CARBON CAPTURE DEVICE

Abstract

A carbon capture device comprising a flue gas input, a flue gas output, a carbon adsorption zone that is in fluid communication with the flue gas input and in fluid communication with the flue gas output, where a first flue gas communication channel comprises the carbon adsorption zone, where the first flue gas communication channel comprises a first fluid input and a first fluid output, and the carbon adsorption zone comprises a first CO.sub.2 sorbent material positioned downstream from the first fluid input and upstream to/of the first fluid output, where the first fluid input is in fluid communication with the flue gas input, and where the flue gas is directed past the CO.sub.2 sorbent material and towards the first fluid output, where the first fluid output is in fluid communication with the flue gas output, a carbon desorption zone, where the carbon desorption zone comprises a second CO.sub.2 sorbent material, and an actuation device where the actuation device is configured to transport carbon-rich first CO.sub.2 sorbent material from the carbon adsorption zone to the carbon desorption zone and to transport carbon-lean second CO.sub.2 sorbent material from the carbon desorption zone to the carbon adsorption zone.

Claims

1. A carbon capture device, comprising: a flue gas input, a flue gas output, a carbon adsorption zone that is in fluid communication with the flue gas input and in fluid communication with the flue gas output, where a first flue gas communication channel comprises the carbon adsorption zone, where the first flue gas communication channel comprises a first fluid input and a first fluid output, and the carbon adsorption zone comprises a first CO.sub.2 sorbent material positioned downstream from the first fluid input and upstream to/of the first fluid output, where the first fluid input is in fluid communication with the flue gas input, and where the flue gas is directed past the CO.sub.2 sorbent material and towards the first fluid output, where the first fluid output is in fluid communication with the flue gas output, a carbon desorption zone, where the carbon desorption zone comprises a second CO.sub.2 sorbent material, and an actuation device, where the actuation device is configured to transport carbon-rich first CO.sub.2 sorbent material from the carbon adsorption zone to the carbon desorption zone and to transport carbon-lean second CO.sub.2 sorbent material from the carbon desorption zone to the carbon adsorption zone.

2. A carbon capture device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the device comprises a heat exchanger that is configured to extract heat energy from the flue gas upstream from the flue gas input, and optionally provide thermal energy to the CO.sub.2 sorbent material to increase or decrease the temperature of the CO.sub.2 sorbent material inside the system.

3. A carbon capture device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuation device may be in the form of a screw (auger) conveyor device or a belt conveyor having transport pockets.

4. A carbon capture device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carbon capture device comprises a closed loop system, where the carbon adsorption zone is in communication with the carbon desorption zone and/or where the carbon desorption zone is in communication with the carbon adsorption zone.

5. A carbon capture device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carbon capture device comprises a closed circulating structure configured to receive the carbon adsorption material, and where the closed circulating structure comprises the carbon adsorption zone, the carbon desorption zone and/or the actuation device.

6. A carbon capture device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carbon capture device comprises a heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy from the flue gas to a first cooling fluid.

7. A carbon capture device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second CO.sub.2 sorbent material is heated from a first temperature to a second temperature in a first transition zone between the carbon adsorption zone and the carbon desorption zone.

8. A carbon capture device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second CO.sub.2 sorbent material is cooled from a second temperature to a first temperature in a second transition zone between the carbon desorption zone and the carbon adsorption zone.

9. A carbon capture device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carbon adsorption zone is arranged in a first tubular body, and the carbon desorption zone is arranged in a second tubular body.

10. A carbon capture device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carbon adsorption zone and/or the carbon desorption zone is in the form of a constantly moving fluidized bed.

11. A carbon capture device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carbon capture device may comprise a second cooling assembly, where the second cooling assembly provides a stream of cooling fluid to the adsorbent material and/or the carbon adsorption zone at a second temperature that is lower than the ambient temperature of the carbon capture system.

12. A carbon capture device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the second temperature is below 0 C., more specifically between 0 C. and 80 C., even more specifically between 10 C. and 60 C., or even more specifically between 40 C. and 50 C.

13. A carbon capture device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carbon capture device is a carbon capture device for an internal combustion engine (3).

14. A carbon capture device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first CO.sub.2 sorbent material and/or the second CO.sub.2 sorbent material is in the form of pellets, powder, a granular substance, a grainy substance, extruded forms, fibres or particulates.

