Biomass Fragment Compression for Reliable Deep-Water Carbon Sinking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carbon sequestration methods struggle to lock-in carbon within biomass for long periods of time at low costs, as they often rely on processes that are inefficient or costly.
Innovation Solution
A system and method to increase the density of organic material fragments by compressing gas pockets using hydrostatic pressure, allowing them to sink and remain submerged at the bottom of bodies of water, where they can sequester carbon for extended periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biomass fragments are directly disposed in water, then they float at the surface, but carbon cannot be effectively sequestered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the density of biomass fragments through compression. The system compresses gas pockets within the fragments to increase their overall density, transforming them from buoyant (low density) to sinking (high density) states, enabling effective carbon sequestration at the bottom of water bodies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic principles by targeting gas pockets within the biomass fragments. By applying pressure to compress these gas pockets, the system changes the fragments' buoyancy characteristics, allowing them to sink and remain submerged for long-term carbon storage
2Reliability
If fragments are compressed to increase density, then they can sink, but energy and pressure are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service principles by utilizing the natural hydrostatic pressure of water bodies to compress the gas pockets in fragments. As fragments descend into deeper water, the increasing ambient pressure automatically compresses the gas pockets, reducing the need for external energy input for compression
3Reliability
If critical submersion depth is calculated accurately, then fragments sink reliably, but measurement and determination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by using sensors to monitor fragment depth, density, and submersion status. The system continuously measures these parameters and adjusts compression or discharge operations to ensure fragments reach and maintain the critical submersion depth, providing real-time verification of sinking reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively sequesters carbon by ensuring fragments sink and remain at the bottom of bodies of water, reducing buoyancy through compression, thus achieving long-term storage with minimal environmental impact and cost.
Implementation Method 1
exposing the fragments to pressure for compressing the gas pockets to increase the first fragment density of the fragments
Implementation Method 2
exposing the fragments to pressure for filling the gas pockets with water from the body of water to increase the first fragment density
Implementation Method 3
permitting the fragments containing carbon and having the second density being greater than the second water density to sink to a floor of the body of water
Data Source
AI summary
A system for producing one or more high-density fragments comprising carbon from an organic material and methods for making and using the same. The system can include increasing a density of the organic material to form the high-density fragments and can determine a critical submersion depth for the high-density fragments. The critical submersion depth can comprise a depth below a water surface of a body of water at which the high-density fragments must be submerged such that a density of the high-density fragments is greater than the density of the body of water. The system can submerge the high-density fragments in the body of water at a predetermined injection depth that is below the critical submersion depth so that the high-density fragments will sink to a floor of the body of water. Thereby, the system advantageously can produce a product comprising a mixture of carbon and water.