(622e) Operation and Performance of a Direct Air Capture Test Facility

Climeworks, as part of a DOE funded program, is operating a U.S. based direct air capture (DAC) facility to test and optimize the combination of Svante’s structured adsorbent technology with Climeworks’ DAC process technology, as shown in Figure 1. The new adsorber technology demonstrated promise at bench scale to increase the adsorption rate and reduce flow resistance when compared to the existing Climeworks technology. The facility, shown in Figure 2, was designed to test the structured adsorbers under real-world conditions and provide data for scale-up.

This presentation will provide an overview of the DAC facility operation and the performance of the new structured adsorber. Metrics such as pressure drop, CO₂ removal rate, and working capacity will be discussed along with how these metrics are affected by varying process parameters such as adsorption time and steam flow. Finally, the effect of weather conditions on these performance metrics will be addressed as well as other outcomes such as performance change over time.