WO2024099841A1 - Système et procédé de capture directe d'air - Google Patents

Système et procédé de capture directe d'air Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024099841A1
WO2024099841A1 PCT/EP2023/080447 EP2023080447W WO2024099841A1 WO 2024099841 A1 WO2024099841 A1 WO 2024099841A1 EP 2023080447 W EP2023080447 W EP 2023080447W WO 2024099841 A1 WO2024099841 A1 WO 2024099841A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
airflow
heat exchanger
cooling device
absorber
mist eliminator
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2023/080447
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Gervas Franceschini
Martin Mills
Original Assignee
Rolls-Royce Plc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rolls-Royce Plc filed Critical Rolls-Royce Plc
Publication of WO2024099841A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024099841A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/14—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by absorption
    • B01D53/1456—Removing acid components
    • B01D53/1475—Removing carbon dioxide
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • B01D53/04—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
    • B01D53/0407—Constructional details of adsorbing systems
    • B01D53/0438—Cooling or heating systems
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/14—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by absorption
    • B01D53/18—Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2257/00—Components to be removed
    • B01D2257/50—Carbon oxides
    • B01D2257/504—Carbon dioxide
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2258/00—Sources of waste gases
    • B01D2258/06—Polluted air

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a direct air capture system, and a method of operating the direct air capture system.
  • Direct air capture (DAC) of atmospheric carbon dioxide typically involves encouraging an incoming ambient airflow to interact with, for example, a sorbent capture medium under certain thermodynamic conditions.
  • the sorbent capture medium may include a liquid medium or a solid medium.
  • the sorbent capture medium absorbs some portion of the carbon dioxide from the airflow. Further, the carbon dioxide may be separated from the sorbent capture medium during a desorption process allowing the carbon dioxide to be captured and stored.
  • a DAC system typically includes an absorber.
  • the absorption process occurs in the absorber of the DAC system.
  • the absorber is an open system that allows large quantities of the airflow to pass therethrough while extracting carbon dioxide from the airflow. Accordingly, a carbon dioxide depleted air may exit the absorber.
  • the carbon dioxide depleted air may have a different temperature and humidity from the incoming ambient airflow. Specifically, the temperature and humidity of the carbon dioxide depleted air may be elevated as compared to the incoming ambient airflow.
  • the sorbent capture medium is a liquid medium
  • conditions such as, high temperatures within the absorber, high ambient temperature, and reduced ambient humidity, may cause increase in release of drift/droplets, increase in evaporation rates of the sorbent capture medium present in the airflow, and increase in water loss within the absorber.
  • the sorbent capture medium directly influences operating costs associated with the DAC system, the increased release of drift/droplets and higher evaporation rates of the sorbent capture medium may increase the operating costs of the DAC system.
  • a direct air capture (DAC) system in a first aspect, there is provided a direct air capture (DAC) system.
  • the DAC system includes an absorber configured to receive an airflow and absorb at least a portion of carbon dioxide present in the airflow.
  • the DAC system further includes a mist eliminator configured to receive at least a portion of the airflow from the absorber.
  • the DAC system further includes a cooling device disposed in a heat exchange relationship with the mist eliminator and configured to cool the portion of the airflow.
  • the mist eliminator of the present disclosure may function as a drift/droplet capture structure that captures drift/droplets from the airflow before the airflow exits into the surrounding.
  • the cooling device may reduce a temperature of the airflow which may in turn reduce evaporation rates of a sorbent capture medium present in the airflow before the airflow exits into the surrounding. This phenomenon may also reduce water loss in the DAC system. Further, the capturing of drift/droplets and reduced evaporation rates of the sorbent capture medium may reduce operating costs of the DAC system.
  • the mist eliminator and the cooling device form a single integral structure that may reduce drift/droplets as well as reduce the temperature of the airflow.
  • the cooling device is configured to cool the mist eliminator so as to cause condensation on a surface of the mist eliminator.
  • the cooling device may define one or more flow paths that receives a refrigerant for reducing a temperature of the airflow flowing over the mist eliminator.
  • the cooling device may be integral with the mist eliminator.
  • the cooling device may be separate from the mist eliminator and may be disposed downstream of the mist eliminator along a direction of the airflow.
  • the mist eliminator includes a packing structure.
  • the cooling device includes one or more tubes disposed in a heat exchange relationship with the packing structure.
  • the cooling device and the packing structure may be embodied as a single integral structure.
  • the tubes allow passage of the refrigerant therethrough for reducing the temperature of the airflow flowing over the mist eliminator.
  • the cooling device includes a thermally conductive material.
  • the cooling device including the thermally conductive material may form a fin of the cooling device that conducts heat away from the airflow thereby creating an effective cooling surface.
  • the DAC system further includes a refrigeration circuit disposed in fluid communication with the cooling device and configured to extract heat from the cooling device.
