Patent Application
20230407489
The invention relates to a plant and a method for maintaining and/or balancing a predetermined carbon dioxide/oxygen ratio in atmospheric air, in particular for improving atmospheric air quality. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system comprising such a plant.
Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1800, atmospheric CO2 concentrations have increased from a previously stable 280 ppmv (parts per million by volume) to 390 ppmv at the beginning of the 21st century. This increase is predicted to continue or intensify unless carbon mitigation techniques are implemented.
The ratified Paris Agreement identifies the main goal as keeping the increase in average global temperature below 2° C. above pre-industrial levels, which requires reducing CO2 emissions to zero by 2050. Proposals to limit these emissions include the use of biofuels, solar energy and wind turbines.
The natural carbon cycle has adjusted itself over a long period of time in such a way that CO2 is present in the atmosphere in a certain quantity. Plants play a major role in this process, absorbing the carbon from the CO2 through photosynthesis and releasing the oxygen content back into the atmosphere. The CO2 is thus removed from the air (over 100 billion tons of carbon are absorbed by plants in this way each year). It is well known that growing forest, especially between the ages of 10 and 40 years, is very good at absorbing the carbon from the CO2 in the air and releasing the oxygen off to the atmosphere. Typically, such a forest on an area of one hectare releases about 15 to 30 tons of oxygen per year into the atmosphere. The amount of oxygen released depends on the type of forest (deciduous, coniferous or mixed).
The natural forest has the disadvantage that the effective CO2 binding or oxygen production is limited to the aforementioned age period. Another limitation is the dependence of the photosynthesis process on sunlight. While the forest can bind CO2 during daylight and thus produce oxygen, this is not possible at night. Furthermore, after trees have rotted or been cut down, new trees have to be planted again to maintain the natural CO2 cycle. This involves a great deal of effort.
As forest cover has declined dramatically in recent decades and continues to decline, it is essential to develop new technologies that can be implemented in a short time and are capable of supporting the function of the remaining natural forest as well as at least slowing global warming.
The invention is therefore based on the task of specifying a plant that supports the natural forest in its function by means of a continuous process and thereby at least slows down global warming. Furthermore, it is the task of the invention to provide a method and a system with such a plant.
According to the invention, this task is solved with respect to the plant by the subject-matter of claim 1. With regard to the method and the system, the aforementioned task is solved by the subject matter of claim 11 (method) and claim 12 (system), respectively.
Specifically, the task is solved by a plant, in particular a power plant, for maintaining and/or balancing a predetermined carbon dioxide/oxygen ratio in atmospheric air, in particular for improving atmospheric air quality, the plant comprising:
The electrolysis unit has at least one oxygen outlet for discharging the partial quantity of oxygen and the carbon dioxide absorption unit has at least one air outlet for discharging purified ambient air, wherein the oxygen outlet and the air outlet open into the outside atmosphere.
The invention has several advantages. To produce oxygen for release into the outside atmosphere, the plant requires only water as the base material, which is separated into its constituent oxygen and hydrogen by an electrolysis process. This process is called water electrolysis. The electrolysis unit is connected to the water supply line to receive a quantity of water for the electrolysis process. The quantity of water may be a fresh water quantity or a desalinated quantity of sea water.
Furthermore, at least one treatment unit can be provided which treats, in particular purifies, the quantity of water before the electrolysis process.
Once the absorbed quantity of water is divided by the electrolysis unit into a partial quantity of oxygen and a partial quantity of hydrogen, the separated partial quantity of oxygen is discharged to the outside atmosphere through the oxygen outlet of the electrolysis unit. This mixes the air of the outside atmosphere with fresh oxygen and supports the natural forest in oxygen production.
The oxygen outlet can be formed by at least one line, in particular a pipeline, which extends from the electrolysis unit to the outside atmosphere. Alternatively, the oxygen outlet can be formed by a chimney through which the separated partial quantity of oxygen can be discharged into the atmosphere. At least one fan, in particular a blower, can be arranged between the electrolysis unit and the oxygen outlet for discharging the partial quantity of oxygen.