15. A carbon capture system for flue gas, the system comprising: an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, and a carbon capture device in accordance with claim 1.

Description

[0044] The following is an explanation of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a process diagram of a carbon capture system in accordance with the present disclosure,

[0046] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a carbon capture system in accordance with the present disclosure,

[0047] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a carbon capture system in accordance with the present disclosure,

[0048] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a carbon capture system in accordance with the present disclosure,

[0049] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vehicle having a carbon capture system in accordance with the present disclosure,

[0050] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a carbon capture system in accordance with the present disclosure,

[0051] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a carbon capture system in accordance with the present disclosure,

[0052] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the portion shown in FIG. 7, and

[0053] FIGS. 9A-9C show a schematic view of a carbon capture system having a secondary heating device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] Various exemplary embodiments and details are described hereinafter, with reference to the figures when relevant. It should be noted that the figures may or may not be drawn to scale, and that elements of similar structures or functions are represented by like reference numerals throughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the disclosure or as a limitation on the scope of the disclosure. In addition, an illustrated embodiment needs not have all the aspects or advantages shown. An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practised in any other embodiments even if not so illustrated, or if not so explicitly described.

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a process diagram of an embodiment of a carbon capture system 1, where the carbon capture system 1 is in connection with an internal combustion engine 3. When the internal combustion engine 3 is operated and run, the engine 3 produces exhaust gasses, which may be in the form of flue gas, where the flue gas may be directed via fluid communication 5 to the carbon capture system 1. The fluid communication 5 may connect the internal combustion engine 3 with a heat exchanger 7 of the system 1, where the heat exchanger may be utilized to cool the flue gas (exhaust gasses) from a first temperature to a second temperature.

[0056] The heat exchanger 7 is in fluid communication with a first flue gas communication channel 9, where the first flue gas communication channel 9 comprises a first fluid input which receives the cooled flue gas 11 from the heat exchanger. The first flue gas communication channel 9 comprises a carbon adsorption zone 13, where the CO.sub.2 from the flue gas may be adsorbed by a CO.sub.2 sorbent material. The flue gas communication channel may further comprise a first outlet 15, where the flue gas may be released from the flue gas communication channel when CO.sub.2 has been adsorbed from the flue gas, and where the first outlet is connected to a flue gas output which releases the flue gas from the device 1. An example of the composition of flue gas of an internal combustion engine may be N2:67%, 02:9%, CO.sub.2: 12%, H.sub.2O 11%, CO+HC+NOx+SO2+PM:1%.

[0057] When the CO.sub.2 from the flue gas has been adsorbed by the CO.sub.2 sorbent material, the CO.sub.2 sorbent material is carbon-rich and is transported towards a carbon desorption zone 25, where the transport from the carbon adsorption zone 13 is performed using an actuator 19 in a direction 20 away from the carbon adsorption zone 13. While the CO.sub.2 sorbent material is being transported from the carbon adsorption zone 13, the CO.sub.2 sorbent material may be heated up from a first temperature to a second temperature, where a thermal energy 21 from the heat exchanger 7 may be utilized to warm up the CO.sub.2 sorbent material in order to transform the state of the CO.sub.2 sorbent material from being capable of receiving CO.sub.2 to a state where the CO.sub.2 sorbent material releases CO.sub.2. The actuator transports the carbon-rich material in a direction 23 towards a carbon desorption zone 25, and where the CO.sub.2 sorbent material has been heated up to a second temperature. In the carbon desorption zone 25 the carbon is released from the CO.sub.2 sorbent material, where the CO.sub.2 may be fed via fluid connection 27 to a pump 29 which pumps the CO.sub.2 via a fluid connection 31 to a storage tank 33, and where the storage tank can collect the CO.sub.2 that is captured from the flue gas.

[0058] At the desorption zone where the CO.sub.2 sorbent material has been depleted of CO.sub.2 (or has reached a certain level of CO.sub.2), the CO.sub.2 sorbent material is transported in a direction 35 via an actuation device 37, where the actuation device 37 transports the carbon-lean CO.sub.2 sorbent material in a direction 43 back to the carbon adsorption zone 13. During the transport by the actuation device 37, the CO.sub.2 sorbent material may be cooled from a second temperature and back to a first temperature, using cooling 39 received from a cooling device 41, such as a radiator. Thus, the reduction in temperature ensures that the CO.sub.2 sorbent material is in a state where the CO.sub.2 sorbent material can receive CO.sub.2 from the flue gas.

