Air contactor
In one aspect, an air contactor comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, a fan assembly to produce an airflow, a heat exchanger operable to transfer heat between a process fluid and the airflow, and an air pollutant capture system configured to selectively remove an air pollutant from the airflow. A controller has a fluid cooling and air pollutant capture mode wherein the controller controls the fan assembly to facilitate the heat exchanger transferring heat between the process fluid and the airflow and the air pollutant capture system removing the air pollutant from the airflow. The controller has a fluid cooling mode wherein the controller controls the fan assembly to facilitate the heat exchanger transferring heat between the process fluid and the airflow and the air pollutant capture system removing less of the air pollutant from the air.
1 . An air contactor comprising:
an airflow generator operable to produce an airflow;
an air pollutant capture system comprising:
an air pollutant capture apparatus to transfer an air pollutant from the airflow and to a fluid;
a fluid regeneration apparatus configured to utilize heat from a heat source to remove the air pollutant from the fluid; and
a thermal energy storage operable to either receive heat from the fluid or provide heat to the fluid regeneration apparatus;
the air pollutant capture system having:
a regeneration and charging mode wherein the fluid regeneration apparatus receives heat from the heat source, the fluid regeneration apparatus removes the air pollutant from the fluid, and the thermal energy storage receives heat from the fluid; and
a regeneration and discharging mode wherein the fluid regeneration apparatus receives heat from the thermal energy storage and the fluid regeneration apparatus removes the air pollutant from the fluid; and
a controller operatively connected to the air pollutant capture system, the controller configured to operate the air pollutant capture system in the regeneration and discharging mode in response to a determination of the air pollutant capture system in the regeneration and discharging mode satisfying an operating criterion.
2 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the operating criterion comprises the fluid regenerator apparatus being able to remove the air pollutant from the fluid despite the heat source being unable to provide sufficient heat to operate the fluid regenerator apparatus.
3 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the operating criterion comprises saving energy.
4 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to operate the air pollutant capture system in the regeneration and charging mode in response to a determination of the heat source being able to provide sufficient heat to the fluid regeneration process and a determination of an inadequate charge of the thermal energy storage.
5 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the air pollutant capture system has a regeneration mode wherein:
the fluid regeneration apparatus receives heat from the heat source, the fluid regeneration apparatus removes the air pollutant from the fluid, and the thermal energy storage receives less heat from the fluid than when the air pollutant capture system is in the regeneration and charging mode.
6 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the air pollutant capture system comprises a pump operable to pump a heat transfer fluid between the thermal energy storage and the fluid regeneration apparatus; and
wherein, with the air pollutant capture system in the regeneration and discharging mode, the pump pumps the heat transfer fluid between the thermal energy storage and the fluid regeneration apparatus to cause the fluid regeneration apparatus to receive heat from the thermal energy storage.
7 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the air pollutant capture system comprises a valve intermediate the fluid regeneration apparatus and the thermal energy storage;
wherein, with the air pollutant capture system in the regeneration and charging mode, the valve has a first configuration wherein the valve directs the fluid from the fluid regeneration apparatus to the thermal energy storage; and
wherein, with the air pollutant capture system in the regeneration and discharge mode, the valve has a second configuration wherein the fluid bypasses the thermal energy storage.
8 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the thermal energy storage comprises a plurality of thermal energy storages; and
wherein, with the air pollutant capture system in the regeneration and discharging mode, the fluid regeneration apparatus receives heat from the thermal energy storages.
9 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the thermal energy storage comprises a first thermal energy storage and a second thermal energy storage;
wherein the air pollutant capture system has a regeneration, charging, and discharging mode wherein:
the fluid regeneration apparatus receives heat from the heat source;
the fluid regeneration apparatus removes the air pollutant from the fluid;
the first thermal energy storage receives heat from the fluid; and
the fluid regeneration apparatus receives heat from the second thermal energy storage.