The separated partial quantity of hydrogen is provided for storage by means of the hydrogen transport device. The hydrogen transport device may be a pipeline connected to the electrolysis unit. The unit may include a hydrogen storage device that receives the partial quantity of hydrogen through the hydrogen transport device. The hydrogen transport device preferably connects the electrolysis unit to the hydrogen storage device. The hydrogen storage device may be a container, in particular a pressure vessel. Further, the hydrogen transport device is adapted to provide the partial quantity of hydrogen alternatively or additionally for further processing. It is possible that the partial quantity of hydrogen is processed together with the quantity of carbon dioxide from the extraction process to form a synthetic fuel.
The carbon dioxide absorption unit is adapted to extract a quantity of carbon dioxide from ambient air. The carbon dioxide absorption unit is therefore adapted to purify the ambient air of the outside atmosphere from carbon dioxide. For this purpose, the carbon dioxide absorption unit comprises the absorber unit adapted to extract at least an amount of carbon dioxide from ambient air. The absorber unit is preferably an amine exchanger. Other absorber units for extracting carbon dioxide from air are possible.
The carbon dioxide absorption unit has the advantage of reducing the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and thus bringing it closer to the original concentration before industrialization. This represents a partial function of the natural forest, so that it is further supported. Advantageously, this slows down global warming.
The carbon dioxide transport device provides the extracted carbon dioxide for storage. The carbon dioxide transport device may be a pipeline connected to the carbon dioxide absorption unit. The plant may include a carbon dioxide storage unit that receives the carbon dioxide amount through the carbon dioxide transport device. The carbon dioxide transport device may connect the carbon dioxide absorption unit to the carbon dioxide storage unit. The carbon dioxide storage unit may be a container, in particular a pressure vessel.
It is possible to remove the carbon dioxide quantity from the CO2 cycle by permanent storage. For example, the extracted carbon dioxide quantity is storable in at least one storage facility in deeper layers of the earth. Additionally or alternatively, the carbon dioxide transport device is further adapted to provide the carbon dioxide quantity alternatively or additionally for further processing.
The plant according to the invention forms a means by which the composition of atmospheric air can be kept in equilibrium. In other words, the installation prevents an undesirable reduction in the oxygen content as well as an undesirable increase in the CO2 content of the air. The plant according to the invention thus enables a quantity regulation of the components in the atmospheric air, so that a permanently existing quantity equilibrium of the air components in the earth's atmosphere can be maintained or an existing imbalance of the quantities of the air components can be compensated.
The invention has the further advantage that the plant can be operated continuously regardless of a time of day or night. In contrast to natural forest, which requires sunlight for photosynthesis, the plant according to the invention can continuously extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and continuously supply oxygen to the atmosphere. Furthermore, the oxygen output as well as carbon dioxide removal performance of the plant is substantially independent of a lifetime of the plant. By operating the plant, oxygen can be produced and carbon dioxide absorbed in a continuous process. This reliably supports the natural forest.
Particularly preferably, the plant according to the invention can be operated as a large-scale power plant in coastal regions, in particular with access to the sea or ocean, since water for oxygen production is available in very large quantities. Preferably, the plant is designed for operation in very dry areas, especially deserts. This has the advantage that such areas, in which there is no or only little vegetation, are enhanced by sensible use. The plant according to the invention essentially forms an artificial forest, which takes over a function of the natural forest and/or supports the natural forest in its function. Furthermore, in combination with a photovoltaic plant, the plant can be operated completely self-sufficient in energy, i.e. without the use of fossil fuels.
It is possible for the plant according to the invention to be used as a small power plant, for example in buildings and/or in open areas in cities, to improve air quality.
A secondary aspect of the invention relates to a method for maintaining and/or balancing a predetermined carbon dioxide/oxygen ratio in atmospheric air, in particular for improving atmospheric air quality, by a plant, in particular a plant according to the invention, in which method
In the method according to the invention, the partial quantity of oxygen after separation and the purified ambient air are discharged into the outside atmosphere. This makes it possible to regulate the quantity of the constituents of the atmospheric air and thus to maintain a permanently constant quantity balance of the air constituents in the earth's atmosphere or to compensate for an existing imbalance in the quantities of the air constituents. With regard to the further advantages, reference is made to the advantages explained above in connection with the plant.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are given in the subclaims.