[0059] Thus, a carbon capture device is provided where the CO.sub.2 sorbent material is cycled through different zones in the device to alternatively adsorb CO.sub.2 from a flue gas, or alternatively to desorb CO.sub.2 to a storage.

[0060] Storage tank 33 could be a detachable unit of the system that when filled with CO 2 to a certain predetermined value, could be swapped over with an empty tank.

[0061] Alternatively, the tank could be fitted with a pressure tight quick connect to empty the stored CO.sub.2 into another tank.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a carbon capture device 101 in accordance with the present disclosure, where the carbon capture device comprises a flue gas input 103, where hot flue gas 104 is received from an internal combustion engine. The flue gas input 103 is fed into a heat exchanger 105 having an exchanger input 107 and an exchanger output 109, where the flue gas may enter the exchanger input 107 at a third temperature of between 350-700 C. During the transition from the exchanger input 107 and the exchanger output 109, the temperature of the flue gas will be reduced to a first temperature of about 25-40 C., where the flue gas has a temperature that is suited for the carbon capture device. Cold flue gas 111 is communicated to a first fluid input 113, where the flue gas enters a carbon adsorption zone 115, and where CO.sub.2 is removed from the flue gas, creating a carbon-lean flue gas. Carbon-lean flue gas 117 exits the carbon adsorption zone 115 via a first fluid outlet 119, where the first fluid outlet is in fluid communication with a flue gas outlet (not shown). The first fluid input 113, the carbon adsorption zone 115 and the first fluid outlet 119 may be part of a flue gas communication channel 121 which isolates the flue gas from the rest of the device, or at least the parts of the device that holds a CO.sub.2 adsorption material.

[0063] The carbon adsorption zone 115 comprises a CO.sub.2 adsorption material where the carbon adsorption material in the carbon adsorption zone is configured to adsorb CO.sub.2 from the flue gas 111, and remove CO.sub.2 from the flue gas 111 to create the carbon-lean flue gas 117 that may exit the carbon adsorption zone 115.

[0064] The carbon capture device 101 comprises a closed loop 123 holding a CO.sub.2 adsorption material, where the closed loop comprises the carbon adsorption zone 115, a first transition zone 125, a carbon desorption zone 127 and a second transition zone 129, where these zones comprise a CO.sub.2 adsorption material in different states, depending on the CO.sub.2 adsorption material capability of adsorbing or desorbing CO.sub.2, or during a transitional period where the CO.sub.2 adsorption material is transformed from an adsorption state to a desorption state, or vice versa. The CO.sub.2 adsorption material is in an adsorption state in the carbon adsorption zone 115, and is in a desorption state in the carbon desorption zone 127. However, in the first transition zone 125 the CO.sub.2 adsorption material is heated up from a first temperature of 25-40 C. in a first end 131 of the first transition zone 125 to a second temperature of between 120-150 C. in a second end 133 of the transition zone, where the second temperature is suited for carbon desorption in the carbon desorption zone 127. The thermal energy utilized to heat up the CO.sub.2 adsorption material from its first temperature to the second temperature may be harvested from the heat exchanger 105, via e.g. a first cooling/heating fluid 137. When the thermal energy has been absorbed by the CO.sub.2 adsorption material in the first transition zone 125, a second cooling/heating fluid 139 is fed from the first transition zone 125 to a cooling device 141 (radiator, cooling fan), where the cooling device 141 absorbs thermal energy from the cooling fluid and returns a third cooling/heating fluid 145 back to the heat exchanger 105, and where the cooling/heating fluid is configured to absorb heat from the flue gas, thereby creating a first temperature loop 143.

[0065] The CO.sub.2 adsorption material may be transferred from the second end 133 to the carbon desorption zone 127 via a first CO.sub.2 adsorption material transfer channel 135, where the CO.sub.2 adsorption material is at a second temperature of between 120-150 C. In the carbon desorption zone 127, the carbon-rich CO.sub.2 adsorption material may release the adsorbed CO.sub.2 from the flue gas, where the released (desorbed) CO.sub.2 may be communicated from the carbon desorption zone 127 to a first pump 147, where the first pump 147 may communicate CO.sub.2 to a storage tank 149. The storage tank may hold compressed CO.sub.2, or may be an adsorbent quick-connect, low-pressure storage tank. To make the system more efficient, the present disclosure aims at minimizing the storage pressure of the CO.sub.2 tanks by using sorbent materials like MOFs that are specially tailored for this purpose. Reducing the storage pressure would considerably reduce the pumping requirements for the storage tank and increase safety associated with these tanks while retaining storage capacity.

