Patents by Inventor Klaus Lackner

Klaus Lackner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240115989
    Abstract: A continuous CO2 capture system, method, and device are disclosed. The device includes a CO2 pump membrane including a moisture-swing material, and a cavity having a first fluid. The CO2 pump membrane separates the first fluid from a second fluid, the fluids creating a water concentration gradient across the membrane and transport of water through the membrane. The water concentration gradient creates a carbon concentration gradient across the membrane that decreases moving from outside the cavity to inside the cavity. As water is continuously transported from the first fluid to the second fluid through the CO2 pump membrane because of the water concentration gradient, carbon dioxide is continuously captured from the second fluid by the moisture-swing material of the CO2 pump membrane and continuously pumped along the carbon concentration gradient across the CO2 pump membrane and into the first fluid within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew Green, Klaus Lackner
  • Publication number: 20240091698
    Abstract: A system, device, and method for passive collection of atmospheric carbon dioxide is disclosed. The device includes a release chamber having a sorbent regeneration system with a power supply, and a capture structure coupled to the release chamber, having a plurality of disks coupled to and spaced along at least one collapsible support. Each disk has an electro-swing sorbent material. The capture structure is movable between collection and release configurations. The collection configuration includes the capture structure extending upward to expose the structure to an airflow and allow the sorbent to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide while a collection voltage is established across the sorbent material. The release configuration includes the disks enclosed inside the release chamber and conductively coupled to the power supply such that a release voltage is established across the electro-swing sorbent material, resulting in the release of captured carbon dioxide forming an enriched gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Klaus Lackner, Robert Page
  • Publication number: 20240024811
    Abstract: A system for collecting a sorbate gas from a sorbent is disclosed, including a regeneration vessel enclosing a sorbent having a sorbate gas, a liquid water supply heated to a first temperature, and a heat pump with a condenser. The heat pump is also in contact with the water supply. Heat is removed from the condenser and used to heat the water supply to the first temperature. The system includes a compressor coupled to the condenser. The sorbent within the vessel is placed in contact with water vapor at the first temperature. The water vapor coming into contact with the sorbent causes sorbate gas to be released, forming a mixture including sorbate and water gases, raising the pressure. The vapor mixture is removed and cooled by the condenser, where a portion is condensed into water that is returned to the supply. The remaining mixture is compressed into a product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: John Cirucci, Klaus Lackner
  • Publication number: 20240017202
    Abstract: A device, method, and system for CO2 capture is disclosed. The method includes receiving a process vapor including water and CO2 into a vessel at an intake pressure, the vessel having a desiccant and a CO2 sorbent material. The method includes passing the process vapor through the desiccant and sorbent, the desiccant absorbing the water resulting in a dry vapor, the sorbent absorbing CO2 from the dry vapor resulting in a CO2-lean dry vapor. The method includes discontinuing the process vapor, desorbing the water from the desiccant by at least one of reducing pressure downstream from the desiccant to below the intake pressure and increasing a temperature of the desiccant, desorbing the CO2 from the sorbent by placing the desorbed water in contact with the sorbent, removing the desorbed CO2 through the product outlet as a product stream, and desorbing a remaining water from the desiccant and the sorbent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: John Cirucci, Klaus Lackner
  • Publication number: 20240017203
    Abstract: A system and method for the efficient collection of CO2 is disclosed. The system includes a subsystem having a condenser and a vaporizer, and a plurality of vessels each having a sorbent and configured to transition between gas collection, gas recovery, and heat recovery phases. The gas collection phase includes the sorbent absorbing CO2. The gas recovery phase has N stages, the vessels releasing a product gas and receiving vapor causing captured CO2 to desorb. The first (N?1) gas recovery stages include the vessel coupled to the subsystem at a downstream pressure and a vessel in the heat recovery phase at an upstream pressure. The Nth gas recovery stage includes the vessel coupled to the condenser at the downstream pressure and the vaporizer at the upstream pressure. The heat recovery phase has (N?1) stages, each including the vessel being coupled to a vessel in the gas recovery phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: John Cirucci, Klaus Lackner
