Improved process and apparatus for the reversible adsorbtion of carbon dioxide

Abstract

An apparatus ( 10, 110, 210, 310 ) for the separation and recovery of CO 2 , from air, by a cyclic adsorption/desorption process using a loose particulate sorbent for gas adsorption. The apparatus has a plurality of adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart layers ( 24, 124, 224, 324 ), each having a stiff frame supporting a flexible, gas-permeable fabric enclosure for the sorbent. The gas inlet ( 14, 114, 214, 314 ) and outlet ( 18,1 18, 216, 316 ) of the apparatus are on its axially opposite sides, and each layer ( 24,124, 224, 324 ) extending axially within the apparatus. The recovered CO 2 can be either supplied to an enclosed space, recycled to an enclosed space, from which the CO 2 had been separated, or vented to the exterior of the latter enclosed space.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for the separation and optional recovery of a first gas from a gas mixture containing said first gas and other gases, different from said first gas, by a cyclic adsorption/desorption process using a loose particulate sorbent for gas adsorption;
 wherein said sorbent is provided in a stack of at least two adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart layers in said apparatus;   wherein each layer comprises a flexible fabric enclosing said sorbent;   wherein said fabric is permeable to said gas mixture but impermeable to said sorbent;   wherein said fabric of each layer is attached to, and enclosed by, a stiff frame of said layer;   wherein said apparatus has an inlet and outlet for gases on axially opposite sides of said apparatus; and   wherein said apparatus is characterized by each of said layers extending axially within said apparatus.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said layers are provided in two or more laterally-extending, axially spaced-apart, parallel stacks of axially-extending layers. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein said axially-extending layers also extend vertically within said apparatus. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein a flat, electrical heating element extends across the open middle of the frame of each of one or more layers. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising a source of heated air to said sorbent in said layers for desorbing CO 2  from said layers. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said gas mixture diffuses through each layer initially through its fabric, then through its sorbent, and then finally through its fabric. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , having axially-extending baffles and that are adjacent to, and on laterally opposite sides of, said inlet and outlet, respectively of said apparatus. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , having one or more laterally- and vertically-extending baffles that are between said inlet and outlet of said apparatus. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , having a pair of laterally- and vertically-extending baffles between each of two or more of said stacks to channel movement of gas, from which said first gas, particularly CO 2 , has been partially removed, laterally within each stack and between said stacks. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , containing at least 10 layers. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein each stack contains at least 10 layers. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said layers form a serpentine flow path for gas through said apparatus. 
     
     
         39 . A process for extracting a first gas from a gas mixture containing said first gas and other gases different from said first gas, by a cyclic adsorption/desorption, comprising passing said gas mixture through said apparatus of  claim 27 . 
     
     
         40 . The process according to  claim 39 , further comprising providing a stream essentially comprising said first gas from the desorption process to a further process. 
     
     
         41 . The process according to  claim 40 , wherein the further process comprises a chemical conversion process, a process for the growth of plants, and/or a process for the carbonation of a fluid or an aquarium. 
     
     
         42 . An apparatus for the separation of CO 2  from air by a cyclic adsorption/desorption process using a loose particulate sorbent for CO 2  adsorption,
 wherein said apparatus has an inlet for a first gas stream and an outlet for a second gas stream, and   wherein said inlet can be in communication with an enclosed or confined space, and said outlet can be in communication with both an interior of said space and an exterior of said space; characterized by a first valve mechanism which can control said outlet to provide selective communication of said outlet with either said interior of said space or said exterior of said space.   
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein said first valve mechanism is a single two-way valve. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein said inlet can be in communication with both said interior of said space and said exterior of said space, characterized by a second valve mechanism which controls said inlet to provide selective communication with either said interior of said space or said exterior of said space. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein second valve mechanism is a single two-way valve. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein said inlet can be in communication with only said interior of said space.