[0066] When the carbon-rich CO.sub.2 adsorption material has been desorbed sufficiently in the carbon desorption zone 127, the CO.sub.2 adsorption material may be transported back to the carbon adsorption zone 115 via the second transition zone 129, where the CO.sub.2 adsorption material enters via a first end 151 of the second transition zone 129 and exits the second transition zone via a second end 153 of the second transition zone 129. However, in the second transition zone 129 the CO.sub.2 adsorption material is cooled from a second temperature of 120-150 C. in the first end 151 of the second transition zone to a first temperature of between 25-40 C. in a second end 153 of the second transition zone 129, where the first temperature is suited for carbon adsorption in the carbon adsorption zone 115. The thermal energy utilized to cool down the CO.sub.2 adsorption material from its second temperature to the first temperature may be harvested from the cooling device 141, via e.g. a fourth cooling/heating fluid 155. When the thermal energy has been absorbed by the cooling fluid in the second transition zone 129, a fifth cooling/heating fluid 157 is fed from the second transition zone 129 to the cooling device 141 (radiator, cooling fan), where the cooling device 141 absorbs thermal energy from the cooling fluid, thereby creating a second temperature loop 159.

[0067] The CO.sub.2 adsorption material may be transferred from the second end 153 of the second transition zone 129 to the carbon adsorption zone 115 via a second CO.sub.2 adsorption material transfer channel 161, where the CO.sub.2 adsorption material is at a first temperature of between 25-40 C.

[0068] The first transition zone 125 and the second transition zone 129 may be provided with a first actuator device 163 and a second actuator device 165, where the actuator devices 163, 165 may be configured to transport the CO.sub.2 adsorption material from the first ends 131, 151 of the transition zones 125, 129 and towards the second ends 133, 153 of the transition zones 125, 129, where the actuators may mechanically move the CO.sub.2 adsorption material from the carbon adsorption zone 115 to the carbon desorption zone 127, and from the carbon desorption zone 127 to the carbon adsorption zone 115, and maintain a cyclical flow of CO.sub.2 adsorption material in the closed loop 123 of CO.sub.2 adsorption material.

[0069] FIG. 3 shows a simple schematic diagram of a possible embodiment of a carbon capture system 201 in accordance with the present disclosure, where the carbon capture system 201 may include some or all elements of the devices shown in FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2. The simplistic view of the carbon capture system 201 may comprise a carbon adsorption zone 203 and a carbon desorption zone 205 which are in the form of tubular members that may be positioned in a vertical position. The carbon adsorption zone may be in communication with a first fluid input 207, where flue gas may be fed into the carbon adsorption zone 203, and a first fluid output 209, where the flue gas may exit the carbon adsorption zone 203. The carbon desorption zone may comprise a CO.sub.2 outlet 208 which is configured to release desorbed CO.sub.2 from the carbon desorption zone 205. The carbon adsorption zone 203 may comprise a first CO.sub.2 sorbent material 211, while the carbon desorption zone 205 may comprise a second CO.sub.2 sorbent material 213. The carbon adsorption zone 203 may have a first CO.sub.2 sorbent material input 215 and a first CO.sub.2 sorbent material output 216, while the carbon desorption zone 205 may have a second CO.sub.2 sorbent material input 217 and a second CO.sub.2 sorbent material output 218, where the inputs are positioned close to bottom ends 219, 221 of the carbon adsorption zone 203 and the carbon desorption zone 205, while the outputs are positioned close to top ends 223, 225 of the carbon adsorption zone 203 and the carbon desorption zone 205.

