Co2 separation chamber for separating co2 from a supplied air flow from an environment

Abstract

The invention relates to a CO2 separation chamber (14), in particular a sorption chamber (14) and / or a desorption chamber (18), for a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied gas flow (12), in particular air flow (12) from an environment, wherein two opposite wall sections (28, 32) of a chamber housing (26) each comprise or consist of a lattice (36), in particular an expanded metal (36), and / or a perforated plate, in particular a hole perforation plate, for stabilizing the housing, and a sheet (38) arranged thereon and / or a cloth arranged thereon for sealing the housing.

Description

[0001] R.416816

[0002] - 1 -

[0003] Description

[0004] title

[0005] CO2 separation chamber for separating CO2 from an supplied air stream of an environment

[0006] State of the art

[0007] The invention relates to a CO2 separation chamber, in particular a sorption chamber and / or desorption chamber, for a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream, in particular an air stream from an environment, and to a corresponding CO2 separation device.

[0008] To limit the warming of the Earth's atmosphere, so-called DAC (Direct Air Capture) systems are used to separate or remove CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the air.

[0009] Today, the sorbent material is elaborately encased in steel structures and installed in the sorbent chambers. Due to its heat capacity, the steel structures require increased heating and cooling capacity. Furthermore, an additional housing is needed to contain the sorbent material, which requires additional heating / cooling capacity for the process and thus affects process times.

[0010] Even newer designs, in which the sorbent material is subjected to the adsorption process in a single pass, require a complex sheet metal construction. Additionally, these designs need a large number of flow channels that must be fixed in place.

[0011] WO 2020 / 212146 A1 discloses a DAC (Direct Air Capture) system with a container solution, comprising six separation chambers arranged in series and operable in parallel. R.416816

[0012] - 2 -

[0013] WO 2021 / 239747 A1 discloses a process for the adsorption and desorption of a sorbent used in cyclic adsorption-desorption for capturing CO2 directly from atmospheric ambient air or highly dilute sources.

[0014] Disclosure of the invention

[0015] The present invention relates to a CO2 separation chamber, in particular a sorption chamber and / or desorption chamber, for a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream, in particular an air stream from an environment, with

[0016] - a chamber housing for receiving, in particular pourable, CO2 separation agents,

[0017] - a plurality of gas inlet openings arranged on a first wall section of the chamber housing for supplying the gas flow, in particular air flow, into the chamber housing, and

[0018] - a plurality of gas outlet openings arranged on a second wall section of the chamber housing opposite the first wall section for the discharge of the CO2-reduced gas flow, in particular air flow, from the chamber housing, wherein the two wall sections of the chamber housing each

[0019] - a grid, in particular expanded metal mesh, and / or a perforated plate, in particular a perforated sheet, for housing stabilization and

[0020] - have or consist of a film and / or a cloth arranged on this / this for housing sealing.

[0021] The present invention further relates to a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream, in particular an air stream from an environment, comprising at least one CO2 separation chamber, in particular a sorption chamber and / or desorption chamber according to one of the preceding claims.

[0022] According to the invention, it is therefore proposed that two opposing wall sections of the chamber housing each contain a grid, in particular expanded metal, and / or a perforated plate, in particular R.416816

[0023] - 3 - perforated perforated plate for housing stabilization and a film and / or cloth arranged on it for housing sealing or consisting of it.

[0024] This allows for a reduction in the material required for the chamber housing, its mass, heat / cold capacity, and costs (in terms of material and transport). Standard components, such as expanded metal mesh or tarpaulins, can be used for constructing the chamber housing or CO2 separation chamber.

[0025] The CO2 separation chamber is preferably used as

[0026] - (combined) sorption-desorption chamber or

[0027] - (pure) sorption chamber or

[0028] - (pure) desorption chamber designed.

[0029] In the case of the sorption-desorption chamber, it is preferably designed for the alternating cyclical execution of a CO2 sorption process and a CO2 desorption process (C, Fixed bed). The basic operating principle of the CO2 separation chamber or device can be, for example, analogous to WO 2020 / 212146 A1.

