DE102024204126A1 - Method for monitoring and/or controlling a CO2 separation device - Google Patents

Abstract

A method (100) for monitoring and/or controlling a CO2 separation device (10) for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream (14) is proposed, wherein a power requirement of a pump unit (36) during the performance of a CO2 release process, in particular a desorption process, is determined and an information signal and/or a control signal is output depending on this.

Description

State of the art

The invention relates to a method for monitoring and/or controlling a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream, wherein a CO2 release process, in particular a desorption process, is carried out in a separation chamber of the CO2 separation device containing a CO2 separation agent by means of a pump unit in order to release CO2 bound in the CO2 separation agent again as a result of a CO2 separation process, in particular a sorption process. The invention further relates to a control unit for monitoring and/or controlling a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream, and to a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream.

To limit the warming of the Earth's atmosphere, so-called DAC (Direct Air Capture) systems are used to separate or remove CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the air.

Since the binding of CO2 and, if present, water to an adsorbent material depends on temperature, pressure, concentration, humidity, etc., all adsorption and desorption systems cyclically establish different conditions in order to separate CO2 through the resulting hysteresis. To adjust the desorption conditions, the adsorbent material must be temporarily sealed off from the environment and is therefore located in a chamber.

• (1) Adsorption der Umgebungsluft bei geöffneter Kammer;
• (2) Verschließen der Kammer und Aufheizen des Adsorbermaterials und zwangsläufig auch der metallischen Kammerstruktur;
• (3) Desorption des CO2 und des mitgebundenen Wassers durch Zufuhr von Wärme bei reduziertem Druck (z.B. 200 bis 400 mbar) und Abpumpen des CO2 und des dampfförmigen Wassers mittels einer Vakuumpumpe;
• (4) Kühlen des Adsorbermaterials und der Kammer und optional Trocknen des Adsorbermaterials bis unterhalb einer kritischen Temperatur, unterhalb der ein Umgebungsluftkontakt nicht mehr zu einer erhöhten Degeneration des Adsorbermaterials durch den Luftsauerstoff führt;
• (5) Öffnen der Kammer gegen die Umgebung, Abkühlen auf Umgebungstemperatur und damit wiedereinsetzende Adsorption von CO2 und Wasser aus der Umgebungsluft.

The chamber typically goes through the following steps cyclically:

• (1) Adsorption of ambient air with the chamber open;
• (2) Closing the chamber and heating the adsorber material and inevitably also the metallic chamber structure;
• (3) Desorption of the CO2 and the bound water by supplying heat at reduced pressure (e.g. 200 to 400 mbar) and pumping out the CO2 and the water vapor using a vacuum pump;
• (4) Cooling the adsorber material and the chamber and optionally drying the adsorber material to below a critical temperature below which contact with ambient air no longer leads to increased degradation of the adsorber material by atmospheric oxygen;
• (5) Opening the chamber to the environment, cooling to ambient temperature and thus resuming adsorption of CO2 and water from the ambient air.

The amount of CO2 recovered in an adsorption/desorption chamber depends on a wide variety of factors. The loading and unloading rates also depend on the boundary conditions. Therefore, maximum CO2 yield is only possible through careful selection of the desorption process parameters under changing boundary conditions such as ambient temperature, humidity, air pressure, and undefined degradation due to environmental influences and/or aging of the adsorbent material.

Directly measuring the loading, for example via weight changes, has the disadvantage that degradation of the adsorber cannot be detected, since the loading amount is predicted to be "greater" than what is actually available. Therefore, to accurately determine the loading, the amount of desorbed CO2 must also be taken into account.

In the process engineering of such plants, the CO2 quantity is typically monitored by measuring the volumetric flow rate, determining the CO2 concentration, and calculating the desorbed CO2 mass in the cycle based on the density at the temperature and pressure of the measuring points. The co-adsorption of water, in particular, complicates this task, as the two-phase mixture must be considered at the sensor to accurately determine the adsorption mass and thus the performance. To reduce the load on the vacuum pump, a heat exchanger is often installed upstream of the pump to condense the entrained water. At low temperatures, for example around 10 °C, the water condenses almost completely, meaning the vacuum pump only has to perform the work required to pump out the CO2. Since the condensation rate, and therefore the composition (CO2 concentration), outlet temperature, and outlet pressure, now also depend on the varying volumetric flow rate during desorbing and potentially on varying cooling temperatures at the heat exchanger, a more complex measuring setup is required.

