LAMINAR FLOW AIR COLLECTOR WITH SOLID SORBENT MATERIALS FOR CAPTURING AMBIENT CO2

• US 20110189075A1
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carbon Sink, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Carbon Sink, Inc.
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Ryuhei, Lackner, Klaus S., Wright, Allen B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,999,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 423/437.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/104 Alumina
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/108 Zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/206 Ion exchange resins
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/302 Sulfur oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40083 Regeneration of adsorbents in processes other than pressure or temperature swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4591 Construction elements containing cleaning material, e.g. catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0423 Beds in columns
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/62 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for removing carbon dioxide from a gas stream without consuming excess energy, wherein a solid sorbent material is used to capture the carbon dioxide. The solid sorbent material may utilize a water-swing for regeneration. Various geometric configurations are disclosed for advantageous recovery of CO₂ and regeneration of the sorbent material.

Claims

1. A method for capturing carbon dioxide from an air stream, comprising exposing one or more collection surfaces formed of a solid sorbent material, wherein the solid sorbent material absorbs carbon dioxide from the air stream, and wherein the air stream is laminar, or close to the laminar regime.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sorbent solid material comprises a supporting substrate covered at least in part by a layer of said sorbent.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the layer of said sorbent comprises a film covering the surface.

4. The method as described in claim 1, comprising one or more of the following features:

(a) wherein the collection surfaces are smooth parallel plates;

(b) wherein the collection surfaces follow straight lines or nearly straight lines in the direction of the air stream;

(c) wherein the collection surfaces comprise corrugations, pipes, tubes, or angular shapes; and

(d) wherein the collection surfaces form a monolith structure, including but not limited to a honeycomb pattern where openings follow straight lines crossing the monoliths.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection surface is roughened in a regular or random manner, wherein the roughening is described by one or more of the following:

(a) the roughening creates a plurality of features including one or more from a group consisting of;

grooves, dimples, bumps, fibers and dendrites;

(b) the roughening creates a plurality of features that are smaller than the flow channels and smaller than the diffusion boundary layer thickness;

(c) the roughening results in an air stream having a Reynolds number that is less than about 100;

(d) the surface roughening is accomplished by sandblasting or grinding;

(e) the surface roughening is accomplished by etching or other chemical application;

(f) the surface roughening is accomplished by foaming the sorbent material either throughout the body of the matrix structure or on the coating surface;

(g) the collection surface is made from a foam or foam like material; and

(h) the collection surface is made of highly porous materials including but not limited to activated carbon materials.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection surfaces are arranged in a manner that may be described by one or more of the following:

(a) wherein the collection surfaces are thin films such as foils, or corrugated foils or a combination thereof;

(b) wherein the collection surfaces are stacked and kept apart by spacers or bumps on the collection surfaces;

(c) wherein the collection surfaces are supported by one or more wires or a wire netting;

(d) wherein the collection surfaces are supported on a rigid structure selected from the group consisting of a solid plate, a honeycomb, and a lattice work;

(e) wherein the collection surfaces comprise thin plates that are held together with wires in a Venetian blind style;

(f) wherein the collection surfaces form cylindrical, elliptical or spherical shapes through which the air stream can pass; and

(g) wherein the collection surfaces are circular and form a vertical disc stack.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising one or more of the following features:

(a) wherein the direction of the air stream is horizontal;

(b) wherein the collection surfaces are spaced about 0.3 cm to 3 cm from one another;

(c) wherein the air stream follows a path through the scrubber that is between about 0.1 m to 3 m in length; and

(d) wherein the air stream has an average speed of between about 1 m/s and 20 m/sec.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising using straightening elements to minimize energy losses from misalignment between the collection surfaces and an instantaneous wind field.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising steering the at least one of the collection surfaces so that it points into or parallel to the wind.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the collector surfaces form a scrubber that utilizes a pressure drop across the scrubber to cause the air stream to travel through the scrubber, wherein the method is described by one of the following:

(a) wherein the pressure drop is induced by a stagnation of flow on the upwind side of the scrubber;

(b) wherein the pressure drop is induced by a Bernoulli-type pressure reduction;

(c) wherein the pressure drop is caused by thermal convection;

(d) wherein the pressure drop is created by one or more fans;

(e) wherein the pressure drop is created by placing the scrubber into a cooling tower flow path;

(f) wherein the pressure drop is created by placing the scrubber into the flow of a convection tower or chimney; and

(g) wherein the pressure drop is created by katabatic winds or naturally occurring thermal convection.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising recovering carbon dioxide from the collection surfaces using one or more of the following steps:

(a) wherein the solid sorbent material is washed with a washing fluid to remove the carbon dioxide from the solid sorbent material, including but not limited to alkaline solutions such as a carbonate solution, an amine solution, or a sodium hydroxide solution;

(b) wherein the solid sorbent material is heated to promote release of carbon dioxide either into a washing fluid or into a gaseous collection stream;

(c) wherein the collection surfaces reside within a chamber, and wherein the chamber is evacuated prior to treating the solid sorbent material to release carbon dioxide;

(d) wherein the collector surfaces are brought in contact with a secondary sorbent that reduces the carbon dioxide partial pressure in the system; and

(e) wherein the collection surfaces reside within a chamber, and wherein the carbon dioxide is released by the collection surfaces into the chamber, wherein the carbon dioxide is pumped out of the chamber.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the carbon dioxide by exposing the solid sorbent material to water or water vapor, which drives the release of carbon dioxide according to a humidity swing, resulting in a gaseous collection stream that includes large amounts of water vapor and carbon dioxide, wherein the removal of carbon dioxide may be further described by one or more of the following features:

(a) wherein the collection surfaces reside within a chamber, and wherein the partial pressure of carbon dioxide within the chamber is reduced by moving the chamber into a cold trap;

(b) wherein the collection surfaces reside within a chamber, wherein carbon dioxide is separated from water vapor by compressing the gaseous collection stream in the chamber; and

(c) wherein the carbon dioxide is separated from the water vapor by cooling the gaseous collection stream until the water condenses or freezes out.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of removing the carbon dioxide from the collection surfaces, wherein the collection surfaces are part of a scrubber that is placed in a regeneration chamber for removing the carbon dioxide from the collection surfaces, and wherein the scrubber is collapsed in volume before or as it introduced into the regeneration chamber.

14. A carbon dioxide capture device comprising at least one collector element having a plurality of strips of solid sorbent material attached to a core and extending substantially radially out from said core.

15. The carbon dioxide capture device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the core comprises two or more twisted wires.

16. The carbon dioxide capture device of claim 14, wherein the solid sorbent material is a functionalized ion exchange material.

17. The carbon dioxide capture device of claim 14, wherein the strips are resiliently flexible.

18. The carbon dioxide capture device of claim 14, wherein the collector element includes one or more fixtures mounted to one or more distal ends of the collector.

19. The carbon dioxide capture device of claim 14, further comprising at least one cylinder, wherein the cylinder is sized such that the collector element fits within the cylinder.

20. The carbon dioxide capture device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of strips of solid ion exchange membrane material are folded or compressed to fit within the at least one cylinder.

21. The carbon dioxide capture device of claim 19, wherein the at least one cylinder is connected to a fluid reservoir containing a regenerating fluid for regenerating the plurality of strips of solid ion exchange membrane material.

22. The carbon dioxide capture device of claim 21, wherein the regenerating fluid is a carbonate solution.

23. The carbon dioxide capture device of claim 21, wherein the regenerating fluid is a gas containing water vapor.

24. The carbon dioxide capture device of claim 14, wherein a plurality of collector elements are arranged in a manner described by one of the following:

(a) wherein the collector elements are arranged in rows;

(b) wherein the collector elements are arranged in a spiral column;

(c) wherein the collector elements are arranged in a circular formation;

(d) wherein the collector elements are arranged in a plenum; and

(e) wherein the collector elements are arranged on a moving track.

25. A method for removing carbon dioxide from a gas stream, using a device having a collector element comprising a plurality of strips of solid ion exchange membrane material attached to a core and extending substantially radially out from said core and a cylinder sized for containing the collector element, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing the collector element to the gas stream where it collects carbon dioxide;

(b) placing the collector element within the cylinder; and

(c) removing the carbon dioxide from the collector element, thereby regenerating the plurality of strips of solid ion exchange membrane material.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the device further comprises a plurality of collector elements and a plurality of corresponding cylinders.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of removing the carbon dioxide is accomplished in a manner described by one or more of the following:

(a) by washing the collector element with sodium carbonate;

(b) by using a humidity swing;

(c) by using a thermal swing; and

(d) by using a secondary sorbent.

28. A system for removing carbon dioxide from air, comprising a collector having a sorbent to absorb and concentrate carbon dioxide from the air, and a base containing equipment for concentrating the carbon dioxide removed by the sorbent and for regenerating the sorbent, wherein the system comprises an integrated system sized for transport over the road.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the system is sized to fit in a standard shipping container or on a flatbed truck.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the system includes wheels or a trolley.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the system is factory-built and shipped essentially fully functional.

