WO2025031905A1

WO2025031905A1 - Modular adsorber structure for gas separation processes

Info

Publication number: WO2025031905A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/071658
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hugo HEIMENDINGER; Kamil PELA; Artur TSCHENSE; Dominik Born; Simone MARTINELLI
Original assignee: Climeworks AG
Current assignee: Climeworks AG
Priority date: 2023-08-07
Filing date: 2024-07-31
Publication date: 2025-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-07

Abstract

Device for the separation of at least one gaseous component of a gas stream containing that component as well as further different gaseous components, in particular for the separation of carbon dioxide and/or water vapour from an air stream, by using a bed of loose particulate adsorber particles contained in a plurality of cartridges, said gas stream entering the device at an upstream end thereof and exiting the device as a gas outflow at a downstream end thereof, said device comprising at least four, or at least 10 or 12 of said essentially identical cartridges extending along a long axis and individually enclosing each a sorbent particle volume, wherein each cartridge forms an inlet channel extending along said long axis surrounded by an inner sidewall permeable to the gas stream but impermeable for said loose particulate adsorbent particles, and surrounded by a parallel outer sidewall permeable to the gas stream but impermeable for said loose particulate adsorbent particles, which outer sidewall is radially distanced from said inner sidewall.

Description

TITLE

MODULAR ADSORBER STRUCTURE FOR GAS SEPARATION PROCESSES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to low pressure drop adsorber structures for granular sorbent materials, to methods of making such structures, and to the use of such structures for gas separation processes in particular the capture of CO2 from atmospheric air.

PRIOR ART

Gas separation by adsorption is a rather well-established industrial method for the removal of a specific gaseous component from a gas mixture either for the refining of the base gas flow or for the enrichment of the removed component. One important application which is gaining importance is the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from gas streams for example flue or exhaust gases, industrial waste gases, biogas or even atmospheric air. Specifically for the fulfillment of climate protection goals, the latter - known as direct air capture (DAC) - is of critical importance as it can address dispersed (i.e. those from mobility) as well as past emissions. Further it does not need to be coupled to emission sources allowing the use of locally available favorable energy sources or processing infrastructure and can provide a real closed carbon cycle when applied to synthetic fuels with no or very little CO2 emissions.

In recent years, several techniques and processes for DAC have been developed. For example, US-A-2011/041688 discloses carbon dioxide capture/regeneration structures and techniques; US-A-2009/0120288 discloses a method for removal of carbon dioxide from air; US-A-2012/0174778 discloses a carbon dioxide capture/regeneration method using a vertical elevator; and WO-A-2010022339 discloses a carbon dioxide capture method and facility. Possible sorbent materials suitable for DAC have been also disclosed in the prior art.

While granular sorbent materials offer very high specific surface areas and a large volumetric capacity, they suffer high specific pressure drops and the need to contain granular materials thereby leading some groups (WO-A-2009149292) to use amine functionalized planar structures (i.e. monoliths). In the context of granular materials, WO-A- 2017/009241 discloses an amine functionalized solid support. Others, for example WO-A- 2016/185387 have used supports functionalized with K2CO3.

DAC processes based on temperature and pressure swings optionally with purge gases on the other hand have been disclosed for particular sorbent types in for example WO-A- 2016/005226, WO-A-2015/082567 or US-A-2013/312606.

In all these methods, one central challenge is contacting atmospheric air, or more generally the gaseous stream to be separated, with a medium - sorbent material - which selectively binds one gas, in particular CO2. In contrast to applications in which CO2 is present at high concentration, due the low concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, DAC systems must handle very large air volumes, posing challenges related to energy demand and pressure drop and rendering typical adsorption columns with long packed bed lengths unsuitable. To address these limitations, recently, three systems were disclosed for the utilization of granular materials for DAC: WO-A-2014/170184, WO-A-2018083109 and WO-A-2018 210617. These three publications also disclose adsorber structures with integrated heat exchange structures fed by heat transfer liquids to realize temperature swings on the granular sorbent materials.

The following disclosures are based on the concept of ‘wall flow’ units prevalent in filtering applications such as particle or catalytic filters: US 4,390,355 or US 6,753,294 B1 with the notable difference that instead of having a gas permeable wall which retains impurities, here a plurality of units formed of enclosed sorbent material held in gas permeable fabric material is used. Further examples of wall flow adsorption structures from the prior art can be found in in US 5,260,035, US 7,407,533 B2, US 8,852,322 B2 and US 8,268,043 B2.

While these devices of the prior art address the challenge of producing packed bed structures with low pressure drop, they fail to address the challenge of the exchange of sorbent material upon it reaching the end of its usable life thusly leading to very work intensive and costly exchange operations, wherein individual units - for example individual frame structure or channels - must be tediously dismantled or emptied. Such challenges may be solved by assemblies wherein the filter is one, replaceable assembly such as common in candle or cartridge filter units of for example US 7,487,875 or EP-A-0 155 336 . Some devices like US-A-2008/0078532 have combined cartridge type systems and casings, but lack the benefits of wall flow devices for exploiting the adsorption properties of granular adsorber materials and fail to utilize the benefits afforded by continuous sorbent material volumes. Similarly, documents such as US 7,462,224 relate to monolithic structures of adsorption material, which however are not used for flow through the filter walls but just to flow across, and replacement is only possible by way of full replacement of the monolith.

US-A-2008/060524 proposes a filter element with a filter medium that is made of at least two filter web layers and an adsorptive layer of adsorptive particles, which adsorptive layer is substantially enclosed by the at least two filter web layers with the exception of lateral open edges. A sealing compound seals the lateral open edges at least during manufacture of the filter element. A frame part is attached by injection molding to the filter medium after sealing the open lateral edges with the sealing compound.

US 4,022,581 discloses a device for the recovery of noble metals emanating from the surface of catalysts used in high pressure high temperature gas reactions involving absorbing the noble metal dispersed in the reaction gas in an intercepting bed formed of acid-soluble metal oxides wherein the flow of the reaction gases in the intercepting bed is in a direction parallel to the plane of the supporting base of the bed.

EP-A-0 222 731 discloses a pressure-swing adsorber consisting of a pressure-resistant vessel with inlet branches and outlet branches for the gas which is to be purified. The granular adsorbent is held in annular chambers between cylindrical walls which are of at least partially gas-permeable design. To reduce compression of the granular adsorbent during pressure-swing stresses and/or temperature stresses for the purpose of desorption, supporting surfaces are provided which extend radially across the internal width between the cylinder shells and are supported in the axial direction.

