PROCESS FOR THE GENERATION OF ALGAL OIL AND ELECTRICITY FROM HUMAN AND ANIMAL WASTE, AND OTHER HYDROCARBON SOURCES

• US 20110008854A1
• Filed: 07/08/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/01/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andrew G. Mitchell
• Original Assignee: Andrew G. Mitchell
• Inventors: Mitchell, Andrew G.
• Application Number:
  US12/832,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20110008854A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/134
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/04 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with combustion devices or plants, e.g. for carbon dioxide removal C12M43/06 takes precedence; recovery of carbon dioxide C12F3/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/06 Photobioreactors combined with devices or plants for gas production different from a bioreactor of fermenter
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/08 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices or plants for production of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 47/00 Means for after-treatment of the produced biomass or of the fermentation or metabolic products, e.g. storage of biomass filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6463 obtained from glyceride producing microorganisms, e.g. single cell oil
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

A method for the generation of electricity includes producing a paste from hydrocarbon waste, delivering the paste to a pyrolysis unit, rendering the paste into a gaseous product stream, allowing the stream to flow through a suitable filter device, extracting energy from the stream, producing electricity, converting water to hydrogen via a water gas shift reaction, allowing the reacted stream to flow to a reciprocating compressor, allowing any remaining stream to pass through compression, cooling, condensing, and storing carbon dioxide in a high pressure tank, allowing any remaining stream to be split, one part being combusted in a gas turbine producing electricity and the other part being recycled to the plasmolysis unit, injecting exhaust gas into a feed stream which flows to a degasification chamber, and allowing carbon dioxide and residual water from a storage tank to be expanded, passed through the heat exchanger and injected into the aquaculture feed.

Claims

1. A method for the generation of carbon, hydrogen and carbon dioxide from moist solid wastes, the method comprising the steps of:

macerating the associated solid waste to a paste;

delivering associated moist solid waste to a pyrolysis unit, the pyrolysis unit having at least one gas plasmolysis torch, wherein the waste is delivered into the pyrolysis unit through concentric cylinders forming a paste cylinder with an internal diameter greater than that of a plasmolysis torch external diameter, wherein at least a second torch is located outside of the paste cylinder such that the combined effect of the plasmolysis torches completely renders the waste into a gaseous product stream;

allowing gas into the unit, via at least one gas inlet nozzle, in sufficient quantities that all suspended solids are entrained, wherein the gas flows through a radiant heat exchanger which conveys energy to superheated steam, wherein the steam drives a steam turbine and is condensed and recycled;

following the radiant heat exchanger, the gaseous product stream flows through a bag particle filter and into a combined secondary heat exchanger and catalytic converter, wherein further energy is extracted from the gaseous product stream and water is converted to hydrogen via a water gas shift reaction;

the reacted stream then flows to a hydrogen separation device in which hydrogen is extracted, compressed, and stored in at least one gas cylinder;

any remaining gaseous stream is circulated to a compressor expander unit where a purge stream flows through the expander providing energy to compress recycled stream;

delivering the purge stream to in line mixers for mixing with algal aquaculture water feed;

compressing the recycled stream and returning the recycled stream to a gas storage vessel; and

,

feeding the recycled stream back to the plasmolysis unit.

2. A method for the generation of carbon, hydrogen and carbon dioxide from moist solid wastes, the method comprising the steps of:

delivering associated moist solid waste to a pyrolysis unit, the pyrolysis unit having at least one gas plasmolysis torch, wherein the waste is delivered into the pyrolysis unit through concentric cylinders forming a paste cylinder with an internal diameter greater than that of a plasmolysis torch external diameter, wherein at least one plasmolysis torch renders the waste into a gaseous product stream;

allowing the gaseous product stream to flow through a bag particle filter and into a combined secondary heat exchanger and catalytic converter, wherein energy is extracted from the gaseous product stream and water is converted to hydrogen via a water gas shift reaction;

the reacted stream then flows to a hydrogen separation device in which hydrogen is extracted, compressed, and stored in at least one gas cylinder; and

