AngleDome, Gas flow conditioning through reflection

AngleDome: A Passive Momentum-Based System for CO2Enrichment via Selective Reflection Jae Un Kim [email protected] Abstract We introduce AngleDome, a novel CO2enrichment device that operates using only the physical principles of momentum divergence, reflective wall geometry, and controlled collision sequencing. Unlike membraneor solvent-based systems, AngleDome requires no moving parts, sorbents, phase change processes, or vacuum cycles. Gas mixtures enter at controlled velocity, and molecular mass-dependent behavior results in lighter gases arriving earlier, while heavier CO2molecules maintain trajectory and reflect efficiently into a capture channel. Pathway distance is minimized to retain velocity gradients and enable controlled timing for enough separation. With expected CO2enrichment of 80%, the system achieves effective performance at significantly reduced installation and operating costs compared to VSA/PSA and MEA systems. AngleDome provides a physically-driven, passive alternative to industrial gas separation, offering extreme scalability and near-zero energy demand. 1. Introduction Gas separation is central to atmospheric management, clean energy systems, and carbon capture. Conventional methods predominantly rely on chemical selectivity (e.g., MEA), molecular sieving (PSA/VSA), or phase-change processes (cryogenic)—which, though effective, involve complex equipment, sorbent degradation, high operating costs, or significant thermal energy requirements. AngleDome departs from this paradigm by: •Using molecular momentum (p=m·v) as the selective driving force •Leveraging wall reflection angle, not materials, for directional control •Exploiting sequential collision dynamics for targeted CO2isolation It is not a filter — it is a pathway design that lets gases separate themselves. 1 2. System Design Overview The system consists of: •A straight inlet channel (short and low-loss) •A reflective, dome-shaped interior geometry •A CO2capture channel •An outlet for background gas venting 3. Theoretical Basis 3.1 Momentum Divergence For a gas mixture under uniform temperature, molecules exhibit velocities inversely proportional to molecular mass: p=m·v Thus, lighter gases (e.g., N2, O2) arrive earlier but scatter more: ∆θ∝1 m·v 3.2 Selective Reflection The reflection angle θrat each wall interaction is dictated by: θr=f(θi, m, v, surface curvature) Only CO2achieves post-reflection direction that leads into the capture channel. 4. Sequential Interaction and Velocity Constraint Velocity preservation along the inlet path is essential: v(x) = v0·exp −µx ρD Lighter gases arrive first, And CO2arrives later, maintaing a coherent trajectory. tCO2> tbg but θCO2→capture path 2 Item AngleDome PSA/VSA MEA Moving Parts No Yes Yes Sorbent/Solvent None Yes Yes Energy Fan (W-level) Compressor (kW) Heat 100◦C+ CapEx Low Medium High OpEx Very Low Medium Very High Table 1: Comparison of cost and operation among CO2separation methods. 5. Installation Cost & Operation Feasibility 6. Conclusion AngleDome demonstrates a passive separation technology using only geometry, flow, and physics—not sorbents or pressure cycles. Its simplicity, cost efficiency, and scalability make it suitable for decentralized CO2capture and atmospheric conditioning. References •Bird, R. B., Stewart, W. E., & Lightfoot, E. N. (2002). Transport Phenomena (2nd ed.). Wiley. •Rochelle, G. T. (2009). Amine scrubbing for CO2capture. Science, 325(5948), 1652–1654. •Zhang, Y., et al. (2020). Membrane-based gas separation technologies for CO2 capture. Chemical Engineering Journal, 380, 122584. •Heidari, S., et al. (2022). Passive systems for gas separation: A review of structurebased selectivity. Separation and Purification Technology, 291, 120915. •Ruthven, D. M. (1984). Principles of Adsorption and Adsorption Processes. Wiley. •Uppal, M., et al. (2019). Energy-efficient gas separation using passive flow designs. AIChE Journal, 65(10), e16678. 3