WO-A-2023229592 discloses a system which includes a gas treatment system having an adsorption module, wherein the adsorption module includes one or more sorbent cartridges having a sorbent material. The gas treatment system further includes a linear positioning assembly configured to move the adsorption module along a linear path of travel between a first position in a first flow path and a second position in a second flow path. The gas treatment system is configured to adsorb an undesirable gas from a first fluid flow in the first flow path into the sorbent material when the adsorption module is disposed in the first position. The gas treatment system is configured to desorb the undesirable gas from the sorbent material when the adsorption module is disposed in the second position.

Jeong et al. (Chemical Engineering Research and Design, Volume 176, December 2021 , Pages 1-13) report that a key challenge for power plant carbon capture systems is operating economically under varying load conditions. Daily variations may be handled through control systems with reduced economic performance, but longer-term seasonal cycles will require different solutions to enable robust and economic operation. We propose to use modular monolith adsorbent (MMA) designs whose capacity and configuration can be altered to respond to variations in flue gas flow. The configuration of the blocks is defined by the pattern of their serial and parallel connection. The ability to present a shorter, but wider, bed at different flue gas flowrates can then be exploited to improve performance and continuing to meet constraints on product purity and recovery. This additional degree of freedom afforded by the modular nature of the design allows an active response to the flowrate conditions and increases the flexibility of the system over the space of flowrate and concentration. In order to compare the proposed MMA systems and the conventional passive design method, case studies with varying flue gas amounts in a power plant are carried out. Simulation results show that the proposed MMA systems have improved optimal solutions because of their design flexibility, compared to the conventional passive design approach. Lastly, the optimized solutions are presented as a parametric map with different CO2 capture fractions and flowrate of flue gas. These parametric off-line solutions can be a guideline for the process implementation and reduce the operating complexity even if the MMA systems are used.

WO-A-2020254208 discloses a device for the separation of a gaseous component of a gas stream, in particular for the separation of carbon dioxide, by using a bed of loose particulate adsorber particles contained in a sorbent particle volume, comprising at least two inlet channels and at least two outlet channels in said sorbent particle volume , the inlet channels and outlet channels (mutually intertwining at least partly to form a nested structure in said sorbent particle volume and being arranged essentially parallel to each other, the side walls of the channels being permeable to the gas stream but impermeable for the adsorber particles, wherein inlet channels and outlet channel are altematingly arranged in both lateral dimensions so that said sorbent particle volume is confined by the interspace defined by adjacent side walls of inlet and outlet channels and said sorbent particle volume surrounding the channels circumferentially.

GB-A-2612832 discloses a modular adsorber bed for fitting to a vacuum chamber in a vacuum temperature swing direct air capture process for extracting carbon dioxide from air may comprise adsorber cartridges in an axially parallel array. Each cartridge comprises a hollow cylinder containing adsorber held between outer and inner gas permeable tubes. The inner tube forms an axially located void in the cartridge. Each cartridge receives airflow and absorbs CO2 in a radial direction through the adsorber, either away from or towards the void. Each cartridge may comprise heat exchanger means to heat the adsorbent during a regeneration phase. An apparatus may comprise a vacuum chamber with the modular adsorber bed located inside. Air conduits may connect to the cartridge void and the inner space of the vacuum chamber. A heating means may provide heat to the cartridges during desorption and the CO2 extracted by a conduit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one purpose of this invention to make available an adsorber structure suitable for loose granular adsorber materials offering the advantages of high contact area and low pressure drop of wall flow structures with the handling and exchange properties of candle and cartridge type adsorber structures and allowing for easy loose granular adsorber material exchange, in particular structures allowing for high volume flow rates for DAC applications.

Existing contactor configurations with large contiguous beds of sorbent particles inter alia have the problem that the sorbent is flowing from top to bottom between the outer mesh of the strainers. This causes several issues due to the sorbent settling and swelling in a big “open” volume. It creates excessive settling the further we go down the contactor, resulting in bypass on the upper part (loss of performance) and high pressure on the bottom due to the accumulation of beads. Sorbent which is settling in such a design increases its bulk density on the lower contactor part resulting in an increase of pressure and bypass on the upper part of the system. It is not easily predictable how and in which timeline it is occurring since it is depending on the strainer deformation, position, solid content of the sorbent during filling and weather conditions (humidity, temperature).

Minimizing the volume by using individual cartridges minimizes the settling effect and make it more predictable in order to design a more suitable system.

The sorbent is enclosed within multiple cartridges assembled into a contactor.

The cartridges comprise a sandwich mesh structure in order to hold the sorbent in position and allow the air to flow though. The cartridges can be tapered in order to have an homogenous airflow distribution along their inner surface length while maintaining a constant sorbent layer to optimize the performance. The angle between the circumferential inner sidewall on one side and on the other side in an axial cut can e.g. be in the range of 0.25-0.75°.

The inlet airflow is entering on the center part of the cartridges and exiting on the outside. The contactor outlet sheet plate is designed in such a way to have the corresponding outlet section to allow the air to go out properly.

The outlet cutouts of the contactor are design specifically in order to have a specific surface ratio inlet/outlet to reach a define pressure drop corresponding to the optimum fans characteristics.

In order to keep the integrity of the cartridges under high pressure and still allowing the air to pass through the sorbent, the use of wire mesh structure is proposed.

The tapering angle is defined according to the inlet area, cartridges length, airflow speed to have an homogenous airflow distribution along the inner surface length.

The ratio inlet/outlet surface is defined in order to reach a define pressure drop corresponding to the optimum fans characteristics.

The sorbent bed thickness is precisely defined in order to have an optimum of sorbent interacting with the airflow while minimizing the sorbent pressure due to swelling.

There are in fact 3 main loss contributions for performance that are dependent of the design parameters: 1) The losses happening directly at the inlet/outlet section. Higher inlet surface area than the outlet.

2) The losses happening inside the cartridges void volume (so upstream and downstream of the sorbent bed).

3) The losses inside the sorbent bed. It is mainly driven by the overall flow through area hence the full surface area of the sorbent bed and the bed thickness.

This is a tradeoff between the losses inside the sorbent and inside the cartridges void because the more cartridges there are in the contactor, the higher the overall flow through surface get and hence the less losses inside the sorbent bed decrease. But on the other hand, if more cartridges are used, they are smaller so at the same time the losses in the inflow and outflow section are increasing.

The present invention in line with this thus generally relates to a device for the separation of at least one gaseous component of a gas stream containing that component as well as further different gaseous components, in particular for the separation of carbon dioxide and/or water vapour (normally just carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide and water) from an air stream, by using a bed of loose particulate adsorber particles contained in a plurality of individual sorbent particle volumes.

Said gas stream is entering the device at an upstream end thereof and exiting the device as a gas outflow at a downstream end thereof.

The baseline for the concept is to use a strainer with two layer of mesh and sorbent between them, so that strainer is taking the role of the load carrying part and distributes only via front plate and back plates/profiles.

Contactor box is a frame structure which is solid, lighter and cheaper to manufacture, improved load distribution, forklift friendly and low thermal mass.

