Methods to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using a solar PV module as part of a combined cycle energy converter

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for reclaiming CO.sub.2 from air. The method includes absorbing solar radiation using a special photovoltaic panel, the H-SPV, which is so designed that the heat absorbed by the H-SPV is conducted to the back of the H-SPV to the substrate, and there it is cooled by the airstream behind it. A second supporting panel is included to provide enclosure for the heated air that rises between the two panels by the chimney effect, the heated air between the at least two plates will rise by the chimney effect, sucking in more air to be heated, wherein the air includes CO.sub.2, chemically removing the CO.sub.2 from the heated air, using a coolant liquid, wherein the coolant liquid in a heat exchanger, when in contact with the CO.sub.2 in the heated air, forms a bicarbonate, and releasing air that has had the CO.sub.2 chemically removed.

Claims

1. A method for reclaiming Carbon Dioxide from air, comprising: absorbing solar radiation using a plurality of solar photovoltaic panels, wherein each of the solar photovoltaic panels includes a support plate located behind and separated by a distance from at least one heating plate configured to heat air, wherein the at least one heating plate including a heat-absorbing film that is positioned towards a solar radiation source, wherein the distance forms a heat insulating enclosure, and wherein the configuration of each of the solar photovoltaic panels provides a chimney effect; heating the air between the plurality of photovoltaic panels to produce heated air and cause approximately 1 m.sup.3 of the heated air to rise and flow through the heat insulating enclosure every minute, wherein due to the chimney effect, more of the air to be heated is sucked into the heat insulating enclosure, and wherein the air includes Carbon Dioxide; chemically removing the Carbon Dioxide from the heated air by using a coolant liquid, wherein the coolant liquid is potassium hydroxide in water, and wherein the coolant liquid, in a heat exchanger, contact the Carbon Dioxide in the heated air to form a bicarbonate; and releasing the air having the Carbon Dioxide chemically removed.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising converting some of the solar radiation into electricity.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising converting some heat produced by the solar radiation to electricity.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising exchanging some heat of the heated air with the coolant liquid.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising removing the bicarbonate from the heat exchanger.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a system for reclaiming CO.sub.2 from the atmosphere, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIGS. 2-3 show a method for reclaiming CO.sub.2 from the atmosphere, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(3) The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

(4) Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

(5) Referring now to FIG. 1, a system 100 for reclaiming CO.sub.2 from the atmosphere is illustratively depicted, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(6) Greenhouse uses do not isolate themselves to one isolated section of the atmosphere. Therefore, in order to extract unwanted greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, a meaningful part of the atmosphere has to be circulated. This may be achieved with the use of solar energy technology.

(7) According to an embodiment, the system 100 includes an SPV/thermal electricity converter 105 configured to convert solar radiation 107 and heat to electricity. It is noted, however, that strictly SPV modules may also be used in conjunction with the present system 100, while maintaining the spirit of the present invention. According to an embodiment, the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 represents a 1 m.sup.2 module. However, other sized modules may also be used in conjunction with the present invention.

(8) According to an embodiment, the SPV converter 105 includes two or more thermally conductive plates 110 (which only includes heat absorbing film 111 on the H-SPV plate, which is the plate towards the Sun's radiation), forming a heat isolator, wherein CO.sub.2-containing air 115 can be heated by the heat absorbed by the plates 110, resulting in the rise of the air 115 due to the chimney effect. According to an embodiment, the film 111 includes graphite. However, it is noted that other heat absorbing materials may also be used for the film 111.

(9) According to an embodiment, the plates 110 include a front, heat-absorbing plate, and a back supporting member plate configured to create the chimney effect.

(10) According to an embodiment, the geometry and thermal properties of the films 111 that determine the chimney effect between the two plates 110 are configured in such a way that every minute approximately 1 m.sup.3 air 115 will be heated and go up between the plates 110. However, it is noted that other air 115 flow rates may also be achieved using the system 100 of the present invention.

(11) According to an embodiment, the semiconductor material of the SPV converter 105 absorbs the sun's radiation throughout the whole electromagnetic spectrum and converts approximately 20% of the solar radiation 107 to electricity, and 80% of the absorbed energy will heat the SPV material. However, it is noted that, with improvements and alterations to SPV and thermal heat converters, these percentages may change. This heat will in turn heat up the air between the plates. The warmer lighter air 115 will begin to rise with the chimney-effect, sucking in more air 115 below.

