Energy Saving High-Capacity Moderate Pressure Carbon Dioxide Storage System

Our approach to high-pressure carbon dioxide storage will directly address the challenges associated with storage of compressed carbon dioxide - the need to reduce power consumption, mass and volume while limiting acoustic impact. Successful implementation will reduce gas compressor power by over 50 % and required maximum tank pressure by over 80 % while maintaining storage tank footprint and total standard volume of gas. This is accomplished through the use of our high gas capacity physisorptive support architecture employing tailored zeolite sorbents. Added benefits include facile regenerability, equal applicability to other gases including oxygen and nitrogen, improved thermal management to control heats of desorption and adiabatic cooling during filling and empyting cycles. In addition to the energy savings, we expect that more compact, efficient, and less intrusive compression devices can be utilized. This approach is based on a novel regenerable high capacity physisorptive media storage system that will adsorb CO2 from a compressor system and store it at a relatively lowered pressure. On demand, the CO2 can be desorbed at a constant rate and released. For example, we can store an equivalent volumetric amount of CO2 at about 500 psi, compared to the current 3600 psi. There is a potential for substantial weight savings as well – while we add the mass of sorbent and support, mass reductions from use of thinner wall tanks and smaller compressors are likely to be larger, specific savings will be addressed as part of the proposed task plan. At the end of Phase I we will have demonstrated our approach in our in-house bench scale equipment, bringing the technology to TRL 3 with detailed performance information needed to go to TRL 4 in Phase II, including the delivery of suitable equipment to a NASA facility.

The proposed technology will provide a novel regenerable high capacity physisorptive media storage system capable of accepting CO2 obtained from a compressor system, storing it at a relatively lowered pressure, and desorbing the CO2 on demand at a constant rate. The lower pressure of the system as compared to conventional technologies will have superior advantages in energy savings and reduced system noise. Even more, the lower pressure gas storage vessels and more compact compressor offer to reduce the system mass and volume. Also, extended service life and lower maintenance improves mission flexibility and reduces the need for spares. Overall, the approach offers a safe, compact, quiet, long-lived, and efficient way to compress, store, and deliver gaseous carbon dioxide within an AR subsystem.

NASA spin-off applications include adapting this relatively low pressure gas storage system first to oxygen and other reactant or inert gases. Non-NASA applications include replacing high-pressure gas storage tanks with a lighter, safer, and more reliable low pressure storage solution. The advantages of reduced energy costs and lesser burden on equipment associated with commercial gas compression would be attractive for a number of business concerns that can utilize a lower pressure supply of portable compressed gas. Potential uses would be in hospitals and medical clinics, fire extinguishers, breathing apparatus (rescue and scuba) and some industrial uses including welding.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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