[0030] Alternatively, in the case of the sorption chamber, it is designed exclusively for the CO2 sorption process. Similarly, the desorption chamber is designed exclusively for the CO2 desorption process. Here, the separate chambers can be connected to each other via pipes or conveying lines for circulating the bulk CO2 separation media ("moving bed"). The CO2 separation device is a type of fluidized bed CO2 separation system. This is a continuously operating system in which the bulk CO2 separation media are conveyed through different process columns, which are connected, for example, via a lock and exhibit different boundary conditions (e.g., temperatures or vacuum pressures) within the column. It is also conceivable to have a unit in which the same vacuum pressure is maintained, but the bulk CO2 separation media pass through different temperature zones.The fundamental R.416816.

[0031] - 4 -

[0032] The functioning of the CO2 separation chamber or device can be analogous, for example, to the still unpublished DE102024203853.

[0033] The chamber housing is designed to hold, in particular, free-flowing CO2 separation agents. In the case of a fluidized bed CO2 separation system, the CO2 separation chamber has a feed area for introducing the free-flowing CO2 separation agents into the chamber housing and a discharge area, which tapers in the direction of flow, for removing the CO2-enriched free-flowing CO2 separation agents from the chamber housing. The free-flowing CO2 separation agents are guided by gravity from the feed area through the chamber housing to the discharge area.

[0034] The chamber housing has at least two wall sections arranged opposite each other. Preferably, the chamber housing has four wall sections that circumferentially define these sections, with two sections arranged opposite each other.

[0035] According to the invention, the two wall sections of the chamber housing each have a grid, in particular expanded metal mesh, and / or a perforated plate, in particular a perforated sheet, for stabilizing the housing, as well as a film and / or a cloth arranged on this / these for sealing the housing. The perforated plate or sheet preferably has regularly spaced openings.

[0036] Alternatively, both wall sections can also consist of this material. Preferably, all four surrounding wall sections are designed in this way.

[0037] Advantageously, a multitude of inlet and / or outlet channels are provided for guiding the gas flow within the chamber housing. These inlet and / or outlet channels extend from the first wall section to the second wall section and are arranged, and in particular attached, to the respective grids and / or perforated plates. R.416816

[0038] - 5 -

[0039] Preferably, the feed channels and / or discharge channels are positively connected to the respective grids and / or perforated plates, in particular by being inserted into openings in the respective grids and / or perforated plates. More preferably, the feed channels and / or discharge channels can be positively connected to the respective grids and / or perforated plates by means of coupling elements, in particular by being inserted into coupling elements or flange elements, which in turn are inserted into the openings of the respective grids and / or perforated plates, e.g., in a snap-fit ​​manner. The coupling elements or flange elements preferably comprise or consist of a plastic. The positive connection can be designed, for example, as a tongue-and-groove connection, a snap-fit ​​connection, or a "clip connection."

[0040] It is further advantageous if the feed channels and / or the discharge channels or the coupling elements have projections, in particular collars, at connection areas to the grids and / or perforated plates for fixing the film and / or the cloth and / or for sealing the respective gas inlet openings and gas outlet openings on the chamber walls.

[0041] This measure significantly simplifies assembly and disassembly, eliminating the need for complex welding and enabling a "kit assembly" approach. The expanded metal, in particular, ensures a regular and symmetrical pattern of openings, thus providing a correspondingly regular and symmetrical arrangement of flow channels.

[0042] It is also advantageous if the supply channels and / or the discharge channels are tubular in design and have at least one opening in a lower channel section, so that during normal operation the gas flow can be directed downwards and / or from below into discharge channels via the supply channels. The supply channels and / or the discharge channels, in particular the CO2 separation chamber, can be designed analogously to the still unpublished DE102024203284. R.416816

[0043] - 6 -

[0044] Preferably, the feed channels and / or the respective coupling elements are open on the gas inlet side and closed on the gas outlet side, and / or the discharge channels and / or the respective coupling elements are designed to be closed on the gas inlet side and open on the gas outlet side. It is advantageous if the discharge channels and / or the respective coupling elements have a retention element and / or a turbulence element and / or a backflow element on the gas outlet side to prevent the (poundable) CO2 separation agent from escaping.