[0070] The carbon capture device 201 may further comprise a first transition zone 227 and a second transition zone 229, where the transition zones 227, 229 comprise an actuation device 37 to transport CO.sub.2 sorbent material from first ends 231, 233 of the first transition zone 227 and the second transition zone 229 to second ends 235, 237 of the first transition zone 227 and the second transition zone 229, in the direction of arrows A, B. The temperature of the CO.sub.2 sorbent material may be increased and/or decreased in the transition zones 227, 229, as disclosed in relation to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The first ends 231, 233 may be connected to the first CO.sub.2 sorbent material input 215 and the second CO.sub.2 sorbent material output 218, and the second ends 235, 237 may be connected to the first CO.sub.2 sorbent material input 215 and the second CO.sub.2 sorbent material input 217, where the actuation device 37 of the transition zones 227, 229 are configured to elevate the CO.sub.2 sorbent material in a vertical direction, so that when the CO.sub.2 sorbent material enters the inputs 215, 217, gravity makes the CO.sub.2 sorbent material mix in with the first CO.sub.2 sorbent material 211 and the second CO.sub.2 sorbent material 213. Thus, the system is capable of creating a cyclical route for the CO.sub.2 sorbent material to be transferred continuously between the carbon adsorption zone 203 and the carbon desorption zone 205.

[0071] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the system seen in FIG. 2, where the system has been modified by providing a second cooling assembly 301 comprising an air compressor 303, a heat exchanger 305 and an expander 307. The second cooling assembly 301 has been added to the system shown in FIG. 2, where the purpose of the second cooling assembly 301 is to introduce a further stream of cool fluid to improve the efficiency of the adsorption process in the carbon capture system 101.

[0072] The second cooling assembly 301 comprises a fluid compressor, where the fluid compressor 303 may be an air compressor 303, and where ambient air is introduced into the air compressor 303 via an air intake 309. The air from the air intake 309 has an ambient temperature. The air compressor 303 may have one or more air cylinders 311, each having a piston 313 which is driven via an electric motor 315 to reciprocate with the air cylinder 311. The air cylinder 311 may have an air input valve 317 and an air output valve 319, where the air input valve 317 is open in order to draw air into the air cylinder 311, while being closed when air is being compressed inside the air cylinder 311. The air output valve 319 may be a one-way pressure-activated valve, allowing the compressed air to exit the air cylinder 311 at a predefined pressure.

[0073] As the compression of air increases the temperature of the air, the compressed air may be fed into a compressed air input 321 of a heat exchanger 305, where the heat exchanger 305 cools the compressed air back to an ambient temperature. The thermal energy transferred from the compressed air may be fed into the cooling device 141 via a fourth cooling/heating fluid communication conduit 325, where the thermal energy may be utilized in e.g. the desorption process of the carbon capture system. The heat exchanger 305 may be a water-based heat exchanger, where the heating/cooling fluid may be water.

[0074] The compressed air may exit the heat exchanger 305 at an ambient temperature via a compressed air output 327 and enter an expander 307 in which the compressed air is expanded to a predefined pressure, e.g. ambient pressure. The expansion of the compressed air reduces the temperature of the expanded air to a predefined temperature that may be controlled by the level of expansion of the compressed air. The predefined temperature may e.g. be around 45 C., which may be a significant reduction compared to the ambient temperature. The expanded air may be provided as a first cooling stream 331 towards the second end 153 of the second transition zone 129 and/or as a first cooling stream 331 towards the carbon adsorption zone 115 in order to transfer negative thermal energy to the adsorption material in the carbon adsorption zone 115 and/or to cool the adsorption material in the second end 153 of the second transition zone 129. Alternatively, or additionally, the first cooling stream 331 may be utilized to transfer negative thermal energy to the cold flue gas 111 to reduce the temperature of the flue gas before or simultaneously with its entry into the carbon adsorption zone 115.

[0075] The negative thermal energy provided by the first cooling stream 331 increases the adsorption capabilities and/or effectiveness of the adsorption material present in the carbon adsorption zone 115 and allows more CO.sub.2 to be adsorbed from the cold flue gas 111. Thus, the negative thermal energy may be utilized to increase the adsorption efficiency of the adsorption material in the carbon capture system 101 shown in FIG. 2.

[0076] The term negative thermal energy is to be understood as a transferred heat which causes the flue gas 111 and/or the adsorption material to drop in temperature by the introduction of the first cooling stream 331.

[0077] Alternatively, the second cooling assembly 301 may provide a first cooling stream 331 that may be provided via vortex tubes, heat pumps or Stirling pumps, or any type of device that may provide a second cooling stream that is at a lower temperature than the ambient temperature of the carbon capture device 1. More preferably, the temperature may be at a temperature that is below zero degrees Celsius.

