Rotating Sorbent Wheel CO2 Capture System
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Solution Overview
Problem
High CO2 concentrations in buildings negatively impact climate and occupant health, and existing technologies are inadequate for efficient capture and management.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a rotating sorbent wheel with humidity-swing sorbent material that alternately captures CO2 from an air stream and releases it in a humid zone for storage, integrated with HVAC systems to process air and reduce CO2 levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotating sorbent wheel with humidity-swing sorbent material is used to capture CO2 from air streams, then CO2 capture efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sorbent wheel is divided into multiple sorbent panels that can be independently arranged and rotated. Each panel contains CO2 sorbent material and can be separately managed, allowing the system to process air streams in segments while maintaining overall system functionality. This segmentation enables efficient CO2 capture across the entire wheel surface while keeping individual components manageable and replaceable.
Solution Approach 2:
The sorbent wheel is designed to rotate, dynamically transitioning sorbent panels between different functional zones (capture zone and regeneration zone). This dynamic rotation allows continuous CO2 capture from incoming air streams while simultaneously regenerating sorbent material in other zones, maximizing productivity without requiring multiple static units.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If CO2 is captured from air streams using sorbent material, then CO2 concentration in air is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses humidity as a controlling parameter for CO2 release from the sorbent material. By exposing spent sorbent panels to humid air streams, the high humidity environment triggers CO2 desorption without requiring thermal energy input. This parameter change from temperature-based to humidity-based regeneration significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining effective CO2 capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the inherent humidity in ambient air streams to regenerate the sorbent material, rather than requiring external energy inputs or specialized regeneration equipment. The humid air stream naturally provides the conditions needed for CO2 release, allowing the system to self-regenerate using readily available environmental resources.
3Quantity of substance
If a humid zone is introduced for CO2 release, then CO2 storage capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The humid zone for CO2 release is integrated within the same rotating wheel structure that contains the sorbent panels. The wheel rotates to bring spent sorbent panels into contact with humid air streams generated by water reservoirs positioned within the wheel's structure. This merging of the regeneration function into the existing wheel architecture allows CO2 storage capability to be enhanced without adding separate, complex regeneration equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The humid zone components (water reservoirs, air circulation paths) are nested within the rotational structure of the sorbent wheel. The water reservoirs are positioned inside the wheel's cylindrical structure, and the humid air generation occurs within the same spatial envelope as the sorbent panels, creating a compact nested arrangement that maximizes CO2 storage capability while minimizing overall device footprint and complexity.
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
Effectively captures and stores CO2 from ambient air, improving indoor air quality and reducing climate impact without requiring additional heat or a second air stream, while maintaining humidity and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The sorbent material is configured to capture CO2 from the inlet air stream when in the air process zone
Implementation Method 2
The sorbent material is configured to release the CO2 when the sorbent material is exposed to humid air in the humid zone
Data Source
AI summary
The techniques described herein relate to systems and methods for capturing CO2, including an air process zone, a sorbent wheel, a humid zone, and a CO2 storage material. An inlet air stream can pass through the air process zone, and the sorbent wheel can rotate such that a portion of the sorbent wheel is alternatively exposed to the inlet air stream and to humid air in the humid zone. Sorbent material in the sorbent wheel can capture CO2 from the inlet air stream when in the air process zone and release the CO2 when exposed to the humid air in the humid zone. The CO2 storage material can store the CO2 after the CO2 is released by the sorbent material in response to being exposed to the humid air in the humid zone.