[0045] The film and / or fabric is / are preferably gas-impermeable, in particular air-impermeable. The film can, for example, be designed as a tarpaulin or truck tarpaulin.

[0046] In the case of the sorption chamber, the film and / or cloth is / are preferably arranged on an inner surface of the respective grids and / or perforated plates. In the case of the desorption chamber, the film and / or cloth is / are arranged on an outer surface of the respective grids and / or perforated plates, and / or the chamber has a pressure chamber in which the chamber housing is arranged, so that the same pressure is applied to all sides.

[0047] Furthermore, it is advantageous if a protective layer, in particular a protective fleece, is arranged between the grid and / or the perforated plate and the film and / or the cloth. This provides protection against, for example, sharp edges of the grid and / or the perforated plate.

[0048] It is also advantageous if the feed area and / or the discharge area is / are limited, in particular formed, by the film and / or the cloth. If the film and / or the cloth cannot / cannot absorb the forces, a suitable stiffening can be provided, which is designed to absorb the respective forces.

[0049] The CO2 separation device is designed or configured for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream, in particular an air stream from an environment (preferably the CO2 separation device). The term "supply" or "supplied" within the scope of the present invention in R.416816

[0050] - 7 - Primarily, an actively carried out or initiated, and thus technically controlled or regulated, supply of the gas or air flow by means of a blower unit or fan unit of the CO2 separation device. However, the term "supply" or "supplied" can also include a passively guided or initiated supply of the gas or air flow without departing from the scope of the present invention. Consequently, the air flow can be supplied in any way, e.g., naturally (as wind).

[0051] Preferably, the CO2 separation chamber comprises at least two CO2 separation chambers, wherein at least one is configured as a sorption chamber for the temporary holding of bulk CO2 sorbents to sorb the CO2 from the supplied gas stream, in particular an air stream, and at least one is configured as a desorption chamber for the temporary holding of the CO2-enriched bulk CO2 sorbents to desorb the CO2 from the bulk CO2 sorbents, wherein the bulk CO2 sorbents are circulating in a closed loop through the sorption chamber and the desorption chamber. Preferably, to create the closed loop, the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents from the sorption chamber are fed to the desorption chamber by means of a first conduit section or conveying section, and the regenerated CO2 sorbents from the desorption chamber are fed to the desorption chamber by means of a second conduit section or conveying section.The material can be returned to the conveying section of the sorption chamber.

[0052] The CO2 separation device can have a variety of sorption chambers and / or desorption chambers, which can be arranged, for example, one above the other and / or next to each other, or fluidically connected to each other when set up separately.

[0053] The desorption process is carried out under reduced pressure and at a temperature higher than ambient. Accordingly, the desorption process is preferably carried out using a pump unit or vacuum unit to release CO2 bound in the free-flowing CO2 sorbents, which was previously bound by a sorption process. The CO2 is, understandably, temporarily bound. The term "desorption" within the scope of this R.416816 encompasses

[0054] - 8 -

[0055] The invention relates to any meaningful method of releasing or expelling CO2 (carbon dioxide) from bulk CO2 sorbents, wherein a dissolution and / or release and / or discharge of CO2 molecules from the bulk CO2 sorbents takes place. In this process, the CO2 is released or dissolved from the bulk CO2 sorbents, particularly by introducing energy or heat into them.

[0056] The desorption process preferably comprises at least one of the following methods or combinations thereof:

[0057] - chemical desorption process

[0058] - physical desorption process

[0059] The sorption process is carried out at a higher pressure than the desorption process, in particular at ambient pressure, and at a lower temperature than the desorption process, in particular at ambient temperature. Within the scope of the present invention, the term "sorption" encompasses any meaningful type of separation or desorption.

[0060] Separation of CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the gas or air stream, whereby binding and / or adhesion and / or storage and / or absorption of CO2 molecules takes place on bulk CO2 sorbents.

