Co2 separation apparatus for separating co2 from a supplied air stream from an environment

Abstract

The invention relates to a CO2 separation apparatus (10) for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream (12), in particular air stream (12) from an environment, comprising at least a sorption chamber (16) for temporarily receiving bulk CO2 sorption means (18a), in order to sorb the CO2 from the supplied gas stream (12), in particular air stream (12), and a desorption chamber (28) for temporarily receiving the CO2-enriched bulk CO2 sorption means (18b), in order to desorb the CO2 from the bulk CO2 sorption means (18b), wherein the bulk CO2 sorption means (18a, b) can be circulated in a circuit (40) through the sorption chamber (16) and the desorption chamber (28), and wherein a neutralisation unit (42) is provided for reducing an electrostatic charge of the bulk CO2 sorption means (18a, b) circulating in the circuit (40).

Description

[0001] R.416818

[0002] - 1 -

[0003] Description

[0004] title

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

[0006] State of the art

[0007] The invention relates to a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream, in particular an air stream from an environment, and to a method for operating a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream, in particular an air stream from an environment.

[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] For this purpose, DAC systems are known, which are designed as continuous flow or fluidized bed systems in which an adsorbent material is moved or circulated between separate chambers via pipes (C, Moving bed). These are continuously operating systems in which the free-flowing adsorbent material is guided through different process steps or process equipment, which are connected to each other, for example, via a lock and exhibit different boundary conditions (e.g., temperatures or vacuum pressures) within the column.

[0010] For CO2 adsorption, adsorption materials made of polymeric, spherical beads with primary amino groups are frequently used. These beads are exposed to process stresses such as cooling, heating, humidification, and pressure fluctuations (vacuum sealing). These processes cause the material to change (e.g., swelling) and can also lead to clumping. This clumping can severely restrict the adsorption process because the air no longer flows past the beads, but instead enters clumps of beads.

[0011] - 2 -

[0012] or even completely block areas. In the worst case, only individual channels form between the clumps through which the air flows, so that all amines that are supposed to serve CO2 adsorption, but are located inside clumps, can no longer be reached by the air and thus by the CO2 molecules (blockage).

[0013] Disclosure of the invention

[0014] The present invention 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 sorption chamber for the temporary holding of bulk CO2 sorbents in order to sorb the CO2 from the supplied gas stream, in particular an air stream, and a desorption chamber for the temporary holding of the bulk CO2 sorbents enriched with CO2 in order to desorb the CO2 from the bulk CO2 sorbents, wherein the bulk CO2 sorbents are circulating in a circuit through the sorption chamber and the desorption chamber, and wherein a neutralization unit is provided for reducing an electrostatic charge of the bulk CO2 sorbents circulating in the circuit.

[0015] The present invention further relates to a method for operating a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream, in particular an air stream from an environment, wherein in at least one sorption chamber, free-flowing CO2 sorbents are temporarily taken up to sorb the CO2 from the supplied gas stream, in particular an air stream, and in a desorption chamber, the free-flowing CO2 sorbents enriched with CO2 are temporarily taken up to desorb the CO2 from the free-flowing CO2 sorbents, wherein the free-flowing CO2 sorbents are circulated in a circuit through the sorption chamber and the desorption chamber, wherein a step of reducing an electrostatic charge of the free-flowing CO2 sorbents circulating in the circuit is carried out by means of a neutralization unit. R.416818

[0016] - 3 -

[0017] The present invention also relates to the use of a neutralization unit, in particular an ionization unit, for reducing an electrostatic charge of CO2 sorbents in a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream, in particular an air stream from an environment.

[0018] It has been found that when circulating, free-flowing CO2 sorbents rub against each other during conveying, the "spheres" become statically charged, thus increasing the risk of blockage by the charged particles.

[0019] Therefore, according to the invention, it is proposed to provide a neutralization unit for reducing the electrostatic charge of the circulating, free-flowing CO2 sorbents, or to carry out a step of reducing the electrostatic charge of the circulating, free-flowing CO2 sorbents by means of a neutralization unit. This significantly reduces the risk of clogging or agglutination and thus considerably increases the efficiency and reliability of the CO2 separation device or the CO2 separation process.

[0020] Reducing electrostatic charge can involve partially or completely removing the electrostatic charge.

