat exchanger; and a second temperature measuring unit provided downstream of the airflow relative to the heat exchanger, wherein the air conditioning load is determined by comparing the temperature measurement results by the first temperature measuring unit and the second temperature measuring unit.

[0068] (Supplementary Note 12) The carbon dioxide capture system according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 4, wherein the control unit uses artificial intelligence to predict a future air conditioning load and controls the amount or the supply amount of the adsorbent based on the prediction.

[0069] (Appendix 13) An air conditioning system as described in Appendix 5, wherein, when the operating status of the air conditioner is checked and it is determined that the operation of the air conditioner has stopped, a fan motor control unit that controls the operation of the fan rotates the fan, and the control unit supplies the adsorbent into the adsorption unit.

[0070] (Supplementary Note 14) The air conditioning system according to Supplementary Note 13, wherein the rotation speed of the fan is the same as when the air conditioning load is high.

[0071] 3a First temperature measurement unit 3b Second temperature measurement unit 10 Indoor unit 11, 26 Housing 20 Outdoor unit 21 Compressor 23 Outdoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 25 Blower (fan) 50 Fan motor 60 Fan motor control unit 55, 55a Blower unit 70 Adsorption unit 71 Adsorbent 80 Control unit 90, 90a, 90b, 90c Carbon dioxide recovery system 100 Air conditioner 101 Air conditioning system 105 Tachometer 110 Vibrometer (accelerometer)

Claims

1. A carbon dioxide capture system used in the blower section of an air conditioner equipped with a heat exchanger and a fan that generates an airflow, comprising: an adsorption section to which an adsorbent that adsorbs carbon dioxide contained in the airflow is supplied; and a control section that controls the amount of adsorbent in the adsorption section, wherein the control section controls the amount of adsorbent in the adsorption section in accordance with the air conditioning load of the air conditioner.

2. The carbon dioxide capture system of claim 1, wherein the control unit does not retain the adsorbent in the adsorption unit when the air conditioning load is higher than a predetermined air conditioning load, and retains the adsorbent in the adsorption unit when the air conditioning load is lower than the predetermined air conditioning load.

3. A carbon dioxide capture system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit reduces the amount of adsorbent supplied when the air conditioning load is higher than a predetermined air conditioning load, and increases the amount of adsorbent supplied when the air conditioning load is lower than the predetermined air conditioning load.

4. A carbon dioxide recovery system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit stops supplying the adsorbent to the adsorption unit when the air conditioning load is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit, and supplies the adsorbent to the adsorption unit when the air conditioning load is less than a predetermined upper limit.

5. An air conditioning system comprising the carbon dioxide recovery system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and the air conditioner, wherein the air conditioning load is determined by comparing the set temperature of the target space to be conditioned by the air conditioner with the measured temperature of the target space.

6. A carbon dioxide capture system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the air conditioning load is determined by comparing the power consumption of the air conditioner with a threshold power consumption of the air conditioner.

7. A carbon dioxide capture system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a tachometer for measuring the rotation speed of the fan, and wherein the air conditioning load is determined by comparing the rotation speed of the fan with a threshold value for the rotation speed of the fan.

8. A carbon dioxide capture system as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the air conditioner further comprises a compressor, and has a vibration meter for measuring vibration of the compressor, and the air conditioning load is determined by comparing the vibration amount of the compressor with a threshold value for the vibration amount of the compressor.

9. A carbon dioxide capture system as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, when the operating status of the air conditioner is checked and it is determined that the operation of the air conditioner has stopped, a fan motor control unit that controls the operation of the fan rotates the fan, and the control unit supplies the adsorbent into the adsorption unit.

10. A carbon dioxide capture system as described in claim 9, wherein the rotation speed of the fan is the same as when the air conditioning load is high.

11. A carbon dioxide recovery system as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising: a first temperature measurement unit provided upstream of the airflow relative to the heat exchanger; and a second temperature measurement unit provided downstream of the airflow relative to the heat exchanger, wherein the air conditioning load is determined by comparing the temperature measurement results from the first temperature measurement unit and the second temperature measurement unit.

12. A carbon dioxide capture system as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit uses artificial intelligence to predict future air conditioning load and controls the amount of the adsorbent based on the prediction.

13. An air conditioning system as described in claim 5, wherein, when the operating status of the air conditioner is checked and it is determined that the operation of the air conditioner has stopped, a fan motor control unit that controls the operation of the fan rotates the fan, and the control unit supplies the adsorbent into the adsorption unit.

14. The air conditioning system according to claim 13, wherein the rotational speed of the fan is the same as when the air conditioning load is high.

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