The WO 2020/212146 A1 Disclosure reveals a DAC (Direct Air Capture) system with a container solution, wherein six separation chambers are arranged in series and can be operated in parallel. The containers can either be coupled to a vacuum pump for desorption or each connected to its own vacuum pump. To correctly determine the loading status, the measurement described above must be performed. The arrangement should be installed behind each vacuum pump, for at least one concentration (CO2 and/or water, possibly other components), volume flow, pressure and temperature.

The WO 2021/239747 A1 Disclosure reveals a method for the adsorption and desorption of a sorbent used in cyclic adsorption-desorption for capturing CO2 directly from atmospheric air or highly dilute sources. In this process, after sealing the adsorption chamber, water vapor is injected to displace residual oxygen, which would lead to adsorbent material degradation at elevated temperatures.

Disclosure of the invention

• - Ermitteln eines Leistungsbedarfs der Pumpeinheit beim Durchführen des CO2-Freisetzungsvorgangs, insbesondere Desorptionsvorgangs; und
• - Ausgeben eines Informationssignals in Abhängigkeit von dem ermittelten Leistungsbedarf der Pumpeinheit, um die CO2-Abtrennungsvorrichtung zu überwachen, und/oder eines Steuersignals in Abhängigkeit von dem ermittelten Leistungsbedarf der Pumpeinheit, um die CO2-Abtrennungsvorrichtung, insbesondere eine Einheit der CO2-Abtrennungsvorrichtung zu steuern.

The present invention relates to a method for monitoring and/or controlling a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream, wherein a CO2 release process, in particular a desorption process, is carried out in a separation chamber of the CO2 separation device comprising a CO2 separation agent by means of a pump unit in order to release CO2 bound in the CO2 separation agent again as a result of a CO2 separation process, in particular a sorption process, comprising the steps of:

• - Determining the power requirements of the pump unit during the CO2 release process, in particular the desorption process; and
• - Outputting an information signal depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit in order to monitor the CO2 separation device, and/or a control signal depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit in order to control the CO2 separation device, in particular a unit of the CO2 separation device.

• - Ermitteln eines Leistungsbedarfs einer Pumpeinheit beim Durchführen eines CO2-Freisetzungsvorgangs, insbesondere Desorptionsvorgangs, welcher in einer ein CO2-Abtrennungsmittel aufweisenden Abtrennungskammer der CO2-Abtrennungsvorrichtung durchgeführt wurde, um aufgrund eines CO2-Abtrennungsvorgangs, insbesondere Sorptionsvorgangs in dem CO2-Abtrennungsmittel gebundenes CO2 wieder freizusetzen; und
• - Ausgeben eines Informationssignals in Abhängigkeit von dem ermittelten Leistungsbedarf der Pumpeinheit, um die CO2-Abtrennungsvorrichtung zu überwachen, und/oder eines Steuersignals in Abhängigkeit von dem ermittelten Leistungsbedarf der Pumpeinheit, um die CO2-Abtrennungsvorrichtung, insbesondere eine Einheit der CO2-Abtrennungsvorrichtung zu steuern.

The present invention further relates to a control unit for monitoring and/or controlling a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream, which is configured to perform at least one step or all steps of a method according to the type described above, in particular the following steps:

• - Determining the power requirement of a pump unit when carrying out a CO2 release process, in particular a desorption process, which was carried out in a separation chamber of the CO2 separation device containing a CO2 separation agent, in order to release CO2 bound in the CO2 separation agent again as a result of a CO2 separation process, in particular a sorption process; and
• - Outputting an information signal depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit in order to monitor the CO2 separation device, and/or a control signal depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit in order to control the CO2 separation device, in particular a unit of the CO2 separation device.

