Conductive Mesh CO2 Capture with Resistance Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing CO2 capture systems from air are energy-inefficient due to high energy demand for heating and heat transfer losses, and require additional energy for drying the output gas during desorption.
Innovation Solution
An air-permeable, electrically conductive mesh coated with an adsorption material, such as amine, is used for CO2 capture, where electric resistance heating directly heats the mesh to desorb CO2, reducing thermal mass and heat loss, and allowing efficient desorption under negative pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If steam or hot air is used to heat the adsorber for CO2 desorption, then the adsorbed CO2 can be released from the adsorption material, but a high amount of energy is lost due to water evaporation, inefficient heat transfer, and high thermal mass
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal heating system (steam or hot air heating) with an electrical heating system. Electric resistance heating elements are integrated into the adsorption床 structure, allowing direct electrical energy conversion to heat within the adsorber itself. This eliminates the need for external steam generation and heat transfer through walls, thereby reducing energy loss from water evaporation and inefficient heat transfer while maintaining effective CO2 desorption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electric resistance heating elements as an intermediary between the power source and the adsorption material. These heating elements are positioned in direct contact with or very close to the adsorption material, serving as an efficient heat transfer intermediary that minimizes thermal mass requirements and eliminates the need for steam generation and complex heat exchanger systems
2Loss of energy
If steam is used for desorption, then CO2 can be released from the adsorption material, but the output gas needs to be dried for further processing which consumes additional energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces steam-based heating with electrical resistance heating, which does not introduce moisture into the system. This substitution eliminates the need for subsequent drying of the output gas stream, as electrical heating directly heats the adsorption material without adding water vapor. The result is reduced energy consumption for drying while maintaining effective CO2 desorption and capture productivity
3Quantity of substance
If a rough and porous surface is provided for the adsorption material, then the surface area for CO2 adsorption is increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous adsorption materials with inherently high surface area to volume ratios. These porous structures provide extensive CO2 adsorption capacity without requiring complex external surface modifications. The porosity itself creates the necessary rough and porous surface at the material level, increasing CO2 binding capacity while maintaining relatively simple device architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structures that combine the adsorption functionality with the structural requirements in a single integrated material system. This composite approach achieves both the rough porous surface needed for high CO2 capacity and structural integrity without requiring separate complex surface treatment steps or additional components
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
This approach significantly reduces energy consumption and heat loss, increases CO2 binding capacity, and enhances overall efficiency by minimizing pressure drop and heat transfer inefficiencies, leading to lower costs per kg of CO2 captured.
Implementation Method 1
an air permeable, electrically conductive mesh coated with an adsorption material which is configured for adsorbing CO2 from an air flow through the mesh
Implementation Method 2
electric contact elements connected to a power supply and contacting the electrically conductive mesh to provide an electric current through the mesh for electric resistance heating of the mesh to remove the adsorbed CO2 from adsorption material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An arrangement (10) for removing CO2 from air comprises an air permeable, electrically conductive mesh (11) coated with an adsorption material (12), in particular amine, which is configured for adsorbing CO2 from an air flow (13) through the mesh (11), and electric contact elements (14, 15) connected to a power supply (16) and contacting the electrically conductive mesh (11) to provide an electric current through the mesh (11) for electric resistance heating of the mesh (11) to remove the adsorbed CO2 from adsorption material (12). In a method, an air flow 13 is directed through the mesh (11) for adsorbing CO2, and the mesh (11) is heated by resistance heating, preferably but not exclusively, in a negative pressure environment for a desorption process to remove the CO2 from the adsorption material.