Solid Sorbent Membrane CO2 Capture With Low Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for capturing CO2 from air are inefficient and economically unviable due to low CO2 concentrations, high energy consumption, and the need for large pressure differences or energy-intensive regeneration processes.
Innovation Solution
A device and process using a membrane composed of a macroporous layer coated with a solid state CO2 sorbent, involving a sorption chamber and regeneration chamber, with minimal pressure drop and efficient sorbent regeneration through a stripping gas at elevated temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If air is blown through a fluidized bed reactor with porous particles coated with CO2 sorbent, then CO2 capture occurs, but a large bed height of about 7 meters is required which needs high pressure difference to force air through, making the process energy intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a thin film structure (50-200 μm thickness) instead of a tall packed bed. The thin film allows air to pass through with minimal pressure difference while providing sufficient surface area for CO2 sorption, eliminating the need for high energy input to force air through a 7-meter bed height.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a vertical packed bed configuration (requiring large height) to a thin film configuration where the active sorbent layer is distributed across a large surface area in a horizontal plane, reducing the flow path length and pressure drop significantly.
2Use of energy by moving object
If CO2 sorbent is dissolved in an aqueous thin film for CO2 capture, then contact between air and sorbent is efficient with small pressure differences, but regeneration of the dissolved sorbent requires high temperatures which leads to high operation costs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state of the sorbent from dissolved in aqueous solution to solid state supported on a thin film matrix. This parameter change allows regeneration at lower temperatures (50-100°C) compared to the high temperatures required for aqueous sorbent regeneration, reducing operational energy costs while maintaining efficient CO2 contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure combining a solid sorbent material with a porous thin film support matrix. This composite allows the sorbent to maintain solid-state advantages for low-temperature regeneration while the thin film structure provides efficient gas permeability and large surface area for CO2 contact.
3Quantity of substance
If a macroporous layer is used to support solid state CO2 sorbent, then CO2 concentration in air is reduced efficiently, but membrane structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a macroporous layer as the membrane structure, which provides high porosity (30-70%) to facilitate efficient gas transport and CO2 access to the sorbent. The porous structure naturally enhances CO2 concentration reduction capability while the regular, repeating unit cell design keeps the overall device architecture relatively simple and manufacturable.
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 efficient and economically viable CO2 capture from air with reduced energy consumption and pressure requirements, maximizing interaction between CO2 and sorbent while minimizing leakage and contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane composed of a macroporous layer, wherein the pores of the macroporous layer are coated with a solid state CO2 sorbent
Implementation Method 2
regeneration of the loaded sorbent occurs at the regeneration section to obtain regenerated solid state CO2 sorbent
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns a device and process for capturing CO2 from air. The device comprises (a) a membrane at least partly permeable for air comprising a solid state CO2 sorbent; (b) at least one sorption chamber; (c) at least one regeneration chamber; (d) means for transporting the membrane from the sorption chamber to the regeneration chamber and back; (e) an inlet for receiving air located on one end of the membrane and an outlet for discharging air depleted in CO2 located on the other end of the membrane in the sorption chamber, wherein the device is configured to allow air to flow from the inlet to the outlet through the membrane; (f) means for flowing stripping gas through the membrane into the regeneration chamber; (g) at least one outlet for discharging CO2, located in the regeneration chamber; and (h) heating means for heating the regeneration chamber. The device according to the invention provides an efficient and low-cost solution for capturing CO2 directly from air.