In a preferred embodiment, the electrolysis unit has a output capacity of a partial quantity of oxygen per year of at least 700000 tons. Preferably, the electrolysis unit is adapted to produce at least 700000 tons of oxygen per year from a quantity of water of at least 500000 tons, in particular of at least 700000 tons, in particular of 750000 tons. Compared to natural forests, which have an annual oxygen output capacity of 15 to 30 tons per hectare, the plant produces 5 times to 40 times more oxygen per year in this embodiment and with an exemplary assumed area of about 12 square kilometers.
Alternatively or additionally, the carbon dioxide absorption unit preferably has an extraction capacity of a carbon dioxide quantity per year of at least 400000 tons, in particular 600000 tons. Preferably, the carbon dioxide absorption unit is adapted to separate at least 400000 tons, in particular 600000 tons, of carbon dioxide per year from an air volume of 1450 to 1600 megatons, in particular 1570 megatons. As a result, the CO2 concentration in the air is reduced in significant amounts by a continuous process.
In a further preferred embodiment, the electrolysis unit is adapted to separate from a quantity of water of at least 1.5 kg, in particular of at least 1.7 kg, a partial quantity of oxygen of at least 1.2 kg, in particular of at least 1.5 kg, and/or a partial quantity of hydrogen of at least 0.1 kg, in particular of at least 0.15 kg. Preferably, the electrolysis unit is adapted to separate from a quantity of water of 1.7 kg, a partial quantity of oxygen of at least 1.5 kg and a partial quantity of hydrogen of at least 0.19 kg. Advantageously, the electrolysis unit is designed to be highly efficient and to produce very large amounts of oxygen and hydrogen.
In a further preferred embodiment, the carbon dioxide absorption unit is adapted to extract from an ambient air quantity of at least 3300 kg a carbon dioxide quantity of at least 1.1 kg to 2 kg, in particular at least 1.4 kg. This enables the significant reduction of the CO2 concentration in the air.
Preferably, the electrolysis unit and/or the carbon dioxide absorption unit each have at least one mounting area that is connectable or connected to a foundation, in particular of a building and/or structure. Through the mounting areas, the electrolysis unit and/or the carbon dioxide absorption unit are preferably firmly connected to the foundation. Alternatively, the respective unit may be connected to a separate foundation in each case.
When the plant is designed as a large-scale power plant, the electrolysis unit and/or the carbon dioxide absorption unit are designed on a large scale. The electrolysis unit and/or the carbon dioxide absorption unit may each be located in a separate operational building. The electrolysis unit and/or the carbon dioxide absorption unit may be arranged in separate operational buildings that are directly or indirectly adjacent to each other. Alternatively, the electrolysis unit and/or the carbon dioxide absorption unit may each be co-located in an operations building. A combination of separate arrangement and joint arrangement of the respective electrolysis unit and/or carbon dioxide absorption unit is possible.
The plant may have its own infrastructure. For example, the plant may include at least one access road. Further, the plant may comprise a plurality of structures. These may be, for example, industrial operating buildings. Additionally, the plant may comprise a port for ships. Furthermore, power lines may be provided to supply power to the plant, for example from a photovoltaic unit.
In the small power plant embodiment, the plant may be arranged in at least one housing. The housing may enclose the plant. The housing can be made of plastic and/or metal. Advantageously, the plant can be used in municipal buildings as part of a ventilation system or in cities to improve air quality.
Preferably, the carbon dioxide absorption unit comprises at least one chimney and at least one flow channel extending transversely to the chimney, which is connected to the chimney at a region arranged at the bottom in the installation position. The chimney preferably has the air outlet and the flow channel has the air inlet. Further preferably, the absorber unite is arranged in the flow direction between the flow channel and the chimney. The flow channel is preferably elongated and forms an area for supplying ambient air to the absorber unit. The chimney is arranged downstream of the absorber unit and discharges the purified ambient air from the absorber unit into the outside atmosphere.
The chimney can be arranged essentially perpendicular to the flow channel. The air outlet and the air inlet preferably have a height offset from each other. In other words, the air inlet and the air outlet are preferably vertically offset. The absorber unit can preferably have ambient air flowing through it. Here, it is advantageous that natural ventilation is realized by the design of the carbon dioxide absorption unit with the chimney and the flow channel, so that no electrically operated fan is required for air acceleration.
