System and method for removing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere and global thermostat using the same

• US 9,061,237 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2014
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Thermostat Operations LLC
• Original Assignee: Graciela Chichilnisky, Peter Eisenberger
• Inventors: Eisenberger, Peter, Chichilnisky, Graciela
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US14/515,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20150027308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 251 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/304 of sodium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/604 Hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/0233 from cement factories
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/04 with stationary adsorbents B01D53/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1418 Recovery of products
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1425 Regeneration of liquid absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1475 Removing carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/62 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: F23J 15/02 of purifiers, e.g. for removing noxious material traps for solid residues F23J3/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/32 Direct CO2 mitigation

Abstract

A system for removing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere to reduce global warming including an air extraction system that collects carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through a medium and removes carbon dioxide from the medium; a sequestration system that isolates the removed carbon dioxide to a location for at least one of storage and which can increase availability of renewable energy or non-fuel products such as fertilizers and construction materials; and one or more energy sources that supply process heat to the air extraction system to remove the carbon dioxide from the medium and which can regenerate it for continued use.

Claims

1. A method for extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to reduce the ambient concentration of CO₂ in the planet'"'"'s atmosphere, the method comprising:

at a first location, collecting and passing air under ambient conditions from the atmosphere to and through a CO₂ sorbent medium which comprises a porous solid pancake shaped substrate, on the surface of which is attached an amine sorbent medium, to absorb carbon dioxide from the ambient atmosphere with the amine;

moving the carbon dioxide-containing sorbent medium to an enclosed collector chamber and passing process heat steam at a temperature of less than about 120°

C. into contact with the sorbent medium to remove carbon dioxide from the sorbent medium and to regenerate the sorbent medium;

removing the CO₂ from the collector chamber and isolating the removed carbon dioxide to a location for at least one of storage and generation of a renewable carbon fuel,

and returning the regenerated sorbent medium to the first location to extract additional CO₂ from the atmosphere.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the collecting, removing and isolating steps is performed using one or more renewable energy sources.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary energy source for the process heat is selected from the group of primary energy sources consisting of:

fossil fuel, geothermal, nuclear, solar, biomass and other renewable energy sources and exothermic chemical processes whose use for a primary process can result in a supply of process heat.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the location of at least one of the first location, collector chamber and isolating location is underground.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the process heat is obtained from an adjacent source of carbon dioxide emissions.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the steam provided to the collector chamber is at a temperature of not greater than 100°

C.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the removed carbon dioxide is used for the generation of a renewable carbon fuel.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising carrying out the method at a plurality of locations strategically placed across the Globe, and coordinated so as to collectively function for extracting CO₂ from the atmosphere.