  • Publication number: 20240001333
    Abstract: A polymer composite includes a polymer substrate, activated carbon, and a carbonate salt. The activated carbon is infused with the carbonate salt. A hybrid composite includes a fibrous mat with activated carbon and potassium carbonate crystals adhered to the fibrous mat. Making a polymer composite includes combining activated carbon with a polymer to yield a mixture, and electrospinning the mixture to yield nanofibers, wherein the carbonate salt is adhered to or embedded in the nanofibers. Capturing carbon dioxide from a quantity of air includes contacting the polymer composite with the quantity of air in the presence of water vapor to yield potassium bicarbonate sorbed on the polymer composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew Green, Klaus Lackner, Jae Sang Lee, Meng Wang, Mani Modayil Korah, Husain Mithaiwala, Allen Wright
  • Publication number: 20230415090
    Abstract: A passive CO2 collection device is disclosed, including a release chamber and a capture structure having at least three straps and a plurality of sorbent disks coupled to and spaced along the straps. The capture structure is movable between collection and release configurations. Each strap has a primary and secondary width, the secondary width smaller than the primary. The collection configuration includes the disks suspended from a movable portion by the straps such that, for each pair of neighboring disks and for each strap, a lower disk is separated from an upper disk by a connecting segment, allowing the sorbent to capture carbon dioxide from an airflow. The release configuration includes the disks being stacked within the chamber for regeneration. Each connecting segment is in a release topology designed to accommodate stacking the disks within the chamber. The connecting segment is biased to move toward the release topology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Klaus Lackner, Robert Page
  • Publication number: 20230347278
    Abstract: A system and method for passive collection of atmospheric carbon dioxide is disclosed. The system includes a harvest chamber having a first opening and a sorbent regeneration system. The system also includes a capture body coupled to and movable by a support structure. The capture body includes a sorbent material and is movable by the support structure to be in a collection configuration wherein at least a portion of the capture body is in contact with a natural airflow outside the harvest chamber such that atmospheric carbon dioxide is captured by the sorbent material, and a release configuration wherein at least a portion of the capture body holding captured carbon dioxide is operated upon by the regeneration system inside the harvest chamber such that captured carbon dioxide is released to form an enriched gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Klaus Lackner, Shreyans Kedia, Brinton Carlson, Robert Page, Venkatram Choodamani, Allen Wright
  • Publication number: 20230277976
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide collection system having a release enclosure, a capture structure, and a chimney is disclosed. The release enclosure includes a sorbent regeneration system. The capture structure includes a sorbent material, and is movable between collection and release configurations. The chimney is shaped such that an airflow upward through the chimney is created. The chimney is positioned above the release enclosure such that the airflow passes through the capture structure while in the collection configuration. The collection configuration includes the capture structure being elevated above the release enclosure so the sorbent material is exposed to the airflow generated by the chimney, allowing the sorbent material to capture CO2 from the airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Klaus Lackner, Kacie Niimoto, Robert Page
  • Patent number: 11738300
    Abstract: A system and method for passive collection of atmospheric carbon dioxide is disclosed. The system includes a harvest chamber having a first opening and a sorbent regeneration system. The system also includes a capture body coupled to and movable by a support structure. The capture body includes a sorbent material and is movable by the support structure to be in a collection configuration wherein at least a portion of the capture body is in contact with a natural airflow outside the harvest chamber such that atmospheric carbon dioxide is captured by the sorbent material, and a release configuration wherein at least a portion of the capture body holding captured carbon dioxide is operated upon by the regeneration system inside the harvest chamber such that captured carbon dioxide is released to form an enriched gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Klaus Lackner, Shreyans Kedia, Brinton Carlson, Robert Page, Venkatram Choodamani, Allen Wright
