# How to Capture Carbon Dioxide from Air or Smoke Using Seawater > This patent describes a system that uses natural seawater to wash carbon dioxide out of industrial smoke or the air, then stores it safely in the ocean, aiming for an affordable, green way to fight climate change. - **Patent:** US 11648507 - **Original title:** Process and apparatus of ocean carbon capture and storage - **Owner:** Zero Carbon Energy Innovation Union - **Granted:** 2023 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 2 - **Field:** energy, environmental_tech, ocean_tech, climate_change, marine_engineering ## What it does The patent details an apparatus and process for ocean carbon capture and storage. It involves a carbon capture device that scrubs gas containing carbon dioxide, like smoke from a power plant or even the atmosphere itself (Claim 1, 5, 6). Seawater is pumped into this device to absorb the carbon dioxide. This 'after-scrubbing seawater,' now containing dissolved CO2, is then discharged into the ocean's water column for storage (Claim 2). The system is designed to use low pumping energy, often referred to as 'low head,' and can be powered by renewable sources like wind or waves (Abstract, Claim 7, 10). For example, a coastal facility could pass its exhaust fumes through this system, using pumped seawater to clean the gas before releasing the CO2-enriched water into the sea. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover carbon capture methods that use chemical solvents or other non-seawater scrubbing agents. - Does not cover storing captured carbon dioxide as a compressed gas, liquid, or solid, only dissolved in seawater within the ocean's water column. - Does not cover systems requiring high-pressure pumps to move seawater for scrubbing, as it specifically emphasizes 'low head' operation (Claim 10). - Does not cover land-based carbon capture systems that do not discharge the CO2-enriched seawater into the ocean (Claim 1). - Does not cover systems that capture CO2 from sources other than directly from the atmosphere or fossil fuel flue gas (Claims 5, 6). ## The clever bit The novelty lies in directly using natural seawater as both the scrubbing agent for CO2 capture and the medium for ocean storage, combined with a design focused on very low energy pumping. This avoids the need for complex, energy-intensive chemical processes often found in other carbon capture technologies. ## Real-world examples 1. Coastal power plants 2. Marine ships with exhaust scrubbers 3. Direct air capture facilities located near oceans 4. Industrial facilities along coastlines ## Why it matters This patent offers a method to address climate change by removing carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and the atmosphere. By using natural seawater and emphasizing low energy consumption, it aims to provide an affordable and environmentally friendly solution for carbon capture and storage. This approach could be particularly relevant for marine facilities and coastal industries, leveraging the ocean's natural capacity to absorb carbon. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How to Capture Carbon Dioxide from Air or Smoke Using Seawater cover? This patent describes a system that uses natural seawater to wash carbon dioxide out of industrial smoke or the air, then stores it safely in the ocean, aiming for an affordable, green way to fight climate change. ### Who owns patent US 11648507? Zero Carbon Energy Innovation Union owns this patent, granted in 2023. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on May 25, 2041, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 11648507 cited by? This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent offers a method to address climate change by removing carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and the atmosphere. By using natural seawater and emphasizing low energy consumption, it aims to provide an affordable and environmentally friendly solution for carbon capture and storage. This approach could be particularly relevant for marine facilities and coastal industries, leveraging the ocean's natural capacity to absorb carbon. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover carbon capture methods that use chemical solvents or other non-seawater scrubbing agents. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11648507/process-and-apparatus-of-ocean-carbon-capture-and-storage **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US11648507 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Capturing Carbon Dioxide While Making Electricity with Hydrogen and Solar](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12327854/apparatuses-and-methods-for-carbon-dioxide-capturing-and-electrical-energy-produ) — This patent describes an integrated system that captures carbon dioxide from the air or industrial exhaust while simultaneously generating clean electricity using a hydrogen gas turbine powered by solar-generated hydrogen and oxygen, all without burning fossil fuels. - [Making Iron More Efficiently and Generating Power with Oxygen](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8133298/blast-furnace-iron-production-with-integrated-power-generation) — This patent describes an integrated system that uses extra oxygen in a blast furnace to make iron more efficiently, while also capturing the furnace's waste gases to generate electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. - [Making Chemicals from Carbon Dioxide and Steam Using Electricity](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20110132770/process-for-producing-compounds-of-the-cxhyoz-type-by-reduction-of-carbon-dioxid) — This patent describes a process that uses electricity to split steam and then reacts the resulting hydrogen with carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide to create various carbon-based compounds, like fuels or plastics. - [Making Caustic Soda with Less Salt Using a Special Electrolysis Cell](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9181624/method-of-electrolysis-employing-two-chamber-ion-exchange-membrane-electrolytic-) — This patent describes a method to make purer caustic soda and chlorine gas using a two-chamber electrolysis cell with a gas diffusion electrode by carefully controlling pressure differences. - [How Wind Turbine Blades Get More Lift with Extra Parts](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8303250/method-and-apparatus-for-increasing-lift-on-wind-turbine-blade) — This patent describes adding special front and back parts to a wind turbine blade to create specific air channels, making the blade generate more power from the wind.