  • the refrigeration circuit includes the refrigerant flowing through the one or more flow paths of the cooling device for reducing the temperature of the airflow flowing over the mist eliminator.
  • the DAC system further includes a controller configured to control a refrigeration cycle of the refrigeration circuit based on at least one of an environmental parameter, a pressure within the absorber, and a temperature within the absorber.
  • the environmental parameter may include a temperature, a pressure, or a humidity of the surroundings of the DAC system.
  • the controller may be configured to control the refrigeration circuit based on the humidity of the ambient air and the humidity of the air leaving the absorber, such that the condensation on the surface of the mist eliminator provides condensate to replace a portion of the water loss in the absorber. For example, at least 20% of the water loss, or preferably more, e.g. 30%, 50%, 70% or 100% of the water loss.
  • the refrigeration circuit includes a heat pump and a heat exchanger disposed in a heat exchange relationship with the heat pump.
  • the heat pump may convert waste heat from the chilling of the cooling device into useful heat.
  • the useful heat may be supplied to any heat exchanger/heating means associated with the DAC system.
  • the heat exchanger includes a heating means of the DAC system.
  • the useful heat generated by the heat pump may be used to increase a temperature of a lean sorbent stream flowing through the heating means. The heated lean sorbent stream may be then used in a desorber of the DAC system.
  • the DAC system further includes a first heat exchanger disposed downstream of the cooling device and configured to heat the portion of the airflow received from the cooling device and a second heat exchanger disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger and configured to cool the portion of airflow received from the first heat exchanger.
  • the mist eliminator and the cooling structure may capture the drift/ droplets and may reduce evaporation rates of the sorbent capture medium, respectively. Further, the drift/droplets escaping through the mist eliminator may be captured by the first heat exchanger.
  • the first heat exchanger is embodied as a hot heat exchanger that may increase the temperature of the airflow thereby evaporating remaining droplets.
  • the second heat exchanger is embodied as a cold heat exchanger that may cause a reduction in the temperature of the airflow and may condense the remaining sorbent capture medium present in the airflow before the airflow exits into the surrounding.
  • the DAC system further includes an additional refrigeration circuit disposed in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.
  • the additional refrigeration circuit is configured to provide heat exchange between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.
  • the additional refrigeration circuit may convert waste heat from the chilling of the second heat exchanger into useful heat that may be used to heat the first heat exchanger for increasing the temperature of the airflow flowing over the first heat exchanger.
  • the DAC system further includes an electrostatic precipitator disposed downstream of the second heat exchanger.
  • the electrostatic precipitator facilitates an effective impurities removal step.
  • the electrostatic precipitator may provide an air cleaning function so that the DAC system may purify the airflow of any contaminants, such as, pollutants.
  • the absorber, the mist eliminator, and the cooling device are integrated in a single absorber unit.
  • the single absorber unit may include a compact structure that may be retrofitted in existing DAC systems by replacing existing absorbers.
  • a method in a second aspect, includes removing, via an absorber of a DAC system, at least a portion of carbon dioxide from an airflow.
  • the method further includes receiving, at a mist eliminator, at least a portion of the airflow from the absorber.
  • the method further includes cooling, via a cooling device, the portion of the airflow flowing over the mist eliminator.
  • the method described herein may allow capturing of drift/droplets from the airflow before the airflow exits into the surrounding. Further, the method may allow reduction in a temperature of the airflow which may in turn reduce evaporation rates of a sorbent capture medium present in the airflow before the airflow exits into the surrounding. The method may also reduce water loss in the DAC system. Further, the method may reduce operating costs of DAC systems by capturing drift/droplets and reducing evaporation rates of the sorbent capture medium.
  • the method further includes extracting, via a heat pump, heat from the cooling device.
  • the heat pump may convert waste heat from the chilling of the cooling device into useful heat.
  • the useful heat may be used in any other heat exchanger associated with the DAC system.
  • the method further includes heating, via the heat pump, a heating means of the DAC system.
  • the useful heat generated by the heat pump may be used to increase a temperature of a lean sorbent stream flowing through the heating means.
  • the heated lean sorbent stream may be then used in a desorber of the DAC system.
  • the method further includes heating, via a first heat exchanger, the portion of the airflow received from the cooling device.
  • the method further includes cooling, via a second heat exchanger, the portion of airflow received from the first heat exchanger.
  • the method further includes providing, via an additional refrigeration circuit, heat exchange between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.
  • the mist eliminator and the cooling structure may capture the drift/ droplets and may reduce evaporation rates of the sorbent capture medium, respectively. Further, the drift/droplets escaping through the mist eliminator may be captured by the first heat exchanger.
  • the first heat exchanger is embodied as a hot heat exchanger that may increase the temperature of the airflow thereby evaporating remaining droplets.