• - zumindest einer Abtrennungskammer zur Aufnahme eines CO2-Abtrennungsmittels;
• - einer Pumpeinheit zum Durchführen eines CO2-Freisetzungsvorgangs, insbesondere Desorptionsvorgangs in der Abtrennungskammer, um aufgrund eines CO2-Abtrennungsvorgangs, insbesondere Sorptionsvorgangs in dem CO2-Abtrennungsmittel gebundenes CO2 wieder freizusetzen; und
• - einer Steuereinheit zum Überwachen und/oder Steuern einer CO2-Abtrennungsvorrichtung gemäß der vorangehend beschriebenen Art.

The present invention also relates to a CO2 separation device for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream with

• - at least one separation chamber for holding a CO2 separation agent;
• - a pump unit for carrying out a CO2 release process, in particular a desorption process in the separation chamber, in order to release CO2 bound in the CO2 separation agent as a result of a CO2 separation process, in particular a sorption process; and
• - a control unit for monitoring and/or controlling a CO2 separation device of the type described above.

As explained in the introduction, the CO2 separation agent absorbs increasing amounts of CO2 (and possibly water from the air and other gases) over time, depending on the ambient conditions. Eventually, a saturation state is reached asymptotically, meaning that maximum loading takes an infinitely long time to reach equilibrium at a given temperature, humidity, pressure, and state of the CO2 separation agent. Therefore, the CO2 separation or sorption process is terminated after a predetermined sorption time or depending on the current loading state.

The CO2 release or desorption process can take place at constant (elevated) temperature and constant (reduced) pressure and/or with the aid of purge gas. The desorption time is reached when a sufficient amount of CO2 has been recovered, with a residual amount remaining in the CO2 separation medium for a finite time due to the asymptotic course of the equilibrium curve, which also occurs at low loading levels. By lowering the pressure and/or increasing the temperature during the desorption process, the bond between the CO2 (and the co-adsorbed water) and the CO2 separation medium is broken, i.e., the CO2 is desorbed. The pump unit must therefore be continuously pump out the newly desorbed CO2 gas and the newly desorbed water gas to maintain the set pressure.

The present invention is based on the understanding that the power consumption of the pump unit correlates with the amount of CO2 desorbed, so that the CO2 separation device can be monitored and controlled in a very simple and cost-effective manner by recording the power consumption during the CO2 release or desorption process. This leads to improved process control through increased and robust measurement accuracy, as well as a reduction in installation costs.

The CO2 release process or desorption process and the CO2 separation process or sorption process are preferably repeated cyclically.

The CO2 release or desorption process takes place in a separation chamber of the CO2 separation device, in which a CO2 separation agent is located. The CO2 release process is carried out by means of a pump unit or vacuum unit to release CO2 bound in the CO2 separation agent, which was previously bound as a result of a CO2 separation process, in particular a sorption process. Understandably, this CO2 is temporarily bound.

According to the invention, the power requirement of the pump unit or vacuum pump is determined during the CO2 release process, in particular the desorption process, and an information signal is output depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit in order to monitor the CO2 separation device, and/or a control signal is output depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit in order to control the CO2 separation device, in particular a unit of the CO2 separation device.

The steps of determining and outputting are carried out by means of a control unit. It should be noted that, within the scope of this application, the term "control" also includes regulating the respective device and/or unit.

The power requirement refers to the power that the pump unit or vacuum pump needs during or for carrying out the CO2 release process. The power requirement is therefore recorded during the CO2 release process and determined either simultaneously or, if necessary, at a later time.

Advantageously, the amount of water pumped out during the CO2 release process can also be determined using the pump unit in order to ascertain the power consumption of the pump unit. This amount of water can be determined using a water flow sensor and/or a temperature sensor, in particular a water vapor condenser of the CO2 separation device located upstream of the pump unit. When using the temperature sensor, the temperature readings from the sensor are, of course, used to determine the amount of water pumped out.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if, in the determination step, a quantity of CO2 released in the separation chamber; and/or a state, in particular a loading state of the CO2 separation agent; and/or a property of the CO2 separation agent is/are determined depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit, and the output step is carried out accordingly.

