World Industrial Reporter

Innovation Delivered Daily

  • Innovation
    • Innovation Article Archive
    • Innovative Companies
    • Innovation Strategies
    • New Equipment Innovations
  • New Products
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Markets
    • Market Trends
    • Tradeshow Reports
    • White Papers
  • Logistics
  • Newsletters
World Industrial Reporter » Additive Manufacturing » 3D Printed Aluminum Device Makes Low-Cost Carbon Capture Possible

3D Printed Aluminum Device Makes Low-Cost Carbon Capture Possible

August 25, 2020

IMG 20200825 121116

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) engineers have 3D printed a unique aluminum device to enhance CO2 capture from fossil fuel plants and other industrial processes.

According to the scientists, the first-of-its-kind, low-cost aluminum device focuses on a key challenge in conventional absorption of carbon using solvents – a process known to produce heat and limit carbon capture’s overall efficiency.

Absorption is one of the most commonly used and economical methods for capturing CO2. It places a flue-gas stream from smokestacks in contact with a solvent such as monoethanolamine (MEA) that reacts with the gas.

The team tested their novel circular device inside a 1-meter-tall by 8-inch-wide absorption column consisting of seven commercial stainless-steel packing elements.

The ‘intensified’ device – which comes with a mass-exchanging contactor-driven heat exchanger – was installed in the top half of the column between the packing elements.

3D printing the device ensured that it could be integrated within the column, without disturbing the geometry, thus maximizing the contact surface area between the gas and liquid streams.

“Prior to the design of our 3D printed device, it was difficult to implement a heat exchanger concept into the CO2 absorption column because of the complex geometry of the column’s packing elements,” notes principal investigator, Dr. Xin Sun

Embedded coolant channels were also added inside the packing element’s corrugated sheets to allow for heat exchange capabilities.

The final prototype measured 20.3 centimeters in diameter, 14.6 centimeters in height, with a total fluid volume capacity of 0.6 liters. 

According to Lonnie Love, the intensified device’s creator, other materials such as emerging high thermal conductivity polymers and metals can also be used to manufacture such devices.

Two separate experiments – one that varied the CO2-containing gas flow rate and one that varied the MEA solvent flow rate – were conducted to determine which operating conditions produce the greatest benefit to carbon capture efficiency.

Both experiments produced substantial improvements in the carbon capture rate and demonstrated that the magnitude of the capture consistently depended on the gas flow rates.

The study also showed a peak in capture at 20% of carbon dioxide concentration, with percent of increase in capture rate ranging from 2.2% to 15.5% depending on the operating conditions.

Image and content: Carlos Jones, Michelle Lehman/ORNL

Share on

Filed Under: Additive Manufacturing, Innovation

Scientists Use Local Soil to 3D Print Greener Load-Bearing Structures
Fraunhofer Unveils New System for 3D Printing Multi-Functional Parts
Avatar

About Aruna Urs

Aruna is an industrial journalist. He writes on innovations that emanate at the intersection of science and engineering having a profound impact on the manufacturing sector.

Follow me
Suppliers

High Accuracy, Non-Contact, Absolute Linear Sensor

Santest Model GY series are high accuracy, non-contact, absolute type linear sensors employing magnetostrictive, Wiedemann effect. An ultra-sonic wave generated by a moving magnet near a magnetostrictive wave-guide on which the sonic wave propagates to the head of the transducer.
View Supplier Email this Supplier

Super High Response Speed Servo Valve

With “Dual Halbach Magnet Array” configuration, which makes the strongest magnetic field more than twice as much as the conventional model. Santest Direct Acting Servo Valve has achieved world-class highest frequency response speed of 800Hz. DA Series also has excellent contamination resistance. Find out more about how this patented servo valve works.
View Supplier Email this Supplier

Precision Micrometer for Large Measuring Ranges

The optoCONTROL 2520-95 precision micrometer is designed for static and dynamic measurement tasks with a large measuring range. It detects geometrical parameters such as diameter, gap, height and position and combines high linearity with high measurement speed.
View Supplier Email this Supplier

Beckhoff will be there: new highlights at the SPS Connect from November 24!

Beckhoff is accompanying the SPS Connect with new technology highlights, AI-based dialog formats, exciting round tables and inspiring presentations. Prebook now and secure free tickets!
View Supplier Email this Supplier

Automatic Spot Finder IR Camera with 80×80 Pixels

An all-rounder imager for numerous industrial applications: From metal processing to plastics, in fire prevention tasks as well as in the automotive sector. The spot finder function allows accurate temperature measurements of moving objects.
View Supplier Email this Supplier

Subscribe

Get the latest WIR reports straight to your inbox.

Free Newsletter Subscription

Find us on the social web.

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Terms Of Use
  • Privacy Policy
FREE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION

Get the latest WIR reports straight to your inbox.

  • Innovation Article Archive
  • Innovation Strategies
  • Innovative Companies
  • New Products
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Market Trends
  • Tradeshow Reports
  • White Papers
  • Logistics
  • Newsletters
  • Fun Stuff
  • Industry Links
Follow us

© 2021 Thomas Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site you agree.OkRead more