[0021] It is advantageous if the neutralization unit is further configured to temper the CO2 sorbents. For this purpose, the neutralization unit can include a tempering unit for maintaining the temperature of the CO2 sorbents. It is particularly advantageous if the neutralization unit is configured to preheat the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents before they are circulated into the desorption chamber.

[0022] Similarly, the process includes a step of tempering the CO2 sorbents using the neutralization unit, in particular a tempering unit of the neutralization unit for tempering the CO2 sorbents. Here, the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents are preferably tempered before circulation into the R.416818

[0023] - 4 -

[0024] The desorption chamber is preheated and / or cooled down before circulating into the sorption chamber.

[0025] Since the CO2 sorbents are transported or stored between process steps, this time can be used not only to reduce the static charge of the CO2 sorbents, but also to preheat them to the appropriate temperature for the subsequent process. Preheating for the desorption process can, for example, be carried out to less than or equal to 45°C or approximately 40°C. Thus, by utilizing these residence and transport times, the efficiency of the CO2 separation device can be further increased.

[0026] It is further advantageous if the neutralization unit is configured to generate ionized air in order to reduce the electrostatic charge of the CO2 sorbents. For this purpose, the neutralization unit can include an ionization unit. The ionized air can, in particular, be configured as an ionized air jet.

[0027] Similarly, in this process, the electrostatic charge of the CO2 sorbents is reduced by means of ionized air generated by the neutralization unit, in particular by an ionization unit of the neutralization unit. This design offers a very simple and effective way to reduce the electrostatic charge of the CO2 sorbents.

[0028] It is also advantageous if the neutralization unit is further configured to generate heated ionized air, thereby simultaneously reducing the electrostatic charge of the CO2 sorbents and heating them. For this purpose, the neutralization unit can also include an air heating unit.

[0029] Similarly, in this process, the ionized air is further heated by means of the neutralization unit, in particular an air heating unit of the neutralization unit, in order to simultaneously reduce the electrostatic charge of the CO2 sorbents and to heat them. R.416818

[0030] - 5 -

[0031] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the neutralization unit also includes a blower unit to direct the ionized air, in particular the heated ionized air, to the CO2 sorbents.

[0032] Similarly, in this process, a blower unit of the neutralization unit directs the ionized air, and in particular the heated ionized air, to the CO2 sorbents. This design offers a very simple and effective way to reduce the electrostatic charge of the CO2 sorbents and simultaneously heat them.

[0033] Preferably, for generating the cycle, the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents from the sorption chamber can be supplied to the desorption chamber by means of a first transport section, and the regenerated CO2 sorbents from the desorption chamber can be supplied back to the sorption chamber by means of a second transport section, wherein the neutralization unit is arranged in the first transport section and / or in the second transport section.

[0034] Similarly, in the process for generating the cycle, the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents are fed from the sorption chamber to the desorption chamber via a first transport section, and the regenerated CO2 sorbents are fed back from the desorption chamber to the sorption chamber via a second transport section, whereby the reduction of the electrostatic charge takes place in the first transport section and / or in the second transport section.

[0035] Advantageously, the neutralization unit is arranged in the first transport section. It is particularly advantageous if the neutralization unit is located in a first intermediate chamber of the first transport section for the temporary storage of the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents and / or in a first conveying unit for conveying the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents within the first transport section.

[0036] Similarly, the electrostatic charge is advantageously reduced in the first transport section of the process. This is described in R.416818.

[0037] - 6 -

[0038] This is particularly advantageous if the reduction of the electrostatic charge takes place in a first intermediate chamber of the first transport section for the intermediate storage of the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents and / or in a first conveying unit for conveying the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents within the first transport section.

[0039] Additionally or alternatively, the neutralization unit can advantageously be arranged in the second transport section. It is particularly advantageous if the neutralization unit is arranged in a second intermediate chamber of the second transport section for the temporary storage of the regenerated CO2 sorbents and / or in a second conveying unit for conveying the regenerated CO2 sorbents within the second transport section.

[0040] Similarly, the electrostatic charge is advantageously reduced in the second transport section of the process. It is particularly advantageous if the reduction of the electrostatic charge takes place in a second intermediate chamber of the second transport section for the temporary storage of the regenerated CO2 sorbents and / or in a second conveying unit for conveying the regenerated CO2 sorbents within the second transport section.

