Modelling and Analysis of Direct Air Capture Systems in Different Locations
Leonzio, Grazia
Fennell, Paul S.
Shah, Nilay
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How to Cite

Leonzio G., Fennell P.S., Shah N., 2022, Modelling and Analysis of Direct Air Capture Systems in Different Locations, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 96, 1-6.
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Abstract

Direct air capture is an important negative emission technology with the aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere and to face the current environmental problems such as global warming and climate change. This emerging technology can be based on an adsorption system affected by the used sorbent (physisorbents or chemisorbents). Efficiencies can be measured through the use of key performance indicators that allow a comparison among different processes.
An independent analysis was conducted in our previous research to evaluate key performance indicators (total cost, energy consumption, environmental impact and capture capacity) for a direct air capture system based on adsorption using different sorbents (three metal organic frameworks and two amine functionalized sorbents).
In this research, the same analysis was extended to several Countries around the world, changing the ambient air temperature according to the yearly average value of the location.
Results show that by increasing the air temperature, the adsorption capacity decreases, in a more significant way for metal organic frameworks compared to amine functionalized sorbents. An opposite effect is for energy consumption. Moreover, by increasing the ambient air temperature, a higher environmental impact (in terms of climate change) is present. A trend with the air temperature was not found for total costs. Overall, locations with lower ambient air temperatures are preferred due to a lower environmental impact and energy consumption.
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