Extraction of Energy From Used Cooking Oil

• US 20090280367A1
• Filed: 05/12/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ClearEdge Power, Inc (ClearEdge Power, LLC)
• Original Assignee: ClearEdge Power, Inc (ClearEdge Power, LLC)
• Inventors: Kabir, Zakiul, Slangerup, Jon, Sproull, Bill, Vinsant, Brett
• Application Number:
  US12/118,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20090280367A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/443
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0233 the reforming step being a steam reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0244 the reforming step being an autothermal reforming step, e.g. secondary reforming processes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0255 containing a non-catalytic partial oxidation step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0261 containing a catalytic partial oxidation step [CPO]
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0283 containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0294 containing three or more CO-shift steps
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/043 Regenerative adsorption process in two or more beds, one for adsorption, the other for regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0822 the fuel containing hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0827 at least part of the fuel being a recycle stream
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1058 Nickel catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1252 Cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1258 Pre-treatment of the feed
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/127 Catalytic desulfurisation
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1695 Adjusting the feed of the combustion
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/386 Catalytic partial combustion
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/48 followed by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0631 Reactor construction specially adapted for combination reactor/fuel cell hydrogen C01B3/00; reactors for physicochemical processes B01J19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0675 Removal of sulfur
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/10 : Process efficiency

Abstract

The extraction of energy from used cooking oil is disclosed. In one embodiment, used cooking oil is admitted from a cooking appliance to an interface, and then to a reactor or a series of reactors where it is reformed into a hydrogen-containing, reformed fuel. The hydrogen-containing, reformed fuel is then admitted to a fuel cell which produces electricity.

Claims

1. A system to derive electrical energy from used cooking oil, the system comprising:

an interface configured to admit used cooking oil from a cooking appliance;

a reforming reactor disposed downstream of and in fluidic communication with the interface and configured to produce a reformed fuel; and

a fuel cell disposed downstream of and in fluidic communication with the reforming reactor and configured to receive the reformed fuel therefrom.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises a first valve, a second valve, and a controller,

wherein the controller is configured to open and close the first valve to control an admission of the used cooking oil, and

wherein the controller is configured to open and close the second valve to control a release of the used cooking oil.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises a solids remover configured to reduce an amount of solids in the used cooking oil.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises a sulfur remover configured to reduce an amount of sulfur in the used cooking oil.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the reforming reactor is configured to receive the used cooking oil and to produce the reformed fuel therefrom.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pre-reforming reactor disposed fluidically between the interface and the reforming reactor, wherein the pre-reforming reactor is configured to receive the used cooking oil and to produce a pre-reformate therefrom.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the pre-reforming reactor is configured to produce a light hydrocarbon.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the pre-reforming reactor is configured to produce esterified fatty acids.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first conduit, and wherein the reforming reactor further comprises a burner, the first conduit configured to deliver an off-gas from the fuel cell to the burner.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second conduit configured to admit liquid water, to receive heat from the fuel cell, to produce steam, and to deliver at least some of the steam to the reforming reactor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is further configured to release the used cooking oil at an above-ambient temperature.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger configured to distribute heat among elements of the system.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cooking appliance disposed upstream of and in fluidic communication with the interface.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a pump configured to circulate used cooking oil back to the cooking appliance.

15. A method to derive electrical energy from used cooking oil, the method comprising:

admitting used cooking oil from a cooking appliance to an interface;

reforming the used cooking oil to produce a reformed fuel;

delivering the reformed fuel to a fuel cell; and

drawing electrical energy from the fuel cell.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising removing at least some solids from the used cooking oil before reforming the used cooking oil.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising reducing an amount of sulfur in the used cooking oil.

18. A method to derive electrical energy from used cooking oil, the method comprising:

admitting used cooking oil from a cooking appliance to an interface;

removing at least some solids from the used cooking oil;

pre-reforming the used cooking oil to produce a pre-reformate;

reforming the pre-reformate to produce a reformed fuel;

delivering the reformed fuel to a fuel cell; and

drawing electrical energy from the fuel-cell.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the pre-reformate includes a light hydrocarbon.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the pre-reformate includes esterified fatty acids.