System and method for removing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere and global thermostat using the same

Abstract

A system for removing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere to reduce global warming including an air extraction system that collects carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through a medium and removes carbon dioxide from the medium; a sequestration system that isolates the removed carbon dioxide to a location for at least one of storage and generation of a renewable carbon fuel; and one or more power supplying units that supply heat to the air extraction system to remove the carbon dioxide from the medium, at least one of the one or more power supplying units being a fossil fuel plant.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method for controlling average temperature of a planet's atmosphere by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to reduce global warming, the method comprising:
 siting a plurality of a CO 2 -extraction systems distributed on each of the inhabited continents of the Earth, at least near to fossil fuel power sources of CO 2 , each of said CO 2 -extraction systems comprising an amine adsorbent supported on a solid substrate for adsorbing CO 2  from atmospheric air;   a closed regenerating system for regenerating the solid sorbent by driving off the CO 2  from the sorbent into the closed system;   a sequestration system that isolates the carbon dioxide removed from the sorbent for storage or use in other processes;   the CO 2 -extraction systems being open to the atmosphere so that air can circulate over the supported amine sorbent;   the CO 2  generating system comprising a closed chamber, a source of steam at a temperature of less than about 120° C., and a conduit for directing the steam at the supported sorbent in the closed chamber to separate CO 2  from the sorbent and regenerate the sorbent; and   the sequestration system comprising removal means to remove the generated CO 2  from the closed chamber and separating it for sequestration or further use;   wherein the plurality of the systems are jointly controlled so that the plurality of systems acting together can effectively extract sufficient carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to have an effect on global warming and climate change.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  for controlling average temperature of a planet's atmosphere wherein the plurality of systems are distributed on each of the inhabited continents of the Earth, at least near to sources of significant CO2 production. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the CO 2  from the sequestration system contains condensed steam and the method further comprises a compressing the CO 2  to separate the water, and to form a liquid form of CO 2 . 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the source of the steam for the CO 2  generating system comprises a source of process heat. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the heat provided by the fossil fuel plant is used by the closed regenerating system to remove the carbon dioxide from the medium at a temperature in the range of from about 100-120° C. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the air extraction system collects carbon dioxide and the closed regeneration system isolates the removed carbon dioxide using the heat supplied by the fossil fuel plant, in the form of steam. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the location of at least one of the plurality of a CO 2 -extraction systems is underground.