32. The method for deploying a system for removing carbon dioxide from air, comprising providing a system as claimed in claim 28, and transporting the system to a site.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein a plurality of systems are shipped to the site, and further comprising plumbing two or more of the systems together.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the system is shipped to a site in which carbon dioxide is used in a secondary process, and further comprising supplying carbon dioxide captured by the system to the secondary process.

50. The system of claim 28, wherein carbon dioxide is released from the sorbent using a humidity swing.

51. The system of claim 28, wherein carbon dioxide is released from the sorbent at ambient air temperature.

52. The system of claim 28, wherein carbon dioxide is released from the sorbent and further pressurized.

35. A method of transferring moisture from a first chamber containing a first amount of water-swing based carbon dioxide sorbent to a second chamber containing a second amount of water-swing based carbon dioxide sorbent, by causing water vapor to flow from the first chamber when the first amount of sorbent therein is partially or fully depleted of carbon dioxide to the second chamber, wherein the second amount of sorbent is partially or fully loaded, wherein the existing water vapor pressure gradient drives a spontaneous flow from the first chamber to the second chamber until a substantial equilibrium between the chambers is reached, whereupon the remaining water vapor is compelled to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber by a pump.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein first amount of sorbent and the second amount of sorbent experience evaporation and re-adsorption of the water vapor at various points during the water-swing, and wherein the evaporation in the first chamber and the re-adsorption in the second chamber causes a transfer of heat from the first chamber to the second chamber, creating a heat differential in which the second chamber ends up hotter than the first chamber.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the transfer of heat associated with transferring moisture is negated by a heat exchange system that transfers heat down a heat differential from the hotter second chamber to the cooler first chamber.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the heat transfer associated with the transferring moisture is negated by a spontaneous heat transfer between each of the first and second chambers an outside heat reservoir.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of causing water vapor to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber takes place until a partial pressure of water vapor in the first chamber reaches a predetermined value that is less than a partial pressure of water vapor in ambient air.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of causing water vapor to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber takes place until a partial pressure of water vapor in the first chamber reaches a predetermined value greater than a partial pressure of water vapor in ambient air, further comprising the step of exposing the sorbent in the first chamber to ambient air to dry the sorbent.

41. An apparatus for capturing carbon dioxide from air, comprising a plurality of chambers filled with a sorbent material, the plurality of chambers being attached to at least one pump, wherein the chambers are connected by a network of pipes and valves that allow the flow of a gas between the plurality of chambers filled with sorbent, wherein the chambers are configured to allow an off gas stream taken from the last chamber to then be pumped into a compression train.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the plurality of chambers is configured to allow any of the chambers to function as a first chamber in a sequence.

43. A method for recovering carbon dioxide from a sorbent, comprising one or more of the following steps:

(a) adding moisture to a first quantity of water-swing based carbon dioxide sorbent, wherein water is recovered from the first amount of sorbent by placing the first quantity of sorbent in the presence of a second quantity of water-swing based carbon dioxide sorbent that is dry and partially or fully loaded with carbon dioxide; and

(b) drying a first quantity of water-swing based carbon dioxide sorbent that is at least partially saturated with water and is located in a first chamber, by transferring water vapor from the first chamber into a second chamber that is partially filled with a relatively dry water-swing based carbon dioxide sorbent.

(c) transferring a quantity of water vapor from a first chamber containing a first quantity of sorbent to a second chamber containing liquid water and a second quantity of sorbent, wherein the second quantity of sorbent is saturated with carbon dioxide.

44. A method for regenerating a water-swing based carbon dioxide sorbent, comprising transferring a quantity of water vapor from a first chamber containing a first quantity of sorbent to a second chamber containing liquid water and a second quantity of sorbent, wherein the second quantity of sorbent is saturated with carbon dioxide.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the liquid water is deionized, distilled, or condensation water.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the liquid water becomes saturated with carbon dioxide, further comprising the step of keeping the liquid water saturated with carbon dioxide in a sealed system.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the liquid water in the second chamber is sufficiently cold to drive a spontaneous flow from the first chamber to the second chamber due to a resulting pressure gradient between the first chamber and the second chamber.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein the water-swing used to regenerate the first and second quantities of sorbent comprises evaporating a quantity of water from the first quantity of sorbent and absorbing the quantity of water on the second quantity of sorbent, wherein the heat given off during the step of absorbing is transferred to a reservoir supply of the liquid water.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein excess heat transferred to the reservoir is returned to the first chamber by at least one heat exchanger.