Modified steam-methane-reformation: Hydrogen production with carbon sequestration

• US 20120323714A1
• Filed: 06/16/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Surendra Saxena
• Original Assignee: Surendra Saxena
• Inventors: Saxena, Surendra
• Application Number:
  US13/161,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20120323714A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 21/02 Preparation of nitrogen by decomposition of ammonia C01B3/047
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0205 containing a reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/025 containing a partial oxidation step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0827 at least part of the fuel being a recycle stream
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/84 Energy production
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/86 Carbon dioxide sequestration
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/02 Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/48 followed by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: C01D 7/07 Preparation from the hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C01D 7/10 Preparation of bicarbonates from carbonates ammonia soda process C01D7/18
• CPC Class Codes: F23J 15/02 of purifiers, e.g. for removing noxious material traps for solid residues F23J3/04
• CPC Class Codes: F23L 2900/07005 Injecting pure oxygen or oxygen enriched air
• CPC Class Codes: F24V 30/00 Apparatus or devices using heat produced by exothermal chemical reactions other than combustion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/34 Indirect CO2mitigation, i.e. by acting on non CO2directly related matters of the process, e.g. pre-heating or heat recovery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/00 Technologies relating to oil refining and petrochemical industry

Abstract

A process of and system for sequestering carbon (CO₂) produced in coal and gas burning hydrogen production plants, resulting in the production of hydrogen at current market prices or less without carbon emission.

Claims

1. A process to sequester carbon from the fuel burner exhaust gases in industrial hydrogen production plants comprising the steps of:

(a) burning a mixture of an oxidant and fuel;

(b) generating flue gas and products of combustion;

(c) streaming the generated flue gas and the products of combustion into a first reactor;

(d) determining an amount of thermal energy needed from the fuel to produce hydrogen in a balanced steam-fuel-reformation reaction;

(e) adding the determined amount of fuel and water to produce hydrogen;

(f) passing all products of the reaction to a second reactor; and

(g) combining the products with sodium hydroxide to react at a low temperature to form sodium carbonate.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising wherein the oxidant of step (a) is selected from atmospheric air or oxygen.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising wherein the fuel of step (a) is coal.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising wherein the fuel of step (a) is natural gas.

5. The process of claim 1, further comprising wherein the flue gas and products of combustion of step (b) is mainly carbon dioxide.

6. The process of claim 1, further comprising wherein the sodium hydroxide of step (g) is adjusted to react with components of gas comprised of sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, or both, to form removable solids.

7. The process of claim 1, further comprising wherein the reaction of step (e) comprises a direct conversion of NaOH to Na₂CO₃.

8. The process of claim 1, further comprising wherein the reaction of step (e) further comprises reacting Na₂CO₃ with water and CO₂.

9. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of continuously feeding fuel throughout the process.

10. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding water when combining the products with sodium hydroxide to produce sodium bicarbonate.

11. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

step (h) crystallizing impurities by combining such impurities with soda and then removing them.

12. The process of claim 11, further comprising wherein step (h) of recrystallizing the soda is accomplished through combination with an aqueous solution.

13. In all previous claims, the process to sequester carbon further comprising the step of selling reaction products selected from sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, hydrogen, nitrogen, and combination thereof.

14. In all previous claims, the process to sequester carbon further comprising the step of selling energy produced from the combining the reaction products of step (e) with sodium hydroxide.

15. A process to sequester carbon from the fuel burner exhaust gases in industrial hydrogen production plants comprising the steps of:

(a) burning a mixture of atmospheric air or oxygen and natural gas or coal;

(b) generating flue gas and products of combustion, comprising mainly carbon dioxide;

(c) streaming the generated flue gas and the products of combustion into a first reactor;

(d) determining an amount of thermal energy needed from the fuel to produce hydrogen in a balanced steam-fuel-reformation reaction;

(e) adding the determined amount of fuel and water to produce hydrogen, comprising a direct conversion of NaOH to Na₂CO₃;

(f) passing all products of the reaction to a second reactor;

(g) combining the products with sodium hydroxide to react at a low temperature to form sodium carbonate; and

(h) crystallizing impurities by combining such impurities with soda and then removing them.

16. A system for sequestering carbon from the fuel burner exhaust gases in industrial hydrogen production plants comprising:

(a) a burner for combusting a mixture of an oxidant and fuel and generating flue gas and products of combustion;

(b) a first feeder to stream the generated flue gas and the products of combustion into a first reactor;

(c) wherein the first feeder is in communication with the burner to produce hydrogen in a balanced steam-fuel-reformation reaction;

(d) a second feeder to pass all products of the reaction to a second reactor; and

(e) wherein the second reactor is for combining the first reactor products with sodium hydroxide to form sodium carbonate.