Apparatus for removing carbon dioxide from air

• US 5,061,455 A
• Filed: 09/28/1990
• Issued: 10/29/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Brouillet, Alfred O., Brose, Harlan F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRYZA, LYNN M
• Application Number:
  US07/590,321
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 422/122, 55/33, 55/58, 55/62, 55/68, 423/230, 423/228
• US Class Current: 96/122
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2256/10 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2256/12 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/404 using four beds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/04 with stationary adsorbents B01D53/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0446 Means for feeding or distributing gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2

Abstract

An apparatus for removing carbon dioxide from a body of air by using a regenerative solid amine material arranged in beds 14(A-D) is disclosed. Air is directed through a first bed to adsorb the carbon dioxide therefrom. Steam is impelled by a compressor (24) into the first bed to desorb that bed, the steam forming a condensate on that bed. The compressor then creates a vacuum in the first bed which vaporizes the condensate therein, dewatering the first bed so that it may be reused to adsorb carbon dioxide. The compressor impels the vaporized condensate into a second bed to desorb the adsorbed carbon dioxide in the second bed.

Claims

1. A system for removing a gaseous component from air, which comprises:

a. a plurality of solid amine beds, wherein said beds are each constructed and arranged for adsorbing a gaseous component from air, desorbing the adsorbed gaseous component upon contact with a regenerative gas which forms a condensate, and releasing condensate;

b. an air inlet connected to each bed;

c. a means for removing desorbed gaseous component from each bed;

d. an inlet for regenerative gas connected to each bed;

e. an outlet for condensate connected to each bed; and

f. a compressor having an inlet, an outlet and a means for introducing regenerative gas to each bed, a means for lowering the pressure within each bed, a means for vaporizing condensate, and a means for removing vaporized condensate from each bed, wherein said compressor outlet is connected to each said regenerative gas inlet, said compressor inlet is connected to each said condensate outlet.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein the compressor has a means for removing vaporized condensate from a first of said plurality of solid amine beds, and a means for introducing removed vaporized condensate to a second of said plurality of solid amine beds as regenerative gas.

3. A system for removing carbon dioxide from air, which comprises:

a. a plurality of solid amine beds, wherein said beds are each constructed and arranged for adsorbing carbon dioxide from air, desorbing adsorbed carbon dioxide upon contact with steam which condenses to form water, and releasing water;

b. an air inlet connected to each bed;

c. a means for removing desorbed carbon dioxide from each bed;

d. an inlet for steam connected to each bed;

e. an outlet for vaporized condensate connected to each bed; and

f. a compressor having an inlet, an outlet, and a means for introducing regenerative gas to each bed, a means for lowering the pressure within each bed, a means for vaporizing condensate, and a means for removing vaporized condensate from each bed, wherein said compressor outlet is connected to each said steam inlet and supplies steam to each bed through said compressor outlet and steam inlet, said compressor inlet is connected to each said condensate outlet.

4. A system as in claim 3 wherein said compressor has a means for removing vaporized condensate from a first of said plurality of solid amine beds, and a means for introducing removed vaporized condensate to a second of said plurality of solid amine beds as steam.