  • the second heat exchanger is embodied as a cold heat exchanger that may cause a reduction in the temperature of the airflow and may condense the remaining sorbent capture medium present in the airflow before the airflow exits into the surrounding.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a direct air capture (DAC) system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a mist eliminator and a cooling device that may be used with the DAC system of Figure 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of the DAC system of Figure 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a mist eliminator and a cooling device that may be used with the DAC system of Figure 1 , according to another embodiment of the present disclosure
  • Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a mist eliminator and a cooling device that may be used with the DAC system of Figure 1 , according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure
  • Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a mist eliminator and a cooling device that may be used with the DAC system of Figure 1 , according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure
  • Figure 7 is a schematic view of a mist eliminator and a cooling device separate from the mist eliminator that may be used with the DAC system of Figure 1 , according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;
  • Figure 8 is a schematic view of a DAC system including a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • Figure 9 is a flowchart for a method of operating the DAC system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • Figure 10 has two charts showing the effect of the operation of the system in response to ambient conditions.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a direct air capture (DAC) system 100.
  • the DAC system 100 is operated to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from a CO2 containing stream of gas.
  • the DAC system 100 is embodied as a liquid-absorbent DAC system herein. Further, the CO2 containing stream of gas includes an airflow 102.
  • the DAC system 100 includes a single absorber unit 104.
  • the DAC system 100 includes an absorber 106 configured to receive the airflow 102 and absorb at least a portion of CO2 present in the airflow 102.
  • the absorber 106 is disposed within the absorber unit 104.
  • the absorber unit 104 also includes a fan 108 configured to generate the airflow 102.
  • the fan 108 may be disposed upstream or downstream of the absorber 106. In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 1 , the fan 108 is disposed downstream of the absorber 106.
  • the airflow 102 entering the absorber 106 undergoes an absorption process within the absorber 106.
  • a CO2 depleted stream of air 110 exits the absorber unit 104 after flowing through the absorber 106.
  • a sorbent flows through the absorber 106 and interacts with the airflow 102 flowing through the absorber 106.
  • the sorbent that captures CO2 may have a changing equilibrium between a carbonate form and being in solution with CO2 that depends on temperature.
  • the sorbent may be carried in a solvent, for example, water, which may contain further additives that can function as catalysts, modify the solution physical properties, and/or reduce degradation or other desirable properties.
  • the sorbent may include alkaline absorbents such as hydroxides or organic sorbents.
  • Alkaline sorbents may include, for example, potassium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide.
  • Organic sorbents may include, for example, amines, amino acids. Amines may include, for example, Ethanolamine.
  • Preferred sorbents may include, for example, amino acids or alkali salt solutions of amino acids.
  • the amino acids may be derived from the group consisting of alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, ornithine, phenylalanine, proline, sarcosine, selenocysteine, serine, taurine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine.
  • the amino acids may be a compound of an amino acid, such as, a methyl amine or diethyl amine.
  • Preferred alkali component of the amino acid salts is potassium or sodium. Examples of amino acid salts may include, for example, sodium glycinate, potassium lysinate, sodium taurate.
  • a lean stream 114 of the sorbent enters the absorber 106.
  • the term “lean stream” as used throughout the disclosure relates to a stream of the sorbent that has low values of CO2.
  • the lean stream 114 contacts the airflow 102 and absorbs CC from the airflow 102 to become a rich stream 116.
  • the term “rich stream” as used throughout the disclosure relates to a stream of the sorbent that has high values of CO2.
  • the lean stream 114 is converted to the rich stream 116 based on the absorption of CChfrom the airflow 102.
  • a recirculation stream 118 of the sorbent may be recirculated within the absorber 106.
  • the recirculation stream 118 may increase an effective residence time of each portion of the lean stream 114 of the sorbent in the absorber 106.
  • the DAC system 100 includes a heat exchanging means 120.
  • the heat exchanging means 120 may include any conventional heat exchanger known in the art.
  • the rich stream 116 passes through the heat exchanging means 120 to recover some heat from the lean stream 114 returning from a desorber 122 of the DAC system 100. Based on the heat exchange at the heat exchanging means 120, a temperature of the rich stream 116 exiting the heat exchanging means 120 is slightly increased. Further, the desorber 122 receives the rich stream 116 from the heat exchanging means 120 and heats it up to a temperature that causes CO2 to be released form the rich stream 116.
  • the DAC system 100 further includes a heating means 124.
  • the heating means 124 is embodied as reboiler herein.
  • the heating means 124 increases the temperature of the rich stream 116 by circulating a heated stream 126 of the sorbent through the desorber 122.
  • the heating means 124 receives a portion of the lean stream 114 exiting the desorber 122.
  • the heating means 124 heats the lean stream 114 to form the heated stream 126 that is introduced in the desorber 122.
  • the heating means 124 may also generate steam to form vapour bubbles into which the desorbed CCh can diffuse, leaving the lean stream 114 of the sorbent to return to the absorber 106 to repeat the absorption process.
