US 11,305,230 B1Granted

Direct capture of carbon dioxide from air

OwnerMarvin S Keshner, Erik Garth Vaalerinventors

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Abstract

A system for large scale capture of atmospheric carbon dioxide while exposed to air and weather in an outdoor environment, includes a large flat slab with a perimeter wall projecting above its surface; one or more rotary fans, providing uniform, high volume, low velocity, turbulent air flow over the entire slab surface; a transport system transferring powder—a particulate material mixed with air—to and from all locations on the slab or on an overlying mesh screen, a kiln, closed to outside air, and a compressor. The transport system includes either a vacuum/deposition system or a conveyor system with one or more conveyors. The kiln heats the particulate material, delivered by the transport system from the slab, to output released carbon dioxide, previously absorbed by the particulate material in the powder, to the compressor for compression, and either the heated particulate material, or a processed version of it.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for large scale capture of carbon dioxide directly from atmospheric air, comprising:

a slab having a flat top surface, either of rectangular or elliptical shape defined by a length and a width, or by a radius, and having an area greater than 400 sq. m
a perimeter wall bounding the slab and projecting above the flat top surface of the slab;
one or more rotary fans, having a combined area sufficient to provide air flow to the entire slab, each fan being configured to generate uniform, high volume, low velocity, turbulent air flow over the surface of the slab;
a transport system operable to transfer powder comprising a mixture of air and a particulate material to and from all locations on the slab or on a mesh screen located above the slab, the transport system comprising either a vacuum/deposition system comprising one or more vacuum/deposition heads, or a conveyor system comprising one or more conveyors;
a kiln, closed to outside air, configured to:
heat the particulate material, after delivery to the kiln by the vacuum/deposition or conveyor system from the slab, such that carbon dioxide previously absorbed by the particulate material in the powder is released;
and
provide first and second kiln outputs, the first kiln output being the released carbon dioxide, and the second kiln output comprising either the heated particulate material, or a processed version of the heated particulate material;
and
a compressor configured to receive and compress the first kiln output, providing the compressed carbon dioxide as a compressor output;
wherein the system is configured to be fully operational while exposed to atmospheric air and weather in an outdoor environment.

8 more elements

A method for large scale capture of carbon dioxide directly from atmospheric air, the method comprising:

creating a receptacle of large area, the receptacle comprising a slab having a flat top surface, and a perimeter wall bounding the slab and projecting above the flat top surface of the slab;
depositing, by means of pumping or conveying, a powder comprising a mixture of air and a particulate material of a first chemical composition, capable of absorbing carbon dioxide, as a layer either on the flat top surface of the slab, or on a screen positioned above the slab;
providing a uniform, high volume, low velocity, turbulent air flow to expose the particulate material in the deposited layer to overlying air, such that the particulate material absorbs carbon dioxide from the air;
transferring, by means of pumping or conveying, the powder from the slab to and from a kiln, closed to outside air;
heating the particulate material in the kiln such that carbon dioxide previously absorbed by the particulate material in the powder is released;
compressing the released carbon dioxide for transport to a storage location;
pumping or moving by one or more conveyors, from the kiln to the slab, an output that comprises either the heated particulate material mixed with air or a processed version of the heated particulate material mixed with air, the processing being carried out within the kiln;
and depositing the output either on the flat top surface of the slab or on a screen positioned above the slab;
wherein the method is fully operable while the receptacle and any layer of powder present on or above the top surface of the slab of the receptacle are exposed to atmospheric air and weather in an outdoor environment.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.