ENERGY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
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1. A method of producing methanol from an algae pulp, comprising:
- processing the algae pulp in a gasification assembly to produce a Syngas comprising an amount of carbon dioxide and a first amount of methane;
introducing a second amount of methane into the gasification assembly to provide a sum amount of methane in the gasification assembly;
cracking at least a portion of the sum amount of methane in the gasification assembly to provide an amount of hydrogen; and
reacting at least a portion of the amount of carbon dioxide with at least a portion of the amount of hydrogen in a catalytic methanol synthesis assembly to produce the methanol.
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Abstract
A photobioreactor includes a cultivation zone configured to contain a liquid culture medium and facilitate growth of a microalgae biomass, a plurality of parallel edge-lit light transmitting devices mounted within the cultivation zone, and a collection zone oriented in relation to the cultivation zone such that at least a portion of the liquid culture medium and microalgae from the cultivation zone may be periodically harvested. Methods for illuminating algae, for dissolving materials into an algae medium, for extracting oil from algae, and for producing biodiesel from algal oil are also provided.
86 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of producing methanol from an algae pulp, comprising:
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processing the algae pulp in a gasification assembly to produce a Syngas comprising an amount of carbon dioxide and a first amount of methane; introducing a second amount of methane into the gasification assembly to provide a sum amount of methane in the gasification assembly; cracking at least a portion of the sum amount of methane in the gasification assembly to provide an amount of hydrogen; and reacting at least a portion of the amount of carbon dioxide with at least a portion of the amount of hydrogen in a catalytic methanol synthesis assembly to produce the methanol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of producing electricity from an algae grown in a photobioreactor, comprising:
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introducing oxygen produced by the algae into a hydrogen fuel cell assembly; introducing an algae pulp obtained from the algae into a gasification assembly; processing the algae pulp in the gasification assembly to produce a Syngas comprising carbon dioxide and methane; introducing the carbon dioxide into a catalytic methanol synthesis assembly; introducing hydrogen produced from the methane into the catalytic methanol synthesis assembly; processing the carbon dioxide and the hydrogen in the catalytic methanol synthesis assembly to produce methanol; introducing the methanol into the hydrogen fuel cell assembly; and processing the oxygen and the methanol in the fuel cell assembly to produce electricity. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of cultivating an algae, comprising:
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introducing oxygen produced by the algae into a hydrogen fuel cell assembly; introducing methanol produced by the gasification of an algae pulp of the algae into the hydrogen fuel assembly; processing the oxygen and the methanol in the hydrogen fuel cell assembly to produce carbon dioxide and water; and cultivating the algae with the carbon dioxide and the water. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification