Carbon Dioxide Capture Method and Facility

Abstract

A carbon dioxide capture facility is disclosed comprising packing formed as a slab, and at least one liquid source. The slab has opposed dominant faces, the opposed dominant faces being at least partially wind penetrable to allow wind to flow through the packing. The at least one liquid source is oriented to direct carbon dioxide absorbent liquid into the packing to flow through the slab. The slab is disposed in a wind flow that has a non-zero incident angle with one of the opposed dominant faces. A method of carbon dioxide capture is also disclosed. Carbon dioxide absorbing liquid is applied into packing in a series of pulses. A gas containing carbon dioxide is flowed through the packing to at least partially absorb the carbon dioxide from the gas into the carbon dioxide absorbing liquid.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A carbon dioxide capture facility for removing carbon dioxide from ambient air, comprising:
 at least one liquid having a capacity to absorb carbon dioxide;   at least one packing material comprising a plurality of flow passages, the packing material positioned to receive an ambient air flow in a direction from a first opposed dominant face, through the plurality of flow passages, and to a second opposed dominant face opposite the first dominant face;   at least one fan positioned to influence flow of the ambient air through at least a section of one of the first or second opposed dominant faces of the packing material, the packing material comprising a dimension between the first and second opposed dominant faces that is parallel to the flow of the ambient air flow between about 1 meter and about 15 meters, the fan positioned to circulate the ambient air flow comprising atmospheric carbon dioxide through the plurality of flow passages of the packing material;   at least one pump operable to apply the liquid over the packing material at a first flow rate of the liquid during a first portion of a time duration, the first portion comprising a sufficient time duration to substantially replace a previous portion of the liquid on the packing with a new portion of the liquid that has a greater carbon dioxide absorption rate than the previous portion of the liquid, the pump further operable to apply the liquid over the packing material at a second flow rate of the liquid applied during a second portion of the time duration, the liquid operable to absorb a portion of the atmospheric carbon dioxide at a predetermined duty cycle based on the time duration.   
     
     
         24 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 23 , wherein the packing material is positioned such that the flow of the liquid through the packing material is in a mean flow direction that is parallel to a plane defined by the first and second opposed dominant faces. 
     
     
         25 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 24 , wherein the packing material is positioned such that the flow of the liquid through the packing material is in a mean flow direction that is parallel to a plane defined by the first and second opposed dominant faces comprises, and wherein the packing material is also positioned to allow the liquid to flow through the packing material by gravity. 
     
     
         26 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 24 , wherein the packing material is positioned such that the first and second opposed dominant faces are vertically oriented. 
     
     
         27 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 23 , wherein the dimension between the first and second opposed dominant faces that is parallel to the flow of the ambient air flow is between about 1 meter and about 3 meters. 
     
     
         28 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 23 , wherein a speed or a direction of the fan can be selectively controlled based on a direction of wind incident on the packing material. 
     
     
         29 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 28 , wherein the fan comprises a part of a fan wall adjacent at least one of the first or second opposed dominant faces of the packing material. 
     
     
         30 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 23 , wherein a plurality of modular structures containing the packing material are connectively positioned in the carbon dioxide capture facility. 
     
     
         31 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 30 , wherein each modular structure comprises dimensions of about 5 meters by about 5 meters by about 7 meters, and the plurality of modular structures are interconnected so as to result in a carbon dioxide capture facility in which the packing material occupies a space having dimensions of about 200 meters by about 20 meters by about 3 meters. 
     
     
         32 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 23 , wherein the liquid comprises a hydroxide solution. 
     
     
         33 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 32 , wherein the hydroxide solution comprises a sodium hydroxide solution. 
     
     
         34 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 23 , wherein the second flow rate is substantially zero. 
     
     
         35 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 23 , wherein the predetermined duty cycle is between about 1% and about 50% such that the first portion of the time duration is between about 1% of the time duration and about 50% of the time duration. 
     
     
         36 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 23 , wherein the fan is positioned to influence flow of the ambient air through at least a portion of the packing material during the second portion of the time duration. 
     
     
         37 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 23 , wherein the liquid and the packing material are configured to cooperatively achieve a liquid holdup that provides an increased carbon dioxide capture rate relative to the carbon dioxide capture facility operating with the pump constantly at a flow rate substantially equal to an average flow rate of the first and second flow rates. 
     
     
         38 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second portions of the time duration are distinct in value. 
     
     
         39 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 23 , wherein the pump is operable to circulate the liquid through a liquid distributor system and to the packing material. 
     
     
         40 . The carbon dioxide capture facility of  claim 23 , wherein the packing material comprises structured packing.