“DACling”: TU Vienna device filters CO2 from the air

Date:

Too much CO2 in the air causes global warming. Researchers at the Vienna University of Technology have now developed a refrigerator-sized device that can filter and store the climate killer from the air. The research required for this was and is financed by the American investor Peter Relan, who hopes for extensive applications. University professor Hermann Hofbauer points out that the device built by his team can be scaled from very small to very large.

“We are building the PC for CO2 separation,” says Relan, pointing out that there have only been large industrial-scale systems until now. The device that TU has built as a prototype, on the other hand, can be placed on a trailer and transported anywhere or integrated into a company’s air conditioning system. However, the modular design means that any number of devices can be combined and a large system can be set up. When the product is ready for market in a year or two, the cost will be comparable to previous technologies.

CO2 eating duckling
The TU device extracts CO2 from the surrounding air, where it is relatively unconcentrated. The technology is called “Direct Air Capture” (DAC). Derived from this, the TU devices should be called “DACling”. The sonic allusion to “Duckling” i.e. ducklings is wanted, Relan wants to make his device as present as an iPhone or at least a solar panel.

Where years of research are usually done before implementation is started, the first prototype was built within a year in this project. Field research under the most diverse conditions and optimization of processes will now follow, says Hofbauer. This was only possible because his team consisted of students who develop the processes in the lab, technicians who can build the device and software experts who develop digital simulations. Very personal circumstances would also have helped: the father of a team member has a workshop, so the aircraft could be moved quickly without the usual waiting times.

Final product with a purity of more than 98 percent
Almost all CO2 is already separated from the ambient air and the end product has a purity of more than 98 percent. But there is still room for improvement in the process in which the CO2 is bound at room temperature and released again at 50 degrees for storage. In addition, you first have to test how the technology works “in Singapore, in the Sahara or in the cold,” says Relan.

Relan wants to protect the “core” of the new technology with patents and use it commercially, but at the same time other institutes must also be given the opportunity to conduct research into it. Relan also wants to get into the production of the “DAClings” – there could also be production in Austria. The first preliminary talks have just begun.

With regard to the costs that are still too high, Relan refers to solar power: 20 years ago it seemed unaffordable, prices have now dropped to one tenth and are competitive with fossil energy sources. He also hopes for a similar development for CO2 separation. However, it will probably take another 20 years before this form of CO2 production is economically competitive – compared to CO2 production from fossil raw materials.

Relan supports research until 2024
So far, he has invested “several millions” in the project, Relan says. In any case, he plans to continue to support research until 2024, doubling his financial commitment by then. “I haven’t planned beyond 2024 yet,” says Relan. “We will see.” Two to four devices can be built at the Vienna University of Technology and used for research. In any case, the commercial rights belong to Relan and its incubator “YouWeb IV Impact”.

In this concept it is unclear what should be done with the large amount of CO2 that will be removed from the air in the future. A problem that is technically easier to solve for Relan is that CO2 can be stored in, for example, old oil fields or in porous rock. In Austria, however, this is currently not possible because CO2 storage is prohibited, says Hofbauer.

Hofbauer and his team have already designed the CO2 cleaning system in the Simmering biomass plant. But there it was on the one hand an industrial dimension and on the other hand the separation of CO2 at the source, namely at the chimney, where the concentration is much higher. There are patents for this and Shell has taken on the further implementation.

Source: Krone

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related

Fight in Atlantic City – Aslan for UFC debut: “I’m ready, despite the pressure!”

The Viennese Ibo Aslan was only the second Austrian...

Fall into a ditch – Germany: Next serious accident involving a coach

Another serious bus accident occurred in Germany on Friday...

Patient mistaken – Prague hospital mistakenly performed an abortion

Incredible incident in a hospital in the Czech capital...