  • the DAC system 100 further includes a condensing medium 130 in fluid communication with the desorber 122.
  • the condensing medium 130 receives the mixture 128 of the vapour and desorbed CChfrom the desorber 122 and may cool the mixture 128 causing the vapour to condense such that a CO2 product stream 132 leaves the condensing medium 130.
  • the DAC system 100 further includes a mist eliminator 134 configured to receive at least a portion of the airflow 102 from the absorber 106.
  • the mist eliminator 134 may function as a drift/droplet capture structure that captures drift/droplets from the airflow 102 before the airflow 102 exits the absorbing unit 104.
  • the DAC system 100 includes a cooling device 136 disposed in a heat exchange relationship with the mist eliminator 134 and configured to cool the portion of the airflow 102 before the airflow 102 exits the absorbing unit 104. Further, the cooling device 136 may reduce a temperature of the airflow 102 which may in turn reduce evaporation rates of the sorbent that absorbs the CC from the airflow 102.
  • the absorber 106, the mist eliminator 134, and the cooling device 136 are integrated in the single absorber unit 104.
  • the single absorber unit 104 may operate to capture CO2, may reduce drift/droplets, and may reduce the temperature of the airflow 102.
  • the single absorber unit 104 may include a compact structure that may be retrofitted on existing DAC systems by replacing existing absorbers.
  • the mist eliminator 134 and the cooling device 136 are disposed upstream of the fan 108. However, the mist eliminator 134 and the cooling device 136 may be disposed downstream of the fan 108.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the mist eliminator 134 and the cooling device 136 that may be used with the DAC system 100 of Figure 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the cooling device 136 is configured to cool the mist eliminator 134 so as to cause condensation on a surface 138 of the mist eliminator 134.
  • the mist eliminator 134 includes a packing structure 140.
  • the mist eliminator 134 is embodied as a cellular type of mist eliminator herein.
  • the packing structure 140 includes a plurality of structures 142 spaced apart from each other. Each structure 142 extends along a direction D1.
  • the structures 142 may be made of an insulator, such as a polymeric material, a metallic material, or a combination thereof.
  • the polymeric material may include polyethene or polyvinyl chloride.
  • the metallic material may include stainless steel or aluminium. It should be noted that the structures 142 may include any shape or design that may maximise drift/droplet capture efficiency.
  • the cooling device 136 includes one or more tubes 144 disposed in a heat exchange relationship with the packing structure 140.
  • the cooling device 136 may include a thermally conductive material.
  • the cooling device 136 includes a plurality of tubes 144.
  • Each tube 144 defines a flow path F1 to receive a refrigerant for reducing the temperature of the airflow 102 flowing over the mist eliminator 134.
  • Each tube 144 has a trapezoid shape.
  • each tube 144 extends along the direction D1 and is parallel to the structures 142 of the packing structure 140. Alternatively, each tube 144 may be disposed at an angle relative to the structures 142.
  • each tube 144 of the plurality of tubes 144 is integral with a corresponding structure 142. Therefore, the mist eliminator 134 and the cooling device 136 may together form a chilled mist eliminator.
  • each structure 142 has a corresponding tube 144 integral therewith. Accordingly, a total number of the tubes 144 corresponds to a total number of the structures 142 of the packing structure 140. In alternate embodiments, each structure 142 may define more than one tube 144, without any limitations.
  • the surface 138 of the mist eliminator 134 may be embodied as a fin that may conduct heat away from the airflow 102 thereby creating an effective cooling surface.
  • the surface 138 may include a plurality of fins extending therefrom to create the cooling surface.
  • the DAC system 100 includes a refrigeration circuit 146 disposed in fluid communication with the cooling device 136 and configured to extract heat from the cooling device 136.
  • the refrigeration circuit 146 is configured to run a refrigerant cycle for cooling the cooling device 136.
  • the refrigeration circuit 146 may include a refrigerant source (not shown) configured to direct the refrigerant towards the cooling device 136.
  • each tube 144 of the cooling device 136 is configured to allow passage of the refrigerant therethrough.
  • the refrigerant flows through the tubes 144 and exchanges heat with the portion of the airflow 102 flowing over the mist eliminator 134. Accordingly, the temperature of the airflow 102 decreases which causes condensation of the sorbent.
  • the temperature of the refrigerant is below the dewpoint of the airflow leaving the absorber. Further, the condensed sorbent may drip back into the absorber unit 104 alongside drift/droplets captured by the mist eliminator 134.
  • thermophoresis effects additionally causes the chilled mist eliminator 134 to capture more droplets from the airflow 102 than a conventional mist eliminator. This weak effect provides an advantageous extra benefit.
  • the main function of the cooling device 126 is to condense the evaporated water by cooling the structure of the mist eliminator 134 dealing with drift.
  • Thermophoresis provides a welcome additional weak force to further improve the elimination of particles in the airflow 102.