Advantageously, a subsequent step of comparing the determined amount of CO2 released with a predicted amount of CO2; and/or the determined state of the CO2 separation agent with a predicted state of the CO2 separation agent; and/or the determined property of the CO2 separation agent with a predicted property of the CO2 separation agent may be provided, with the output step being carried out depending on this.

The term "property" also includes a property value. The property can, for example, be selected from the group consisting of: sorption capacity, efficiency (i.e., amount of CO2 sorbed per unit time), aging, ratio of sorbed water from air to sorbed CO2 from air.

The term "state" also includes a state value. The state can be selected, for example, from the group consisting of: degradation, desorption kinetics, i.e., the release rate of bound molecules, characterized by comparing the power consumption over time with calibration curves.

Therefore, the CO2 separation agent can be characterized very easily, e.g., with regard to its current efficiency or suitability.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to include a step of comparing the determined power requirement with a predicted power requirement and/or a determined power requirement of another pump unit of the CO2 separation device and/or another CO2 separation device, and to perform the output step accordingly. This allows for the simple monitoring of changes, such as degradation of the CO2 separation agent or weather changes, in a CO2 separation device with multiple separation chambers and pump units, or in a CO2 separation system with multiple CO2 separation devices. It also enables the simple and early detection of errors, thus allowing the CO2 separation device or CO2 separation system to be controlled/regulated for high overall CO2 output and minimal energy consumption over the individual cycle time of each separation chamber.

Advantageously, the CO2 release process can be controlled during the dispensing step; and/or a CO2 release process carried out in parallel in a further separation chamber of the CO2 separation device and/or a further CO2 separation device; and/or a CO2 release process carried out subsequently in the separation chamber of the CO2 separation device and/or a further separation chamber of a further CO2 separation device. Preferably, at least one of the following parameters is controlled in each CO2 release process: start time, end time, duration, temperature, pressure, purge gas quantity, material flow rate.

Alternatively or additionally, it is advantageous to control, during the dispensing step, a CO2 separation process, in particular a sorption process, carried out in parallel in a further separation chamber of the CO2 separation device and/or a further CO2 separation device; and/or a subsequent CO2 separation process, in particular a sorption process, carried out in the separation chamber of the CO2 separation device and/or a further separation chamber of a further CO2 separation device. Preferably, at least one of the following parameters is controlled in the respective CO2 separation process: start time, end time, duration, velocity of the supplied airflow, humidity, material flow rate.

Preferably, at least one of the following units of the CO2 separation device is controlled during the dispensing step: heating unit, cooling unit, humidification unit, pump unit, material conveying unit, blower unit, water vapor condenser, water vapor generation unit.

For example, the temperature of a water vapor condenser or heat exchanger in the CO2 separation device could be controlled or regulated. The rationale behind this is that when the dew point is exceeded, the pumping power of the pumping unit increases, as water vapor also needs to be pumped from this point onward. This would allow for simple optimization of the temperature at the water vapor condenser or heat exchanger, thereby saving energy. This is because, in equilibrium states where a large amount of water is released, more cooling is required, while otherwise, cooling energy is conserved.

The CO2 separation device is designed to separate CO2 from a supplied air stream by means of a CO2 separation process. Within the scope of the present invention, the term "separation" encompasses any meaningful method of separating or removing CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the air, wherein binding and/or adhesion and/or storage and/or absorption of CO2 molecules by a CO2 separation agent takes place.

• - chemisches Adsorptionsverfahren
• - physikalisches Adsorptionsverfahren
• - chemisches Absorptionsverfahren
• - physikalisches Absorptionsverfahren

The CO2 separation device can be configured, in particular, to separate the CO2 from the supplied air stream by means of a CO2 separation process in which the separation occurs with the release of energy or heat into the air stream. The CO2 separation process is preferably a sorption process, in particular an adsorption process and/or an absorption process. Accordingly, the separation of the CO2 can be carried out, in particular, by means of at least one of the following processes or combinations thereof:

• - chemical adsorption process
• - physical adsorption process
• - chemical absorption process
• - physical absorption process

The CO2 separation device is further configured to release CO2 from the CO2 separation agent by means of a CO2 release process. Within the scope of the present invention, the term "release" encompasses any meaningful method of releasing or expelling CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the CO2 separation agent, wherein a dissolution and/or release and/or discharge of CO2 molecules from the CO2 separation agent takes place.