Simpler installation: cartridges installed from one side (maintenance inc. disassembling possible from front);

More predictable behavior of due to dividing sorbent volume into small sets instead of one mass;

Identified solutions to make capture capacity per year even to current estimations or even improved.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a device for the separation of at least one gaseous component of a gas stream containing that component as well as further different gaseous components, in particular for the separation of carbon dioxide and/or water vapour from an air stream, in particular for direct air capture, by using a plurality of cartridges, said gas stream entering the device at an upstream end thereof and exiting the device as a gas outflow at a downstream end thereof. Said device comprises at least four, or at least 10 or 12 of said essentially identical cartridges extending along a long axis and individually enclosing each in a sorbent particle volume a bed of loose particulate adsorber particles.

Each cartridge forms an inlet channel extending along said long axis closed at a downstream side thereof and radially surrounded by a circumferential inner sidewall permeable to the gas stream but impermeable for said loose particulate adsorbent particles, and further radially surrounded by a circumferential outer sidewall permeable to the gas stream but impermeable for said loose particulate adsorbent particles and essentially parallel to said circumferential inner sidewall , which outer sidewall is radially distanced from said inner sidewall . Typically, the distance between the circumferential inner sidewall and the circumferential outer sidewall measured in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the cartridge, is constant and in the range of 20-26 mm.

Preferably, the inner sidewall and/or the outer side wall are supported by separate supporting frames, most preferably the inner sidewall as well as the outer sidewall each have a separate supporting frame, which are not directly connected with each other. Preferably, the respective supporting frames are attached to the downstream wall and the upstream frame wall of the cartridge. Most preferably, the inner sidewall is supported by a supporting frame which is located on the inner side of the inner sidewall, so is located at least partly in the inlet channel. Preferably, the outer sidewall is supported by a supporting frame which is located on the outer side of the outer sidewall.

Such supporting frames preferably have supporting bars extending axially, so parallel to the extension direction of the cartridge. Preferably in case of a polygonal cross-section of the cartridge, on each edge such as supporting bar is provided. In case of a rectangular or quadratic cross-section, four such axially extending supporting bars are preferably provided. Preferably these supporting bars are joined by crossbars running perpendicularly to the supporting bars, and which, at regular intervals along the supporting bars, provide a circumferential structure of the supporting frame. Typically, 1-7, preferably 2-4 such circumferential crossbars are provided regularly distributed along the axial length of the axially extending supporting bars.

Such support frames can be made of metal or a high temperature resistant polymeric material, for example glass fiber reinforced polymeric material. Preferably, the respective sidewall is attached to the respective supporting frame, for example by welding, gluing or form fit connections (for example crimping).

Normally said sorbent particle volume is confined by said inner sidewall and said outer sidewall as well as an upstream frame wall and a downstream wall both impermeable to the gas stream and for said loose particulate adsorbent particles and arranged essentially perpendicular to said long axis.

Normally the upstream frame wall has an outer cross-section which is larger than the crosssection of the outer sidewall and an inner cross-section which is the same as the crosssection of the inner sidewall and which has a outer cross-sectional shape allowing for regular, sealing adjacent arrangement of cartridges in two dimensions perpendicular to said long axis .

Or the upstream frame wall has an outer cross-section which is the same as the crosssection of the outer sidewall and an inner cross-section which is the same as the crosssection of the inner sidewall and wherein there is further provided a cover frame plate with an inner cross-section which is the same as the outer cross-section of the upstream frame wall and which has an outer cross-sectional shape allowing for regular, sealing adjacent arrangement of cartridges in two dimensions perpendicular to said long axis.

Or there is provided an upstream device wall with gas entrance openings essentially corresponding to the cross-section of the outer sidewall and regularly distanced arranged in two dimensions perpendicular to said long axis.

In each case such that between adjacent cartridges in both dimensions orthogonal to the long axis there is provided a preferably contiguous empty interspace between the outer sidewalls of adjacent cartridges providing for outlet channels for outflow of the gas stream. According to a first preferred embodiment, at the downstream side of the device there is provided a downstream wall which is provided with a regular pattern of gas exit openings which are open to said empty interspace.

According to another preferred embodiment, there is provided a grid structure at the downstream end of the device allowing for fixation of the downstream ends of the cartridges at the grid.

According to another preferred embodiment, the cross-section of each cartridge, preferably of said inner sidewall and of said outer sidewall is triangular, preferably regularly triangular, rectangular, preferably square, or regularly hexagonal, wherein the cross-sections can be rounded and the said inner sidewall and/or said outer sidewall can each be formed by one mesh by rolling and forming (rounded) edges and fixing along the long axis.

The ratio outlet/inlet airflow section is preferably in the range of R=1.53 because it is linked to the pressure drop, volume of sorbent and airflow speed.

The volume of total sorbent per cartridge is preferably in the range 0.5-1.5 m2, preferably in the range of 1.02m2.

The sorbent layer thickness is preferably in the range of 10-30 mm, preferably in the range of 20mm because it is linked to the pressure drop and volume of sorbent.

The tapering angle is preferably in the range of 0.1-1 ° or 0.2-0.4° or in the range of 0.3° of the cartridges because it is linked to the pressure drop and volume of sorbent.

According to another preferred embodiment, all cartridges are identical, have a square cross section of the inner side wall and of said outer sidewall, and wherein there is provided a downstream wall which is closing the exit side of the inlet channel and the downstream side of the said sorbent particle volume.

Said downstream wall preferably closes not only the sorbent particle volume at the downstream end (but also the inlet channel as one contiguous downstream wall.

The downstream wall, preferably in a central portion along said long axis, can be provided with at least one axial protrusion or pin, for engaging with a corresponding downstream carrier structure (the carrier structure can be a grid with slats, for example horizontal and vertical slats, but it can also be backside wall) located at the downstream end of the device, wherein preferably the axial protrusion is provided with a threading for fixing the cartridge on the downstream carrier structure or with a converging tip.

The cartridges can be attached to the downstream carrier structure by way of engagement into through openings in the downstream carrier structure and if need be fixed by nuts, if need be supplemented by washers.

Between adjacent portions of the upstream frame wall or of cover frame plates, where more than 2, preferably where 4 of said frame walls or cover frame plates are located, there can be provided an opening between sufficient for the axial penetration of a fixing pin, which preferably in the direction to the upstream side is provided with a threading allowing to fix, by way of at least one nut, if need be supplemented by washers, all adjacent frame walls or cover frame plates in a sealing manner.

The device may also comprise a carrier structure including circumferential wall elements, the plane of which is in each case parallel to the general flow of air through the device, so that the circumferential wall elements seal the device in a direction perpendicular to the general airflow.

Also the device may comprise, as part of the carrier structure, a backside wall provided with openings, through which the flow having penetrated the device can exit the device. In addition to that, this backside wall may form the downstream carrier structure mentioned above.

Also the device may comprise, again as part of the carrier structure, a front wall provided with openings, through which the cartridges can be inserted. That front wall may either be a contiguous front wall with openings, it may also be formed by horizontal and vertical slats forming grid. Such a front wall may provide fixing elements, for example in the form of fixing pins, by way of which cartridges, which have been inserted into the openings, can be fixed on that front wall. According to another preferred embodiment, the side walls are provided by a mesh or grid structure, the mesh width of which is smaller than the smallest particle size of said particulate adsorber particles, wherein preferably the mesh is a wire grid, preferably a metal or polymer wire grid, most preferably an aluminium or stainless steel metal wire grid, wherein there can be provided two layers of grid, one first layer or cage with a grid mesh width which is substantially larger than the smallest particle size of said particulate adsorber particles, acting as a carrier grid or cage, and mounted thereon, preferably on the side facing the particulate adsorber particles, a second layer with a grid wire, preferably metal wire or polymer fibres having mesh width smaller than the smallest particle size of said particulate adsorber particles, acting as retaining grid, wherein preferably the wire thickness of the carrier grid is larger than the wire thickness of the retaining grid and wherein optionally, further supporting grids are integrated into the air channels.

According to another preferred embodiment, the device comprises at least 16 or at least 100 cartridges, and wherein further preferably the device is surrounded by a circumferential enclosing wall and offering a gas seal against a containing structure housing the device.

According to another preferred embodiment, the inner side walls and outer side walls are parallel and are tapering in a direction towards the outlet side, such that the cross section of the inlet channel is larger at the inlet side than on the outlet side.

According to another preferred embodiment, the particulate adsorber particles are amine functionality carrying polymer-based or inorganic particles suitable and adapted for carbon dioxide capture and/or are at least partly inorganic, organic or active carbon based particles, preferably functionalised with alkali carbonate or with amine functionality suitable and adapted for carbon dioxide capture and/or metal organic frameworks.

According to another preferred embodiment, the particulate adsorber particles have a particle sizes in the range of 0.01 - 5mm or in the range of 1-20 mm and have the property of flowing without substantial mechanical attrition and the carrier structure of which is preferably selected from the group of polymers, ceramics, organic solids, zeolites, metals, clays, capsules or hybrids thereof.

According to a second preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a method for assembling a device as defined above, wherein the cartridges are individually filled with said particular adsorber particles, preferably by the opening in the absence of the upstream frame wall and sealed by adding the upstream frame wall , and are then assembled modularly to form the device, in particular by mounting them in a frame and/or housing, preferably including a downstream wall which is provided with a regular pattern of gas exit openings which are open to said empty interspace of a downstream grid.

According to a third preferred embodiment, the invention relates the use of such a device for capturing carbon dioxide and/or water vapor from a gas stream, preferably a flue gas stream, a greenhouse gas, or atmospheric air gas stream, most preferably in a pressure and/or temperature and/or humidity swing process.

The particulate adsorber particles can for example be amine functionality carrying polymer- based particles suitable and adapted for carbon dioxide capture and/or at least partly inorganic, organic or active carbon based particles, preferably functionalized with alkali carbonate suitable or with amine functionality and adapted for carbon dioxide capture and/or metal organic frameworks.

The particulate adsorber particles can have a mean particle size in the range of 0.01 - 5mm, or in the range of 1-20 mm more preferably in the range of 0.1 to 3mm and are preferably substantially round along at least one axis or have the property of flowing without substantial mechanical attrition and the carrier structure of which is preferably selected from the group of polymers, ceramics, organic solids, zeolites, metals, clays, capsules or hybrids thereof. Only when operating a contactor for DAC having the indicated sorbent material size range, with the indicated sorbent material layer thicknesses and the indicated flow area factors, can feasible operation of DAC be considered. With significantly smaller sorbent particles, the kinetics of gas exchanger can be improved, however the pressure drop and the corresponding energy demand for adsorption rise dramatically. With larger sorbent particles, than those indicated, the gas exchanger kinetics can be dramatically worsened reducing the output of a DAC device. With reduced flow area factors the total volume throughput of a DAC device in adsorption is significantly reduced for a given acceptable pressure drop over a sorbent material layer. With thinner sorbent material layers, the pressure drop of the adsorption process indeed falls, however the output of the DAC device also falls linearly. Such a drop cannot be compensated with increased flow throughput as one can rapidly encounter mass transfer limitation, which limit the maximum possible uptake rate. Conversely, increasing the sorbent material layer, will produce a significant increase in the pressure drop in adsorption flow requiring either a reduction of said flow (and correspondingly output of the DAC device) or a significantly higher energy demand and cost for the adsorption process.

For particulate adsorber particles having a mean particle size in the range of 0.1 -1.5 mm, a sorbent bed thickness, being contained by a mesh having a mesh width in the range of 150- 250 pm, using a structure with a sorbent material layer thickness of 10 to 25 mm, preferably the sorbent bed thickness is 20mm, and a channel length of 0.75-1.5 m, a flow area factor in the range of 15:1-25:1 proves to provide an optimum compromise for DAC applications in terms of pressure drop and capture properties. Preferably in such a structure use is made of more than 150 up to 250 cartridges. Last but not least the present invention relates to a use of a device as detailed above for capturing carbon dioxide and/or water vapour from a gas stream, preferably a flue gas stream, a greenhouse gas, or atmospheric air gas stream, most preferably in a pressure and/or temperature and/or humidity swing process.

Further embodiments of the invention are laid down in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the following with reference to the drawings, which are for the purpose of illustrating the present preferred embodiments of the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a device just with one cartridge for illustration purposes,

Fig. 2 shows a perspective of a device without backside plate and surrounding housing from the inlet side,

Fig. 3 shows another perspective of a device from the inlet side with backside plate and with the top, bottom and left surrounding housing, cut out for visibility on the right side;

Fig. 4 shows another perspective of a device from the outlet side with backside plate and just with the top, bottom and right surrounding housing, cut out for visibility on the left side,

Fig. 5 possible cross-sectional shapes, wherein in a) a hexagonal shape is shown, in b) a rectangular flat, in c) a rectangular 45° tilted, and in d) a circular, wherein in each case on the left a magnification is given

Fig. 6 shows another embodiment, wherein in a) a partial cut with the air stream is shown, in b) the whole device in a perspective view from the inlet side is shown and in c) the whole device in a perspective view from the backside without a backside grid is shown;

Fig. 7 shows a back view of a device (a) and a front inlet view (b) of a device according to another embodiment with a backside grid, wherein c) shows a partial perspective backside view, d) a full backside perspective view and e) a vertical cut through the device through the center axes of a column of cartridges;

