(365o) Integration of Low-Grade Waste Heat in Direct Air Capture of CO2 Systems; A Data Center Case Study

Research Interests: Implementation of direct air capture technologies for the atmospheric removal of carbon dioxide are limited in economic feasibility due to the high costs of sorbent regeneration and upgrading the concentration of captured carbon dioxide. These costs can be mitigated through integration of direct air capture with industries that produce waste heat, utilizing this waste heat for the regeneration of sorbents. The research herein proposes a mechanism for upgrading the concentration of carbon dioxide and/or regenerating liquid sorbents with a series of stages, whereby each stage increases the partial pressure of carbon dioxide using vapor-liquid equilibria driven by the thermal gradient produced by integrated waste heat. Proof of concept of the design has been achieved using both modeling/simulation work and experimental data. Parameters including sorbent chemistry, temperature, flow rate, and feed CO₂ pressure are evaluated for impact on the overall output and efficiency of the system. Integration of the proposed DAC system in data centers is utilized as a case study.