[0041] The intermediate chambers can also be part of the sorption chamber / section and / or the desorption chamber / section, or be integrated into the sorption chamber / section and / or the desorption chamber / section.

[0042] The respective conveying unit can comprise a vacuum conveyor and / or a conveyor belt and / or a screw conveyor. The combined heating and ionization process can, for example, take place in a heat exchanger screw conveyor into which ionized air is blown.

[0043] As explained above, residence or transport times can also be used not only to reduce the static charge of the CO2 sorbents, but also to temper them appropriately for the subsequent process. This allows intermediate chambers, which are already present in many devices, to be further functionalized. R.416818

[0044] - 7 -

[0045] For example, heating elements can be arranged within these for preheating. It is also easier to heat the CO2 separation agents here than in the desorption section under vacuum. The temperature should not exceed 45°C for Lewatit, for example, as otherwise the material would degrade significantly in the oxygen environment.

[0046] The CO2 separation device is designed and configured for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream, in particular an air stream from an environment (preferably the CO2 separation device). Within the scope of the present invention, the term "supply" or "supplied" primarily refers to an actively carried out or initiated, and thus technically controlled or regulated, supply of the gas or air stream 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 initiated or initiated supply of the gas or air stream without departing from the scope of the present invention. Consequently, the air stream can be supplied in any manner, e.g., naturally (as wind).

[0047] The CO2 separation device comprises at least one sorption chamber in which bulk CO2 sorbents are temporarily held and / or absorbed to sorb the CO2 from the supplied gas stream, in particular an air stream. The CO2 separation device further comprises at least one desorption chamber in which the bulk CO2 sorbents enriched with CO2 are temporarily held and / or absorbed to desorb the CO2 from the bulk CO2 sorbents. The bulk CO2 sorbents are circulated in a closed loop through the sorption chamber and the desorption chamber.

[0048] 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.

[0049] The desorption process is carried out under reduced pressure and at a temperature higher than ambient. Therefore, the desorption process is preferably carried out using a pump unit or vacuum unit R.416818.

[0050] - 8 -

[0051] The process is carried out to release CO2 bound in the bulk CO2 sorbents, which was previously bound by a sorption process. The CO2 is, understandably, temporarily bound. Within the scope of the present invention, the term "desorption" encompasses any meaningful method of releasing or expelling CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the 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.

[0052] The desorption process preferably comprises at least one of the following methods or combinations thereof:

[0053] - chemical desorption process

[0054] - physical desorption process

[0055] The sorption process is carried out at a higher pressure than the desorption process, in particular ambient pressure, and at a lower temperature than the desorption process, in particular ambient temperature. Within the scope of the present invention, the term "sorption" encompasses any meaningful type of separation or desorption.

[0056] 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.

[0057] The sorption process preferably comprises at least one of the following processes or combinations thereof:

[0058] - chemical adsorption process

[0059] - physical adsorption process

[0060] - chemical absorption process

[0061] - physical absorption process

[0062] The free-flowing CO2 sorbents are used here for separation or...

[0063] Sorption of CO2 from a supplied gas or air stream is formed. The pourable CO2 sorbents are free-flowing or free-form. The CO2 sorbents can be, for example, granular or particulate. R.416818

[0064] - 9 -

[0065] 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-like, or suspended.

[0066] The free-flowing CO2 sorbents can include, in particular, 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.

[0067] The bulk CO2 sorbents can, in particular, comprise or be in the form of a granular ion exchange resin. The bulk CO2 sorbents can, for example, comprise or consist of granular Lewatit VP OC 1065 or Zeolite X13.

[0068] The CO2 separation device may further comprise at least one of the following units:

[0069] - Blower unit, in particular with a large number of fans for supplying the gas or air flow;

[0070] - Steam generator for providing steam for the desorption process;

[0071] - Inerting unit for supplying an inert gas stream, such as...

[0072] Nitrogen, oxygen-free air and / or water vapor to remove oxygen before the desorption process to protect the CO2 combustion agent from chemical degradation;

[0073] - Heating unit for additional heating of the bulk CO2 sorbents for the desorption process;

[0074] - Cooling unit for additional cooling of the bulk CO2 sorbents for the sorption process;

[0075] - Material conveying unit for conveying the free-flowing CO2 sorbents within the cycle; R.416818

[0076] - 10 -

[0077] - Sensor unit for the sorption process and / or the desorption process; - Control unit for controlling and / or regulating the sorption process and / or the desorption process.