Fig. 8 shows in a) a partial lower edge perspective view of the frontside with the attachment means for attaching the cartridges for mounting them in the frame, and in b) a cross-section through the cartridges mounted in the frame;

Fig. 9 shows in a) a cartridge in a perspective view from the inlet side, in b) a corresponding perspective axial cut, in c) a corresponding axial cut, in d) a side view, in e) a backside view, in f) a front view, in g) a cut along the line indicated in d), in h) in a perspective view the backside with the backside wall and the attachment pin and i) in a perspective view the frontside with the inlet frame wall and the plate, j)-m) show a cartridge of a different embodiment in perspective views from the inlet side;

Fig. 10 shows in an axial cut schematically the airflow from inlet to outlet through the device;

Fig. 11 shows in a) a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a cartridge with supporting frame and in b) a corresponding axial cut through;

Fig. 12 show an axial cut through a cartridge with a fixed pin comprising an inward axial extension;

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of an alternative arrangement of the inlet side of a cartridge in a) without and in b) with a frame wall.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a cartridge 2 viewed from the inlet side 18 and the air 28 entering via the inlet channel 5 into the cartridge 2. As one can see, the inlet air 28 penetrates or enters and flows into the inlet channel 5, then penetrates through the sorbent particle bed 3 (indicated by a dotted line, inside of the outer circumferential sidewall 7) confined by the inner circumferential sidewall 6 and the outer circumferential sidewall 7 in a circumferential radial direction, and confined towards the inlet side by the front frame wall 8 and (not visible) on the backside by a back wall 9 (see further figures). The air having penetrated this sorbent particle bed is channeling in the contiguous interspace 21 provided between adjacent cartridges (see further figures) and exits the device through openings 13 provided in a backside wall plate 12.

In this case, at the entrance on the upstream side 18 of the cartridge 2, the inner crosssection of the upstream frame wall 8 corresponds to the cross-section of the circumferential inner sidewall 6. The upstream frame wall 8 in this case essentially only covers and closes the interspace between the cross-section of the circumferential inner sidewall 6 and the cross-section of the circumferential outer sidewall 7.

Radially outside of that upstream frame wall 8 there is provided an additional ring-like cover frame plate 10, the inner cross-section of which essentially corresponds to the outer crosssection of the upstream frame wall 8 or the inner cross-section is somewhat smaller to overlap with the upstream frame wall 8, in any case so that there is a sealing between the two elements 8 and 10.

The outer circumference of the cover frame plate 10 is formed by linear contacting edges 31 , provided for contacting in sealing engagement with the corresponding contacting edges 31 of adjacent cartridges 2. At these edges 31 there can be provided sealing means, for example groove/rib structures or providing of sealing elements (elastic elements, for example O-rings).

In this case, where the cross-section is square, but equally where the cross-section for example takes a diamond shape or another shape, where more than 2 of these cover frame plates 10 are located close to each other, there is provided a beveling 27 (or a corresponding quarter circle opening or the like), in order to provide for penetration of fixing pins 27 (see discussion further below) for fixing adjacent cartridges centrally by using one fixing element.

Instead of the downstream wall 12 there can also be provided only a grid, as will be detailed further below.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a full device 1 or rather an assembly of cartridges 2 which are located adjacent to each other being part of a full device, in a perspective view without housing and mounting structures just illustrating the assembly of cartridges. As one can see, the cartridges 2 are regularly arranged and between the cartridges 2 there is provided the outlet channel 15.

The outlet channels 15 are formed by the interspace between the circumferential outer side walls 7 of adjacent cartridges 2. This empty interspace 21 is closed towards the entry side by the cover frame plates 10, which come to lie adjacent to each other in a sealing manner so that air having penetrated the bed 3 of loose particulate adsorber particles can only flow towards the downstream side 19 and out of the outlet channels 15.

The outlet channels 15 provide for a contiguous network over the whole device allowing for optimum flow and as little as possible pressure drop conditions.

Also visible in this illustration are the three openings 26 formed by the beveling 27 between four adjacent cartridges 2 allowing for penetration of fixing pins 25 as will be detailed further below. Corresponding fixing pins 25 can be separate elements, but they can also be part of a carrier structure into which the cartridges are inserted.

The advantage of this structure is that each cartridge 2 has its own and separate volume 20 for the sorbent particles, so there is only packing of sorbent particles in each of the cartridges but not over the whole unit. Correspondingly there is no increased density towards a lower part of the device 1 , but only a slight increase in density within each of the cartridges 2. However, since the cartridges 2 are small that increase is also small, and in addition to that, the modularity allows for easy exchange of individual cartridges 2 if there is an acceptable packing of particles or another problem with the sorbent (for example deterioration) in one of the cartridges requiring exchange. Fig. 3 shows a schematic inlet side (18) view of such a device 1 comprising a plurality of cartridges 2. In this case the device 1 is cut on the right side and does not comprise a housing wall at this side but only on top by way of the wall 16, to illustrate the interior of the device and of the cartridges 2. This embodiment illustrates the situation where the cartridges are arranged on an edge, i.e. the situation where the edges 31 are arranged under an angle of 45° relative to the vertical direction.

Fig. 4 illustrates the backside 19 of the device 1 illustrated in Fig. 3. Here one can see the backside wall 12 with the outlet openings 13 in a magnification on the right side.

The back side wall 12 in addition to that can be provided with central through openings 32 provided for each cartridge 2 at the center axis 4 of each of the cartridges 2. These through openings 32 allow penetration of an axial protrusion 22 of the cartridge 2 as will be detailed further below. That axial protrusion 22 can be provided with an outer threading if needed, so that after having penetrated the through opening 32 the cartridge 2 can be fixed by way of a nut. However, in many situations it will be sufficient if the axial protrusion 22 is penetrating the through opening 32 and to avoid shifting of the cartridge 2 in the housing it can be sufficient to fix the cartridge 2 on the inlet side 18 by corresponding fixing means, for example the fixing pins 25 as mentioned above which penetrate through the free openings 26.

The downstream wall 12 can be joined with the device wall 16 which is circumferentially enclosing the device 1 and which is oriented with the plane parallel to the general flow direction of the air through the device.

Fig. 5 illustrates the different possibilities for structuring the cross-section and the arrangement of the cartridges in the device.

In a) a device with hexagonal cross-section cartridges is illustrated, in b) the possibility of having square cartridge cross sections which are lying on one of the sides 31 , and in c) the possibility of having square cartridges which are arranged each on an edge (like in the illustration given in Fig. 2).

Fig. 5 d) illustrates the further possibility of having a circular cross-section for the sidewalls 5 / 6. For achieving a regular arrangement also in this case however typically the cover plates are square or there is provided a frame structure or front wall structure into which the circular cartridges 2 can be inserted.

