Direct Air Capture Device Carrier Regeneration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Direct air capture devices face the challenge of carbon dioxide absorbent degradation, requiring periodic replacement of the porous carrier, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A recycling method for direct air capture devices involves heating the device to a predetermined temperature (≥500°C) to remove the used carbon dioxide absorbent, followed by supporting a new absorbent on a porous carrier made of an inorganic material with hydroxyl groups, allowing for reuse of the carrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the porous carrier is periodically replaced due to carbon dioxide absorbent degradation, then the direct air capture device maintains capture efficiency, but the cost and frequency of replacement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the direct air capture device into two replaceable components: the porous carrier (support structure) and the carbon dioxide absorbent (functional layer). This allows the absorbent to be replaced independently without replacing the entire carrier, reducing replacement frequency and cost while maintaining capture efficiency through periodic absorbent renewal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables recovery and reuse of the porous carrier after the carbon dioxide absorbent is removed. The carrier can be regenerated by removing degraded absorbent and applying fresh absorbent, thereby recovering the valuable carrier structure and reducing the need for frequent complete replacements, addressing both reliability and time loss concerns.
2Reliability
If the porous carrier is replaced periodically, then capture performance is maintained, but material waste and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into carrier and absorbent components, the invention allows only the consumable absorbent to be discarded while the durable carrier is retained and reused. This segmentation prevents unnecessary disposal of the carrier material, reducing material waste while maintaining capture performance through absorbent replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a recovery process where the porous carrier is retained after absorbent removal, regenerated through cleaning and re-coating with fresh absorbent. This recovers the carrier material from what would have been waste, significantly reducing material loss while maintaining consistent capture performance across multiple cycles.
3Ease of manufacture
If heating to high temperature is applied to remove used absorbent, then the porous carrier is regenerated for reuse, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes temperature parameter changes to enable absorbent removal and carrier regeneration. By controlling heating temperature and duration, the process achieves effective absorbent removal while minimizing energy consumption. The temperature is raised sufficiently to remove the hydrophilic polymer absorbent but controlled to avoid unnecessary energy waste, balancing regeneration effectiveness with energy efficiency.
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 method enables the reuse of the porous carrier, reducing the need for frequent replacements and lowering carbon dioxide recovery costs by effectively regenerating the carrier for continued carbon dioxide capture.
Implementation Method 1
holding the porous carrier in a vapor atmosphere before a new carbon dioxide absorbent is supported on the porous carrier. With this configuration, it is possible to recover a hydroxyl group lost from the porous carrier
Implementation Method 2
removing a used carbon dioxide absorbent from the porous carrier by heating the direct air capture device to a predetermined temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A recycling method for a direct air capture device is a recycling method for a direct air capture device including a porous carrier on which a carbon dioxide absorbent is supported. The porous carrier is made of an inorganic material having a hydroxyl group. The carbon dioxide absorbent is a hydrophilic polymer. The recycling method includes removing a used carbon dioxide absorbent from the porous carrier by heating the direct air capture device to a predetermined temperature, and then causing a new carbon dioxide absorbent to be supported on the porous carrier.