[0078] 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.

[0079] The CO2 separation device is preferably designed to be stationary.

[0080] 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. In this case, the chambers of the CO2 separation device can be integrated into the building's air conditioning circuit.

[0081] Drawings

[0082] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0083] Fig. 1 shows a basic structure of a CO2 separation device according to the invention.

[0084] 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.

[0085] For this purpose, the CO2 separation device 10 has a sorption section 14 or a sorption tower 14 with a sorption chamber 16 for the temporary holding of free-flowing CO2 sorbents 18a in order to sorb the CO2 from the supplied air stream 12. The sorbents 18a trickle into the chamber.

[0086] - 11 -

[0087] down into sorption chamber 16 and absorb the CO2 and water from the air.

[0088] The CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents 18b are subsequently transferred from the sorption chamber 16 to a desorption section 22 or a desorption tower 22 via a first transport section 20. Here, the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents 18b are initially stored in an intermediate chamber 24 before being introduced into a desorption chamber 28 via a valve unit 26. The intermediate chamber 24 is considered part of the first transport section 20.

[0089] The desorption chamber 28 serves to temporarily hold the CO2-enriched bulk CO2 sorbents 18b in order to desorb the CO2 from the bulk CO2 sorbents 18b. For this purpose, the desorption chamber 28 can be heated by means of a temperature control unit 30 and is fluidically connected to a vacuum pump 32, so that the CO2 can be adsorbed and subsequently directed into a CO2 buffer tank 34 and from there into a CO2 storage tank.

[0090] The regenerated CO2 sorption agents 18a are discharged from the desorption chamber 28 and fed back to the sorption tower 14 or the sorption chamber 16 by means of a second transport section 38, whereby the free-flowing CO2 sorption agents 18a, b are circulated in a cycle 40 through the sorption chamber 16 and the desorption chamber 28.

[0091] According to the invention, a neutralization unit 42 is provided for reducing the electrostatic charge of the free-flowing CO2 sorbents 18a, b circulating in the circuit 40. The neutralization unit 42 is arranged in the first transport section 20 or in the intermediate chamber 24 of the first transport section 20, so that the residence time of the CO2 sorbents 18b stored there can be used to reduce their electrostatic charge and thereby reduce the risk of clogging or agglutination.

[0092] Here, the neutralization unit 42 includes an ionization unit 44 and a blower unit 46 with an air heating unit (not shown), umR.416818

[0093] - 12 -

[0094] to reduce the electrostatic charge of the CO2 sorption agents 18b by means of heated ionized air 48 and to preheat them simultaneously for the following desorption process.

Claims

R.416818 - 13 - Claims 1. 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 sorption chamber (16) for the temporary holding of bulk CO2 sorbents (18a) in order to sorb the CO2 from the supplied gas stream (12), in particular an air stream (12), and a desorption chamber (28) for the temporary holding of the CO2-enriched bulk CO2 sorbents (18b) in order to desorb the CO2 from the bulk CO2 sorbents (18b), wherein the bulk CO2 sorbents (18a, b) are circulating in a circuit (40) through the sorption chamber (16) and the desorption chamber (28), characterized by a neutralization unit (42) for reducing an electrostatic charge of the sorbents in the circuit (40). circulating free-flowing CO2 sorption media (18a, b).

2. CO2 separation device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the neutralization unit (42) is further configured to temper the CO2 sorption agents (18a, b), in particular comprising a tempering unit for tempering the CO2 sorption agents (18a, b).

3. CO2 separation device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the neutralization unit (42) is configured to preheat the CO2-enriched CO2 sorption agents (18b) before circulating them into the desorption chamber (28) and / or to cool them down before circulating them into the sorption chamber (16).

4. CO2 separation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the neutralization unit (42) is configured to generate ionized air (48), in particular comprising an ionization unit (44) in order to reduce the electrostatic charge of the CO2 sorption agents (18a, b). R.416818 - 14 - 5. CO2 separation device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the neutralization unit (42) is further configured to generate heated ionized air (48), in particular further comprising an air heating unit in order to simultaneously reduce the electrostatic charge of the CO2 sorption agents (18a, b) and to heat them.

