Membrane Conduits for Passive Carbon Dioxide Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current carbon dioxide capture technologies from ambient air are energy-intensive, costly, and fragile, with liquid sorbents being corrosive, posing safety risks and implementation challenges, especially for large-scale applications.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a plurality of conduits with hydrophobic, porous membrane walls to contain a liquid sorbent that flows in a circuit, driven by passive convection, allowing carbon dioxide absorption and regeneration, with a sorbent regeneration assembly for continuous product stream production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid sorbents are used to capture carbon dioxide from ambient air, then carbon dioxide capture efficiency is improved, but safety risks increase due to corrosiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the liquid sorbent into multiple discrete conduits, each containing a portion of the sorbent. This segmentation allows the corrosive liquid to be contained in isolated units, reducing safety risks while maintaining capture efficiency. The conduits act as individual containment cells that prevent uncontrolled spread of corrosive material.
Solution Approach 2:
A hydrophobic porous membrane is introduced as an intermediary between the liquid sorbent and the ambient air. This membrane allows carbon dioxide to pass through while preventing direct contact between the corrosive liquid and the external environment, thus maintaining capture efficiency while eliminating safety hazards associated with exposed corrosive liquids.
2Productivity
If conventional carbon dioxide collection systems are implemented, then carbon dioxide capture is achieved, but system cost increases due to high capital and operating costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses thin hydrophobic porous membrane films to contain the liquid sorbent instead of conventional rigid containment structures. These thin films reduce material costs and system complexity while maintaining effective containment, thereby lowering both capital and operating costs without sacrificing capture capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs passive convection driven by density differences to circulate the liquid sorbent through the conduits. This self-driven flow mechanism eliminates the need for expensive pumps and complex control systems, significantly reducing both initial investment and ongoing operational expenses while maintaining continuous carbon dioxide capture.
3Productivity
If energy-intensive processes are used for carbon dioxide removal, then carbon dioxide removal effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes passive convection currents generated by natural density differences in the liquid sorbent to drive circulation through the conduits. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for energy-consuming pumps and external power sources, achieving continuous carbon dioxide removal with minimal to zero energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits phase transition (evaporation of water from the liquid sorbent) to create density differences that drive passive convection. This natural phase change process provides the driving force for continuous sorbent circulation and carbon dioxide capture without requiring external energy input, thereby maintaining high removal effectiveness with zero energy consumption.
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 reduces energy and financial costs, mechanical complexity, and fragility, while making the use of liquid sorbents safer and more efficient, enabling continuous carbon dioxide capture and release with a simple, low-cost design suitable for large-scale applications.
Implementation Method 1
The conduit wall includes a membrane material that is hydrophobic, trapping the liquid sorbent inside the hollow interior, and porous, allowing gaseous carbon dioxide to transfer from outside the conduit, through the conduit wall, and into the liquid sorbent within the hollow interior
Implementation Method 2
allowing gaseous carbon dioxide to transfer from outside the conduit, through the conduit wall, and into the liquid sorbent within the hollow interior
Implementation Method 3
The flow of the liquid sorbent from the first manifold through the plurality of conduits to the second manifold, and from the second manifold through the riser to the first manifold, is driven by passive convection due to an increasing density of the liquid sorbent caused by the evaporation of water from the liquid sorbent
Implementation Method 4
The flow of the liquid sorbent from the first manifold through the plurality of conduits to the second manifold, and from the second manifold through the riser to the first manifold, is driven by passive convection due to an increasing density of the liquid sorbent
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for the collection of carbon dioxide is disclosed. The system includes a liquid sorbent that is a carbon dioxide sorbent, and a plurality of conduits. Each conduit has a hollow interior enclosed by a conduit wall. The conduit wall includes a membrane material that is both hydrophobic, trapping the liquid sorbent inside the hollow interior, and porous, allowing gaseous carbon dioxide to transfer from outside the conduit, through the conduit wall, and into the liquid sorbent. The system also includes a first manifold and a second manifold in fluid communication with the first manifold through the plurality of conduits and a riser. The liquid sorbent flows in a circuit, from the first manifold to the second manifold through the plurality of conduits, and from the second manifold to the first manifold through the riser.