[0078] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a vehicle 351, e.g. a long-haul vehicle or a trailer truck, where the vehicle 351 comprises a cab 353. The carbon capture system 101 may be arranged at a back wall 355 of the cab 353 and may have direct access to the exhaust system 357 of the vehicle 351. A more detailed view of the carbon capture system 101 may be seen in FIG. 6, where the reference numbers shown for components or parts in FIG. 2 will be the same in FIG. 6.

[0079] The carbon capture system 101 may comprise a heat exchanger 105 having an exchanger input 107 and an exchanger output 109, where the exchanger input 107 is in fluid communication with the first fluid input 113 of the carbon adsorption zone 115. The exhaust system 357 of the vehicle 351 may be connected to the exchanger input 107 in order to feed the exhaust gasses (hot flue gas) towards the adsorption zone 115 in order for the CO.sub.2 of the exhaust gas to be adsorbed by the adsorption material of the carbon capture system 101. The system 101 further comprises a first transition zone 125 where the adsorbent material may be heated up, a carbon desorption zone 127 where the adsorbent material releases the CO.sub.2 and a second transition zone 129 where the adsorption material may be cooled down. The carbon capture system 101 may further comprise one or more storage tanks 149, and in this embodiment the system 101 has three CO.sub.2 storage tanks 149 which are in fluid communication with the carbon desorption zone 127.

[0080] In this embodiment, an adsorption vessel 359 may define the adsorption zone 115, a first transition vessel 363 may define a first transition zone 125, a desorption vessel 365 may define the desorption zone 127 and a second transition vessel 367 may define the second transition zone 129. The vessels 359, 363, 365, 367 may be stacked on a base or a frame 361, with circular fluid communication between the zones 115, 125, 127, 129 as shown in FIG. 2 in order to allow the recirculation of the adsorbent material, using one or more actuator devices 163, 165. The structure of the vessels 359, 363, 365, 367 may be in the form of the vessels shown in the following FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

[0081] FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of a vessel 359, 363, 365, 367, where each vessel may be substantially identical in the carbon capture system 101 shown in FIG. 6.

[0082] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of one vessel 359, where the vessel has a top part 369 and a bottom part 371, and a cylindrical body 373. The top part 369 and/or the bottom part 371 may have a fluid communication input or output, allowing fluid communication of the absorbent material in and out of each vessel and into a vessel that is adjacent to the recirculation process of the carbon capture system 101. The input or output of the top part 369 and the bottom part 371 is not shown, but may be in any suitable shape or form allowing the adsorbent material to enter or exit the vessel 359.

[0083] FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the cylindrical body 373, where a screw conveyor 375 may be positioned inside the volume 377 of the cylindrical body, and where a rotational movement of the screw conveyor 375 relative to the cylindrical body 373 may convey the adsorbent material from a bottom part 371 of the cylindrical body 373 to the top part 369 of the cylindrical body, or vice versa when the rotational movement of the screw conveyor 375 is in the opposite direction. The screw conveyor 375 may be in the form of a rotating helical screw blade which has a rotational axis that extends in parallel to a drive shaft 379 allowing the screw blade to be rotated around its rotating axis inside the cylindrical body 373. The top part 369 and/or the bottom part 371 of the vessel 359 may comprise a drive shaft opening 381 allowing a second drive shaft or an electric motor to be mechanically connected to the drive shaft 379 to provide rotational force to the screw conveyor 375.

[0084] The vessel shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 may be used to define the first transition zone 125 and/or the second transition zone 129, as seen in FIG. 6, or may be utilized to define all the zones in the carbon capture system 101, where all the zones are provided with actuating devices to maneuver the adsorbent material from one zone to another zone in a recirculation process.

[0085] FIGS. 9A-9C are schematic diagrams of a carbon capture system 101 similar to that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, where a secondary heating assembly 401 is in fluid communication with the carbon desorption zone 127 via a first heating inlet 403 and a first heating outlet 405. The secondary heating assembly 401 may be adapted to provide a secondary heating source for the carbon desorption zone 127 in order to increase the heating rate of the absorption material inside the desorption zone 127. By increasing the heating rate of the adsorption material, it may be possible to increase the CO.sub.2 release from adsorption material in the desorption zone 127, which in turn allows the adsorption material to adsorb more CO.sub.2 in the adsorption zone 115.