The CO2 separation device is specifically designed to remove the CO2 from the CO2- To release or dissolve the separation agent by means of a CO2 release process, in which the CO2 is released from the CO2 separation agent by introducing energy or heat into it.

• - chemisches Desorptionsverfahren
• - physikalisches Desorptionsverfahren

The CO2 separation process is preferably a desorption process. Accordingly, the release of the CO2 can be achieved in particular by means of at least one of the following processes or combinations thereof:

• - chemical desorption process
• - physical desorption process

Preferably, the CO2 separation device is designed to carry out the CO2 separation and CO2 release processes cyclically. In particular, the CO2 separation device is designed to carry out the sorption and desorption processes cyclically. The basic operating principle of the CO2 separation device can be analogous, for example, to that mentioned at the outset. WO 2020/212146 A1 take place.

Within the scope of the present invention, the term "supply" or "supplied" primarily refers to the actively carried out or initiated, and thus technically controlled or regulated, supply of the airflow by means of a blower unit or fan unit of the CO2 separation device. However, the term "supply" or "supplied" can also encompass a passively carried out or initiated supply of the airflow without departing from the scope of the present invention. Consequently, the airflow can be supplied in any manner, e.g., naturally (as wind).

The CO2 separation device preferably comprises at least one separation chamber with at least one CO separation module. The CO2 separation device further preferably comprises a plurality of separation chambers, which are arranged one above the other and/or next to each other. The separation chambers can be operated in parallel in groups during the CO2 separation process and the CO2 release process. In other words, if one group of separation chambers is operating during the CO2 separation process, the other group of separation chambers can be operated during the CO2 release process, and vice versa.

The CO2 separation device can include a valve unit with a plurality of valves, particularly controllable ones, to close the separation chamber for the CO2 release process. The valve unit can include an inlet valve, which is arranged in an inlet channel for the supplied or drawn-in airflow and is configured to close the inlet channel and isolate the separation chamber upstream. The valve unit can further include an outlet valve, which is arranged in an outlet channel for the CO2-reduced airflow and is configured to close the outlet channel and isolate the separation chamber downstream. The valve unit can also include a CO2 discharge valve, which is arranged in a CO2 discharge channel for removing the separated CO2 and is configured to open the CO2 discharge channel in order to selectively discharge the separated/bound and re-released CO2 from the separation chamber.

The separation chambers can be operated in parallel, group by group, during both the CO2 separation and CO2 release processes. In other words, if one group of separation chambers is operating during the CO2 separation process, the other group can be operated during the CO2 release process, and vice versa.

The CO2 separation agent is designed to separate CO2 from a supplied air stream. The CO2 separation agent is preferably arranged in the separation chamber. The CO2 separation agent is preferably solid. The CO2 separation agent can, for example, be particulate, fibrous, or mat-shaped. The CO2 separation agent can, in particular, comprise a solid (appropriately functionalized) sorbent, such as an adsorbent and/or an absorbent. Accordingly, the CO2 separation agent can, for example, have a particulate, fibrous, or nonwoven solid as a support structure with a base material selected from the group consisting of: resins, polymers, ceramics, zeolites, silicates, organometallic compounds, organic materials such as cellulose or activated carbon, and combinations thereof. The base material can, in turn, be specifically functionalized with amines, potassium carbonate, or other components designed to chemically or physically bind CO2. The CO2 separation agent can also be designed to be permeable to air.

The CO2 separation agent can comprise or be designed as a granular ion exchange resin. For example, the CO2 separation agent can comprise or consist of granular Lewatit VP OC 1065 or Zeolite X13.