Nevertheless, it is possible that in a further embodiment a fan, in particular a blower, is provided to supply ambient air to be cleaned to the absorber unit. This may be necessary, for example, during start-up of the carbon dioxide absorption unit in order to generate the natural chimney draft in the initial phase of operation.
The at least one chimney may have a diameter between 20 meters and 30 meters and a height between 50 meters and 200 meters. The diameter of the chimney refers to the size of the air outlet. It is possible that the chimney has a larger diameter in the connection area of the flow channel than in the area of the air outlet. Preferably, the chimney has a diameter of 25 meters and a height of 100 meters. Such dimensions of the chimney enable optimized natural ventilation.
For example, with a diameter of 25 meters and a height of 100 meters of the chimney, as well as with a first temperature of the ambient air outside the absorption unit of 40° C. and a second temperature of the ambient air inside the absorption unit, in particular in the flow channel and/or in the chimney, an air ventilation or an air flow rate, in particular a purified ambient air flow rate, is achieved with a number of forty chimneys of at least 1800 megatons per year.
For solar radiation absorption, the flow channel preferably has a surface arranged at the top in the installation position, in particular a surface that is dark-colored at least in sections, in order to heat the ambient air located in the flow channel by means of radiant heat. The flow channel is preferably arranged directly below the surface arranged at the top. The surface disposed at the top in the installed position may be substantially black. The top arranged surface may be part of at least one sheet. Alternatively, it is possible that the top arranged surface is part of at least one plate. In this case, the natural ventilation for air movement between the flow channel and the chimney is further improved.
In a further embodiment, the surface arranged at the top is dark-colored at least in sections and light-colored at least in sections. This enables absorption and reflection of sunlight.
In a preferred embodiment, the surface arranged at the top is part of a planar plant area, on the long side of which several chimneys, in particular forty chimneys, are arranged in a row, with a flow channel running below the surface arranged at the top towards one of the chimneys in each case. The flow channels may each be separated from one another by a partition wall. The flow channels preferably run parallel and are part of the planar plant area. As a result, the carbon dioxide absorption unit has a space-saving and unified design.
The planar plant area can be rectangular in top view. It is also possible for the planar plant area to be circular in top view. The planar plant area is preferably directly adjacent to the other units of the plant in order to keep the lines short.
In one embodiment, the planar plant area has at least one photovoltaic unit arranged on the surface arranged above. The photovoltaic unit may be connected to the electrolysis unit for power supply. Alternatively or additionally, the photovoltaic unit may be connected to the carbon dioxide absorption unit for power supply. The photovoltaic unit may be formed as a photovoltaic array on the surface arranged above. The photovoltaic unit enables the plant to be operated self-sufficiently in terms of energy. In this context, it is advantageous that the plant is operated exclusively with electricity from solar energy and thus fossil fuels for energy generation are completely dispensed with.
A secondary aspect of the invention relates to a system for volume regulation of air constituents of the earth's atmosphere with at least one installation according to the invention and at least one power generation unit for self-sufficient power supply of the installation, wherein the power generation unit is electrically connected to the installation and uses one or more, in particular exclusively, regenerative energy sources for power generation. Reference is made here to the advantages explained in connection with the system. Furthermore, the system may alternatively or additionally have individual or a combination of several features previously mentioned in relation to the plant.
In a preferred embodiment of the system, the power generation unit comprises at least one buffer storage for storing energy. The buffer storage may be adapted to store electric power. Alternatively, the buffer storage may be adapted to store hydrogen. The buffer storage enables energy to be supplied to the system even at night, so that the system can be operated without interrupting operation.
In another preferred embodiment of the system, the power generation unit is at least one photovoltaic unit for converting solar energy into electricity. Additionally or alternatively, the power generation unit may be at least one wind power unit for converting wind energy into electricity. The wind power unit may include one or more wind turbines. Additionally or alternatively, the power generation unit may comprise at least one water power unit for converting water energy into electricity. The hydroelectric power unit may be at least one hydroelectric power plant, in particular a river power plant or pumped storage power plant. The hydroelectric power unit may additionally or alternatively comprise a wave power plant. Further, the power generation unit may additionally or alternatively be at least one thermal unit for converting thermal energy into electricity. The thermal unit may be adapted to convert heat from at least one layer of earth below the earth's surface into electricity. Other thermal units are possible.
The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. The embodiments shown represent examples of how the plant or system according to the invention can be designed.
In these show,
In the following, the same reference numerals are used for identical and identically acting parts.
The electrolysis unit 11 is designed to separate a quantity of water MH2O by electrolysis into a partial quantity of oxygen MO2 and a partial quantity of hydrogen. The electrolysis unit 11 thus forms a unit for water electrolysis. The electrolysis unit 11 is connected to a water supply line 13 for receiving the quantity of water MH2O. As can be seen in
The pump unit 25 is designed to pump seawater from the sea and make it available to further plant parts or units for further processing. In order to prepare the seawater for the electrolysis process by the electrolysis unit 11, the plant 10 has a seawater desalination unit 27. The seawater desalination unit 27 is connected to the pump unit 25 by at least one pipeline. The seawater desalination unit 27 is adapted to separate out a certain amount of salt from the pumped seawater MH2O, so that the seawater has a reduced salt content after the desalination process by the seawater desalination unit 27. The desalinated seawater amount MH2O corresponds to the quantity of water MH2O, which is separated into a partial quantity of oxygen MO2 and a partial quantity of by the electrolysis unit 11. The electrolysis unit 11 is connected to the desalination unit 27 by at least one pipe. In order to convey the desalinated seawater from the seawater desalination unit 27 to the electrolysis unit 11, at least one further pump may be interposed.
As described above, the electrolysis unit 11 is designed to separate the absorbed quantity of water MH2O into a partial quantity of hydrogen and a partial quantity of oxygen MO2. Specifically, the electrolysis unit 11 has a output capacity of the partial quantity of oxygen MO2 per year of at least 700000 tons. To achieve this output capacity, the electrolysis unit 11 is adapted to separate a partial quantity of oxygen MO2 of at least 1.2 kg from an absorbed quantity of water MH2O of at least 1.5 kg. Preferably, the electrolysis unit 11 is adapted to separate a partial quantity of oxygen MO2 of at least 1.5 kg from a quantity of water MH2O of at least 1.7 kg. For discharging the produced partial quantity of oxygen MO2, the electrolysis unit 11 has an oxygen outlet 16, which opens into the outside atmosphere. It is possible that the electrolysis unit 11 has one or more oxygen outlets 16 for delivering the generated partial quantity of oxygen MO2. To achieve an annual output of 700000 tons of oxygen from the electrolysis unit 11, at least 500000 tons of desalinated seawater are required. To increase the quantity of water for the electrolysis process, other water supply sources are also possible.
The plant 10 further comprises at least one hydrogen transport device, not shown, which is adapted to provide the partial quantity of hydrogen separated from the quantity of water MH2O for storage and/or for further processing. It is possible that the plant 10 comprises a hydrogen storage device for this purpose, which is connected to the hydrogen transport device. After the electrolysis process, the hydrogen transport device feeds the separated partial quantity of hydrogen from the electrolysis unit 11 to the hydrogen storage device. Alternatively, it is possible that the hydrogen transport device feeds the partial quantity of hydrogen to another part of the plant, which is not shown, for further processing.
Referring to
Specifically, the absorber unit 15 is arranged between the air inlet 14 and the air outlet 17. In operation, the ambient air UL flows through the air inlet 14 to the absorber unit 15, which separates, in particular filters, a certain amount of carbon dioxide from the air UL, the purified ambient air UL′ flowing after the absorber unit 15 through the air outlet 17 into the outside atmosphere. Generally, it is possible that a plurality of air inlets 14, a plurality of absorber unit 15 and a plurality of air outlets 17 are provided.
Specifically,
The plant 10 further comprises a carbon dioxide transport device configured to provide the carbon dioxide quantity separated from the ambient air UL to a carbon dioxide storage and/or to a further plant part of the plant 10 for further processing. It is possible that the extracted carbon dioxide quantity is processed with the separated partial quantity of hydrogen to form a common end product.
