Direct Air Capture Structure with Velocity Stack and Rotating Sorbent Cylinders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are costly and inefficient, failing to make a significant impact on net zero emissions due to high resource and energy requirements, and limited capacity compared to annual emissions.
Innovation Solution
A direct air capture structure featuring sorbent media filled cylinders, fans for air advection, and a regeneration station that rotates to facilitate carbon dioxide collection and release, utilizing air diverters and velocity stacks to enhance airflow and regeneration processes, including vacuum, water flushing, heating, and mechanical vibration to efficiently capture and release CO2.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If current direct air capture systems are implemented, then carbon dioxide removal capability is achieved, but the cost and resource consumption become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the carbon capture process into distinct functional modules: sorbent-filled cylinders for CO2 absorption, fan assemblies for air movement, and regeneration stations for sorbent recharge. This modular segmentation allows independent optimization of each component, improving overall energy efficiency while maintaining high CO2 removal capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic operation modes where fans and regeneration stations are activated only when needed, rather than continuous operation. The rotation mechanism dynamically positions sorbent cylinders between capture and regeneration zones, optimizing energy utilization and reducing unnecessary resource consumption
2Quantity of substance
If current direct air capture systems are implemented, then carbon dioxide removal capability is achieved, but the land area and resource requirements become excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from horizontal land expansion to vertical space utilization by stacking sorbent-filled cylinders vertically and positioning fans and regeneration stations at elevated levels. This three-dimensional configuration dramatically increases CO2 removal capacity per unit land area, addressing the scalability challenge without requiring proportional land area increases
3Productivity
If current direct air capture systems are implemented, then carbon dioxide removal is achieved, but the capacity is insufficient compared to annual emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous CO2 removal operation through multiple sorbent cylinders in various stages of the capture-regenerate cycle. While some cylinders are being regenerated, others continue capturing CO2, ensuring uninterrupted high-rate removal. This continuous operation maximizes productivity without requiring proportional increases in peak energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
Sorbent cylinders are pre-loaded with fresh sorbent material before deployment to capture zones, and regeneration is initiated before complete saturation occurs. This preliminary preparation ensures optimal capture efficiency from the start of each cycle and prevents energy-intensive post-saturation processing, maintaining high removal rates with efficient energy use
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 achieves improved performance and lower costs for carbon dioxide removal by optimizing advection, contact, and regeneration, enabling more effective capture and release of CO2, thereby enhancing the capacity to mitigate atmospheric CO2 levels.
Implementation Method 1
the sorbent media may collect carbon dioxide from bulk air flow advection through the cylinder
Implementation Method 2
the regeneration station may heat the cylinder to promote the release of carbon dioxide from the sorbent media containing cylinder
Implementation Method 3
the regeneration station may pull a vacuum within the cylinder to further promote the release of carbon dioxide from the sorbent media containing cylinder
Implementation Method 4
the regeneration station may fill and flush the cylinder with water to displace any residual air from the sorbent media containing cylinder
Implementation Method 5
the regeneration station may mechanically vibrate the cylinder to promote the release of carbon dioxide from the sorbent media containing cylinder into the cold water
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for an atmospheric carbon dioxide removal system that includes a plurality of carbon capture containers, a plurality of fans, an air diverter, and a velocity stack. Each of the carbon capture containers has an outwardly facing side and an inwardly facing side with the inwardly facing side facing an enclosed space. The fans are disposed adjacent to the carbon capture containers. The fans are arranged to move air through the carbon capture containers in a first direction from the outwardly facing side into the enclosed space. The air diverter is disposed within the enclosed space and receives the air flowing in the first direction and redirects the air to flow in a second direction that is angled upwardly from the first direction. The velocity stack is disposed on top of the enclosed space and is configured to accelerate the flow of the air in the second direction.