Parallel Surface Adsorber for Low-Pressure Direct Air Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for capturing carbon dioxide from ambient air face challenges due to low CO2 concentrations, requiring large volumes of air movement, high pressure drops, and inefficient energy use, making existing flue gas capture configurations unsuitable. Current direct air capture (DAC) methods are energy-intensive and degrade sorbent materials, leading to reduced operational lifetime and economic feasibility.
Innovation Solution
A method using steam for exclusive heating during desorption and a parallel passage contactor structure optimized for direct air capture, with sorbent materials like amine-functionalized polymers and porous supports, allowing efficient and economic cyclic operation. The adsorber structure comprises parallel sorbent layers with spacers for minimal pressure drop and high contact efficiency, using steam to heat and desorb CO2 efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If flue gas capture configurations (packed bed columns or fluidized beds) are used for direct air capture, then CO2 capture fraction is improved (>80%), but pressure drop increases significantly (several thousand Pascal up to several bars) and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorber is divided into multiple parallel channels or passages, each with its own sorbent bed. This segmentation allows the gas flow to be distributed across multiple paths, reducing the pressure drop in each individual channel while maintaining adequate contact time with the sorbent for effective CO2 capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single vertical column configuration to a multi-channel parallel structure, effectively adding a horizontal dimension to the flow path. This dimensional change allows gas to flow through multiple adjacent channels simultaneously, reducing the length and pressure drop of each individual flow path while maintaining total capture capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If large volumes of air are moved through the adsorber to compensate for low CO2 concentrations, then CO2 capture capacity is improved, but energy consumption for air movement and pumping work increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorber is divided into multiple parallel channels or passages, each with its own sorbent bed. This segmentation allows the gas flow to be distributed across multiple paths, reducing the pressure drop in each individual channel while maintaining adequate contact time with the sorbent for effective CO2 capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single vertical column configuration to a multi-channel parallel structure, effectively adding a horizontal dimension to the flow path. This dimensional change allows gas to flow through multiple adjacent channels simultaneously, reducing the length and pressure drop of each individual flow path while maintaining total capture capacity.
3Productivity
If conventional heating methods are used for desorption, then CO2 release from sorbent is achieved, but sorbent material degrades and operational lifetime is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the phase transition of water from liquid to vapor (steam) to provide the necessary heat for desorption. The steam condenses on the sorbent, releasing latent heat that drives CO2 desorption without requiring high temperatures that would degrade the sorbent material, thus extending operational lifetime.
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 method achieves high CO2 capture fractions (10-75%) with reduced energy consumption and sorbent degradation, enabling cost-effective and sustainable DAC by minimizing pressure drop and optimizing sorbent performance.
Implementation Method 1
Gas separation by adsorption/desorption processes, more specifically the capture of carbon dioxide from atmospheric air
Implementation Method 2
A method using steam for exclusive heating during desorption
Implementation Method 3
separating gaseous carbon dioxide from steam by condensation
Data Source
AI summary
A DAC method as well as a unit containing an adsorber structure having an array of adsorber elements with a support layer and on both sides thereof a sorbent layer (1, 2), wherein the adsorber elements are parallel and spaced apart forming parallel fluid passages for flow-through of ambient atmospheric air and steam. The method involves the following sequential and repeating steps: (a) adsorption by flow-through; (b) isolating the sorbent; (c) injecting a stream of saturated steam through the parallel fluid passages and inducing an increase of the temperature; (d) extracting desorbed carbon dioxide from the unit and separating it from steam; (e) bringing the sorbent material to ambient temperature conditions wherein in step (a) the speed of the air is in the range of 2-8 m/s, and wherein at least in step (d) the speed of the steam is at least 0.2 m/s.