# US 12,214,330 B2 · Enhanced capture structures for direct air capture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,330 B2 - Document ID: US12214330B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/729,296 - Filed: 2022-04-26 - Published: 2022-10-27 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-26 - Assignees: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University - Applicants: Klaus Lackner; Robert Page; John Cirucci; Matthew Green; Thiago Stangherlin Barbosa - Inventors: Klaus Lackner; Robert Page; John Cirucci; Matthew Green; Thiago Stangherlin Barbosa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214330B2 ## CPC - B01J 20/28014: {characterised by their form} - B01D 39/16: of organic material, e.g. synthetic fibres - B01D 46/00: Filters or filtering processes specially modified for separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours (filtering elements B01D24/00-B01D35/00; filtering material B01D39/00; their regeneration outside the filters B01D41/00) - B01D 53/02: by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography {(solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01)} - B01D 53/04: with stationary adsorbents {(B01D53/025 takes precedence)} - B01D 53/0407: {Constructional details of adsorbing systems} - B01J 20/28011: {Other properties, e.g. density, crush strength} - B01J 20/28045: {Honeycomb or cellular structures; Solid foams or sponges} - B01J 20/2805: {Sorbents inside a permeable or porous casing, e.g. inside a container, bag or membrane} - B01D 2253/34: Specific shapes - B01D 2257/504: Carbon dioxide - B01D 2258/06: Polluted air - Y02C 20/40: of CO2 - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - 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 An enhanced capture structure is disclosed, including a sorbent structure having a CO2 sorbent material. The capture structure also includes a plurality of barriers extending outward from the sorbent structure, each sized and positioned such that as an airflow passes along the sorbent structure, a high pressure region forms proximate the sorbent structure on a first side of the barrier facing into the airflow and a low pressure region forms proximate the sorbent structure on a second side of the barrier facing away from the airflow. The barriers on one side of the sorbent structure are staggered with respect to barriers on the other side such that a plurality of high and low pressure regions are formed, each high pressure region being formed opposite a low pressure region on the other side of the structure, creating a pressure differential that promotes CO2 mass transfer into the sorbent material via convection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An enhanced capture structure, comprising: a sorbent structure comprising a first CO2 sorbent material, the sorbent structure further comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; and a plurality of barriers extending outward from the sorbent structure, each barrier of the plurality of barriers sized and positioned such that as an airflow passes along the sorbent structure and over the barrier a high pressure region forms proximate the sorbent structure on a first side of the barrier facing into the airflow and a low pressure region forms proximate the sorbent structure on a second side of the barrier facing away from the airflow, opposite the first side; wherein the plurality of barriers comprises a first set of barriers extending outward from the first surface of the sorbent structure and a second set of barriers extending outward from the second surface of the sorbent structure, the first set of barriers staggered with respect to the second set of barriers such that the airflow creates a plurality of high pressure regions and a plurality of low pressure regions proximate the sorbent structure, where each high pressure region formed proximate one of the first surface and the second surface of the sorbent structure is opposite a low pressure region formed on the other of the first surface and the second surface of the sorbent structure, creating a pressure differential that promotes CO2 mass transfer into the first sorbent material via convection through the sorbent structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The enhanced capture structure of claim 1, wherein each barrier of the plurality of barriers passes through at least a majority of the sorbent structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The enhanced capture structure of claim 1, wherein each barrier of the plurality of barriers is coupled to one of the first surface and the second surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The enhanced capture structure of claim 1, further comprising a rotational symmetry about an axis normal to the first surface and the second surface of the sorbent structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The enhanced capture structure of claim 1, further comprising a translational symmetry in a direction parallel to the first surface and the second surface of the sorbent structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The enhanced capture structure of claim 1, wherein the sorbent structure further comprises a support material having a first density, and wherein the sorbent material has a second density that is less than the first density. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The enhanced capture structure of claim 6, wherein the support material is a second CO2 sorbent material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The enhanced capture structure of claim 6, wherein the support material is a tessellation of polygons forming polygonal conduits passing from the first surface to the second surface, each polygonal conduit being at least partially filled with the first CO2 sorbent material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The enhanced capture structure of claim 8, wherein the polygonal conduits of the tessellation each have a hexagonal cross section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The enhanced capture structure of claim 8, wherein each barrier of the plurality of barriers is integral with, and extends outward from, a different polygonal edge of the tessellation of polygons. ### Claim 11 An enhanced capture structure, comprising: a sorbent structure comprising a first CO2 sorbent material having a second density and a support material having a first density greater than the second density; wherein the sorbent structure further comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; wherein the support material is a tessellation of polygons forming polygonal conduits passing from the first surface to the second surface, each conduit comprising the first CO2 sorbent material; and wherein the support material is a second CO2 sorbent material. ### Claim 12 An enhanced capture structure, comprising: a sorbent structure comprising a first CO2 sorbent material having a second density and a support material having a first density greater than the second density; wherein the sorbent structure further comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; wherein the support material is a tessellation of polygons forming polygonal conduits passing from the first surface to the second surface, each conduit comprising the first CO2 sorbent material; and a plurality of barriers extending outward from the sorbent structure, each barrier of the plurality of barriers sized and positioned such that as an airflow passes along the sorbent structure and over the barrier a high pressure region forms proximate the sorbent structure on a first side of the barrier facing into the airflow and a low pressure region forms proximate the sorbent structure on a second side of the barrier facing away from the airflow, opposite the first side; wherein the plurality of barriers comprises a first set of barriers extending outward from the first surface of the sorbent structure and a second set of barriers extending outward from the second surface of the sorbent structure, the first set of barriers and the second set of barriers staggered such that the airflow creates a plurality of high pressure regions and a plurality of low pressure regions proximate the sorbent structure, where each high pressure region formed proximate one of the first surface and the second surface of the sorbent structure is opposite a low pressure region formed on the other of the first surface and the second surface of the sorbent structure, creating a pressure differential that promotes CO2 mass transfer into the first sorbent material via convection through the sorbent structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The enhanced capture structure of claim 12, wherein each barrier of the plurality of barriers passes through at least a majority of the sorbent structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The enhanced capture structure of claim 12, wherein each barrier of the plurality of barriers is coupled to one of the first surface and the second surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The enhanced capture structure of claim 12, wherein each barrier of the plurality of barriers extends outward from a different polygonal edge of the tessellation of polygons. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The enhanced capture structure of claim 12, wherein the plurality of barriers is composed of the support material.