Systems and Methods for Removing Carbon Dioxide from a Fluid

Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to a system for extracting carbon dioxide from a fluid. The system can include a fluid source and a reactor. The reactor can include one or more chambers, and each chamber can include one or more monoliths for adsorbing carbon dioxide from the fluid. The chambers can be alternatively unsealed for a contacting mode and sealed for a regeneration mode. A power source can provide an electric current to the monoliths to release carbon dioxide adsorbed by the monoliths. Each chamber can include an array of monoliths. Each monolith can include a sorbent that adsorbs carbon dioxide from fluid. The system can include modular components such that the number of reactors can be increased or decreased.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reactor for extracting carbon dioxide from a fluid, the reactor comprising:
 an inlet configured receive a fluid comprising carbon dioxide;   an outlet configured to remove the fluid from the reactor;   a chamber comprising a monolith configured to adsorb carbon dioxide from the fluid;   a first closure hingedly coupled to the inlet and configured to move between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first closure seals the inlet in the closed position;   an electric conduit configured to apply electric current to the monolith when the first closure is in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The reactor of  claim 1 , further comprising a second closure hingedly coupled to the outlet and configured to move between a closed position and an open position, wherein the second closure seals the outlet in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The reactor of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first hydraulic cylinder configured to move the first closure between the closed position and the open position, and   a second hydraulic cylinder configured to move the second closure between the closed position and the open position.   
     
     
         4 . The reactor of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first clamp configured to secure the first closure in the closed position; and   a second clamp configured to secure the second closure in the closed position.   
     
     
         5 . The reactor of  claim 3 , wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is configured to move the first closure between the first position and the second position based on a difference between the amount of carbon dioxide at the inlet and the amount of carbon dioxide at the outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The reactor of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a first sensor configured to detect the carbon dioxide concentration of the fluid at the inlet.   
     
     
         7 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet is configured to be coupled to a duct, the duct comprising a fan configured to direct the fluid through the inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the monolith comprises a metal carbonate. 
     
     
         9 . The reactor of  claim 8 , wherein the metal carbonate compound comprises at least one of potassium carbonate or calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         10 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the electric current is in a range of 0.1 A to 30 A. 
     
     
         11 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the electric conduit is configured to provide the electric current to heat the monolith to a temperature of 150° C. in 30 seconds or less. 
     
     
         12 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein a difference between a pressure of the fluid at the inlet and a pressure of the fluid at the outlet is in a range of 0.2 inches of water column to 1.1 inches of water column. 
     
     
         13 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises an array of monoliths, and wherein the first array of monoliths comprises the first monolith. 
     
     
         14 . A modular system comprising a plurality of reactors, wherein a first reactor of the plurality of reactors is the reactor of  claim 1 , and wherein the first reactor is removably coupled to a second reactor of the plurality of reactors. 
     
     
         15 . A modular system, comprising:
 a plurality of reactors comprising a first reactor and a second reactor, the first reactor comprising:
 an inlet configured to receive a fluid from a fluid source; 
 a monolith comprising a sorbent configured to adsorb carbon dioxide; 
 an electric conduit configured to provide an electric current to the monolith to release carbon dioxide adsorbed by the monolith; and 
 a closure configured to move between a first position to a second position, 
   wherein the closure is configured to seal the inlet in the first position,   wherein the first reactor is removably coupled to the second reactor.   
     
     
         16 . The modular system of  claim 15 , wherein the second reactor comprises:
 an inlet configured to receive the fluid from the fluid source;   a monolith comprising a sorbent configured to adsorb carbon dioxide;   an electric conduit configured to provide an electric current to the monolith to release carbon dioxide adsorbed by the monolith; and   a closure configured to move between a first position to a second position, wherein the closure is configured to seal the inlet in the first position.   
     
     
         17 . The modular system of  claim 16 , further comprising a fan configured to direct the fluid through the inlet of the first reactor and the inlet of the second reactor. 
     
     
         18 . The modular system of  claim 15 , wherein the first reactor is stacked on the top of the second reactor. 
     
     
         19 . The modular system of  claim 15 , wherein the first reactor is disposed horizontally next to the second reactor. 
     
     
         20 . The modular system of  claim 15 , further comprising a control unit coupled to the first reactor and the second reactor. 
     
     
         21 . The modular system of  claim 15 , further comprising a carbon dioxide purification unit coupled to the first reactor and to the second reactor.