Web-Based Carbon Dioxide Capture With Steam-Free Thermal Desorption

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional carbon capture systems require significant energy and water input, affecting efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and often rely on direct steam application which undermines environmental benefits.

Innovation Solution

A web-based carbon dioxide capture system that utilizes a sorbent material to directly contact gas, transporting it between zones of different temperatures to desorb CO2 without direct steam application, and recaptures heat for reuse, reducing energy and water consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional carbon capture systems use direct steam application to heat sorbents, then carbon dioxide capture can be achieved, but significant energy and water consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon dioxide captureVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes water from the sorbent material before heating, separating the water removal function from the heating function. This allows the sorbent to be heated more efficiently without the energy penalty of evaporating large amounts of water, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining CO2 capture reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary water removal from the sorbent before the actual heating and CO2 capture process. By pre-drying the sorbent material, the subsequent heating process requires significantly less energy, as there is no need to evaporate bulk water during the CO2 capture operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If conventional carbon capture systems use direct steam application, then carbon dioxide capture can be achieved, but water consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon dioxide captureVSAvoidwater consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes water from the sorbent material before heating, separating the water removal function from the heating function. This allows the sorbent to be heated more efficiently without the energy penalty of evaporating large amounts of water, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining CO2 capture reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system discards the bulk water removed from the sorbent during the pre-drying phase, and recovers only the minimal water present in the sorbent during normal operation. This approach significantly reduces water consumption compared to continuous steam application, while the captured CO2 can be utilized or stored

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If conventional carbon capture systems use direct steam application, then carbon dioxide capture can be achieved, but environmental benefits are undermined

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon dioxide captureVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes water from the sorbent material before heating, separating the water removal function from the heating function. This allows the sorbent to be heated more efficiently without the energy penalty of evaporating large amounts of water, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining CO2 capture reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical state of the sorbent from wet to dry before heating, fundamentally altering the thermal processing parameters. This parameter change enables more efficient heating and CO2 capture operations, reducing energy and water consumption while maintaining environmental benefits through lower resource consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system achieves efficient carbon dioxide removal with lower energy and water usage, enhancing the environmental benefits of carbon capture by minimizing resource consumption.

Implementation Method 1

A web-based carbon dioxide capture system that utilizes a sorbent material to directly contact gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

transporting it between zones of different temperatures to desorb CO2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

transporting it between zones of different temperatures to desorb CO2 without direct steam application

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDesorption: Desorption

Data Source

PatentUS12403424B2Carbon dioxide removal and associated systems, devices, and methods

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 SPONGE DAC INC

AI summary

Methods and systems for carbon dioxide removal are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a representative carbon dioxide removal apparatus includes a web with a sorbent configured to absorb carbon dioxide and a drive system operably coupled to the web. The drive system can transport the web from a first zone, in which the web is exposed to gas, to a second zone, where the first zone is at a first temperature and the second zone is at a second temperature greater than the first temperature. The apparatus can further include a heating mechanism configured to increase a temperature of the second zone at least to the second temperature. This causes the removal of fluid including carbon dioxide from the web within the second zone.