# US 12,005,390 B1 · Hybrid carbon dioxide removal systems

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- Number: US 12,005,390 B1
- Document ID: US12005390B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/509,878
- Filed: 2023-11-15
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2023-11-15
- Assignees: AirMyne, Inc.
- Applicants: AirMyne, Inc.
- Inventors: Bart Ludo Scherpbier; Jun Seon Hong; Derek Chase Popple; Mark Patrick Cyffka; Aryaman Bhartia; Cyndia Aiyun Cao; Arun Suresh Kamath; Sudip Mukhopadhyay
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005390B1

## CPC

- B01D 53/1493: {Selection of liquid materials for use as absorbents}
- B01D 53/1406: {Multiple stage absorption}
- B01D 53/1412: {Controlling the absorption process}
- B01D 53/1425: {Regeneration of liquid absorbents}
- B01D 53/1475: {Removing carbon dioxide}
- B01D 53/185: {Liquid distributors}
- B01D 53/62: Carbon oxides
- B01D 53/78: with gas-liquid contact
- B01D 2251/60: Inorganic bases or salts
- B01D 2251/80: Organic bases or salts
- B01D 2252/204: Amines
- B01D 2252/20494: Amino acids, their salts or derivatives
- B01D 2252/504: Mixtures of two or more absorbents
- B01D 2252/602: Activators, promoting agents, catalytic agents or enzymes
- B01D 2257/504: Carbon dioxide
- B01D 2258/0283: Flue gases
- Y02C 20/40: of CO2
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- Y02C: CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG]

## Abstract

In a general aspect, a carbon dioxide removal system is presented. In some cases, a gas-liquid contactor is wetted with an alkaline capture solution. A first flow from a first gaseous feed including CO2 from a first source is directed to interact with the alkaline capture solution in the gas-liquid contactor, which forms a first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution. A second flow from a second gaseous feed including CO2 from a second, distinct source is directed to interact with the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution, which forms a second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution. In some cases, the second flow is independent of the first gaseous feed, and a concentration of CO2 in the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution is higher than a concentration of CO2 in the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution. CO2 can be separated from the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) gas from a first gaseous feed and a second gaseous feed, the method comprising:
wetting a gas-liquid contactor with an alkaline capture solution;
receiving the first gaseous feed from a first source, the first gaseous feed comprising CO2;
directing a first flow from the first gaseous feed to interact with the alkaline capture solution in the gas-liquid contactor, wherein directing the first flow causes a first portion of CO2 from the first gaseous feed to dissolve into the alkaline capture solution forming a first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution;
receiving the second gaseous feed from a second, distinct source, the second gaseous feed comprising CO2;
directing a second flow from the second gaseous feed to interact with the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution, wherein the second flow is independent of the first gaseous feed, and directing the second flow causes a second portion of CO2 from the second gaseous feed to dissolve into the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution forming a second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution, and a concentration of CO2 in the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution is higher than a concentration of CO2 in the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution; and
separating a third portion of CO2 from the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the alkaline capture solution comprises:
an aqueous ionic base (M+Y−),
a phase transfer catalyst,
an amine or a mixture of amines, and
a carboxylic acid salt of an amino acid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first gaseous feed comprises ambient air, and a concentration of the CO2 gas in the first gaseous feed is equal to or less than 1000 parts per million (ppm).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second gaseous feed comprises a flue gas, and a concentration of the CO2 gas in the second gaseous feed is in a range of 1000 ppm to 40 weight percent.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein separating the third portion of CO2 from the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution comprises:
passing the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution to a desorption column; and
heating the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution in the desorption column to a temperature to separate the third portion of CO2.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein heating the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution in the desorption column to a temperature to separate the third portion of CO2 comprises heating the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution to a temperature below 200 degrees Celsius.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, comprising:
prior to passing the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution to the desorption column, passing the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution and a CO2-lean alkaline capture solution through a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger transfers heat from the CO2-lean alkaline capture solution to the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, comprising:
prior to passing the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution to the desorption column, passing the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution and the second gaseous feed through a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger transfers heat from the second gaseous feed to the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising:
wetting the gas-liquid contactor with the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution, wherein directing the second flow to interact with the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution comprises directing the second flow to interact with the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution in the gas-liquid contactor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising:
transferring the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution from the gas-liquid contactor to a bubbling column, wherein directing the second flow from the second gaseous feed to interact with the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution comprises directing the second flow from the second gaseous feed to interact with the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution in the bubbling column.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, comprising:
prior to transferring the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution from the gas-liquid contactor to the bubbling column, determining the concentration of CO2 of the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution; and
in response to the concentration of CO2 of the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution being equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, determining to transfer the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution from the gas-liquid contactor to the bubbling column.

### Claim 12

A hybrid carbon dioxide removal system for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) gas from a first gaseous feed and a second gaseous feed, the system comprising:
a first gas-liquid contactor comprising
a first inlet that receives an alkaline capture solution; and
a first flow path that receives the first gaseous feed from a first source and directs a first flow of the first gaseous feed to interact with an alkaline capture solution in the first gas-liquid contactor, wherein directing the first flow causes a first portion of CO2 from the first gaseous feed to dissolve into the alkaline capture solution and form a first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution;
a second gas-liquid contactor comprising:
a second inlet that receives the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution from the first gas-liquid contactor; and
a second flow path that receives the second gaseous feed from a second source and directs a second flow of the second gaseous feed to interact with the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution, wherein directing the second flow causes a second portion of CO2 from the second gaseous feed to dissolve into the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution and form a second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution, wherein the second flow is independent of the first gaseous feed, and a concentration of CO2 in the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution is higher than a concentration of CO2 in the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution; and
a third gas-liquid contactor comprising:
a third inlet that receives the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution from the second gas-liquid contactor; and
a vessel that separates a third portion of CO2 from the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the alkaline capture solution comprises:
an aqueous ionic base (M+Y−),
a phase transfer catalyst,
an amine or a mixture of amines, and
a carboxylic acid salt of an amino acid.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the first gaseous feed comprises ambient air, and a concentration of the CO2 gas in the first gaseous feed is equal to or less than 1000 parts per million (ppm).

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the second gaseous feed comprises a flue gas, and a concentration of the CO2 gas in the second gaseous feed is in a range of 1000 ppm to 40 weight percent.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the third gas-liquid contactor comprises a heating element configured to heat the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution to a temperature sufficient to separate the third portion of CO2.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the third gas-liquid contactor comprises a desorption column, and the heating element is configured to heat the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution to a temperature below 200 degrees Celsius.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the third gas-liquid contactor is configured to generate a CO2-lean alkaline capture solution when the third portion of CO2 is separated from the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution, and the system further comprises a heat exchanger configured to allow heat transfer from the CO2-lean alkaline capture solution to the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, further comprising:
a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the second gaseous feed to the second CO2-rich alkaline capture solution.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the first gas-liquid contactor further comprises a sensor configured to measure the concentration of CO2 of the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution, and the system further comprises a control system communicably coupled to the sensor and configured to:
determine the concentration of CO2 of the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution;
compare the determined concentration of CO2 of the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution with a predetermined threshold value; and
in response to the concentration of CO2 of the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution being equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value, determine to transfer the first CO2-rich alkaline capture solution from the first gas-liquid contactor to the second gas-liquid contactor.