Vacuum Chamber Lid Design for Direct Air Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing direct air capture (DAC) systems face challenges in efficiently processing large air volumes due to the low concentration of CO2 in atmospheric air, requiring high air flow rates and incurring significant energy costs, while also needing to withstand vacuum pressures and thermal stresses, which complicates the design of robust and thermally optimized vacuum chambers.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum chamber with a contiguous circumferential wall structure and a novel lid construction that allows for low thermal mass and high mechanical stability, featuring a circular or rectangular cross-section with ribbing elements for stiffness, and a deformable lid mechanism for efficient gas flow and sealing, enabling operation at low vacuum pressures and high flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a robust vacuum chamber is designed to withstand vacuum pressures and thermal stresses, then mechanical stability is improved, but thermal mass increases leading to higher energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum chamber is divided into a chamber body and a separate lid assembly that can be independently removed. This segmentation allows the main chamber body to maintain structural integrity for withstanding vacuum pressures, while the removable lid can be optimized for thermal properties. The chamber body includes reinforcement ribs for mechanical strength, while the lid can be made with lower thermal mass materials or design features that reduce its thermal mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is designed as a movable component that can be opened and closed rather than a fixed structure. This dynamic design allows the system to achieve vacuum sealing when needed while permitting the lid to be removed for maintenance, adsorbent replacement, or cleaning operations without compromising the structural integrity of the main chamber body.
2Productivity
If a large flow cross-section is provided for efficient gas flow, then productivity is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates under vacuum conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The lid features a localized sealing region with a sealing element (such as an O-ring or gasket) positioned at the interface between the lid and chamber body. This localized sealing approach concentrates the sealing function in a specific area with enhanced sealing properties, while the rest of the lid and chamber body can be designed for optimal gas flow characteristics. The sealing element is positioned to create an effective seal despite the large overall flow cross-section of the chamber.
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 solution reduces energy consumption and maintenance costs by allowing for efficient gas flow and sealing, while maintaining structural integrity under vacuum conditions, thus enhancing the economic viability of DAC systems.
Implementation Method 1
said contact ring is provided, on its axial surface facing said lid plate in closed position, with a full perimeter circular elastic sealing element
Implementation Method 2
to close the interior space and to allow evacuation of the interior space down to pressure of 500 mbar abs or even below that
Implementation Method 3
a portion of the CO2 contained in the air is chemically bound at the surface of amine functionalized adsorbents
Implementation Method 4
During the subsequent desorption, the material is heated and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide surrounding the sorbent is reduced
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
A vacuum chamber (2) for a direct air capture process and enclosing an interior space (13) for housing an adsorber structure (1) is given comprising a contiguous circumferential wall structure (115) along an axis (15), which circumferential wall structure (115) in an axial direction is closed by an inlet and an outlet axial wall (116), respectively, both axial walls (116) comprising at least one closing stainless steel lid (6) allowing for, in an open position, gas to be circulated through the vacuum chamber (2) for passing an adsorber structure (1), and, in a closed position, to close the interior space (13) and to allow evacuation of the interior space (13) down to pressure of 500 mbarabs or less.