Apparatus and method for adsorbing and desorbing co2 from air and a heat exchanger

An apparatus for adsorbing and desorbing CO2 from air, the apparatus comprising:

• a. a control unit;
• b. a heat pump operable by the control unit;
• c. a plurality of first heat exchanger systems comprising a plurality of first heat exchangers;
• d. a plurality of second heat exchanger systems comprising a plurality of second heat exchangers;
• e. a plurality of fan systems operable by the control unit, each fan system comprising a plurality of fans;
• f. a vacuum pump operable by the control unit;
• g. a plurality of first fluid lines connected to the heat pump and to each first heat exchanger of the plurality of first heat exchangers;
• the heat pump being adapted to:
• i. provide a cooled first fluid to each first heat exchanger of the plurality of heat exchangers through the plurality of first fluid lines;
• and
• ii. provide a heated second fluid to each first heat exchanger of the plurality of heat exchangers through the plurality of first fluid lines;
• h. a plurality of second fluid lines connected to the heat pump and to each second heat exchanger of the plurality of second heat exchangers;
• the heat pump being adapted to provide a heated second fluid to each second heat exchanger of the plurality of second heat exchangers through the plurality of second fluid lines;
• i. a plurality of return first fluid lines connected to the heat pump and to each first heat exchanger of the plurality of first heat exchangers to return the cooled first fluid and the heated second fluid to the heat pump;
• j. a plurality of return second fluid lines connected to the heat pump and to each second heat exchanger of the plurality of second heat exchangers to return the heated second fluid to the heat pump;
• k. a plurality of first vacuum lines connected to the vacuum pump and to each first heat exchanger of the plurality of first heat exchangers, the vacuum pump being adapted to evacuate air and/or water vapor from the plurality of first heat exchangers;
• l. a plurality of second vacuum lines connected to the vacuum pump and to each second heat exchanger of the plurality of second heat exchangers, the vacuum pump being adapted to evacuate air and/or CO2 from the plurality of second heat exchangers;
• m. each of the plurality of first heat exchangers comprising:
• a first air filter portion in air connection with at least one fan of the plurality of fans such that operation of the at least one fan will blow air through the first air filter portion;
• a first exchanger fluid line that is in fluid connection with at least one first fluid line of the plurality of first fluid lines and at least one return first fluid line of the plurality of return first fluid lines at another end;
• and
• a desiccant located within the first air filter portion such that air that passes through the first air filter portion contacts the desiccant;
• wherein the first exchanger fluid line runs through the first air filter portion and is thermally coupled with the desiccant,
• such that during an adsorption phase the desiccant is cooled by the cooled first fluid increasing its adsorption capability and the at least one fan of the plurality of fans is operated by the control unit to blow air through the first air filter portion causing the air to be dehumidified, and during a desorption phase the first air filter portion is heated by the heated second fluid causing desorbtion of water accumulated therein and evacuation of the water vapor through at least one vacuum line of the plurality of first vacuum lines;
• n. each of the plurality of second heat exchangers comprising:
• a second air filter portion in air connection with the air that exited through a corresponding first heat exchanger of the plurality of first heat exchangers;
• a second exchanger fluid line that is in fluid connection with at least one second fluid line of the plurality of second fluid lines at one end and at least one of the return second fluid lines of the plurality of return second fluid lines at another end;
• and
• CO2 sorbent located within the second air filter portion such that air that passes through the second air filter portion contacts the CO2 sorbent;
• wherein the second exchanger fluid line runs through the second air filter portion and is thermally coupled with the CO2 sorbent;
• such that during the adsorption phase the sorbent adsorbs CO2 molecules from the air that passes through the second heat exchanger and is further cooled by the air which increases its adsorption capability, and during the desorption phase, the CO2 sorbent is heated by the heated second fluid causing the desorption of CO2 from the CO2 sorbent and evacuation of the desorbed CO2 through at least one vacuum line of the plurality of second vacuum lines.