  • the refrigeration circuit 146 includes a heat pump 148 and a heat exchanger 150 disposed in a heat exchange relationship with the heat pump 148. Further, the refrigerant exits the cooling device 136 and is introduced in the heat pump 148. The heat pump 148 extracts waste heat from the refrigerant to generate useful heat which is then directed towards the heat exchanger 150.
  • the heat exchanger 150 is embodied as the heating means 124 of the DAC system 100 herein. In such examples, the useful heat generated by the heat pump 148 may be used to increase the temperature of the lean stream 114 flowing through the heating means 124. Alternatively, the heat exchanger 150 may be associated with any other component of the DAC system 100 or the heat exchanger 150 may be external to the DAC system 100.
  • the DAC system 100 includes a controller 152 configured to control the refrigeration cycle of the refrigeration circuit 146 based on at least one of an environmental parameter, a pressure within the absorber 106 (see Figure 1 ), and a temperature within the absorber 106.
  • the environmental parameter may include a temperature, a pressure, or a humidity of the surroundings of the DAC system 100.
  • a first sensor system 154 may be associated with the DAC system 100.
  • the first sensor system 154 may include, for example, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and/or a humidity sensor.
  • the DAC system 100 may include a second sensor system 156 associated with the absorber 106.
  • the second sensor system 156 may include, for example, a temperature sensor or a pressure sensor. Each of the first and second sensor systems 154, 156 may be in communication with the controller 152. Based on the values determined by the first and second sensor systems 154, 156, the controller 152 may determine if the refrigeration cycle needs to be activated in order to decrease the temperature of the airflow 102 exiting the absorber unit 104 (see Figure 1 ). For example, when the environmental parameters, i.e., the temperature, pressure, and/or humidity, or the temperature within the absorber 106 suggest that evaporation rates and/or water loss is high, the refrigeration circuit 146 may be activated. As the refrigeration cycle is dynamically controlled as per current conditions within and outside the absorber 106, the DAC system 100 may eliminate unnecessary consumption of power.
  • the controller may be configured to control the refrigeration circuit based on the humidity of the ambient air and the humidity of the air leaving the absorber, such that the condensation on the surface of the mist eliminator provides condensate to replace a portion of the water loss in the absorber.
  • the controller may calculate the absolute humidity based on sensor readings of relative humidity and temperature, and calculate the cooling load required to condense water on the mist eliminator at a rate sufficient to replace the portion of water loss required.
  • the controller may control the refrigeration cycle so that the nett water loss from the absorber is nearly zero.
  • the nett water loss could include evaporation and drift losses from the absorber, as well as other incidental losses from the sorbent circuits and the desorber system.
  • the nett water loss may be reduced by more than 20% of the loss that would be expected without the cooling of the mist eliminator. In some climatic conditions, 100% of the loss may be recoverable. The amount of water that is economically recoverable will depend on the local cost of providing cooling, fan power and water, so in some environments it may be desirable to recover less than 100% of the water for economic reasons. Therefore the controller may be configured to vary the rate of water recovery based on the ambient temperature and humidity, and parameters indicating the cost of water and power.
  • Figure 10 shows two charts illustrating the effects of controlling the cooling of the mist eliminator as ambient conditions vary.
  • Chart A shows ambient conditions on a sample day
  • the dotted trace represents relative humidity, on the right axis
  • the dashed trace shows ambient temperature on the left axis.
  • Chart B shows an example of the energy use and water recovered as the plant is controlled over the day
  • the dotted trace represents water recovery on the right axis
  • the dashed trace represents energy required by the chiller on the left axis. Both are expressed as per ton of captured CO2.
  • chart B when the relative humidity is higher in the afternoon of this day, there is less water loss from the sorbent in the absorber, so the cooling of drift eliminator can be reduced, using less energy.
  • the controller can modulate the heat pump operation to ensure that water loss is reduced to close to zero. However there are times when, for practical purposes, this is not desirable.
  • the controller recognises that maintaining a zero water loss objective would lead to risk of ice build-up in the chiller, so the controller limits the chiller power at that time and a small amount of water loss is tolerated. Additional water could have been stored temporarily from earlier when the chiller was able to chill a little more and effectively harvest some water from the more humid incoming air.
  • One option is to use a feedforward controller checking expected local weather (temperature, pressure and humidity) that could allow relatively small quantities of water to be stored for a few hours or days.
  • the amount of work required by the heat pump could be large and again the controller could change its control objective from instantaneous zero water loss to limiting water loss to a low value.
  • Make-up water can again be stored from another time when the humidity level was more favourable.
  • the control objective being to limit water loss over a set duration rather than instantaneously achieving zero water loss at all times.
  • the control objective could be to maximise cost savings when knowledge of bought-in top-up water costs and bought-in low carbon energy costs are taken into account.
  • the heat pump system providing the cooling may deliver the heat to elsewhere in the system, for example to the desorber which requires heat to separate the CO2 from the sorbent.
