GE developing 3D-printed system to capture CO2 from the air

GE researchers are developing 3D-designed and printed heat exchangers (like the one seen at right) to integrate into its system for removing carbon dioxide. These heat exchangers will optimize temperature management to maximize the extraction of carbon dioxide with the sorbent-based material system. Image courtesy of GE.

GE researchers are partnering with top chemists and engineers from UC Berkeley and the University of South Alabama. The team has been awarded a two- year, $2 million project through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a system for capturing carbon dioxide directly from the air. The DOE’s award is for $1.5 million, with a $500,000 cost share from GE and its partners.

The project involves pairing 3D-printed heat exchanger technology with sorbent materials to create a system that effectively extracts carbon dioxide from the air. This same team is employing a similar approach to extract water from air as part an ongoing project with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to provide potable clean water for troops in the field.

The team from UC Berkeley is led by Professor Omar Yaghi, who specializes in the development of sorbent materials that are capable of extracting targeted elements out of the air. The team from the University of South Alabama, led by Prof. Grant Glover, will help inform the selection of the right materials for the system.