• - Gebläseeinheit, insbesondere mit einer Vielzahl von Ventilatoren zum Zuführen des Luftstroms;
• - Wasserdampfgenerator zum Bereitstellen von Wasserdampf für den CO2-Freisetzungsvorgang bzw. Desorptionsvorgang;
• - Inertisierungseinheit zum Zuführen eines Inertgasstromes, wie bspw. Stickstoff, sauerstoffreie Luft und/oder Wasserdampf zur Entfernung von Sauerstoff vor dem CO2-Freisetzungsvorgang bzw. Desorptionsvorgang zum Schutz des CO2-Abrennungsmittels vor chemischer Degradation;
• - Heizeinheit zur zusätzlichen Erwärmung des CO2-Abtrennungsmittels für den CO2-Freisetzungsvorgang bzw. Desorptionsvorgang;
• - Kühleinheit zur zusätzlichen Kühlung des CO2-Abtrennungsmittels für den CO2-Abtrennungsvorgang bzw. Sorptionsvorgang;
• - Materialfördereinheit zur Fördern des CO2-Abtrennungsmittels durch die Abtrennungskammer;
• - Sensoreinheit für den CO2-Abtrennungs- und CO2-Freisetzungsvorgang;
• - Steuereinheit zur Steuerung und/oder Regelung des CO2-Abtrennungs- und CO2-Freisetzungsvorgangs.

The CO2 separation device may further comprise at least one of the following units:

• - Blower unit, in particular with a large number of fans for supplying the airflow;
• - Steam generator for providing steam for the CO2 release process or desorption process;
• - Inerting unit for supplying an inert gas stream, such as nitrogen, oxygen-free air and/or water vapor, to remove oxygen before the CO2 release process or desorption process to protect the CO2 combustion medium from chemical degradation;
• - Heating unit for additional heating of the CO2 separation agent for the CO2 release process or desorption process;
• - Cooling unit for additional cooling of the CO2 separation agent for the CO2 separation process or sorption process;
• - Material conveying unit for conveying the CO2 separation agent through the separation chamber;
• - Sensor unit for the CO2 separation and CO2 release process;
• - Control unit for controlling and/or regulating the CO2 separation and CO2 release process.

The control unit is trained

The control unit can be designed to be connected to other control units and/or a central control unit of the CO2 separation device or a higher-level system via radio transmission such as WLAN, Bluetooth, Near-Field Communication, etc.

The CO2 separation device is preferably designed as a stationary unit. In particular, the CO2 separation device can be part of a building climate control system, especially integrated into a climate control system within a building. The separation chamber of the CO2 separation device can be integrated into the building's air conditioning circuit.

Drawings

• 1 eine erfindungsgemäße CO2-Abtrennungsvorrichtung;
• 2 ein Diagramm mit der Leistung der Pumpeinheit über die Zeit für unterschiedliche Beladungszustände;
• 3 ein Diagramm mit desorbierten CO2-Mengen über die Zeit für die unterschiedlichen Beladungszustände; und
• 4 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Überwachen und/oder Steuern einer CO2-Abtrennungsvorrichtung.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

• 1 a CO2 separation device according to the invention;
• 2 a diagram showing the performance of the pump unit over time for different load conditions;
• 3 a diagram showing the amount of CO2 desorbed over time for the different loading states; and
• 4 a flowchart of a method according to the invention for monitoring and/or controlling a CO2 separation device.

In the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements shown in the various figures and acting similarly, without repeating the description of the elements.

1 Figure 1 shows a CO2 separation device according to the invention, which is designated in its entirety by reference numeral 10. The CO2 separation device 10 is designed to separate CO2 (carbon dioxide) from an air stream 14 supplied by means of a blower unit 12 by means of a cyclically executable CO2 separation-release process or CO2 sorption-desorption process.

For this purpose, the CO2 separation device 10 has a separation chamber 16 for receiving a CO2 separation agent 18 or sorption agent 18. The separation chamber 16 has an inlet valve 20 on an inlet channel 22 for the aspirated airflow 14, which is configured to close the inlet channel 22 and isolate the separation chamber 16 upstream. The separation chamber 16 also has an outlet valve 24 on an outlet channel 26 for the CO2-reduced airflow 14', which is configured to close the outlet channel 26 and isolate the separation chamber 16 downstream. The separation chamber 16 also has a CO2 valve 28, which is arranged in a CO2 discharge channel 30 and is designed to open the CO2 discharge channel 30 in order to discharge separated, i.e. sorbed and released, i.e. desorbed CO2 and possibly water vapor from the separation chamber 16.