10 . The air contactor of claim 9 wherein the controller is configured to operate the air pollutant capture system in the regeneration, charging, and discharging mode in response to:
a determination of the heat source being unable to provide sufficient heat to the fluid regeneration apparatus; and
a determination of an inadequate charge of the first thermal energy storage and an adequate charge of the second thermal energy storage.
11 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the fluid regeneration apparatus comprises an endothermic regenerative apparatus configured to receive the fluid from the air pollutant capture apparatus.
12 . The air contactor of claim 11 wherein the air pollution capture fluid regeneration apparatus further includes an exothermic regenerative process configured to receive the fluid from the endothermic regenerative apparatus.
13 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the air pollutant capture system includes a heat source thermal energy storage;
wherein the air pollutant capture system has a regeneration, charging, and heat source active mode wherein:
the fluid regeneration apparatus receives heat from the heat source and removes the air pollutant from the fluid;
the thermal energy storage receives heat from the fluid; and
the heat source thermal energy storage receives heat from the heat source;
wherein the air pollutant capture system has a regeneration, charging, and heat source inactive mode wherein:
the fluid regeneration apparatus receives heat from the heat source thermal energy storage and removes the air pollutant from the fluid; and
the thermal energy storage receives heat from the fluid.
14 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the air pollutant capture system includes a heat source thermal energy storage;
wherein the air pollutant capture system has a regeneration, charging, and heat source active mode wherein:
the fluid regeneration apparatus receives heat from the heat source and removes the air pollutant from the fluid;
the thermal energy storage receives heat from the fluid; and
the heat source thermal energy storage receives heat from the heat source;
wherein the air pollutant capture system has a regeneration, discharging, and heat source inactive mode wherein:
the fluid regeneration apparatus:
receives heat from the heat source thermal energy storage;
receives heat from the thermal energy storage; and
removes the air pollutant from the fluid.
15 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the air pollutant capture system comprises a solid sorbent and the fluid comprises a gas.
16 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the airflow generator comprises a fan assembly operatively connected to the controller.
17 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the fluid regeneration apparatus comprises at least one of a heat pump and a chiller.
18 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the fluid is configured to chemically react with carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the airflow to remove the CO 2 from the airflow.
19 . The air contactor of claim 1 wherein the air pollutant is carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), volatile organic compounds (VOC), volatile halogenated organic carbons (VOX), or a combination thereof.
20 . An air contactor comprising:
a fan assembly to generate an airflow;
an air pollutant capture system comprising:
an air pollutant capture apparatus to transfer an air pollutant from the airflow to a fluid;
a fluid regeneration apparatus configured to remove the air pollutant from the fluid; and
a mechanical heat generator comprising at least one of a chiller and a heat pump, the mechanical heat generator configured to receive a process fluid from an industrial process at a first temperature and to receive a heat transfer fluid from the air pollutant capture system;
the mechanical heat generator operable to increase the temperature of the heat transfer fluid to a second temperature higher than the first temperature and return the heat transfer fluid to the fluid regeneration apparatus at the second temperature to facilitate the fluid regeneration apparatus removing the air pollutant from the fluid.
21 . The air contactor of claim 20 further comprising a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between the process fluid and the airflow.
22 . The air contactor of claim 21 wherein the heat exchanger is downstream of the air pollutant capture apparatus so that the heat exchanger transfers heat between the process fluid and the airflow after the fluid removes the air pollutant from the airflow.
23 . The air contactor of claim 20 wherein the air pollutant capture apparatus comprises a liquid absorbent material.
24 . The air contactor of claim 20 wherein the mechanical heat generator includes:
a first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between the process fluid and a mechanical heat generator fluid;
a second heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between the mechanical heat generator fluid and the heat transfer fluid;
an expansion valve; and
a compressor.
25 . The air contactor of claim 20 wherein the mechanical heat generator includes the chiller.
26 . The air contactor of claim 20 wherein the mechanical heat generator includes the heat pump.
27 . The air contactor of claim 20 wherein the fluid is configured to chemically react with the air pollutant to remove the air pollutant from the airflow.