(12) According to an embodiment, the system 100 further includes a heat exchanger 120 configured to receive the air 115 warms between the plates 110. According to an embodiment, once in the heat exchanger 120, the heat of the air 115 is exchanged with a coolant liquid 125. According to an embodiment, the coolant liquid 125 includes KOH in water. However, it is noted that other coolant liquids 125 may also be used in conjunction with the present system 100 while maintaining the spirit of the present invention. According to an embodiment, the CO.sub.2 in the air 115 reacts with the coolant liquid 125, forming a bicarbonate, which can be precipitated at the heat load out of the coolant liquid 125. According to an embodiment when the coolant liquid 125 includes KOH, the chemical reaction is: CO.sub.2+KOH=>KHCO.sub.3, wherein KHCO.sub.3 is a bicarbonate and can be used as an industrial material. The chemical reaction, which is an exothermic chemical reaction, further increases the temperature of the coolant liquid 125. According to an embodiment, some of the thermal energy absorbed by the system 100 is converted to electricity. By collecting the thermal energy, the system 100 has a combined cycle SPV/thermal converter 105, which may reach over 50% efficiency.

(13) According to an embodiment, the heat exchanger 120 further includes an air exhaust opening 130 for removal of the air 135 that has had some or all of the CO.sub.2 removed in the heat exchanger 120.

(14) According to an embodiment, the air is brought in direct contact with the liquid that contains the KOH solution. According to another embodiment, instead of a liquid, a special filter is used impregnated with a reactive material to react with the CO.sub.2 in the atmosphere. The filter may provide a large area to intercept the airflow with the CO.sub.2 in it. The filter may be changed periodically.

(15) According to an embodiment, the coolant liquid that acts as a heat exchanger laminally flows by the whole back plate of the H-SPV module to cool the H-SPV module and, in the process, may react with the CO.sub.2 to extract the CO.sub.2. This embodiment may be used if the H-SPV module is part of a roof top.

(16) Referring now to FIGS. 2-3, a method 200 for reclaiming CO.sub.2 from the atmosphere is illustratively depicted, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(17) At step 205, a CO.sub.2 extracting apparatus is coupled to a SPV/thermal converter 105 capable of converting solar radiation 107 and thermal energy to electricity, creating a CO.sub.2 extracting system 100. This system 100, at step 210, is installed. According to an embodiment, this system 100 includes two or more SPV panel plates 110 to form a heat isolator.

(18) At step 215, the heat absorbing film 111 of the SPV plates 110 absorbs solar radiation 107, converting some of the solar radiation 107 to electricity and further heating the SPV panel 105. This causes the temperature of the air 115 (which includes CO.sub.2) inside the heat isolator (between the plates 110) of the system 110 to rise, relevant to air outside the system, creating warmer air 115 inside the heat isolator between the plates 110.

(19) At step 220, the warmer air 115 rises between the plates 110, due to the chimney-effect, sucking in more outside air into the heat isolator. According to an embodiment, the rising air 115 results in an approximate 1 m.sup.3 of air 115 to flow between the plates 110 per minute.

(20) At step 225, the warmer air 115 passes through a heat exchanger 120 where, at step 230, the heat of the air 115 is exchanged with a coolant liquid 125. According to an embodiment, the coolant liquid 125 includes KOH. It is noted, however, that other coolant liquids 125 may also be used, while maintaining the spirit of the present invention.

(21) At step 235, the CO.sub.2 in the air 115 reacts with the coolant liquid 125, forming a bicarbonate, which can be precipitated at the heat load out of the coolant liquid 125. According to an embodiment, when the coolant liquid 125 includes KOH, the chemical reaction is CO.sub.2+KOH=>KHCO.sub.3, wherein KHCO.sub.3 is a bicarbonate and can be used as an industrial material.

(22) At step 240, the chemical reaction, which is an exothermic chemical reaction, further increases the temperature of the coolant liquid 125.

(23) At step 245, some of the thermal energy absorbed by the system 100 is converted to electricity using the SPV/thermal converter 105.

(24) At step 250, the bicarbonate containing the CO.sub.2 is removed from the system 100 and collected.

(25) At step 255, the treated air 135 is released through an air exhaust opening 130.

(26) When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles a, an, and the are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Similarly, the adjective another, when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one or more elements. The terms including and having are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

(27) Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.