[0061] The sorption process preferably comprises at least one of the following processes or combinations thereof:

[0062] - chemical adsorption process

[0063] - physical adsorption process

[0064] - chemical absorption process

[0065] - physical absorption process

[0066] The free-flowing CO2 sorbents are used here for separation or...

[0067] Sorption of CO2 from a supplied gas or air stream. The free-flowing CO2 sorbents are either free-flowing or free-form. The CO2 sorbents can be, for example, granular or particulate. The free-flowing CO2 sorbents can comprise or consist of a single material or a mixture of materials. The free-flowing CO2 sorbents can be dry, slurry, or suspended. R.416816

[0068] - 9 -

[0069] The free-flowing CO2 sorbents can, in particular, include appropriately functionalized free-flowing sorbents, e.g., adsorbents and / or absorbents. Accordingly, the free-flowing CO2 sorbents can, for example, have a granular or particulate solid as a support 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 and / or physically bind CO2. The free-flowing CO2 sorbents can, in particular, include a granular ion exchange resin or be designed as a granular ion exchange resin. The free-flowing CO2 sorbents can, for example,comprise or consist of granular Lewatit VP OC 1065 or Zeolite X13.

[0070] The CO2 separation device may further comprise at least one of the following units:

[0071] - Blower unit, in particular with a large number of fans for supplying the gas or air flow;

[0072] - Steam generator for providing steam for the desorption process;

[0073] - Inerting unit for supplying an inert gas stream, such as nitrogen, oxygen-free air and / or water vapor, to remove oxygen before the desorption process to protect the CO2 combustion agent from chemical degradation;

[0074] - Heating unit for additional heating of the bulk CO2 sorbents for the desorption process;

[0075] - Cooling unit for additional cooling of the bulk CO2 sorbents for the sorption process;

[0076] - Material conveying unit for conveying the free-flowing CO2 sorbents within the cycle;

[0077] - Sensor unit for the sorption process and / or the desorption process;

[0078] - Control unit for controlling and / or regulating the sorption process and / or the desorption process. R.416816

[0079] - 10 -

[0080] The control unit is configured to perform the steps of the procedure described above and / or to control the corresponding units for carrying out these steps. The control unit may be configured to be connected to other control units and / or a central control unit of the CO2 separation device or a higher-level system via wireless transmission such as WLAN, Bluetooth, Near-Field Communication, etc. It should be noted that, within the scope of this application, the term "control" also includes regulating the respective device and / or unit.

[0081] The CO2 separation device is preferably designed as a stationary unit. In particular, the CO2 separation device can be part of a building climate control system, especially integrated into a climate control system within a building. The chambers of the CO2 separation device can be integrated into the building's air conditioning circuit.

[0082] Drawings

[0083] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0084] Fig. 1 shows a basic structure of a CO2 system according to the invention.

[0085] Separation device;

[0086] Fig. 2 shows a side sectional view of an embodiment of a sorption chamber according to the invention;

[0087] Fig. 3 shows a side sectional view of a further embodiment of a sorption chamber according to the invention;

[0088] Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of a gas inlet-side grille; and

[0089] Fig. 5 shows a detailed view of a feed channel with a

[0090] Coupling element. R.416816

[0091] - 11 -

[0092] Fig. 1 shows a basic structure of a CO2 separation device according to the invention, which is designated as a whole by the reference numeral 10. The CO2 separation device 10 is designed to separate CO2 (carbon dioxide) from a supplied air stream 12.

[0093] For this purpose, the CO2 separation device 10 has a sorption chamber 14 for the temporary holding of bulk CO2 sorbents 16a in order to sorb the CO2 from the supplied air stream 12, and a desorption chamber 18 for the temporary holding of the CO2-enriched bulk CO2 sorbents 16b in order to desorb the CO2 from the bulk CO2 sorbents 16b. The bulk CO2 sorbents 16a, b are circulated in a circuit 20 through the sorption chamber 14 and the desorption chamber 18. To generate the cycle 20, the CO2-enriched CO2 sorption agents 16b from the sorption chamber 14 can be supplied to the desorption chamber 18 by means of a first conveying section 22 and the regenerated CO2 sorption agents 16a from the desorption chamber 18 can be supplied back to the sorption chamber 14 by means of a second conveying section 24.

