Tailpipe Honeycomb Filter for Greenhouse Gas Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Light-duty gasoline vehicles continue to emit significant greenhouse gases, and existing onboard carbon capture technologies are environmentally uneconomical, leaving a gap in reducing emissions from this sector despite efforts in electrification and catalytic converter improvements.
Innovation Solution
A filter apparatus with a honeycomb structure composed of zeolitic imidazole frameworks, zeolites, or metal organic frameworks is attached to a vehicle's tailpipe, utilizing spherical sorbents to absorb exhaust gases, which can then be processed for CO2 conversion into a consumable product using a CO2 removal device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If onboard carbon capture technology is implemented in light-duty vehicles, then greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, but the process becomes environmentally uneconomical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the carbon capture function from the vehicle's onboard system and separates it into two parts: a simple tailpipe filter that captures CO2 physically, and a separate conversion device that processes the captured CO2. This extraction resolves the economic viability issue by avoiding complex onboard conversion systems while maintaining emission reduction effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach where the tailpipe filter serves as a simple physical barrier to capture CO2, and the conversion device acts as a separate processing unit. This intermediary structure enables CO2 capture without requiring integrated onboard conversion, making the system economically feasible while maintaining environmental effectiveness.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If complex conversion devices are attached to capture and convert emissions, then greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the emission reduction system into two distinct functional components: a simple tailpipe filter for CO2 capture and a separate conversion device for CO2 processing. This segmentation reduces the complexity of any single component while maintaining overall system effectiveness, as each part can be optimized independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the conversion function from the capture system, allowing the tailpipe filter to remain simple while the conversion device handles the complex CO2 processing separately. This extraction simplifies the capture mechanism and distributes complexity to a dedicated processing unit.
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 solution effectively captures and converts tailpipe emissions, providing a feasible and environmentally friendly method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from light-duty vehicles, making the process economically viable by utilizing existing infrastructure for CO2 utilization.
Implementation Method 1
The honeycomb structure comprises a plurality of spherical sorbents in a stacked steady state. Exhaust from a tailpipe is absorbed by the plurality of spherical sorbents within the honeycomb structure.
Implementation Method 2
which can then be processed for CO2 conversion into a consumable product using a CO2 removal device
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for attachment to a tailpipe of a vehicle is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a filter body, a honeycomb monolith, a locking collar and a removable front cover. The honeycomb monolith is composed of an adsorbent material or an absorbent material. Exhaust from the tailpipe of the vehicle is absorbed by the honeycomb monolith structure.