Direct Air Capture of CO2
By utilizing Direct Air Capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide, Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers contribute to the decarbonization of the nation’s energy system. DAC removes carbon dioxide or CO2 from ambient air, offsetting emissions associated with difficult to decarbonize sectors. Techniques suitable for DAC development and implementation must be energy-efficient, low-cost, and highly scalable.
Bench-top wind tunnel
ORNL is developing several DAC technologies, including:
- Benign DAC solvents allowing regeneration at moderate temperatures
- Energy-efficient DAC contactors, utilizing additive manufacturing
- Chemical and physical additives broadening the operating envelope for CO2 capture and reducing energy input for regeneration
3D-printed carbon capture device
- Scalable, efficient contactors for DAC with solid sorbents
- Leveraging existing building infrastructure for low-cost DAC associated with buildings
- Synergistic combinations of DAC and CO2 conversion to value-added products
- Technoeconomic and lifecycle assessment of DAC processes and national-level CO2 infrastructure
In addition, ORNL’s testing capabilities are available to potential industry and academic collaborators aiming to establish performance benchmarks for DAC processes. ORNL operates facilities to rapidly perform tests relevant to seasonal variation of ambient air conditions in all U.S. climate zones. This testing can be done within the Building Technologies Research and Integration Center, a user facility operated by ORNL for the U.S. Department of Energy.
For more information about ORNL’s activities in DAC or our testing capabilities, contact David Sholl (shollds@ornl.gov) or Kashif Nawaz (nawazk@ornl.gov).