Apparatus and method for manufacturing of steel and other support material structures with carbon capture capability and high efficiency

Abstract

An apparatus includes a template-former, a growth template, having a surface area containing three-dimensional features; a container which includes or retains electrolytes or other fluids from which materials are deposited, removed, or modified onto the growth template or to a structure-in-production; and a computer to plan and control said deposition, removal, or modification.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a template-former or similar material-producing component that produces conducting material to build at least one segment of a growth template, the growth template having a surface area containing three-dimensional features;   a container which includes or retains electrolytes or other fluids from which materials are deposited, removed, or modified onto the growth template or to a structure-in-production; a potentiostat or other controllable voltage source to control the deposition, removal, or modification;   at least one electrode to implement said deposition, removal, or modification;   a computer to plan and control the deposition, removal, or modification; and   a monitoring device that is used by the computer to plan and control said deposition, removal, or modification.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the surface area of the growth template is at least ten times higher than it would be without the three-dimensional features. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the surface area of the growth template is at least 1,000 times higher than it would be without the three-dimensional features. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the surface area of the growth template is at least one million times higher than it would be without the three-dimensional features. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device is an optical camera. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the template-former is a wire spooler. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one segment of the growth plate is formed from an editable structure. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a coil is situated near or in the container to apply a magnetic or electrical field. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the template-former includes an editing tool. 
     
     
         10 . A method for building structures, the method including:
 planning, via a computer, construction of a growth template and deposition, removal, or modification of materials onto the growth template and structure-in-production; production of one or more sections of a growth template;   adding, removing, or modifying of electrolytes or other fluids from which materials are to be deposited, removed, or modified onto said growth template or structure-in-production in a container which includes and retains the electrolytes or other fluids;   growing, removing or modifying of materials on the growth template or structure-in-production via at least one electrode and a potentiostat or other controllable voltage source;   monitoring the structure-in-production via a monitoring device;   repeating one or more of the above operations; and   removing the produced structure,   wherein the growth template or structure-in-production contains three-dimensional structures.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a computer model is used to predict plating growth and modification so as to repeatedly arrive at consistent component dimensions of the produced structure. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the growth template or structure-in-production is moved to obtain desired end-product characteristics. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the produced structure contains steel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the growth template or structure-in-production contains voids that persist unmodified, remaining full or air or gas or non-conducting material during the growing procedure, and are incorporated into the produced structure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the produced structure contains polymers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the three-dimensional structures comprise one or more of as projections, holes, layers, folds, or recesses, that increase the effective surface area of the growth template. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the effective surface area is at least 1,000 times more than if the three-dimensional structures were not present. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the effective surface area is at least one million times more than if the three-dimensional structures were not present. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the three-dimensional structures are fabricated with an editing tool. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein magnetic or electrical fields are applied during the production process to magnetize or polarize one or more of the deposited materials.