Stirring Plate for Direct Air Capture Device Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In direct air capture (DAC) systems, when multiple devices are placed close to each other, the carbon dioxide-recovered air from one device is often recirculated to another, leading to a decrease in carbon dioxide recovery efficiency, necessitating wider spacing to maintain efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a stirring plate between adjacent DAC devices to agitate the carbon dioxide-recovered air and atmospheric gases, ensuring high carbon dioxide concentration at the intake port of the subsequent device, allowing for closer device placement without efficiency loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If multiple DAC devices are disposed close to each other, then the number of DAC devices per unit area is increased, but the carbon dioxide recovery efficiency of adjacent devices decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A stirring plate is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent DAC devices. This stirring plate agitates the air flow between devices, preventing the recirculation of CO2-rich exhaust air back to the intake ports of neighboring devices. By mediating the air flow interaction, the stirring plate enables close spacing of devices while maintaining their CO2 recovery efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The stirring plate introduces mechanical agitation to the air flow between DAC devices. This vibration/stirring action disrupts laminar flow patterns that would otherwise cause exhaust air from one device to be directly drawn into the intake of an adjacent device. The mechanical disturbance ensures fresh atmospheric air reaches the intake ports even when devices are positioned close together.
2Productivity
If DAC devices are disposed apart, then the carbon dioxide recovery efficiency is maintained, but the number of DAC devices per unit area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The stirring plate serves as a mediator that allows devices to be positioned close together without the negative effects of proximity. By introducing this intermediary component, the system achieves high device density (many devices per unit area) while preserving CO2 recovery efficiency, effectively resolving the trade-off between spacing and efficiency.
3Area of stationary object
If DAC devices are disposed close to each other, then land use efficiency is improved, but carbon dioxide-recovered air is recirculated to adjacent devices
Solution Approach 1:
The stirring plate acts as a harmful factor countermeasure by mediating the air flow between devices. It specifically targets and disrupts the recirculation pattern of CO2-rich exhaust air, preventing this harmful effect while allowing devices to be positioned close together for optimal land use efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical stirring action introduced by the plate creates turbulence in the air flow, which disrupts the coherent recirculation of CO2-rich air from exhaust ports back to intake ports. This vibration effect breaks up the harmful recirculation pattern while maintaining close device spacing for high land use 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
The stirring plate maintains high carbon dioxide recovery efficiency by ensuring a consistent high concentration of CO2 at the intake ports of adjacent DAC devices, enabling them to be positioned closer together without reducing overall efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a stirring plate installed between the first direct air capture device and the second direct air capture device and configured to stir air discharged from the exhaust port of the first direct air capture device and an atmosphere
Data Source
AI summary
DAC system includes a first direct air capture (DAC) device for recovering carbon dioxide from an atmosphere, a second DAC device in which an intake port is installed to be located at a side of an exhaust port of the first DAC device, and that recovers carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and a stirring plate disposed between the first DAC device and the second DAC device for stirring the air discharged from the exhaust port of the first DAC device and the atmosphere.