Supported Sorbent Flow Paths for Low-Contamination CO2 Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing direct air capture (DAC) systems face high energy consumption due to pressure drops and contamination of captured CO2 with air during the desorption step, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a plurality of supported sorbent materials with a sealer that creates separate flow paths for adsorption and desorption phases, using low gas velocities and optional desorption fluids or heating to minimize pressure drop and air contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a bed of adsorbent particles is used in a vessel, then CO2 capture is achieved, but pressure drop increases leading to high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the adsorbent into multiple separate beds (first bed, second bed, third bed) rather than using a single large bed. This segmentation allows air to flow through multiple paths in parallel, reducing the overall pressure drop while maintaining total CO2 capture capacity. Each bed operates as an independent unit that can be cycled through adsorption and desorption phases.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a radial (ring-shaped) bed design is used to minimize pressure drop, then energy consumption is reduced, but dead volume increases causing high air contamination of captured CO2
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple discrete cylindrical beds arranged in parallel rather than a single radial bed. This segmentation eliminates the large dead volume associated with radial designs while maintaining low pressure drop through parallel flow paths. The compact cylindrical geometry of each bed minimizes dead volume compared to radial configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a strippable coating on the adsorbent particles that facilitates CO2 release during desorption. This coating acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables efficient CO2 removal without requiring large volumes of stripping gas, thereby reducing air contamination in the captured CO2 stream while maintaining low energy consumption.
3Productivity
If parallel adsorber elements are used, then CO2 capture capacity is increased, but large amounts of stripping gas are required causing high air contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The strippable coating serves as an intermediary that enhances CO2 desorption efficiency. This coating allows CO2 to be released more effectively with reduced amounts of stripping gas, thereby maintaining high CO2 capture capacity from multiple parallel beds while minimizing the air contamination that would otherwise result from using large volumes of stripping gas.
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
Achieves low-pressure drop and reduced air contamination in the desorption step, enabling high-purity CO2 capture with low energy consumption and efficient CO2 recovery.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of supported sorbent materials placed between the plurality of first inlets and the plurality of first outlets allowing a first flow path therethrough for the gaseous CO2-containing stream during a CO2-adsorption phase
Implementation Method 2
a sealer comprising a pair of doors or plates which can close the plurality of first inlets and the plurality of first outlets during a CO2-desorption phase thereby creating a second flow path for a fluid comprising desorbed CO2 through a plurality of adjacent supported sorbent materials to the second outlet
Implementation Method 3
the captured CO2 in the sorbent is extracted from the sorbent in a regeneration/desorption step
Data Source
AI summary
A system for capture of CO2 from a gaseous CO2-containing stream is provided. The system comprises a plurality of first inlets for stream; a plurality of first outlets for a treated stream having a reduced CO2-concentration; and a plurality of supported sorbent materials between the first inlets and outlets allowing a first flow path (A) during a CO2-adsorption phase. Each supported sorbent material possesses a first side for receiving stream and a second side from which stream exits. Optionally, the system comprises a second inlet for a desorption fluid; a second outlet; a sealer for closing the first inlets and outlets during a CO2-desorption phase creating a second flow path (B) for fluid comprising desorbed CO2 through adjacent supported sorbent materials to the second outlet wherefrom a CO2-enriched stream can exit.