Electrically Heated CO2 Adsorption Reactor for Low-Loss Air Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to effectively and efficiently remove CO₂ from the Earth's atmosphere, which is necessary to mitigate climate change, as they often require complex processes and energy-intensive heating mediums.
Innovation Solution
A device and method utilizing an electrically conductive substrate, such as SiC, with an adsorption surface and a heating arrangement that heats the substrate via electrical voltage to desorb CO₂, allowing rapid and complete desorption without energy loss, using materials like zeolite or MOF CALF-20 for adsorption and SiC for heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heating medium (e.g., gaseous) is used to heat the extraction reactor for CO2 desorption, then the CO2 can be desorbed from the adsorption surface, but the heating and desorption operations must be temporally separated and energy losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function and desorption function are merged into a single integrated process. The electrically conductive substrate serves dual purposes: as the structural support for the adsorption coating and as the heating element itself. When electrical voltage is applied, the substrate heats up and simultaneously desorbs the CO2, eliminating the need for separate heating and desorption steps and avoiding associated energy losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate serves itself by using its own electrical conductivity to generate heat through applied voltage. This self-heating capability eliminates the need for external heating mediums and reduces energy transfer losses, as the heat is generated directly at the location where it is needed for CO2 desorption.
2Productivity
If conventional heating methods are used for CO2 desorption, then CO2 can be released from the adsorption surface, but the process is slow and energy-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The conventional thermal heating system (using external heating mediums like gases or fluids) is replaced with an electrical heating system. The electrically conductive substrate converts electrical energy directly into thermal energy through Joule heating, providing rapid and efficient heating that quickly reaches the temperature required for CO2 desorption, thereby increasing productivity while managing energy consumption more effectively.
3Quantity of substance
If non-conductive substrates are used for adsorption, then CO2 can be adsorbed on the surface, but external heating systems are required which increase device complexity and energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite materials by combining an electrically conductive substrate (such as silicon carbide) with an adsorption coating (such as zeolite or metal-organic frameworks). This composite structure integrates the electrical conductivity needed for self-heating with the adsorption properties needed for CO2 capture, eliminating the need for separate heating systems and reducing device complexity while maintaining high CO2 adsorption capacity.
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
Enables rapid and efficient CO₂ extraction from air with minimal energy loss, facilitating large-scale CO₂ capture and storage, suitable for atmospheric CO₂ reduction and utilization in chemical processes.
Implementation Method 1
at least one substrate with a plurality of flowable cells or flow channels of a porous structure, wherein the adsorption surface is formed on the at least one substrate
Implementation Method 2
the at least one substrate is electrically conductive and can be heated by applying an electrical voltage, wherein the heating arrangement comprises the at least one substrate and a voltage source for applying an electrical voltage to the at least one substrate
Implementation Method 3
heating the at least one extraction reactor at least in the region of its adsorption surface to a temperature above an extraction gas desorption temperature in a heating/desorption operation
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A device for extracting CO2 from air comprises at least one extraction reactor (12) through which CO2-containing air (L) flows in an adsorption operation, having an adsorption surface; a heating arrangement (40) for heating the at least one extraction reactor (12) at least in the region of its adsorption surface to a temperature above an extraction gas desorption temperature in a heating/desorption operation; and at least one extraction gas storage (48) for storing CO2 desorbed from the at least one extraction reactor (12) in the heating/desorption operation. The extraction reactor (12) comprises at least one substrate with a plurality of flowable cells or flow channels of a porous structure, wherein the adsorption surface is formed on the substrate, and wherein the at least one substrate is electrically conductive and can be heated by applying an electrical voltage.wherein the heating arrangement (40) comprises the at least one substrate and a voltage source (42) for applying an electrical voltage to the at least one substrate.