Heirloom Carbon

(2022 - 2026)

Heirloom is a startup developing Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to permanently remove CO2. In 2023, Heirloom established the first Direct Air Capture facility in North America that permanently captures CO2.

Pilot Plant

high volume design

  • Mechanical design lead for large (1.4m x 1.4m) structural trays to hold carbon capture sorbent material. Owned design through several prototype iterations to mass production (~10k units).

  • Managed multiple contract manufacturers (thermoforming, injection molding, and composite forming) through prototype and mass production runs. Implemented quality control programs, and developed vendor and in-house inspection plans to monitor process capability, provided onsite engineering support during production builds

  • Onsite build and installation of initial 6 “contactor towers”. Developed installation SOP and provided continued engineering support to build team throughout the remainder of the mechanical build

  • Commissioning / sustaining engineering - worked with operations team to troubleshoot issues, design tools and fixtures, implement design improvements, develop standard operating procedures and preventative maintenance practices to improve system reliability for duration of plant lifetime.

Next-gen design Development

High Volume Design cont.

  • Helped drive definition of key carbonation system parameters for next generation carbonation system. Mechanical design lead for updated tray, explored various architectures and designs to be deployed in R&D facility.

  • Managed overseas vendor through EVT, DVT, MP (~7.5k units) builds. Implemented vendor and in-house inspection plans to monitor process capability, designed and fabricated gauges and inspection fixtures

  • Implemented reliability test plan for EVT and DVT parts, defined operational life limits and service intervals using test data. Designed and executed accelerated lifecycle tests through automation equipment, part characterization (stiffness, deflection, critical dimensions)

 

R&D Engineering

  • Collaborated with process development, research science, and controls engineering teams to design and build test platforms to support R&D initiatives. Led mechanical design and qualification testing, managed project schedule and budget