The CO2 separation device 10 also includes a heating and cooling unit 32 for heating and cooling the sorbent 18 and a steam generation unit 34 for providing steam for the CO2 release process or desorption process.

The separated CO2 and water vapor are pumped out of the separation chamber 16 by means of a pump unit 36 or vacuum pump 36, with a water vapor condenser 38 being connected upstream of the pump unit 36 or vacuum pump 36.

According to the invention, the CO2 separation device 10 has a control unit 40 for monitoring and/or controlling the CO2 separation device 10. For this purpose, the control unit 40 is configured to determine the power requirement of the pump unit 36 or vacuum pump 36 during the CO2 release process or desorption process and to output an information signal depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit 36 in order to monitor the CO2 separation device 10, and/or to output a control signal depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit 36 in order to control the CO2 separation device 10, in particular a unit 12, 20, 24, 28, 32, 34, 36, 38 of the CO2 separation device 10.

2 The power output P of the pump unit 36 or vacuum pump 36 is shown over time t for three different loading states A, B, C of the CO2 separation agent 18. Similarly, in 3 The corresponding amounts of desorbed CO2 m[CO2] are shown over time t. This reveals the correlation between the power consumption of pump unit 36 and the amount of desorbed CO2 m[CO2]. In particular, it is evident that pump unit 36 has a higher, or even its highest, power consumption at the beginning of the CO2 release or desorption process, i.e., when a large amount of CO2 gas needs to be pumped out. This power consumption decreases towards the end of the process when only a small amount of residual CO2 gas is released.

4 Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a method 100 according to the invention for monitoring and/or controlling a CO2 separation device 10 for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream 14, wherein a CO2 release process, in particular a desorption process, is carried out in a separation chamber 16 of the CO2 separation device 10 containing a CO2 separation agent 18 by means of a pump unit 36 in order to release CO2 bound in the CO2 separation agent 18 as a result of a CO2 separation process, in particular a sorption process. The method 100 includes a step 102 of determining the power requirement of the pump unit 36 when carrying out the CO2 release process, in particular the desorption process. Method 100 further comprises a step of outputting 108 an information signal depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit 36 in order to monitor the CO2 separation device 10, and/or a control signal depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit 36 in order to control the CO2 separation device 10, in particular a unit 12, 20, 24, 28, 32, 34, 36, 38 of the CO2 separation device 10.

Method 100 further comprises an optional step of comparing 104 the determined amount of CO2 released with a predicted amount of CO2; and/or the determined state of the CO2 separation agent 18 with a predicted state of the CO2 separation agent 18; and/or the determined property of the CO2 separation agent 18 with a predicted property of the CO2 separation agent 18, wherein the output step 108 is performed depending thereon. Method 100 further comprises an optional step of comparing 106 the determined power requirement with a predicted power requirement; and/or a determined power requirement of another pump unit 36 of the CO2 separation device 10 and/or another CO2 separation device; wherein the output step 108 is performed depending thereon.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2020/212146 A1 [0008, 0037]
• WO 2021/239747 A1 [0009]

Claims (15)