  • Publication number: 20230158451
    Abstract: An autothermal direct air capture system (ADAC) is disclosed. The ADAC includes a chamber, a water reservoir, and a sorbent that releases water under ambient conditions, binds water under a first moisture level higher than the ambient moisture level, binds CO2 under ambient conditions, and releases CO2 under at least one of an elevated temperature and the first moisture level. The ADAC is movable between a capture configuration and a regeneration configuration, the capture configuration including the sorbent being exposed to a gas volume having CO2 under ambient conditions, the sorbent binding with CO2 while desorbing water, the sorbent selected so the sorbent material extracts heat while the ADAC is in the capture configuration, resulting in the thermal charging of the sorbent. The regeneration configuration includes the sorbent inside the chamber and in contact with water, the sorbent releasing carbon dioxide while binding water and depositing heat into the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Klaus Lackner, Peter Schulze
  • Publication number: 20230119882
    Abstract: A device for passive collection of atmospheric carbon dioxide is disclosed, including a vessel having an opening and a sorbent regeneration system. The device also includes a helical sorbent structure rotatably coupled to the vessel. The sorbent structure has a helical framework coupled to a sorbent material. The sorbent structure is movable between collection and release configurations. The collection configuration includes the sorbent structure extending upward from the vessel to expose the sorbent structure to an airflow and allow the sorbent material to capture atmospheric CO2. The sorbent structure is free to rotate on an axis. The sorbent material is constrained to a helix rotating about and propagating along the axis. The release configuration includes a lid covering the opening, and the sorbent material being sufficiently enclosed inside the vessel that the regeneration system may operate to release captured CO2 from the sorbent material and form an enriched gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Klaus Lackner, Robert Page
  • Publication number: 20220355238
    Abstract: A system for capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide is disclosed, including a track and a plurality of panels moveably coupled to the track, each panel having a sorbent material. The system also includes a harvest house having a sorbent regeneration system and at least one aperture, and a propulsion system coupled to the track and configured to move each panel in a circuit having a collection phase and a release phase. For each panel, the collection phase of the circuit includes the panel moving along the track to expose the sorbent material to an airflow and allow the sorbent material to capture carbon dioxide. For each panel, the release phase of the circuit includes the panel being sufficiently enclosed inside the harvest house that the sorbent regeneration system may operate on the sorbent material to release captured carbon dioxide from the sorbent material and form an enriched gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Klaus Lackner, Robert Page
  • Publication number: 20220339603
    Abstract: An enhanced capture structure is disclosed, including a sorbent structure having a CO2 sorbent material. The capture structure also includes a plurality of barriers extending outward from the sorbent structure, each sized and positioned such that as an airflow passes along the sorbent structure, a high pressure region forms proximate the sorbent structure on a first side of the barrier facing into the airflow and a low pressure region forms proximate the sorbent structure on a second side of the barrier facing away from the airflow. The barriers on one side of the sorbent structure are staggered with respect to barriers on the other side such that a plurality of high and low pressure regions are formed, each high pressure region being formed opposite a low pressure region on the other side of the structure, creating a pressure differential that promotes CO2 mass transfer into the sorbent material via convection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Klaus Lackner, Robert Page, John Cirucci, Matthew Green
  • Patent number: 11478745
    Abstract: A device and method for carbon dioxide capture using circumscribed hollow membranes is disclosed. The device includes a hollow membrane unit having an inner conduit composed of a vapor membrane, and an outer conduit having an inside surface circumscribing the inner conduit forming a lumen. The outer conduit includes a CO2 pump membrane. The device also includes a mechanical pump maintaining a pressure differential between the lumen and the atmosphere, providing a product stream of CO2-rich gas from the lumen. The vapor membrane is sufficiently hydrophobic and porous to contain liquid water while also allowing water vapor formed by evaporation to pass through into the lumen. As water vapor passes from the lumen to the atmosphere through the CO2 pump membrane, a carbon concentration gradient is formed and maintained across the CO2 pump membrane. The carbon concentration gradient actively pumps CO2 out of the atmosphere and into the lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventor: Klaus Lackner