Fig. 6 in a) illustrates the airflow path through the cartridges 2 and in particular illustrates how the cartridges 2 and also the inlet channel 5 is closed on the backside via the back wall having reference 11. In b) a perspective front view of that corresponding construction is illustrated and in c) the whole device in a perspective view from the backside without a backside grid is shown, wherein there are no backside wall rings 6 closing the volumes 2 in the backside direction and where the frame walls 16 are provided with reinforcing frame elements 35.

More specifically, air 28 is entering the strainer and into the channel 5, and then penetrates essentially radially as airstream 33 passing through the sorbent layer 3, and then leaves the contactor box along stream 34 in the channels 21. In this case the downstream wall 9 is a full downstream cartridge wall 11 which covers not only the downstream side of the sorbent volume 20 but also closes the channel 5 towards the downstream side 19.

Also in this illustration one can see that towards the downstream side each cartridge is converging such that the interspace 21 cross-section is increasing towards the downstream side.

Fig. 7 illustrates another embodiment of such a device wherein in a) a backside view and in b) and inlet side view is given In this case there is not provided a contiguous backside wall, but rather a grid or frame structure comprising vertical slats 36 and horizontal slats 37, allowing for attachment of the backside wall 10 of the cartridges 2 on that grid by way of axial protrusions 22 (see discussion below), the grid however not interfering with the outflow of air through the outflow channels 21 .

Fig. 7 c) illustrates a perspective view of a top backside portion of that embodiment, where one can see specific openings at the very edge for example for transportation purposes, and where one can see how the backside grid is holding the backside ends of the cartridges. For simple mounting the corresponding slacks can be provided with openings into which pins of the cartridges can easily be inserted, if need be assisted by some lock in mechanics. In d) a full backside view is shown.

Fig. 7 e) illustrates a vertical cut through the device through the center axes of a column of cartridges 2. Here one can see that the inlet channels 5 are converging from the left (inlet side 18) to the right (outlet side 19), leading to outflow channels 21 which are widening in the outlet side direction. The distance between the inner circumferential wall 6 and the outer circumferential wall 7 however is constant over the actual extension. At the outlet side 19 each cartridge is provided with the downstream cartridge wall 11 , and at the center of each of these downstream cartridge walls 11 there is provided a fixing pin 25, suitable and adapted to penetrate through through openings in the horizontal slats 37 of the grid as mentioned above. The fixing pins 25 for easy insertion can be provided with a converging tip, and the tip may be provided with means to fix the pins 25.

Fig. 8 illustrates details of that construction, wherein in a) front side view is shown illustrating the mounting elements for fixing the cartridges 2 in the corresponding frame structure after they have been shifted in position. More specifically, there is provided an additional front frame wall 41 with wider openings 42 into which the cartridges 2 can be inserted. The cartridges 2 can be fixed in place by way of fixing pins 25, which penetrate through the free openings 26 between the cartridges 2 as mentioned above. After the cartridges 2 have been inserted, washers 23 can be shifted over the fixing pins 25, and then all the surrounding cartridges can be fixed using one nut 25/washer 23 combination by way of clamping the respective cover frame plate 10 between the frame wall 41 and the washer 23.

In b) a cross-section through the situation where the cartridges 2 are mounted in the frame is illustrated, here one can see how a front wall is provided with corresponding openings on which the front frame plates of the cartridges can be attached.

More specifically, in b) a corresponding detailed cut is shown, where the inlet side 18 is illustrated and in particular where it is shown how the cover frame plates 10 abut and overlap in an axial direction with the front frame wall 41 , and also it is illustrated how a groove 43 can be provided on the backside of the cover frame plate 10 so as to allow for positioning of a sealing element.

Fig. 9 illustrates an individual cartridge. In a) a perspective front view is shown with squared cross-section with rounded edges.

In b) an axial cut through a corresponding cartridge is illustrated. In this case in particular the outlet side 19 can be recognized with the backside wall 11 , in the center of which the axial protrusion 22 is provided with the converging tip portion.

In c) a corresponding axial cut is shown, and in d) a side view of such a cartridge. In e) a backside view is given, in f) a front view, and in g) a transverse cut along the line indicated in d) illustrating in particular the volume 20 for the sorbent enclosed between the inner circumferential wall 6 and the outer circumferential wall 7.

In h) a backside view can be seen, and in particular the backside wall 11 with a central pin 25 for insertion into corresponding openings in the backside grid slack structure as discussed above. In i) the front side view is shown with the individual elements of the cartridge on that side thereof.

In Fig. 9 j) - m) a cartridge according to another embodiment is shown in perspective views from the inlet side (on the right), wherein in j) the full cartridge is shown with filling openings closed, in k) the same cartridge as in j) but in a half cut view, in I) the cartridge is shown with the filling openings open, and in m) of the same cartridge as in I) but in half cut view.

In this embodiment the front cover frame plate 10 is provided with a cover ring 44 which is rotatably mounted on the cover frame plate 10. It is provided with openings 45 and fixed in rotational place by a fixing nut 47.

For filling or emptying the empty space 20 between the circumferential inner sidewall 6 and the circumferential outer sidewall 7 with adsorber particles, the cover ring 44 can be released by removing or loosening the nut 47 and by rotating the ring by about 45° so as to overlap with openings 46 provided in the cover frame plate 10 behind the cover ring 44. This provides a very stable and simple solution for making the cartridges easily fillable and refillable.

In addition to that in these pictures one can see that along the axis of the cartridge the interspace 20 can be bridged by stabilization ribs 48 which extend between the circumferential inner sidewall 6 and the circumferential outer sidewall 7 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the cartridge, so that the outer sidewall 7 and the inner sidewall 6 are stabilized relative to each other. In order not to impair the filling and/or emptying with particles, these stabilization ribs 48 are provided with free areas 49 allowing particles to pass between the sections formed by the stabilization ribs 48.

As pointed out above, the cartridge can be structured in a converging manner, so that the walls are tapering and converging from the inlet side to the outlet side. Typically, the angle of taper, so the angle between the circumferential inner sidewall on one side and on the other side in an axial cut is in the range of 0.25-0.75°, typically for the embodiment as shown it is around 0.3° Degree. The thickness of the embodiment as shown in this figure of the sorbent layer, i.e. of the space 20, or more specifically the distance between the circumferential inner sidewall 6 and the circumferential outer sidewall 7 measured in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the cartridge is constant and in the range of 20-26 mm, typically for the embodiment as shown it is around 24 mm. The length of the cartridge is in the range of 960-1000mm typically for the embodiment as shown it is around 960 mm.

In Fig. 10 a cut is illustrated showing the airflow 17 through the top cartridge from right to left from the inlet side 18 to the outlet side 19.