  • the controller may vary the temperature of the drift eliminator so that the absolute humidity of the air leaving the mist eliminator is the same or lower than the absolute humidity of the ambient air entering the absorber, the difference being sufficient to make up the incidental and drift losses.
  • the controller may control the temperature of the refrigerant delivered to the cooling device attached to the mist eliminator in response to psychometric sensor readings taken around or within the absorber. These may include some or all of the temperature and humidity of the ambient air, the air leaving the absorber, or the air leaving the mist eliminator.
  • the ambient air readings may be received from a local weather station.
  • the controller may obtain an estimate of the incidental losses elsewhere in the system by a calculation or from a table of empirical water loss measurements.
  • the controller may receive a measurement of the total water content of the system, for example the level of sorbent in a storage vessel connected to the system, and iterate the control of the drift eliminator based on an indication that the level of sorbent is rising or falling.
  • a group of absorbers may have their outlets connected to a common plenum, and the mist eliminator may be incorporated into the plenum so that drift and evaporation from all the absorbers is collected at a position within the plenum. This will reduce the number of cooling devices required.
  • the controller 152 may include one or more processors and one or more memories. It should be noted that the one or more processors may embody a single microprocessor or multiple microprocessors for receiving various input signals. Numerous commercially available microprocessors may be configured to perform the functions of the one or more processors. Each processor may further include a general processor, a central processing unit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital circuit, an analog circuit, a microcontroller, any other type of processor, or any combination thereof. Each processor may include one or more components that may be operable to execute computer executable instructions or computer code that may be stored and retrieved from the one or more memories.
  • ASIC application specific integrated circuit
  • FPGA field programmable gate array
  • Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of a mist eliminator 434 and a cooling device 436 that may be associated with the DAC system 100 of Figure 1.
  • the mist eliminator 434 and the cooling device 436 form a single integral component herein.
  • the mist eliminator 434 includes a packing structure 440.
  • the mist eliminator 434 is embodied as a cellular type of mist eliminator herein.
  • the packing structure 440 includes a plurality of structures 442 spaced apart from each other. Each structure 442 is similar in design and functionality to the structure 142 described in relation to Figure 2.
  • the cooling device 436 includes one or more tubes 444 disposed in a heat exchange relationship with the packing structure 440.
  • the tubes 444 are similar in design and functionality to the tubes 144 described in relation to Figure 2.
  • the cooling device 436 includes two tubes 444. Specifically, only two of the structures 442 define a corresponding tube 444. Although only two tubes 444 are illustrated herein, it may be contemplated that the cooling device 436 may include more than two tubes or a single tube, without any limitations thereto. Therefore, only some of the structures 442 are provided with the tubes 444, while the tubes 444 are absent in the other structures 442.
  • a surface 438 of the mist eliminator 434 may be embodied as a fin that may conduct heat away from the airflow 402 thereby creating an effective cooling surface.
  • the surface 438 may include a plurality of fins extending therefrom to create the cooling surface.
  • Figure 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of a mist eliminator 534 and a cooling device 536 that may be associated with the DAC system 100 of Figure 1.
  • the mist eliminator 534 and the cooling device 536 form a single integral component herein.
  • the mist eliminator 534 includes a packing structure 540.
  • the mist eliminator 534 is embodied as a cellular type of mist eliminator herein.
  • the packing structure 540 includes a plurality of structures 542 spaced apart from each other. Each structure 542 is similar in design and functionality to the structures 142 described in relation to Figure 2. Each structure 542 extends along a direction D2.
  • the cooling device 536 includes one or more tubes 544 disposed in a heat exchange relationship with the packing structure 540.
  • the tubes 544 are similar in functionality to the tubes 144 described in relation to Figure 2. However, in the illustrated embodiment of Figure 5, the tubes 544 extend orthogonally with respect to the direction D2. In other words, each tube 544 is orthogonal to the structures 542 of the packing structure 540. Alternatively, each tube 544 may be disposed at an oblique angle relative to the structures 542.
  • the tubes 544 include a circular cross-section herein. Further, only two tubes 544 are illustrated herein for exemplary purposes, however, the cooling device 536 may include more than two tubes 544.
  • a surface 538 of each tube 544 may be embodied as a fin that may conduct heat away from the airflow 502 thereby creating an effective cooling surface. In other examples, the surface 538 may include a plurality of fins extending therefrom to create the cooling surface.
  • Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of a mist eliminator 634 and a cooling device 636 that may be associated with the DAC system 100 of Figure 1.
  • the mist eliminator 634 and the cooling device 636 form a single integral component herein.
  • the mist eliminator 634 is embodied as a mesh type of mist eliminator herein.
  • the mist eliminator 634 includes a packing structure 640.
  • the packing structure 640 includes a first mesh 658 and a second mesh 660 spaced apart from each other. Alternatively, the packing structure 640 may include three or more meshes based on a size of the absorber 106 (see Figure 1 ).