The carbon dioxide absorption unit 12 has an extraction capacity of a carbon dioxide quantity per year of at least 400000 tons, in particular 600000 tons. In other words, the carbon dioxide absorption unit 12 is adapted to purify an amount of ambient air per year of at least 1500 megatons. Specifically, the carbon dioxide absorption unit 12 is adapted to extract a carbon dioxide quantity of at least 1.4 kg from an ambient air quantity of at least 3300 kg.
Furthermore, the plant 10 according to
As shown in
The planar plant area 23 has a longitudinal extension 32 of about 5000 meters and a transverse extension 33 of about 2000 meters. In other words, the two-dimensional plant area of plant 10 covers an area of 10 square kilometers. The plant area shown in
Assuming a total area of the system 30 or the plant 10 of approximately twelve square kilometers, the plant 10 produces at least 580 tons of oxygen per hectare (0.01 square kilometer) per year. Compared to a conventional natural forest, which releases an annual quantity of oxygen of 15 to 30 tons per hectare, the plant 10 has an oxygen output into the atmosphere that is 5 times to 40 times higher. The plant can therefore be described as an artificial forest, which has a higher oxygen output rate than a natural forest.
The seawater desalination unit 27 described above is connected to a water return line 28 through which a recirculated quantity of seawater M′H2O with increased salinity is returned to the sea. Specifically, a certain salinity is extracted from the extracted quantity of seawater and then returned to the sea with a part of the extracted seawater quantity as a recirculated quantity of water M′H2O. This provides a water cycle that is harmless to nature.
The preferred installation location of the system 30 or the plant 10 is near the coast of a sea. Particularly preferably, the plant 10 is set up in a desert. The plant 10 according to
The power supply unit 31 preferably includes a power storage unit, not shown, adapted to supply power to the plant 10 during nighttime operation.
As shown in
In operation, ambient air flows through the air inlets 14 into the flow channel 21 and then through the absorber unit 15. After the absorber unit 15, the purified ambient air UL′ flows into the chimney 19 and through the air outlet 17 into the outside atmosphere. Due to the dark-colored surface 22 arranged at the top, the ambient air located below the surface 22 in the flow channel 21 heats up during operation. The temperature of the ambient air UL in the flow channel 21 is preferably about 60° C. When the outside temperature of the ambient air UL is about 40° C., natural ventilation is generated by the arrangement of the chimney with the flow channel 21 as well as the dark-colored surface 22. In other words, no chimney or blower is necessary for the supply of the ambient air UL into the flow channel 21 as well as for the flow through the absorber unit 15 and the outflow of the purified ambient air UL′ from the chimney 19.
According to
To achieve this, the chimneys 19 have a diameter D which is 25 meters. The diameter D refers to that area of the chimney 19 in which the air outlet 17 is formed. The air outlet 17 is formed at a free end of the chimney 19. Furthermore, the respective chimney 19 has a height H of 100 meters. Thus, an optimal shape for the chimney effect for natural ventilation is formed. Other dimensions of the chimneys 19 are possible.
Furthermore, more or less than forty chimneys 19, each with an associated flow channel 21, may be arranged in the planar plant area 23. As can be seen in
It should be noted that the plants 10 described above, as well as systems 30 according to
In a first method step, a quantity of water MH2O is received by means of the electrolysis unit 11 for oxygen production through the water supply line 13. Subsequently, the absorbed quantity of water MH2O is separated by an electrolysis process into a partial quantity of oxygen MO2 and a partial quantity of hydrogen. The partial quantity of hydrogen is provided by at least one hydrogen transport device for storage or further processing.
In a second method step, ambient air UL of an outside atmosphere surrounding the plant 10 is purified by the carbon dioxide absorption unit 12. The ambient air UL is introduced, in particular sucked, into the flow channels 21 through a plurality of air inlets 14 and supplied to the downstream absorber units 15. Subsequently, the absorber units 15 extract a quantity of carbon dioxide from the supplied ambient air UL. The quantity of carbon dioxide is provided by the carbon dioxide transport device for storage or further processing. Then, the extracted partial quantity of oxygen MO2 is discharged to the outside atmosphere after the separation process and the purified ambient air UL′ is discharged to the outside atmosphere after the extraction of the carbon dioxide amount. This increases the oxygen content in the air and reduces the CO2 content in the air.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2020 129 375.5 | Nov 2020 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/080700 | 11/5/2021 | WO |