[0086] In FIGS. 9A-9C, this embodiment of the adsorption vessel 359 comprises a screw conveyor 375, and the second transition vessel 367 comprises a separate screw conveyor 375, where the two screw conveyors 375 are mechanically coupled to each other via a drive shaft 379, where a mechanical rotational force may be applied to the drive shaft 379 via the drive shaft opening 381 in/at the top of the second transition vessel 367 and the bottom of the adsorption vessel 359.

[0087] Similarly, the desorption vessel 365 and the first transition vessel 363 each comprises a screw conveyor 375, where a common drive shaft 379 connects the two screw conveyors 375, and a mechanical force may be applied from the outside of the vessels 363, 365.

[0088] Turning to FIG. 9A, the secondary heating assembly 401 comprises a heating vessel 411 having a screw conveyor 407, which is connected to a drive shaft 409, where the drive shaft is configured to rotate the screw conveyor 407. The drive shaft 409 and/or the screw conveyor 407 may be connected to a heat source having a heat source input 413 and a heat source output 415, where the heat source may be configured to provide heat energy to the drive shaft 409 and/or the screw conveyor 407. The heating vessel 411 may be filled with metal balls (not shown) made of a material having a high heat transfer coefficient so that the heat of the drive shaft 409 and/or the screw conveyor 407 may be transferred to the metal balls.

[0089] When the metal balls have absorbed the thermal energy of the screw conveyor 407 and/or the drive shaft 409, the screw conveyor 407 may force the metal balls into the desorption vessel 365 via the first heating outlet 405 in the direction of an arrow 421 so that the metal balls mix with the adsorption material in the desorption process. The facts that the metal balls have an outer surface and the adsorption material comes into contact with the outer surface mean that the thermal energy of the metal balls is transferred to the adsorption material and heats up the adsorption material in the desorption vessel 365. This secondary heating assembly 401 is in addition to the heating source shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0090] When the metal balls have been moved inside the desorption vessel 365 in a direction towards the first heating inlet 403 and towards an upper part of the desorption vessel 365, the metal balls may be extracted from the adsorption material using a magnet 417 which is capable of separating the metal balls from the adsorption material and reintroducing the metal balls into the heating vessel 411 via the first heating inlet 403 in the direction of an arrow 423.

[0091] Within the understanding of the present disclosure, the metal balls may be made of a steel alloy, an iron alloy, a nickel alloy, or any alloy that may have a high heat conductivity and may have magnetic properties. Furthermore, the metal balls may have any suitable shape, such as a spherical, an elliptical or a circular shape.

[0092] FIG. 9B is a schematic view of a similar system to that shown in FIG. 9A, where the thermal energy transfer to the metal balls has been modified. The remaining parts of the carbon capture system 101 are identical, and the secondary heating assemblies 401 are identical, with the exception that the heat source input 413 and the heat source output 415 have been replaced with an inductive coil 425, where the inductive coil 425 may be positioned adjacent to the heating vessel 411, or may be positioned inside the heating vessel 411. The inductive coil 425 may be configured to heat up the metal balls by means of inductive energy using a magnetic field, and to convert magnetic energy into thermal energy in the metal balls. The transport process of the metal balls into the desorption vessel 365 may be identical to that shown in FIG. 9A.

[0093] FIG. 9C shows an alternative embodiment of a secondary heating assembly 427, where the source of the secondary heat may be in the form of steam. The heating vessel 411 may comprise a steam generator 429 having a steam fluid input 431 and a steam fluid output 433. Steam, which may be water in its gas phase, may exit the steam fluid output 433, where pressure in a downstream part 435 of the heating vessel 411 pushes the steam into the first heating outlet 405 in the direction of the arrow 421 and into the desorption vessel 365. The thermal energy of the steam may be transferred into the adsorbent material and increase the heat of the adsorbent material to accelerate the release of the CO.sub.2 from the adsorbent material inside the desorption vessel 365.

[0094] The steam travels in a direction towards the first heating inlet 403 inside the desorption vessel 365 and may be passed into the heating vessel 411 via the first heating inlet 403 in the direction of the arrow 423 into an upstream part 437 of the heating vessel 411. Prior to entering the heating vessel 411, the steam may pass through a condenser 439 to transform the steam or any remaining part of the steam into water, where the water may be reintroduced into the steam generator 429 via the steam fluid input 431. The water, in its liquid and gas phase, may thereby be recirculated from the heating vessel 411 to the desorption vessel 365. Optionally, a circulation pump may be utilized to add further pressure to the recirculation.