  • Publication number: 20220203292
    Abstract: A system and method for the collection of carbon dioxide is disclosed. The system includes a liquid sorbent that is a carbon dioxide sorbent, and a plurality of conduits. Each conduit has a hollow interior enclosed by a conduit wall. The conduit wall includes a membrane material that is both hydrophobic, trapping the liquid sorbent inside the hollow interior, and porous, allowing gaseous carbon dioxide to transfer from outside the conduit, through the conduit wall, and into the liquid sorbent. The system also includes a first manifold and a second manifold in fluid communication with the first manifold through the plurality of conduits and a riser. The liquid sorbent flows in a circuit, from the first manifold to the second manifold through the plurality of conduits, and from the second manifold to the first manifold through the riser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventor: Klaus Lackner
  • Publication number: 20220176307
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for small scale CO2 extraction is disclosed. The device includes a sorbent bed having a sorbent resin. The device also includes a blower in fluid communication with the sorbent bed through at least one duct, as well as a collection tray beneath the sorbent bed and having a drain. The device also includes a capture configuration and a regeneration configuration. The capture configuration includes an air flow driven by the blower passing through the sorbent resin. The regeneration configuration includes the flooding of at least the sorbent resin with regeneration fluid. The regeneration fluid has a higher dissolve inorganic carbon concentration after flooding the sorbent resin. Multiple devices may be employed together as a system capable of providing a continuous product stream having an upgraded concentration of CO2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventor: Klaus Lackner
  • Publication number: 20220118406
    Abstract: A system for producing gas streams for use in synthetic fuel production through CO2 capture and water splitting is disclosed. The system includes a CO2 capture device configured to receive a CO2-containing stream and including an aqueous alkaline solution. The alkaline solution includes hydroxide and/or carbonate ions. The CO2 capture device generates a carbon-rich solution when the alkaline solution absorbs CO2. The carbon-rich solution includes carbonate and/or bicarbonate ions. The system also includes an electrolyzer fluidically coupled to the CO2 capture device, and defining a volume including an anode region having an anode, and a cathode region having a cathode. The volume includes an electrolyte solution having a pH gradient generated by an electric current, causing the electrolyte solution to be acidic in the anode region and alkaline in the cathode region. The carbon-rich solution is received into the electrolyzer. The electrolyzer generates hydrogen, oxygen, and CO2 streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventor: Klaus Lackner
  • Publication number: 20220119295
    Abstract: A system for water rejuvenation for the regeneration of sorbent filters is disclosed. The system includes an anion reduction subsystem having a plurality of anionic exchange resin beds configured to remove impurity anions from a wash water used in a moisture-swing, direct-air-capture device. Each resin beds is in a vessel inside of which is configured to perform at least one of three operations: (1) conditioning resin beds by flushing them with carbonate or bicarbonate, (2) upgrading the wash water by removing impurity anions from the wash water reservoir, and (3) cleaning input water by exchanging impurity anions for carbonate or bicarbonate ions in the input feed. Each vessel cycles through these operations in the order (1), (2), (3). The system also includes a cation reduction subsystem that reduces the salinity of the wash water, and a divalent reduction subsystem that softens the wash water by removing divalent ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventor: Klaus Lackner
  • Patent number: 11306280
    Abstract: The present application focuses on systems and methods that utilize one or more carbon dioxide (CO2) sorbent substrates and a swing cycle, e.g., a moisture swing cycle, to increase the partial pressure of the CO2 in a gaseous feedstock, which is delivered through a membrane to a bioreactor, such as a membrane carbonation photobioreactor. Such systems and processes offer an effective means for concentrating and capturing CO2 obtained from air and delivering the concentrated CO2 to a photobioreactor through a membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Bruce Rittmann, Klaus Lackner, Justin Flory, Megha Patel, Allen Wright