Direct Air Capture Apparatus with Water Extraction and Logic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing direct air capture (DAC) technologies face challenges in efficiently capturing carbon dioxide from ambient air due to variations in temperature, moisture, and CO2 concentrations, which can lead to high energy consumption and costs.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a first water extraction unit, a second water extraction unit, and a carbon capture unit, configured to operate in capture and regeneration modes. The system preprocesses ambient air to enhance carbon capture efficiency, using a logic control system to adjust temperature and water content in real-time based on environmental conditions and sorbent type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water extraction units are added to preprocess ambient air, then carbon capture efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the carbon capture process into distinct functional segments: a first water extraction unit for initial dehumidification, a second water extraction unit for further moisture removal, and a carbon capture unit for CO2 adsorption. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall carbon capture efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The water extraction units perform preliminary dehumidification of ambient air before the air enters the carbon capture unit. By removing moisture in advance, the system prevents water from interfering with CO2 adsorption, thereby improving carbon capture efficiency without requiring the carbon capture unit to handle both moisture and CO2 simultaneously, which would increase its complexity.
2Productivity
If temperature and moisture management is implemented to sustain DAC operability, then carbon capture performance is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters including temperature and moisture levels at different stages of the capture process. The logic control system modifies these parameters based on ambient conditions and sorbent characteristics, optimizing carbon capture performance while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding excessive heating or cooling when not necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes ambient environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration) to its advantage rather than always requiring active heating or cooling. By designing the process to work with rather than against natural environmental variations, the system maintains good carbon capture performance while reducing the energy input required for temperature and moisture management.
3Productivity
If the system operates to capture CO2 from ambient air, then carbon dioxide removal is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a logic control system that dynamically adjusts operational parameters such as temperature, moisture content, and flow rates based on real-time ambient conditions and sorbent performance. This dynamic operation allows the system to maintain effective CO2 removal across varying environmental conditions while optimizing energy consumption and operational costs, making the process more economically viable.
Solution Approach 2:
The logic control system continuously monitors ambient air conditions (temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration) and sorbent performance, then adjusts operational parameters accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal CO2 removal efficiency while minimizing energy consumption and operational costs by avoiding unnecessary processing when ambient conditions are already favorable.
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 configuration enhances the performance and efficiency of carbon capture, allowing for the processing of large volumes of air while reducing energy consumption and costs, and enabling near-continuous production of CO2 and water.
Implementation Method 1
a first water extraction unit configured to receive an ambient air stream comprising water and carbon dioxide and to adsorb water from the ambient air stream
Implementation Method 2
the carbon capture unit receives the third fluid stream and adsorbs carbon dioxide from the third fluid stream
Implementation Method 3
the carbon capture unit, on exposure to water vapor, heat, pressure, or a combination thereof, releases adsorbed carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 4
the carbon capture unit, on exposure to water vapor, heat, pressure, or a combination thereof, releases adsorbed carbon dioxide
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for providing carbon dioxide direct air capture (DAC) systems to improve energy efficiency, operability, and economic performance of DAC technologies based on several types of approaches including temperature swing adsorption (TSA), pressure swing adsorption (PSA), and moisture swing adsorption (MSA) are disclosed. In particular, DAC apparatuses including a first water extraction unit, a process unit comprising a second water extraction unit, a carbon dioxide capture unit, and a water release unit are disclosed. The present disclosure also provides a logic control system for a preconditioner for the proposed DAC apparatus, including a controller, and one or more control elements in communication with the fluid streams, where the controller is configured to adjust temperature, water content, or combination thereof of the second fluid stream, third fluid stream, or both to pre-determined ranges based on the cost to capture carbon dioxide on a net removal basis.