Energy production with hyperthermophilic organisms

• US 20080131958A1
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyperthermics AS
• Original Assignee: Hyperthermics AS
• Inventors: Remmereit, Jan, Thomm, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,708,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/290.1
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 3/00 Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/10 microbiologically, biologically or by using enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/106 Thermophilic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/34 characterised by the microorganisms used
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/18 Heat exchange systems, e.g. heat jackets or outer envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/08 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices or plants for production of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 3/00 Preparation of elements or inorganic compounds except carbon dioxide recovery of carbon dioxides as by-products C12F3/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 5/023 Methane
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/065 with microorganisms other than yeasts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/33 using wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of degradation with hyperthermophilic organisms, and in particular to the use of hyperthermophilic degradation to produce heat from a biomass. In some embodiments, a biomass is fermented in the presence of hyperthermophilic organisms to produce heat. The heat is used to heat a liquid which is used directly in a heat pump or radiant heat or to produce electricity or drive a steam turbine.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a bioreactor, said bioreactor containing biomass and a population of at least one genus of hyperthermophilic organisms;

an energy transfer system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said hyperthermophilic organisms are anaerobic hyperthermophilic organisms.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said anaerobic hyperthermophilic organisms are selected from the group consisting of the genera Pyrococcus, Thermococcus, Acidianus, Palaeococcus, Thermoplasma, Pyrobaculum, Pyrolobus, Pyrodictium, Methanothermus, Methanopyrus, hyperthermophilic Methanococci like Mc. jannaschii, Fervidobacterium and Thermotoga, and combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said hyperthermophilic organisms are aerobic hyperthermophilic organisms.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said aerobic hyperthermophilic organisms are selected from the group consisting of Aeropyrum pernix, Sulfolobus solfataricus, Sulfobus tokodaii, Metallosphaera sedula, Thermoplasma acidophilum and Thermoplasma volcanium, and combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said energy transfer system is selected from the group consisting of a fuel cell, a combustion unit, a thermocouple, and a heat transfer system.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said combustion unit comprises a steam powered system.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said steam powered system is a steam turbine or generator.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said heat transfer system comprises a heat pump.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said energy transfer system is a thermocouple and wherein said energy transfer system further comprises an electrolysis system that coverts water into hydrogen and oxygen.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said biomass is selected from the group consisting of sewage, agricultural waste products, brewery grain by-products, food waste, organic industry waste, forestry waste, crops, grass, seaweed, plankton, algae, fish, fish waste, and combinations thereof.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said biomass is supplemented with a cell culture media component selected from the group consisting of a mineral source, vitamins, amino acids, an energy source, and a microorganism extract.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said mineral source is selected from the group consisting of NaCl, MgSO₄, MgCl₂, CaCl₂, KCl, NaBr, H₃BO₃, SrCl₂, MnSO4, FeSO₄, CoSO₄, ZnSO₄, CuSO₄, KAl(SO₄)₂, Na₂MoOSO₄, (NHSO₄)2Ni(SO₄)₂, Na₂WO₄ and Na₂SeO₄ and combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said microorganism extract is a yeast extract.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said energy source is starch.

16. A method comprising:

a) providing a biomass and a population of at least one genus of a hyperthermophilic organism;

b) fermenting said biomass in the presence of said population of at least one genus of a hyperthermophilic organism under conditions such that heat is produced;

c) using said heat to produce electricity or heat a liquid.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said hyperthermophilic organisms are anaerobic hyperthermophilic organisms.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said anaerobic hyperthermophilic organisms are selected from the group consisting of the genera Pyrococcus, Thermococcus, Acidianus, Palaeococcus, Thermoplasma, Pyrobaculum, Pyrolobus, Pyrodictium, Methanotehrmus, Methanopyrus, and Fervidobacterium Thermotoga, and combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said hyperthermophilic organisms are aerobic hyperthermophilic organisms.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said aerobic hyperthermophilic organisms are selected from the group consisting of Aeropyrum pernix, Sulfolobus solfataricus, Metallosphaera sedula, Sulfobus tokodaii, Thermoplasma acidophilum and Thermoplasma volcanium, and combinations thereof.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said biomass is selected from the group consisting of sewage, agricultural waste products, brewery grain by-products, food waste, organic industry waste, forestry waste, crops, grass, seaweed, plankton, algae, fish, fish waste, and combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein said liquid is water and said heating produces steam.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said steam is used to drive a steam turbine to produce electricity.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein said heated liquid is transferred to a building for radiant heat.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein said electricity is produced via a thermocouple.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said electricity is used for electrolysis of water.

27. A method comprising:

a) providing a biomass and a population of at least one genus of a hyperthermophilic organism;

b) degrading said biomass in the presence of said population of at least one genus of a hyperthermophilic organism under conditions such that degradation products are produced.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said hyperthermophilic organisms are anaerobic hyperthermophilic organisms.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said anaerobic hyperthermophilic organisms are selected from the group consisting of the genera Pyrococcus, Thermococcus, Acidianus, Palaeococcus, Thermoplasma, Pyrobaculum, Pyrolobus, Methanobacterium, and Thermotoga, and combination thereof.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said hyperthermophilic organisms are aerobic hyperthermophilic organisms.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein said aerobic hyperthermophilic organisms are selected from the group consisting of Aeropyrum pernix, Sulfolobus solfataricus, Metallosphaera sedula, Sulfobus tokodaii, Thermoplasma acidophilum and Thermoplasma volcanium, and combinations thereof.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein said biomass is selected from the group consisting of sewage, agricultural waste products, brewery grain by-products, food waste, organic industry waste, forestry waste, crops, grass, seaweed, plankton, algae, fish, fish waste, and combinations thereof.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein said degradation products are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methane and ethanol.

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of converting said degradation products into energy.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising using said hydrogen in a fuel cell.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising using said methane or ethanol in a combustion unit.

37. A method for reducing carbon dioxide emissions comprising:

a) providing a biomass and a population of at least one genus of a hyperthermophilic organism;

b) anaerobically degrading said biomass in the presence of said population of at least one genus of a hyperthermophilic organism to produce substrates for energy production;

c) producing energy from said substrates, wherein carbon dioxide emissions are reduced as compared to aerobic degradation of said biomass materials.

38. A method for generating carbon credits comprising:

a) providing a biomass and a population of at least one genus of a hyperthermophilic organism;

b) anaerobically degrading said biomass in the presence of said population of at least one genus of a hyperthermophilic organism to produce substrates for energy production,

c) producing energy from said substrates under conditions such that carbon credits are generated.