Method (100) for monitoring and/or controlling a CO2 separation device (10) for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream (14), wherein a CO2 release process, in particular a desorption process, is carried out in a separation chamber (16) of the CO2 separation device (10) comprising a CO2 separation agent (18) by means of a pump unit (36) in order to release CO2 bound in the CO2 separation agent (18) as a result of a CO2 separation process, in particular a sorption process, characterized by the steps: - Determining (102) a power requirement of the pump unit (36) when carrying out the CO2 release process, in particular a desorption process; and - output (108) an information signal depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit (36) to monitor the CO2 separation device (10), and/or a control signal depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit (36) to control the CO2 separation device (10), in particular a unit (12, 20, 24, 28, 32, 34, 36, 38) of the CO2 separation device (10). Procedure (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that in the step of determining (102) a quantity of water pumped out during the CO2 release process by means of the pump unit (36) is further determined in order to determine the power requirement of the pump unit (36). Procedure (100) according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the amount of water pumped out is determined by means of a water flow sensor and/or a temperature sensor, in particular a water vapor condenser (38) of the CO2 separation device (10) arranged in front of the pump unit (36). Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the step of determining (102) - a quantity of CO2 released in the separation chamber (16); and/or - a state, in particular a loading state of the CO2 separation agent (18); and/or - a property of the CO2 separation agent (18) is/are determined as a function of the determined power requirement of the pump unit (36), and the step of dispensing (108) is carried out as a function of this. Procedure (100) according to Claim 4 , characterized by a step of comparing (104) - the determined amount of CO2 released with a predicted amount of CO2; and/or - the determined state of the CO2 separation agent (18) with a predicted state of the CO2 separation agent (18); and/or - the determined property of the CO2 separation agent (18) with a predicted property of the CO2 separation agent (18), wherein the output step (108) is carried out depending on this. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a step of comparing (106) the determined power requirement with - a predicted power requirement; and/or - a determined power requirement of a further pump unit (36) of the CO2 separation device (10) and/or a further CO2 separation device; wherein the output step (108) is carried out depending on this. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the dispensing step (108) - the CO2 release process; and/or - a CO2 release process carried out in parallel in a further separation chamber of the CO2 separation device (10) and/or a further CO2 separation device; and/or - a CO2 release process subsequently carried out in the separation chamber (16) of the CO2 separation device (10) and/or a further separation chamber of a further CO2 separation device is/are controlled. Procedure (100) according to Claim 7 , characterized in that in the dispensing step (108) in the respective CO2 release process at least one of the following parameters is controlled: duration, temperature, pressure, purge gas quantity, material flow. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the output step (108) - a CO2 separation process, in particular a sorption process, is carried out in parallel in a further separation chamber of the CO2 separation device (10) and/or a further CO2 separation device; and/or - a CO2 separation process, in particular a sorption process, is subsequently carried out in the separation chamber (16) of the CO2 separation device (10) and/or a further separation chamber of a further CO2 separation device. Procedure (100) according to Claim 9 , characterized in that in the output step (108) in the respective CO2 separation process at least one of the following parameters is controlled: duration, speed of the supplied airflow (14), humidity, material flow. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the output step (108) at least one of the following units of the CO2 separation device (10) is controlled: heating unit (32), cooling unit (32), humidification unit, pump unit (36), material conveying unit, blower unit (12), water vapor condenser (38), water vapor generation unit (34). Control unit (40) for monitoring and/or controlling a CO2 separation device (10) for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream (14), which is configured to perform at least one step or all steps of a method (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 to carry out, in particular the following steps: - Determine (102) a power requirement of a pump unit (36) when carrying out a CO2 release process, in particular a desorption process, which was carried out in a separation chamber (16) of the CO2 separation device (10) having a CO2 separation agent (18), in order to release CO2 bound in the CO2 separation agent (18) again as a result of a CO2 separation process, in particular a sorption process; and - output (108) an information signal depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit (36) to monitor the CO2 separation device (10), and/or a control signal depending on the determined power requirement of the pump unit (36) to control the CO2 separation device (10), in particular a unit (12, 20, 24, 28, 32, 34, 36, 38) of the CO2 separation device (10). Computer program with program code to perform at least parts, in particular all steps, of a procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 to be executed when the computer program is run on a computer. Computer-readable data carrier containing the program code of a computer program according to Claim 13 . CO2 separation device (10) for separating CO2 from a supplied air stream (14) comprising: - at least one separation chamber (16) for receiving a CO2 separation agent (18); - a pump unit (36) for carrying out a CO2 release process, in particular a desorption process, in the separation chamber (16) in order to release CO2 bound in the CO2 separation agent (18) as a result of a CO2 separation process, in particular a sorption process; and - a control unit (40) for monitoring and/or controlling a CO2 separation device (10) according to Claim 12 .