In Fig. 11 a further embodiment of a cartridge 2 according to the invention is shown. The embodiment shown in Fig. 11 serves as an alternative cartridge 2 which can be used in a device as shown in one of Figs. 1-7. The cartridge 2 provides a circumferential inner 6 and outer sidewall 7 extending in axial direction of the cartridge 2. Unlike the embodiment shown and described in Fig. 9, the circumferential inner sidewall 6 is attached to an inner supporting frame 51 and the circumferential outer sidewall 7 is attached to an outer supporting frame 52.

Fig. 11 b) shows an axial cut through the cartridge 2 of Fig. 11 a). The supporting frames 51 , 52 comprise bars 53 which extend in axial direction along the four corners of the corresponding sidewall 6, 7 from the inlet channel 5 up to the downstream wall 9. In regular distances these axially directed bars 53 are connected by perpendicularly arranged bars 54 which are in contact with either the inner 6 or the outer sidewall 7. The cartridge 2 shown in Fig. 11 with an axial length of approximately 1000 mm comprises in total 3 perpendicularly arranged bars 54. The application of two supporting frames 51 ,52 leads to a decoupling of the inner sidewall 6 from the outer sidewall 7. In operation, swelling of the sorbent may cause an increase of its volume and simultaneously also an enlargement of the sorbent particle volume 20. To counteract such an expansion of the sorbent particle volume 20, two separate supporting frames 51 ,52 are used each on the inner sidewall 6 as well as on the outer sidewall 7. The sidewalls 6,7 are provided in the form of a mesh which prevents the sorbent to pass through whereas the air can pass it with little pressure drop. Swelling of the sorbent and the enlargement of the sorbent particle volume 20 will often cause a higher strain force in the mesh forming the outer sidewall 7. The use of the support frame 52 at the outer sidewall 7 limits the expansion of the sorbent particle volume 20 in the radial direction and balances the load between the inner 6 and outer sidewall 7. As a result, a support frame 51 at the inner sidewall 6 is also required to limit the potential expansion in the direction of the inner sidewall 6. The use of an outer 52 and and inner support frame 51 enables the decoupling of the stiffness of the support structure for the inner 6 and outer sidewall 7. Ideally the connection between the sidewalls and the respective support frame is provided by welding.

The supporting frames 51 , 52 reduce the load experienced by the sidewalls 6,7 which are caused by the swelling process. At the same the supporting frames 51 ,52 lead to a stiffer structure in the axial direction. The use of a frame comprising or consisting of axial bars being connected with perpendicular bars or rings is a very weight and thermal load effective way to reach a stiff structure. The inner 51 and outer support frame 52 will experience different loads and may need a different number of perpendicular bars 54 or rings to counteract it. The outer support frame 52 is supported more strongly by the outer sidewall 7 than the inner support frame 51 by the inner sidewall 6. As a result, the inner support frame 51 can have a higher number of perpendicular bars 54 compared with the outer support frame 52.

An alternative structure of the fixing pin 25 is represented in Fig. 12. The fixing pin 25 further provides an axial extension 55 inwardly into the cartridge 2. The inward extension 55 of the fixing pin 25 serves for building a connection with a tool which can tighten and loosen the connection of the fixing pin 25 to the device 1. The tool to tighten the fixing pin 25 can be inserted from the inlet channel 5 of the cartridge 2. The inward extension 55 of the fixing pin 25 is able to build a temporary connection with that tool. This connection can be form-fit or force-fit and can be used for installing or removing the cartridge 2. The cartridge 2 can be guided into its position in the device 1 by moving only the tool which again is connected to the fixed pin 25 of the cartridge 2. Once the cartridge 2 is placed at its position in the device 1 , the fixed pin 25 is e.g. rotated to connect the cartridge 2 with the device 1 . The tool can have a function to loosen its connection with the fixed pin 25 to enable the removal of the tool after the cartridge 2 is fixed with the device 1 . The tool is not in focus of this invention and will not be discussed more in detail. The fixed pin 25 provides a double function by enabling the fixing of the cartridge 2 to the device 1 as well as the temporary connection with a tool to move the cartridge 2 into the device 1 and remove the cartridge 1 out of it again.

In Fig. 13 a) an alternative inlet side of a cartridge 2 is shown. The frame plate 10 is in a rectangular or square shape. In the center of the frame plate 10 there is an opening providing the inlet channel 5 of the cartridge 2. On the level of the sorbent particle volume 20 there are L-shaped openings 56 in the frame plate just radially outside of each corner of the inlet channel 5. In the frame plate between the four L-shaped openings 56 there are four small recesses 57. In Fig. 13 b) the openings 56 and recesses 57 in the frame plate 10 are closed by a frame wall 8 which serves as a final cover plate. The frame wall 8 provides recesses 57 which are on level and lying on top of each other with the small recesses in the frame plate 10. The recesses are foreseen to take up or engage with a fastener 58, preferably a quick fastener like for example a quarter turn. The use of such a simple element enables the fast assembly and disassembly of the frame plate 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 device 17 airflow from inlet to outlet

2 cartridge 18 upstream side, upstream end

3 bed of loose particulate of device adsorber particles 19 downstream side,

4 long axis downstream side of the

5 inlet channel device

6 circumferential inner sidewall 20 sorbent particle volume

7 circumferential outer sidewall 21 empty interspace between

8 upstream frame wall adjacent cartridges, outflow

9 downstream wall channels

10 cover frame plate 22 axial protrusion

11 downstream cartridge wall 23 washer

12 downstream wall 24 nut

13 exit openings 25 fixing pin

14 g ri d stru ctu re at d own strea m 26 free opening for 25 end 27 bevelling for forming 26

15 outlet channel 28 air entering inside strainer

16 device wall 29 exits via cutouts in the plate air passes sorbent layer sorbent layer contacting edge of 10 43 groove through opening for 25 44 cover ring air passing the sorbent layer 45 openings in 44 air leaving the contactor box 46 openings in 10 (cartridge) 47 fixing nut reinforcing frame elements 48 stabilization ribs vertical slats 49 free areas of 48 horizontal transverse slats 51 inner supporting frame stiffening structures 52 outer supporting frame bottom edge reinforcements 53 axial bars transport openings for forklift 54 perpendicular bars front frame wall 55 inward extension of fixed pin wider opening in front frame 56 L-shaped openings wall for strainers with 57 recesses in frame plate increased thickness of 58 fastener