,

delivering a purge stream to in line mixers for mixing with algal aquaculture water feed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

allowing gas into the unit, via at least one gas inlet nozzle, in sufficient quantities that all suspended solids are entrained, wherein the gas flows through a radiant heat exchanger which conveys energy to superheated steam, wherein the steam drives a steam turbine and is condensed and recycled.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein at least a second torch is located outside of the paste cylinder such that the combined effect of the plasmolysis torches completely renders the waste into a gaseous product stream.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein any remaining gaseous stream is circulated to a compressor expander unit where a purge stream flows through the expander providing energy to compress recycled stream.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

compressing the recycled stream and returning the recycled stream to a gas storage vessel; and

,

feeding the recycled stream back to the plasmolysis unit.

7. An apparatus for facilitating the generation of energy from solid waste, the apparatus comprising:

a pyrolysis unit, the pyrolysis unit having at least one gas plasmolysis torch, wherein the pyrolysis unit has concentric cylinders forming a paste cylinder with an internal diameter greater than that of a plasmolysis torch external diameter;

a radiant heat exchanger operatively connected to a steam turbine; and

,

a hydrogen separation device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

at least a second torch located outside of the paste cylinder.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

at least one gas inlet nozzle.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a bag particle filter operatively connected to the radiant heat exchanger; and

,

a combined secondary heat exchanger and catalytic converter operatively connected to the bag particle filer.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a compressor expander unit;

in line mixers; and

,

at least one gas storage vessel.

12. A method for the generation of algal oil and electricity, the method comprising the steps of:

combining and macerating moist hydrocarbon wastes into a paste;

delivering the paste to a pyrolysis unit, the pyrolysis unit having at least one gas plasmolysis torch having an external diameter, wherein the paste is delivered into the pyrolysis unit through concentric cylinders forming a paste cylinder with an internal diameter greater than that of the plasmolysis torch external diameter, wherein at least a second torch is located outside of the paste cylinder such that the plasmolysis torches completely renders the paste into a gaseous product stream;

allowing gas into the unit, via at least one gas inlet nozzle, in sufficient quantities that all suspended solids are entrained, wherein the gas flows through a radiant heat exchanger which conveys energy to superheated steam, wherein the steam drives a steam turbine and is condensed and recycled;

allowing the gaseous product stream to flow through a suitable filter device and into a combined secondary heat exchanger and catalytic converter, wherein further energy is extracted from the gaseous product stream and water is converted to hydrogen via a water gas shift reaction;

allowing the reacted stream to flow to a three stage reciprocating compressor with interstage membrane hydrogen extraction following at least a first stage of compression;

allowing any remaining gaseous stream to pass through a third stage of compression, cooling, condensing, and storing the carbon dioxide in a high pressure tank;

allowing any remaining gaseous stream to be split, one part being combusted in a gas turbine and the other part being recycled to the plasmolysis unit;

allowing exhaust from the gas turbine unit to be injected into an algae aquaculture feed stream which flows to a degasification chamber, the released gas being allowed to vent to atmosphere;

allowing carbon dioxide and residual water from a high pressure storage tank to be expanded, passed through the heat exchanger and injected into the algae aquaculture feed stream using in line mixers for mixing with the algal aquaculture water feed; and

,

allowing the algal aquaculture feed stream to be sent to an algal aquaculture unit to facilitate the growth of the algae and carbon sequestration.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of delivering the paste to a pyrolysis unit, the pyrolysis unit having at least one gas plasmolysis torch having an external diameter, wherein the paste is delivered into the pyrolysis unit through concentric cylinders forming a paste cylinder with an internal diameter greater than that of the plasmolysis torch external diameter, wherein at least a second torch is located outside of the paste cylinder such that the plasmolysis torches completely renders the paste into a gaseous product stream comprises:

delivering the paste to a pyrolysis unit, the pyrolysis unit having at least one gas plasmolysis torch, wherein the paste is delivered into the pyrolysis unit through a tube forming a solid cylinder of the paste and at least two plasmolysis torches are located outside of the paste cylinder with the flames impinging at an acute angle to the axis of the cylinder such that the combined effect of the plasmolysis torches completely renders the waste into a gaseous product stream.