[0094] As can be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, the sorption chamber 14 has a chamber housing 26 in which (not shown) bulk CO2 separation agents are temporarily contained. The chamber housing 26 has a first wall section 28 with a plurality of gas inlet openings 30 for supplying the airflow 12, in particular airflow 12, into the chamber housing 26. The chamber housing 26 further has a second wall section 32 opposite the first wall section 28 with a plurality of gas outlet openings 34 for discharge of the CO2-reduced airflow 12', in particular airflow 12', from the chamber housing 26.

[0095] According to the invention, the two wall sections 28, 32 of the chamber housing 26 each have a grid 36 or expanded metal mesh 36 for housing stabilization and a film 38 or sheet 38 arranged thereon for housing sealing. The film 38 or sheet 38 is airtight and is arranged on an inner side of each of the grids 28, 32. R.416816

[0096] - 12 -

[0097] The sorption chamber further comprises a plurality of inlet channels 40 and outlet channels 42 for guiding the airflow 12 within the chamber housing 26. The inlet channels 40 and the outlet channels 42 each extend from the first wall section 28 to the second wall section 32 and are attached to the respective grilles 36. The inlet channels 40 and outlet channels 42 are inserted into openings in the respective grilles 36, thereby forming a positive-locking connection.

[0098] The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 differs from that in Fig. 2 in that the sorption chamber 14 has a discharge area 46 that tapers in the flow direction 44 of the free-flowing CO2 separation agents for the discharge of the CO2-enriched free-flowing CO2 separation agents. Here, the free-flowing CO2 separation agents are guided by gravity from a feed area (not shown) through the chamber housing 26 to the discharge area 46, the discharge area 46 being bounded or formed by the film 38 or sheet 38.

[0099] Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of the gas inlet-side grid 28 from Figs. 2 and 3, with the foil 38 omitted for illustrative purposes. It can be seen that the feed channels 40 are open on the gas inlet side and the discharge channels 42 are closed on the gas inlet side. The configuration is exactly reversed on the opposite gas outlet-side grid 32.

[0100] Fig. 5 shows a detailed view of a feed channel 40, which is positively connected to the grid 36 by means of a coupling element 48. The feed channel 40 is inserted into the coupling element 48, which in turn is snapped into the openings of the grid 36.

[0101] As can also be seen from Fig. 5, the coupling element 48 has a projection 50 or collar 50 at the connection area to the grid 36 in order to fix the foil 38 and to seal the gas inlet opening 30.

Claims

R.416816 - 13 - Claims 1. CO2 separation chamber (14, 16), in particular sorption chamber (14) and / or desorption chamber (18), for a CO2 separation device (10) for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream (12), in particular air stream (12) of an environment, with - a chamber housing (26) for receiving, in particular pourable, CO2 separation agents, - a plurality of gas inlet openings (30) arranged on a first wall section (28) of the chamber housing (26) for supplying the gas flow (12), in particular air flow (12), into the chamber housing (26), and - a plurality of gas outlet openings (34) arranged on a second wall section (32) of the chamber housing (26) opposite the first wall section (30) for discharging the CO2-reduced gas flow (12'), in particular air flow (12'), from the chamber housing (26), characterized in that the two wall sections (28, 32) of the chamber housing (26) each - a grid (36), in particular expanded metal grid (36), and / or a perforated plate, in particular a perforated perforated plate, for housing stabilization and - comprising or consisting of a film (38) arranged on this / this and / or a cloth arranged on this / this for housing sealing.