  • the first and second meshes 658, 660 may be made of a metallic material. Further, each of the first and second meshes 658, 660 may be made up of one or multiple layers of mesh. Furthermore, the first and second meshes 658, 660 may be in alignment with each other, or the first and second meshes 658, 660 may be disposed in an offset/staggered manner. In some examples, it may also be contemplated to combine a cellular type of mist eliminator (as shown in Figures 2, 4, and 5) with a mesh type of mist eliminator (as shown in Figure 6) for improved drift/droplet capture efficiency.
  • the cooling device 636 includes a single tube 644 disposed in a heat exchange relationship with the packing structure 640. Specifically, the tube 644 is sandwiched between the first and second meshes 658, 660. The tube 644 is similar in functionality to the tubes 144 described in relation to Figure 2.
  • the tube 644 includes a circular cross-section herein.
  • a surface 638 of the tube 644 may be embodied as a fin that may conduct heat away from the airflow 602 thereby creating an effective cooling surface. In other examples, the surface 638 may include a plurality of fins extending therefrom to create the cooling surface.
  • Figure 7 illustrates another embodiment of a mist eliminator 734 and a cooling device 736 that may be associated with the DAC system 100 of Figure 1 .
  • the mist eliminator 734 and the cooling device 736 are embodied as separate components disposed in the absorber unit 104.
  • the cooling device 736 is disposed downstream of the mist eliminator 734 along a direction D3 of the airflow 702.
  • the cooling device 736 may be embodied as a fin-and-tube heat exchanger or the cooling device 736 may include any other design known in the art.
  • the mist eliminator 734 may include a packing structure that may be similar to any one of the packing structures 140, 440, 540, 640 explained in relation to Figures 2, 4, 5, and 6, respectively.
  • mist eliminator 134, 434, 534, 634, 734 (see Figures 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively) and the cooling device 136, 436, 536, 636, 736 (see Figures 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively) may include any other design and/or combination of components other than those described herein to achieve the intended function.
  • FIG 8 illustrates a DAC system 800, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the DAC system 800 is similar in functionality to the DAC system 100 explained in relation to Figures 1 to 3. Further, same parts have been referred by same numbers herein. It should be noted that components which have the same reference numbers in different Figures have the same structural features and the same functions.
  • the DAC system 800 includes a mist eliminator 134, a cooling device 136, an absorber 106, and a refrigeration circuit 146 as described in relation to Figures 1 to 3.
  • the DAC system 800 further includes a first heat exchanger 862 disposed downstream of the cooling device 136 and configured to heat the portion of an airflow 102 received from the cooling device 136.
  • the DAC system 800 further includes a second heat exchanger 864 disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger 862 and configured to cool the portion of airflow 102 received from the first heat exchanger 862.
  • the mist eliminator 134 and the cooling device 136 may, respectively, capture the drift/ droplets and reduce evaporation rates of the sorbent present in the airflow 102. Further, the drift/droplets escaping through the mist eliminator 134 may be captured by the first heat exchanger 862.
  • the first heat exchanger 862 is embodied as a hot heat exchanger that may increase the temperature of the airflow 102 received from the cooling device 136 thereby evaporating remaining drift/droplets.
  • the second heat exchanger 864 is embodied as a cold heat exchanger that may decrease the temperature of the airflow 102 received from the first heat exchanger 862 to condense the sorbent and water present in the airflow 102.
  • the DAC system 800 further includes an additional refrigeration circuit 866 disposed in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger 862 and the second heat exchanger 864.
  • the additional refrigeration circuit 866 is configured to provide heat exchange between the first heat exchanger 862 and the second heat exchanger 864.
  • the additional refrigeration circuit 866 includes a heat pump 868 that converts waste heat from the chilling of the second heat exchanger 864 into useful heat. The useful heat may be then used to heat the first heat exchanger 862 for increasing the temperature of the airflow 102 flowing over the first heat exchanger 862.
  • the DAC system 800 further includes an electrostatic precipitator 870 disposed downstream of the second heat exchanger 864.
  • the electrostatic precipitator 870 is embodied as a low loss filter.
  • the electrostatic precipitator 870 may facilitate an effective impurities removal step.
  • the electrostatic precipitator 870 may provide an air cleaning function so that the DAC system 800 may purify the airflow 102 of any contaminants, such as, pollutants.
  • the DAC system 800 may omit the electrostatic precipitator 870.
  • Figure 9 illustrates a method 900, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 900 is directed towards an operation of the DAC system 100, 800 as explained in relation to Figures 1 to 3, and Figure 8, respectively.
  • the absorber 106 of the DAC system 100 removes at least the portion of the CC from the airflow 102.
  • the mist eliminator 134 receives at least the portion of the airflow 102 from the absorber 106.
  • the cooling device 136 cools the portion of the airflow 102 flowing over the mist eliminator 134.
