Production of Fuel Materials Utilizing Waste Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen from Renewable Resources

• US 20090289227A1
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Rising, Bruce W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,989,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 252/373
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/06 Polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1475 Removing carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/73 After-treatment of removed components
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0261 containing a catalytic partial oxidation step [CPO]
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/061 Methanol production
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1241 Natural gas or methane
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/40 Carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/1518 one step being the formation of initial mixture of carbon oxides and hydrogen for synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/04 Methanol
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/00 Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/19 storing chemical energy, e.g. using electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/61 for hydrogen and/or oxygen production
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/50 Improvements relating to the production of bulk chemicals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/20 using renewable energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/50 : Energy storage in industry with an added climate change mitigation effect

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for utilizing CO₂ waste comprising recovering carbon dioxide from an industrial process that produces a waste stream comprising carbon dioxide in an amount greater than an amount of carbon dioxide present in starting materials for the industrial process. The method further includes producing hydrogen using a renewable energy resource and producing a hydrocarbon material utilizing the produced hydrogen and the recovered carbon dioxide.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing CO₂ waste comprising:

recovering carbon dioxide from an industrial process that produces a waste stream comprising carbon dioxide in an amount greater than an amount of carbon dioxide present in starting materials for the industrial process;

producing hydrogen using a renewable energy resource; and

producing a hydrocarbon material utilizing the produced hydrogen and the recovered carbon dioxide.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the producing hydrogen is done by electrolysis of water using electricity generated from the renewable energy resource, and wherein the renewable energy resource comprises wind or solar energy.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the producing hydrogen further comprises producing oxygen as a by-product and using the oxygen in a downstream process.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising using electricity produced from the renewable energy resource to reduce an amount of carbon dioxide to a first amount of carbon monoxide and oxygen.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein the carbon monoxide and produced hydrogren are converted to at least one of methane and methanol via a catalytic process.

6. The process of claim 4, wherein the oxygen is utilized in the gasification of a carbon feedstock to produce a second amount of carbon monoxide, and wherein the second amount of carbon monoxide is utilized in a downstream process.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the carbon monoxide and produced hydrogren are converted to at least one of methane and methanol via a catalytic process.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the waste stream comprises an exhaust gas from a gas turbine engine.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the produced hydrocarbon material comprises methanol, and further comprising converting the methanol to at least one of the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbons, olefins, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the produced hydrogen is reacted with carbon monoxide in the presence of the recovered carbon dioxide to produce methanol.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the produced hydrocarbon material comprises methane, and further comprising converting the methane to methanol.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the produced hydrocarbon material comprises methane, and wherein the methane is thereafter converted into at least one of the group consisting of syngas, a second hydrogen supply, carbon monoxide, and methanol.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the methane is converted into at least carbon monoxide and the second hydrogen supply, wherein the carbon monoxide is directed for use in the production of methanol, and wherein the methanol is produced by reacting the carbon monoxide and at least one of the produced hydrogen from the renewable energy resource and the second hydrogen supply in the presence of the recovered carbon dioxide.

14. The methanol of claim 1, wherein the produced hydrocarbon material comprises methane, and further comprising converting the methane into at least one of the group consisting of syngas, components of syngas, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide, and using the hydrogen or carbon monoxide from the converting of methane, if present, to produce methanol.

15. A system for utilizing waste CO₂ comprising:

an industrial element for producing waste CO₂;

a second element powered by a renewable energy resource for producing hydrogen; and

a third element utilizing the waste CO₂ and the hydrogen for producing a hydrocarbon material.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second element comprises an electrolytic cell for the electrolysis of water for producing hydrogen using electricity generated from the renewable energy resource, and wherein the renewable energy resource comprises wind or solar energy.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the industrial element comprises a gas turbine engine.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the produced hydrocarbon material comprises methanol, and further comprising a fourth element for converting the methanol to at least one of the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbons, olefins, and combinations thereof.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the produced hydrocarbon material is methane, and further comprising a fourth element for converting the methane to methanol.

20. A system for recycling carbon dioxide, comprising:

a first plant configured to operate a process that produces a waste stream comprising carbon dioxide in an amount greater than an amount of carbon dioxide present in starting materials for the process;

a second plant that generates power from a renewable energy resource;

means for recovering the carbon dioxide from the waste stream;

means for producing hydrogen using the power from the renewable energy resource; and

means for producing a hydrocarbon material utilizing the produced hydrogen and recovered carbon dioxide.