Claims

1. Device (1) for the separation of at least one gaseous component of a gas stream containing that component as well as further different gaseous components, in particular for the separation of carbon dioxide and/or water vapour from an air stream, in particular for direct air capture, by using a plurality of cartridges (2), said gas stream entering the device (1) at an upstream end (18) thereof and exiting the device as a gas outflow at a downstream end (19) thereof, said device (1) comprising at least four, or at least 10 or at least 12 of said essentially identical cartridges (2) extending along a long axis (4) and individually enclosing each in a sorbent particle volume (20) a bed (3) of loose particulate adsorber particles, wherein each cartridge (2) forms an inlet channel (5) extending along said long axis (4) closed at a downstream side (19) thereof and radially surrounded by a circumferential inner sidewall (6) permeable to the gas stream but impermeable for said loose particulate adsorbent particles, and further radially surrounded by a circumferential outer sidewall (7) permeable to the gas stream but impermeable for said loose particulate adsorbent particles and essentially parallel to said circumferential inner sidewall (6), which outer sidewall (7) is radially distanced from said inner sidewall (6), and wherein said sorbent particle volume (20) is confined by said inner sidewall (6) and said outer sidewall (7) as well as an upstream frame wall (8) and a downstream wall (9) both impermeable to the gas stream and for said loose particulate adsorbent particles and arranged essentially perpendicular to said long axis (4), and wherein the upstream frame wall (8) has an outer cross-section which is larger than the cross-section of the outer sidewall (7) at this position and an inner cross-section which is the same as the cross-section of the inner sidewall (6) at this position and which has an outer cross-sectional shape allowing for regular, sealing adjacent arrangement of cartridges (2) in two dimensions perpendicular to said long axis (4), or wherein the upstream frame wall (8) has an outer cross-section which is the same as the cross-section of the outer sidewall (7) at this position and an inner cross-section which is the same as the cross-section of the inner sidewall (6) at this position and wherein there is further provided a cover frame plate (10) with an inner cross-section which is the same as or smaller than the outer cross-section of the upstream frame wall (8) and which has an outer cross-sectional shape allowing for regular, sealing adjacent arrangement of cartridges (2) in two dimensions perpendicular to said long axis (4), and/or wherein there is provided an upstream device wall with gas entrance openings essentially corresponding to the cross-section of the outer sidewall (7) at this position and regularly distanced arranged in two dimensions perpendicular to said long axis (4), such that between adjacent cartridges (2) in both dimensions orthogonal to the long axis (4) there is provided a preferably contiguous empty interspace (21) between the outer sidewalls (7) of adjacent cartridges providing for outlet channels (15) for outflow of the gas stream.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1 , wherein at the downstream side (19) of the device (1) there is provided a downstream wall (12) which is provided with a regular pattern of gas exit openings (13) which are open to said empty interspace (21), or wherein there is provided a grid structure (14) at the downstream end (19) of the device (1) allowing for fixation of the downstream ends (19) of the cartridges (2) at the grid structure (14).

3. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the crosssection of each cartridge (2), preferably of said inner sidewall (6) and of said outer sidewall (7) is triangular, preferably regularly triangular, rectangular, preferably square, or regularly hexagonal, wherein the cross-sections can be rounded and the said inner sidewall (6) and/or said outer sidewall (7) can each be formed by one mesh by rolling and forming, preferably rounded, edges and fixing along the long axis (4).

4. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein all cartridges (2) are identical, have a square cross section of said inner side wall (6) and of said outer sidewall (7), and wherein there is provided a downstream wall (12) which is closing the exit side of the inlet channel (5) and the downstream side of the said sorbent particle volume (20).

5. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said downstream wall (9) closes not only the sorbent particle volume (20) at the downstream end (19) but also the inlet channel (5) as one contiguous downstream wall (9).

6. Device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the downstream wall (9), preferably in a central portion along said long axis (4), is provided with at least one axial protrusion (22), for engaging with a corresponding downstream carrier structure located at the downstream end (19) of the device, wherein preferably the axial protrusion (22) is provided with a threading for fixing the cartridge (2) on the downstream carrier structure.

7. Device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the cartridges (2) are attached to the downstream carrier structure by way of engagement into through openings (32) in the downstream carrier structure and fixed by nuts (24), if need be supplemented by washers

(23).

8. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein between adjacent portions of the upstream frame wall (8) or of cover frame plates, where more than 2, preferably where 4 of said frame walls (8) or cover frame plates are located, there is provided an opening between sufficient for the axial penetration of a fixing pin (25), which preferably in the direction to the upstream side (18) is provided with a threading allowing to fix, by way of at least one nut (24), if need be supplemented by washers (23), all adjacent frame walls (8) or cover frame plates in a sealing manner.

9. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the side walls (6,7) are provided by a mesh or grid structure, the mesh width of which is smaller than the smallest particle size of said particulate adsorber particles, wherein preferably the mesh is a wire grid, preferably a metal or polymer wire grid, most preferably an aluminium or stainless steel metal wire grid, wherein there can be provided two layers of grid, one first layer or cage with a grid mesh width which is substantially larger than the smallest particle size of said particulate adsorber particles, acting as a carrier grid or cage, and mounted thereon, preferably on the side facing the particulate adsorber particles, a second layer with a grid wire, preferably metal wire or polymer fibres having mesh width smaller than the smallest particle size of said particulate adsorber particles, acting as retaining grid, wherein preferably the wire thickness of the carrier grid or cage is larger than the wire thickness of the retaining grid and wherein optionally, further supporting grids are integrated into the air channels.

10. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) comprises at least 16 or at least 100 cartridges (2), and wherein further preferably the device (1) is surrounded by a circumferential enclosing wall (16) and offering a gas seal against a containing structure housing the device (1).

11 . Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner side walls (6) and outer side walls (7) are parallel and are tapering in a direction towards the outlet side (19), such that the cross section of the inlet channel (5) is larger at the inlet side (18) than on the outlet side (19).

12. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the particulate adsorber particles are amine functionality carrying polymer-based or inorganic particles suitable and adapted for carbon dioxide capture and/or are at least partly inorganic, organic or active-carbon-based particles, preferably functionalised with alkali carbonate or with amine functionality suitable and adapted for carbon dioxide capture and/or metal organic frameworks.

13. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the particulate adsorber particles have a particle sizes in the range of 0.01 - 5 mm or in the range of 1-20 mm and have the property of flowing without substantial mechanical attrition and the carrier structure of which is preferably selected from the group of polymers, ceramics, organic solids, zeolites, metals, clays, capsules or hybrids thereof.

14. Method for assembling a device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cartridges (2) are individually filled with said particular adsorber particles, preferably by the opening in the absence of the upstream frame wall (8) and sealed by adding the upstream frame wall (8), and are then assembled modularly to form the device, in particular by mounting them in a frame and/or housing, preferably including a downstream wall which is provided with a regular pattern of gas exit openings which are open to said empty interspace of a downstream grid.

15. Use of a device (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1-13, preferably made using a method according to claim 14, for capturing carbon dioxide and/or water vapor from a gas stream, preferably a flue gas stream, a greenhouse gas, or atmospheric air gas stream, most preferably in a pressure and/or temperature and/or humidity swing process.