  • the heat pump 148 extracts the heat from the cooling device 136. In some embodiments, the heat pump 148 heats the heating means 124 of the DAC system 100.
  • the portion of the airflow 102 received from the cooling device 136 is heated via the first heat exchanger 862.
  • the portion of airflow 102 received from the first heat exchanger 862 is cooled via the second heat exchanger 864.
  • the heat exchange between the first heat exchanger 862 and the second heat exchanger 864 is provided via the additional refrigeration circuit 866.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Gas Separation By Absorption (AREA)
  • Treating Waste Gases (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de capture directe d'air (DAC) (100) comprenant un absorbeur (106) conçu pour recevoir un flux d'air (102) et absorber au moins une partie du dioxyde de carbone présent dans le flux d'air (102). Le système DAC (100) comprend en outre un dévésiculeur (134, 434, 534, 634, 734) conçu pour recevoir au moins une partie du flux d'air (102) provenant de l'absorbeur (106). Le système DAC (100) comprend en outre un dispositif de refroidissement (136, 436, 536, 636, 736) disposé dans une relation d'échange de chaleur avec le dévésiculeur (134, 434, 534, 634, 734) et conçu pour refroidir la partie du flux d'air (102).
PCT/EP2023/080447 2022-11-10 2023-11-01 Système et procédé de capture directe d'air WO2024099841A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2216768.8A GB2624212A (en) 2022-11-10 2022-11-10 Direct air capture system and method
GB2216768.8 2022-11-10

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WO2024099841A1 true WO2024099841A1 (fr) 2024-05-16

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Citations (7)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130280152A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2013-10-24 Uday Singh Method and Apparatus for the Removal of Carbon Dioxide from a Gas Stream
WO2015056272A2 (fr) * 2013-10-09 2015-04-23 Reliance Industries Limited Système de compression multiple et processus de captage de dioxyde de carbone
WO2019238488A1 (fr) * 2018-06-14 2019-12-19 Climeworks Ag Procédé et dispositif d'adsorption/désorption de dioxyde de carbone à partir de flux gazeux avec unité de récupération de chaleur
US11266943B1 (en) * 2021-06-11 2022-03-08 Joseph J. Stark System and method for improving the performance and lowering the cost of atmospheric carbon dioxide removal by direct air capture
US20220195706A1 (en) * 2020-12-17 2022-06-23 Genesis Systems Llc Atmospheric water generation systems and methods
US20220305434A1 (en) * 2021-03-24 2022-09-29 Next Carbon Solutions, Llc. Processes, apparatuses, and systems for direct air carbon capture utilizing waste heat and exhaust air
WO2022221365A1 (fr) * 2021-04-13 2022-10-20 Enviro Ambient Corporation Système et procédés de capture et de récupération de dioxyde de carbone

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US5603908A (en) * 1992-09-16 1997-02-18 The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. Process for removing carbon dioxide from combustion gases
JPH09262432A (ja) * 1996-03-29 1997-10-07 Kansai Electric Power Co Inc:The 脱炭酸塔排ガス中の塩基性アミン化合物の回収方法
EP2766106A1 (fr) * 2011-10-13 2014-08-20 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Procédé pour l'élimination de dioxyde de carbone d'un gaz
US9382120B2 (en) * 2014-04-17 2016-07-05 Farouk Dakhil Carbon dioxide capture and storage system
CA3217072A1 (fr) * 2021-05-04 2022-11-10 Tyson Lee Lanigan-Atkins Systemes et procedes d'elimination de dioxyde de carbone (co2) de gaz contenant du co2 a l'aide d'adsorbants de metaux alcalins

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130280152A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2013-10-24 Uday Singh Method and Apparatus for the Removal of Carbon Dioxide from a Gas Stream
WO2015056272A2 (fr) * 2013-10-09 2015-04-23 Reliance Industries Limited Système de compression multiple et processus de captage de dioxyde de carbone
WO2019238488A1 (fr) * 2018-06-14 2019-12-19 Climeworks Ag Procédé et dispositif d'adsorption/désorption de dioxyde de carbone à partir de flux gazeux avec unité de récupération de chaleur
US20220195706A1 (en) * 2020-12-17 2022-06-23 Genesis Systems Llc Atmospheric water generation systems and methods
US20220305434A1 (en) * 2021-03-24 2022-09-29 Next Carbon Solutions, Llc. Processes, apparatuses, and systems for direct air carbon capture utilizing waste heat and exhaust air
WO2022221365A1 (fr) * 2021-04-13 2022-10-20 Enviro Ambient Corporation Système et procédés de capture et de récupération de dioxyde de carbone
US11266943B1 (en) * 2021-06-11 2022-03-08 Joseph J. Stark System and method for improving the performance and lowering the cost of atmospheric carbon dioxide removal by direct air capture

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GB2624212A (en) 2024-05-15

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