[0095] The use of the terms first, second, third and fourth, primary, secondary, tertiary, etc., does not imply any particular order, but are included to identify individual elements. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, third and fourth, primary, secondary, tertiary, etc., does not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, third and fourth, primary, secondary, tertiary, etc., are used to distinguish one element from another. Note that the words first, second, third and fourth, primary, secondary, tertiary, etc., are used here and elsewhere for labelling purposes only and are not intended to denote any specific spatial or temporal ordering.

[0096] Furthermore, the labelling of a first element does not imply the presence of a second element and vice versa.

[0097] It is to be noted that the word comprising does not necessarily exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed.

[0098] It is to be noted that the words a or an preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

[0099] It should further be noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims.

[0100] Although features have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the claimed invention, and it will be made obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The claimed invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

TABLE-US-00001 List of references 1 Carbon capture system/device 3 Internal combustion engine 5 Fluid communication 7 Heat exchanger 9 Flue gas communication channel 11 Cooled flue gas 13 Carbon adsorption zone 15 First outlet 17 Carbon desorption zone 19 Actuator 20 Direction 21 Thermal energy 23 Direction 25 Carbon desorption zone 27 CO2 Feed 29 Pump 31 Fluid connection 33 Storage tank 35 Direction 37 Actuation device 39 Cooling 41 Cooling device 43 Direction 101 Carbon capture system 103 Flue gas input 104 Hot flue gas 105 Heat exchanger 107 Exchanger input 109 Exchanger output 111 Cold flue gas 113 First fluid input 115 Carbon adsorption zone 117 Carbon lean flue gas 119 First fluid outlet 121 Flue gas communication channel 123 Closed CO2 sorbent material loop 125 First transition zone 127 Carbon desorption zone 129 Second transition zone 131 First end of first transition zone 133 Second end of first transition zone 135 First CO2 adsorption material transfer channel 137 First cooling/heating fluid 139 Second cooling/heating fluid 141 Cooling device 143 First temperature loop 145 Third cooling/heating fluid 147 First pump 149 Storage tank 151 First end of the second transition zone 153 Second end of the second transition zone 155 Fourth cooling/heating fluid 157 Fifth cooling/heating fluid 159 Second temperature loop 161 Second CO2 adsorption material transfer channel 163 First actuator device 165 Second actuator device 201 Carbon capture system 203 Carbon adsorption zone 205 Carbon desorption zone 207 First fluid input 208 First carbon outlet 209 First fluid output 211 First CO2 sorbent material 213 Second CO2 sorbent material 215 First CO2 sorbent material input 216 First CO2 sorbent material output 217 Second CO2 sorbent material input 218 Second CO2 sorbent material output 219 Bottom end of carbon adsorption zone 221 Bottom end of carbon desorption zone 223 Top end of carbon adsorption zone 225 Top end of carbon desorption zone 227 First transition zone 229 Second transition zone 231 First end of the first transition zone 233 First end of the second transition zone 235 Second end of the first transition zone 237 Second end of the second transition zone 301 Second cooling assembly 303 Air compressor 305 Heat exchanger 307 Expander 309 Air intake 311 Air cylinder 313 Piston 315 Electric motor 317 Air input valve 319 Air output valve 321 Air input of heat exchanger 325 Fourth cooling/heating fluid communication conduit 327 Compressed air output 331 First cooling stream 351 Vehicle 353 Cab 357 Exhaust system 359 Adsorption vessel 361 Frame 363 First transition vessel 365 Desorption vessel 367 Second transition vessel 369 Top part of vessel 371 Bottom part of vessel 373 Cylindrical body 375 Screw conveyor 377 Volume of cylindrical body 379 Drive shaft 381 Drive shaft opening 401 Secondary heating assembly 403 First heating inlet 405 First heating outlet 407 Screw conveyor 409 Drive shaft 411 Heating vessel 413 Heat source input 415 Heat source output 417 Magnet 421 Arrow 423 Arrow 425 Inductive coil 427 Secondary heating assembly 429 Steam generator 431 Steam fluid input 433 Steam fluid output 435 Downstream part of heating vessel 437 Upstream part of heating vessel 439 Condenser A Arrow B Arrow