6. CO2 separation device (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the neutralization unit (42) further comprises a blower unit (46) to direct the ionized air (48), in particular the heated ionized air (48), to the CO2 sorption agents (18a, b).

7. CO2 separation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for the generation of the cycle (40), the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents (18b) from the sorption chamber (16) can be supplied to the desorption chamber (28) by means of a first transport section (20) and the regenerated CO2 sorbents (18a) from the desorption chamber (28) can be supplied back to the sorption chamber (16) by means of a second transport section (38), wherein the neutralization unit (42) is arranged in the first transport section (20) and / or in the second transport section (38).

8. CO2 separation device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the neutralization unit (42) is arranged in the first transport section (20), in particular in a first intermediate chamber (24) of the first transport section (20) for intermediate storage of the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents (18b) and / or in a first conveying unit for conveying the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents (18b) within the first transport section (20).

9. CO2 separation device (10) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the neutralization unit (42) is located in the second transport section (38), in particular in a second intermediate chamber of the second transport section (38) for intermediate storage of the regenerated CO2 sorbents (18a) and / or in a second conveying unit for R.416818 - 15 - The conveyance of the regenerated CO2 sorption agent (18a) within the second transport section (38) is arranged.

10. Method for operating a CO2 separation device (10) for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream (12), in particular an air stream (12) from an environment, wherein in at least one sorption chamber (16) free-flowing CO2 sorbents (18a) are temporarily taken up to sorb the CO2 from the supplied gas stream (12), in particular an air stream (12), and in a desorption chamber (28) the CO2-enriched free-flowing CO2 sorbents (18b) are temporarily taken up to desorb the CO2 from the free-flowing CO2 sorbents (18b), wherein the free-flowing CO2 sorbents (18a, b) are circulated in a circuit (40) through the sorption chamber (16) and the desorption chamber (28), characterized by a step of reducing an electrostatic charge of the sorbents in the circuit (40) circulating free-flowing CO2 sorption agent (18a, b) by means of a neutralization unit (42).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized by a step of tempering the CO2 sorption agents (18a, b) by means of the neutralization unit (42), in particular a tempering unit of the neutralization unit (42) for tempering the CO2 sorption agents (18a, b).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the CO2-enriched CO2 sorption agents (18b) are preheated before circulating into the desorption chamber (28) and / or cooled down before circulating into the sorption chamber (16).

13. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the reduction of the electrostatic charge of the CO2 sorbents (18a, b) is carried out by means of ionized air (48) generated by the neutralization unit (42), in particular an ionization unit (44) of the neutralization unit (42). R.416818 - 16 - 14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the ionized air (48) is further heated by means of the neutralization unit (42), in particular an air heating unit of the neutralization unit (42), in order to simultaneously reduce the electrostatic charge of the CO2 sorption agents (18a, b) and to heat them.

15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the ionized air (48), in particular the heated ionized air (48), is directed to the CO2 sorption agents (18a, b) by means of a blower unit (46) of the neutralization unit (42).

16. Method according to one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that, to generate the cycle (40), the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents (18b) are supplied from the sorption chamber (16) to the desorption chamber (28) by means of a first transport section (20) and the regenerated CO2 sorbents (18a) are supplied from the desorption chamber (28) to the sorption chamber (16) by means of a second transport section (38), wherein the reduction of the electrostatic charge takes place in the first transport section (20) and / or in the second transport section (38).

17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the reduction of the electrostatic charge takes place in the first transport section (20), in particular in a first intermediate chamber (24) of the first transport section (20) for the intermediate storage of the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents (18b) and / or in a first conveying unit for conveying the CO2-enriched CO2 sorbents (18b) within the first transport section (20).

18. Method according to claim 11 or 17, characterized in that the reduction of the electrostatic charge takes place in the second transport section (38), in particular in a second intermediate chamber of the second transport section (38) for the intermediate storage of the regenerated CO2 sorbents (18a) and / or in a second conveying unit for conveying the regenerated CO2 sorbents (18a) within the second transport section (38). R.416818 - 17 - 19. Use of a neutralization unit (42), in particular an ionization unit (44) for reducing an electrostatic charge of CO2 sorbents (18a, b) in a CO2 separation device (10) for separating CO2 from a supplied gas stream (12), in particular an air stream (12) from an environment.

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