Microwave-based CO2 desorption for enhanced direct air capture: experimental validation and techno-economic perspectives
This study explores the feasibility and potential techno-economic advantages of employing microwaves for direct air capture (DAC) applications. The experimental setup resembles an industrial-scale microwave system, utilizing a single-mode applicator and zeolite 13x beads arranged in a panel configur...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad239f |
| _version_ | 1797304948869824512 |
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| author | Tae Hwan Lim John E Foster Brian R Ellis Steven J Skerlos |
| author_facet | Tae Hwan Lim John E Foster Brian R Ellis Steven J Skerlos |
| author_sort | Tae Hwan Lim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explores the feasibility and potential techno-economic advantages of employing microwaves for direct air capture (DAC) applications. The experimental setup resembles an industrial-scale microwave system, utilizing a single-mode applicator and zeolite 13x beads arranged in a panel configuration. This configuration essentially represents a miniaturized version of a potential DAC plant based on microwaves. The results demonstrate that microwave irradiation rapidly and efficiently desorbs the CO _2 from sorbents with approximately 90% desorption achieved in 10 min—substantially shorter than conventional conduction-based methods. The desorption process occurred at a low temperature of about 50 °C, in contrast to nearly 120 °C in conventional bulk heating, due to selective heating near CO _2 binding sites. Our results support that desorption duration and temperature could be further reduced by applying more uniform heating while intensifying the selective process. Based on our research and recent literature, we propose three key techno-economic advantages of designing a DAC system with microwaves that are unattainable by the conventional approach. A reduced regeneration time could allow for a more compact system design while maintaining throughput. The selectivity of microwave absorption could drastically reduce energy demand, bringing it close to the sorbent’s thermodynamic energy limits. Furthermore, the low-temperature process could inhibit the thermal degradation of amines on the sorbents, which is unavoidable in conventional processes. Potential resonant CO _2 desorption by forming nonthermal plasma (NTP) is discussed. Our research highlights the feasibility and significance of employing advanced regeneration methods in the development of next-generation DAC systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:17:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2735cc406116479d9a18d87b1eafeb5e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-9326 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:17:46Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-2735cc406116479d9a18d87b1eafeb5e2024-02-16T15:35:18ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262024-01-0119303400210.1088/1748-9326/ad239fMicrowave-based CO2 desorption for enhanced direct air capture: experimental validation and techno-economic perspectivesTae Hwan Lim0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3764-2253John E Foster1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8369-1828Brian R Ellis2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7253-4285Steven J Skerlos3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3025-4688Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, United States of AmericaDepartment of Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, United States of AmericaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, United States of AmericaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, United States of AmericaThis study explores the feasibility and potential techno-economic advantages of employing microwaves for direct air capture (DAC) applications. The experimental setup resembles an industrial-scale microwave system, utilizing a single-mode applicator and zeolite 13x beads arranged in a panel configuration. This configuration essentially represents a miniaturized version of a potential DAC plant based on microwaves. The results demonstrate that microwave irradiation rapidly and efficiently desorbs the CO _2 from sorbents with approximately 90% desorption achieved in 10 min—substantially shorter than conventional conduction-based methods. The desorption process occurred at a low temperature of about 50 °C, in contrast to nearly 120 °C in conventional bulk heating, due to selective heating near CO _2 binding sites. Our results support that desorption duration and temperature could be further reduced by applying more uniform heating while intensifying the selective process. Based on our research and recent literature, we propose three key techno-economic advantages of designing a DAC system with microwaves that are unattainable by the conventional approach. A reduced regeneration time could allow for a more compact system design while maintaining throughput. The selectivity of microwave absorption could drastically reduce energy demand, bringing it close to the sorbent’s thermodynamic energy limits. Furthermore, the low-temperature process could inhibit the thermal degradation of amines on the sorbents, which is unavoidable in conventional processes. Potential resonant CO _2 desorption by forming nonthermal plasma (NTP) is discussed. Our research highlights the feasibility and significance of employing advanced regeneration methods in the development of next-generation DAC systems.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad239fdirect air capturemicrowavesorbent regenerationcarbon dioxide removaltechno-economic perspectivenonthermal plasma |
| spellingShingle | Tae Hwan Lim John E Foster Brian R Ellis Steven J Skerlos Microwave-based CO2 desorption for enhanced direct air capture: experimental validation and techno-economic perspectives Environmental Research Letters direct air capture microwave sorbent regeneration carbon dioxide removal techno-economic perspective nonthermal plasma |
| title | Microwave-based CO2 desorption for enhanced direct air capture: experimental validation and techno-economic perspectives |
| title_full | Microwave-based CO2 desorption for enhanced direct air capture: experimental validation and techno-economic perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Microwave-based CO2 desorption for enhanced direct air capture: experimental validation and techno-economic perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microwave-based CO2 desorption for enhanced direct air capture: experimental validation and techno-economic perspectives |
| title_short | Microwave-based CO2 desorption for enhanced direct air capture: experimental validation and techno-economic perspectives |
| title_sort | microwave based co2 desorption for enhanced direct air capture experimental validation and techno economic perspectives |
| topic | direct air capture microwave sorbent regeneration carbon dioxide removal techno-economic perspective nonthermal plasma |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad239f |
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