Helical Sorbent Structure for Passive CO2 Capture in High Winds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air capture technologies face challenges in efficiently collecting atmospheric carbon dioxide due to high wind conditions damaging sorbent materials and requiring excessive energy, while moisture-swing sorbents suffer from efficiency loss from excess moisture.
Innovation Solution
A passive CO2 capture device with a helical sorbent structure that rotates to adapt to wind conditions and includes a sorbent regeneration system, allowing the sorbent material to be exposed to airflow for capture and enclosed for regeneration, using a collapsible support and lid to manage wind pressure and moisture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the sorbent material surface area is maximized to improve CO2 capture efficiency, then capture productivity increases, but the device becomes more vulnerable to wind damage and requires additional energy for manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The sorbent structure is designed to be dynamically adjustable between extended and retracted positions. The support mechanism allows the sorbent material to be extended into the airflow for maximum surface area exposure during calm conditions, and retracted during high wind conditions to reduce vulnerability. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for capture efficiency when safe, and protect itself when wind conditions are adverse.
2Reliability
If the sorbent structure is fortified to withstand high wind forces, then reliability improves, but the device requires more energy to manipulate position and temperature
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than fortifying the structure to withstand wind forces, the system dynamically adjusts its configuration. The support mechanism enables the sorbent structure to be positioned in a protected retracted state during high winds, eliminating the need for energy-intensive fortification. The structure can be quickly deployed to an extended state when wind conditions improve, providing reliability through adaptive positioning rather than structural reinforcement.
3Productivity
If moisture-swing sorbent material is used to improve capture efficiency, then productivity increases, but excess moisture erodes efficiency and delays capture stage
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes excess moisture from the sorbent material through a dedicated regeneration process. The support mechanism enables the sorbent structure to be positioned for effective regeneration, allowing moisture to be removed from the sorbent material. This extraction of moisture restores the sorbent's capture efficiency and prevents delays, resolving the contradiction between using moisture-swing sorbents and managing their moisture sensitivity.
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 device efficiently collects atmospheric CO2 even in high winds and effectively manages moisture, reducing energy consumption and maintaining capture efficiency by rotating the sorbent structure to align with airflow and expel excess moisture without additional energy.
Implementation Method 1
Air contactor surfaces that comprise sorbent materials are exposed to passive atmospheric air flows, capturing carbon dioxide with the sorbent material
Implementation Method 2
the sorbent regeneration system may operate on the sorbent material to release captured carbon dioxide from the sorbent material and form an enriched gas within the vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A device for passive collection of atmospheric carbon dioxide is disclosed, including a vessel having an opening and a sorbent regeneration system. The device also includes a helical sorbent structure rotatably coupled to the vessel. The sorbent structure has a helical framework coupled to a sorbent material. The sorbent structure is movable between collection and release configurations. The collection configuration includes the sorbent structure extending upward from the vessel to expose the sorbent structure to an airflow and allow the sorbent material to capture atmospheric CO2. The sorbent structure is free to rotate on an axis. The sorbent material is constrained to a helix rotating about and propagating along the axis. The release configuration includes a lid covering the opening, and the sorbent material being sufficiently enclosed inside the vessel that the regeneration system may operate to release captured CO2 from the sorbent material and form an enriched gas.