Wind Turbine Direct Air Capture With Blade Air Intake
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional direct air carbon capture processes require significant energy, including thermal energy for desorption and fan energy, necessitating location near large renewable energy sources, limiting their implementation and effectiveness in combating global warming.
Innovation Solution
A direct air carbon capture system integrated with a wind turbine that generates electrical energy to power CO2 adsorption and desorption processes, utilizing amine-based CO2 adsorbers and desorption apparatuses without relying on external energy sources or large renewable energy facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional direct air carbon capture processes are used, then CO2 removal from atmosphere is achieved, but significant energy consumption occurs including thermal energy for desorption and fan energy for air flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the wind turbine generator with the CO2 capture system into a single integrated unit. The wind turbine blades capture wind energy to drive both the CO2 adsorption process and the desorption process, eliminating the need for separate external energy sources. This merging resolves the contradiction by making the system self-sufficient and eliminating significant energy consumption while maintaining CO2 removal productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wind-powered CO2 capture system is designed to be self-sufficient, using its own captured wind energy to power both the adsorption and desorption processes. The system serves itself by generating the thermal energy needed for desorption from the kinetic energy of wind, without requiring external power sources. This self-service approach resolves the energy consumption contradiction.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional direct air carbon capture facilities are located near large renewable energy sources, then energy supply is sufficient, but location constraints prevent broad implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The wind-powered CO2 capture system performs multiple functions within a single unit: it generates electrical energy, drives the CO2 adsorption process, and powers the desorption process. This multi-functionality allows the system to be deployed anywhere with wind resources, eliminating the need to be located near large centralized renewable energy sources and significantly improving location flexibility and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the CO2 capture system into modular components that can be independently configured and deployed. The wind turbine, adsorption chamber, and desorption apparatus are integrated but can be scaled and positioned flexibly. This segmentation allows the system to be adapted to various locations and wind conditions, resolving the location constraint contradiction.
3Productivity
If conventional direct air carbon capture facilities are made large scale, then CO2 capture capacity increases, but facility footprint limits where facilities can be built and how many can be built
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the CO2 adsorption chamber and desorption apparatus within or around the wind turbine structure itself. The amine-based adsorbers are positioned to utilize the wind turbine's existing structure, nesting the CO2 capture functionality within the energy generation structure. This nesting approach maintains CO2 capture capacity while dramatically reducing the overall facility footprint, allowing broader deployment.
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 a low-energy, net-negative greenhouse gas emission process by leveraging wind-generated electricity for CO2 capture, reducing energy expenditure and enabling widespread implementation.
Implementation Method 1
a wind turbine that includes at least one blade... in operation, first air flows across the at least one blade, causing the wind turbine to generate electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
a carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption chamber that includes one or more amine-based CO2 adsorbers, wherein, in operation, the CO2 adsorption chamber receives the second air via the one or more openings
Implementation Method 3
a carbon desorption apparatus that desorbs CO2 from the one or more amine-based CO2 adsorbers
Data Source
AI summary
According to various embodiments, a direct air capture system includes: a wind turbine that includes at least one blade that includes one or more openings, wherein, in operation, first air flows across the at least one blade, causing the wind turbine to generate electrical energy, and causing the one or more openings to receive second air; a conduit that fluidly couples the one or more openings to a carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption chamber that includes one or more amine-based CO2 adsorbers, wherein, in operation, the CO2 adsorption chamber receives the second air via the one or more openings; and a carbon desorption apparatus that desorbs CO2 from the one or more amine-based CO2 adsorbers.