Rotating Adsorbent DAC Unit for Continuous Air Drying and CO2 Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing DAC systems for extracting carbon dioxide from ambient air are energy-intensive and require complex, space-consuming processes for air drying and carbon dioxide separation, particularly when using physical adsorption mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A DAC system utilizing rotating storage bodies with adsorbents for water and carbon dioxide, which alternately contact ambient air and carrier gas flows to efficiently absorb and release moisture and CO2 through physisorption, enabling a continuous, quasi-stationary process with reduced space and adsorbent requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical adsorption is used for carbon dioxide extraction, then carbon dioxide separation efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases due to the requirement of drying ambient air beforehand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air drying function and carbon dioxide extraction function into a single integrated rotating storage body system. The same adsorbent material performs both water adsorption and CO2 adsorption sequentially during rotation, eliminating the need for separate drying systems and reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining CO2 separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a rotating storage body that dynamically alternates between different functional zones: one side contacts ambient air for simultaneous water and CO2 adsorption, while the other side contacts heated gas for desorption. This dynamic rotation enables continuous operation with reduced energy input compared to static systems.
2Device complexity
If batch processes are used for air drying and carbon dioxide separation, then process simplicity is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating storage body enables continuous operation by maintaining constant rotation between adsorption and desorption zones. While one portion of the storage body adsorbs CO2 from ambient air, another portion simultaneously desorbs CO2 into the atmosphere, eliminating idle batch cycles and continuously producing dried air with extracted CO2.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic rotation of the storage body to alternately expose different segments to ambient air and heated gas, creating a rhythmic cycle of adsorption and desorption that maintains continuous productivity while keeping the system structurally simple.
3Quantity of substance
If large amounts of adsorbent are used, then carbon dioxide extraction capacity is improved, but device volume and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating storage body maximizes the utilization of limited adsorbent material by continuously cycling it between adsorption and desorption states. This dynamic reuse allows a smaller quantity of adsorbent to achieve the same extraction capacity that would require larger static adsorbent beds, thereby reducing device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The same adsorbent material in the rotating storage body performs multiple functions: adsorbing water from ambient air, adsorbing CO2 from dried air, and then desorbing both contaminants when exposed to heated gas. This multi-functionality reduces the total adsorbent quantity needed compared to dedicated separate systems.
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 achieves efficient, continuous carbon dioxide extraction with minimal space and adsorbent use, eliminating the need for batch processes and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the system for drying the ambient air has at least one first rotating storage body which carries an adsorbent for water... to absorb water from the ambient air to be dried through the adsorbent
Implementation Method 2
to release water from the adsorbent of the respective segment of the respective rotating first storage body to the exhaust air
Implementation Method 3
to absorb carbon dioxide from the dried ambient air through the adsorbent of the respective segment
Implementation Method 4
to release carbon dioxide from the adsorbent of the respective segment of the respective rotating second storage body to the carrier gas
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
DAC system (10) for extracting carbon dioxide from ambient air, comprising a first air flow channel (11) for ambient air from which carbon dioxide is to be extracted, a system (12) for drying the ambient air from which carbon dioxide is to be extracted, a carbon dioxide extraction device (13) for extracting the carbon dioxide from the dried ambient air, and a second air flow channel (14) for exhaust air from the carbon dioxide extraction device (13). The system (12) for drying the ambient air has at least one first rotating storage body (12a, 12b) which carries an adsorbent for water, wherein the respective first rotating storage body (12a, 12b) can be driven to rotate in such a way that, as a result of its rotation, segments (15, 16) of the same are temporarily in flow-side contact with the first air flow channel (11) and temporarily with the second air flow channel (14).The carbon dioxide recovery device (13) has at least one second rotating storage body (13a) which carries an adsorbent for carbon dioxide, wherein the respective second rotating storage body (13a) can be driven to rotate such that, as a result of its rotation, segments (18, 19, 20) of it are temporarily in flow-side contact with the first air flow channel (11) and temporarily with a carrier gas flow channel (17). Fig. 1.