Plasma Reactor for Negative Emission Carbon Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current carbon capture and storage technologies are inefficient and costly, requiring extensive infrastructure and facing geopolitical challenges, making it impractical to achieve significant carbon reduction goals, especially with the need for large-scale deployment to capture carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired electricity generation plants.
Innovation Solution
A high-frequency, atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium plasma processing reactor is used to break down carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into benign constituents, allowing for the separation and recombination of oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen, while capturing carbon solids for industrial use, thereby eliminating emissions at the source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If air-to-carbon-dioxide removal plants are deployed at large scale to capture CO2 from fossil fuel plants, then carbon reduction goals can be achieved, but the infrastructure complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas stream at the source (fossil fuel power plant) and separates it for direct utilization or storage, eliminating the need for complex long-distance transportation infrastructure. The CO2 is taken out directly where it is generated and processed on-site.
Solution Approach 2:
The captured carbon dioxide is not merely stored but utilized for multiple purposes including enhanced oil recovery, beverage carbonation, and chemical synthesis. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for dedicated storage infrastructure by creating economic value from the captured CO2.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If extensive pipeline networks are constructed to transport captured carbon dioxide to storage sites, then carbon sequestration can be achieved, but the cost and geopolitical challenges make it impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the previously harmful captured CO2 (which would require expensive storage) into a valuable resource for enhanced oil recovery and other industrial applications. This transforms the waste product into revenue-generating material, eliminating the need for costly storage infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the captured CO2 to enhance oil recovery operations, where the CO2 serves the dual purpose of carbon storage and oil production enhancement. The CO2 essentially pays for its own management by generating economic value through oil recovery.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If traditional carbon capture methods are used, then carbon dioxide can be separated from exhaust gases, but the energy consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs membrane separation technology with specific permeability parameters that allow CO2 to pass through selectively at lower energy costs compared to traditional amine-based chemical absorption. The membrane's physical parameters (permeability, selectivity) are optimized to reduce energy consumption while maintaining separation efficiency.
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
This approach enables high-efficiency carbon capture with minimal energy input, producing useful carbon-based by-products and reducing the carbon footprint of fossil fuel power production, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution for negative emissions.
Implementation Method 1
directed through a high frequency, atmospheric pressure, non-equilibrium plasma to break apart target molecules such as carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 2
dissociating the carbon dioxide and the water using the plasma to form one or more dissociated species
Implementation Method 3
The elements released from these cracked molecules are then controlled by an electromotive force to maintain separation, modulate ion lifetimes, and allow for recombination of oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen atoms into O2, N2, and H2O
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for eliminating carbon dioxide and capturing solid carbon are disclosed. By eliminating carbon dioxide gas, e.g., from an effluent exhaust stream of a fossil fuel fired electric power production facility, the inventive concepts presented herein represent an environmentally-clean solution that permanently eliminates greenhouse gases while at the same time producing captured solid carbon products that are useful in various applications including advanced composite material synthesis (e.g., carbon fiber, 3D graphene) and energy storage (e.g., battery technology). Capture of solid carbon during the disclosed process for eliminating greenhouse gasses avoids the inefficiencies and risks associated with conventional carbon dioxide sequestration. Colocation of the disclosed reactor with a fossil fuel fired power production facility brings to bear an environmentally beneficial, and financially viable approach for permanently capturing vast amounts of solid carbon from carbon dioxide gas and other greenhouse gases that would otherwise be released into Earth's biosphere.