2. CO2 separation chamber (14, 18) according to claim 1, characterized by a plurality of feed channels (40) and / or discharge channels (42) for guiding the flow of the gas stream (12) within the chamber housing (26), wherein the feed channels (40) and / or the discharge channels (42) each extend from the first wall section (28) to the second wall section (32) and are arranged, in particular attached, to the respective grids (36) and / or perforated plates. R.416816 - 14 - 3. CO2 separation chamber (14, 18) according to claim 2, characterized in that the feed channels (40) and / or the discharge channels (42) are positively connected to the respective grids (36) and / or perforated plates, in particular inserted into openings of the respective grids (36) and / or perforated plates.

4. CO2 separation chamber (14, 18) according to claim 3, characterized in that the feed channels (40) and / or the discharge channels (42) are positively connected to the respective grids (36) and / or perforated plate by means of coupling elements (48), in particular are inserted into the coupling elements (48), which in turn are inserted into the openings of the respective grids (36) and / or perforated plates.

5. CO2 separation chamber (14, 18) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the feed channels (40) and / or the discharge channels (42) or the coupling elements (48) have projections, in particular collars (50), at connection areas to the grids (36) and / or perforated plates for fixing the film (38) and / or the cloth and / or for sealing the respective gas inlet openings (30) and gas outlet openings (34) on the chamber walls (28, 32).

6. CO2 separation chamber (14, 18) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the supply channels (40) and / or the discharge channels (42) are tubular in shape and have at least one opening in a lower channel area, so that during intended operation the gas flow (12) can be guided downwards and / or from below into discharge channels (42) via the supply channels (40).

7. CO2 separation chamber (14, 18) according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the feed channels (40) and / or the respective coupling elements (48) are open on the gas inlet side and closed on the gas outlet side and / or the discharge channels (42) and / or the respective coupling elements (48) are designed to be closed on the gas inlet side and open on the gas outlet side. R.416816 - 15 - 8. CO2 separation chamber (14, 18) according to claim 7, characterized in that the discharge channels (42) and / or the respective coupling elements (48) have a retention element and / or a turbulence element and / or a backflow element on the gas outlet side to prevent escape of the CO2 separation agents.

9. CO2 separation chamber (14, 18) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film (38) and / or the cloth is / are gas-impermeable, in particular air-impermeable.

10. CO2 separation chamber (14, 18) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a protective layer, in particular a protective fleece, is arranged between the grid (36) and / or the perforated plate and the film (38) and / or the cloth.

11. CO2 separation chamber (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed as a sorption chamber (14) and the film (38) and / or the cloth is / are arranged on an inside of the respective grids (36) and / or perforated plates.

12. CO2 separation chamber (18) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is designed as a desorption chamber (18) and - the film (38) and / or the cloth is / are arranged on an outside of the respective grids (36) and / or perforated plates and / or - has a pressure chamber in which the chamber housing (26) is arranged.

13. CO2 separation chamber (14, 18) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a feed area for feeding the free-flowing CO2 separation agents and a discharge area (46) for removing the CO2-enriched free-flowing CO2 separation agents, which in particular tapers in the flow direction (44) of the free-flowing CO2 separation agents, wherein the free-flowing CO2 separation agents can be guided by gravity from the feed area through the chamber housing (26) to the discharge area (46), wherein the R.416816 - 16 - The feed area and / or the discharge area (46) is / are limited by means of the film (38) and / or the cloth, in particular formed.

14. CO2 separation device (10) for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream (12), in particular an air stream (12) from an environment, comprising at least one CO2 separation chamber (14, 18), in particular a sorption chamber (14) and / or a desorption chamber (18) according to one of the preceding claims.

15. CO2 separation device (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that at least two CO2 separation chambers (14, 18) are provided, wherein at least one is designed as a sorption chamber (14) for the temporary holding of bulk CO2 sorbents in order to sorb the CO2 from the supplied gas stream (12), in particular air stream (12), and at least one is designed as a desorption chamber (18) for the temporary holding of the bulk CO2 sorbents (16b) enriched with CO2 in order to desorb the CO2 from the bulk CO2 sorbents (16b), wherein the bulk CO2 sorbents (16a, b) are circulated in a circuit (20) through the sorption chamber (14) and the desorption chamber (18).

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