Device and method for passive collection of atmospheric carbon dioxide with a double-walled harvest chamber

A device for passive collection of atmospheric carbon dioxide, comprising:

• a harvest chamber comprising an inner wall forming an inner cylinder with an opening, an outer wall, an annular void between the inner wall and outer wall, and a water-filled sump at the bottom of the harvest chamber connecting the annular void and the inner cylinder;
• a capture structure coupled to the harvest chamber and comprising a sorbent material, the capture structure being movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration;
• an upper lid positioned above the capture structure, the upper lid coupled to the capture structure;
• a water delivery device comprising at least one water applicator and a water pump, the at least one water applicator positioned within the annular void proximate the top of the annular void and configured to dispense liquid water onto a surface of at least one of the inner wall and outer wall within the annular void, the water pump in fluid communication with the water-filled sump and configured to transfer liquid water from the water-filled sump to the at least one water applicator;
• a lower lid coupled to the capture structure and positioned below the capture structure such that the capture structure is between the lower lid and the upper lid;
• and
• wherein the open configuration comprises the capture structure extending upward from the harvest chamber to expose at least a portion of the capture structure to an airflow and allow the sorbent material to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide, the capture structure expanded to occupy a collection volume;
• wherein the closed configuration comprises the capture structure collapsed to occupy a regeneration volume that is smaller than the collection volume, the upper lid covering the opening of the inner cylinder, the capture structure being sufficiently enclosed inside the inner cylinder that a heated water vapor operates on the sorbent material of the capture structure to release captured carbon dioxide from the sorbent material to form an enriched gas within the harvest chamber, the heated water vapor created by the solar heating of the outer wall and the liquid water dispensed by the water delivery device within the annular void;
• wherein the enriched gas is provided as a product stream through a product outlet in fluid communication with the inside of the harvest chamber;
• wherein moving from the closed configuration to the open configuration comprises the lower lid rising up the inner cylinder;
• wherein the open configuration further comprises the lower lid blocking the opening of the inner cylinder while the capture structure is in the open configuration such that the loss of heated water vapor from the inner cylinder is reduced;
• and
• wherein the harvest chamber further comprises a solar coating on an exterior surface, the solar coating configured to increase the absorption of sunlight to heat the outer wall of the harvest chamber.

A device for passive collection of atmospheric carbon dioxide, comprising:

• a harvest chamber comprising an inner wall forming an inner cylinder with an opening, an outer wall, an annular void between the inner wall and outer wall, and a water-filled sump at the bottom of the harvest chamber connecting the annular void and the inner cylinder;
• a capture structure coupled to the harvest chamber and comprising a sorbent material, the capture structure being movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and comprising a plurality of collapsible supports and a plurality of disks coupled to and spaced along the plurality of collapsible supports, each disk comprising the sorbent material;
• an upper lid positioned above the capture structure, the upper lid coupled to the capture structure;
• a water delivery device comprising a plurality of water applicators and a water pump, each water applicator of the plurality of water applicator positioned within the annular void proximate the top of the annular void and located within a different segment of the annular void, each configured to dispense liquid water onto the surface of at least one of the inner wall and outer wall within that segment of the annular void, the water pump in fluid communication with the water-filled sump and configured to transfer liquid water from the water-filled sump to the plurality of water applicators;
• a lower lid coupled to the capture structure and positioned below the capture structure such that the capture structure is between the lower lid and the upper lid;
• and
• wherein the open configuration comprises the capture structure extending upward from the harvest chamber to expose at least a portion of the capture structure to an airflow and allow the sorbent material to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide, the capture structure expanded to occupy a collection volume;
• wherein the closed configuration comprises the capture structure collapsed to occupy a regeneration volume that is smaller than the collection volume, the upper lid covering the opening of the inner cylinder, the capture structure being sufficiently enclosed inside the inner cylinder that a heated water vapor operates on the sorbent material of the capture structure to release captured carbon dioxide from the sorbent material to form an enriched gas within the harvest chamber, the heated water vapor created by the solar heating of the outer wall and the liquid water dispensed by the water delivery device within the annular void;
• wherein the enriched gas is provided as a product stream through a product outlet in fluid communication with the inside of the harvest chamber;
• wherein moving from the closed configuration to the open configuration comprises the lower lid rising up the inner cylinder;
• wherein the open configuration further comprises the lower lid blocking the opening of the inner cylinder while the capture structure is in the open configuration such that the loss of heated water vapor from the inner cylinder is reduced;
• and
• wherein the harvest chamber further comprises a solar coating on an exterior surface, the solar coating configured to increase the absorption of sunlight to heat the outer wall of the harvest chamber.