14. A method for the generation of algal oil and electricity, the method comprising the steps of:

producing a paste from hydrocarbon waste;

delivering the paste to a pyrolysis unit, the pyrolysis unit having at least one gas plasmolysis torch;

rendering the paste into a gaseous product stream;

allowing the gaseous product stream to flow through a suitable filter device;

extracting energy from the gaseous product stream and converting water to hydrogen via a water gas shift reaction;

allowing the reacted stream to flow to a reciprocating compressor;

allowing any remaining gaseous stream to pass through compression, cooling, condensing, and storing carbon dioxide in a high pressure tank;

allowing any remaining gaseous stream to be split, one part being combusted in a gas turbine and the other part being recycled to the plasmolysis unit;

injecting exhaust gas into an algae aquaculture feed stream which flows to a degasification chamber; and

,

allowing carbon dioxide and residual water from a high pressure storage tank to be expanded, passed through the heat exchanger and injected into the algae aquaculture feed stream thereby delivering a purge stream to in line mixers for mixing with the algal aquaculture water feed.

15. An apparatus for facilitating the generation of energy from solid waste, the apparatus comprising:

a pyrolysis unit, the pyrolysis unit having at least one gas plasmolysis torch, wherein the pyrolysis unit has concentric cylinders forming a paste cylinder with an internal diameter greater than that of a plasmolysis torch external diameter;

at least one gas inlet nozzle operatively connected to the pyrolysis unit;

a radiant heat exchanger operatively connected to a steam turbine;

a filter device operatively connected to the radiant heat exchanger;

a convective heat exchanger operatively connected to the filter device;

a condensing heat exchanger operatively connected to the convective heat exchanger;

a three stage reciprocating compressor with interstage membrane hydrogen separation and cooling devices operatively connected to the condensing heat exchanger, wherein the condensing heat exchanger is operatively connected to an outlet of the reciprocating compressor; and

,

a high pressure storage tank operatively connected to the condensing heat exchanger.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the apparatus further comprises a gas expansion valve, a heat exchanger and static in line mixers sequentially and operatively connected to the high pressure storage tank.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

at least two degasification units for the removal of entrained gases from water.

16. An apparatus for facilitating the generation of energy from solid waste, the apparatus comprising:

a pyrolysis unit, the pyrolysis unit having at least two gas plasmolysis torches, wherein the pyrolysis unit has a tube forming a solid paste cylinder and the plasmolysis torches are arranged such that the impingement angle of the flames is acute to the axis of the cylinder and the number of torches is sufficient to completely gasify the solid cylinder;

at least one gas inlet nozzle operatively connected to the pyrolysis unit;

a radiant heat exchanger operatively connected to a steam turbine;

a filter device operatively connected to the radiant heat exchanger;

a convective heat exchanger operatively connected to the filter device;

a condensing heat exchanger operatively connected to the convective heat exchanger;

a three stage reciprocating compressor with interstage membrane hydrogen separation and cooling devices operatively connected to the condensing heat exchanger, wherein the condensing heat exchanger is operatively connected to an outlet of the reciprocating compressor; and

,

a high pressure storage tank operatively connected to the condensing heat exchanger.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the apparatus further comprises a gas expansion valve, a heat exchanger and static in line mixers sequentially and operatively connected to the high pressure storage tank.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

at least two degasification units for the removal of entrained gases from water.

17. An apparatus for facilitating the generation of energy from solid waste, the apparatus comprising:

a pyrolysis unit, the pyrolysis unit having at least one gas plasmolysis torch;

at least one gas inlet nozzle operatively connected to the pyrolysis unit;

a radiant heat exchanger operatively connected to a steam turbine;

a three stage reciprocating compressor with interstage membrane hydrogen separation and cooling devices; and

,

a high pressure storage tank operatively connected to the condensing heat exchanger.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the apparatus further comprises a gas expansion valve, a heat exchanger and static in line mixers sequentially and operatively connected to the high pressure storage tank.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

at least two degasification units for the removal of entrained gases from water.