METHOD FOR ON BOARD CONVERSION OF CO2 TO FUEL AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

• US 20160369688A1
• Filed: 05/10/2016
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: IMRAN, Hasan, HAMAD, Esam Zaki, HAMMAD, Ahmad D.
• Application Number:
  US15/150,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20160369688A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0283 containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/12 by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/00 Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures of undefined composition from oxides of carbon
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/30 from carbon monoxide with hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/35 with the use of another activation, e.g. radiation, vibration, electrical or electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/50 from carbon dioxide with hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/4037 In-situ processes
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/4043 Limiting CO2 emissions
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/4068 Moveable devices or units, e.g. on trucks, barges
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/42 Hydrogen of special source or of special composition
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 3/04 reducing the carbon monoxide content , e.g. water-gas shift [WGS]
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/04 essentially based on blends of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/24 Mixing, stirring of fuel components
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/38 Applying an electric field or inclusion of electrodes in the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/42 Fischer-Tropsch steps
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/00 Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 3/25 Reduction
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 51/04 involving electricity or magnetism
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 65/00 Adaptations of engines for special uses not provided for in groups F02B61/00 or F02B63/00; Combinations of engines with other devices, e.g. with non-driven apparatus of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines F02B53/14; combinations of prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/20
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/00 : Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture adding secondary air to fuel-air mixture F02M23/00; adding exhaust gases F02M26/00; fuel-injection apparatus operating simultaneously on two or more fuels or on a liquid fuel and another liquid F02M43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/12 : the apparatus having means for generating such gases using rays and simultaneously generating ozone F02M27/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 : Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/40 : Ethylene production
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system for on board production of hydrocarbon fuels. Electrochemistry is used to combine CO₂ produced by an internal combustion engine with hydrogen and optionally, water, to produce syngas and other fuels.

Claims

1. A method for converting CO₂ produced by an internal combustion engine (ICE) on a moving vehicle into hydrocarbon fuel, comprising:

(i) transporting exhaust gas containing CO₂ and produced by said ICE to a heat exchanger to remove excess heat from said gas; and

(iii) combining said CO₂ with water in said electrochemical reactor to form hydrocarbon fuel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the heat exchanged exhaust gas to a CO₂ separator to remove CO₂ thereform.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising said heat gas to separator CO₂ transporting said CO₂ to an electrochemical generator.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transporting said hydrocarbon fuel to a storage means.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger is a thermometric cell, a Rankin cycler or a sterling engine.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said CO₂ separator is a liquid solvent, a solid adsorbent, or a membrane permeable to CO₂ but not other gases present in said exhaust gas.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said membrane is also permeable to gaseous H₂O or H₂O in vapor form.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising supplying electrical energy from an electrical generator to said electrochemical reactor.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising supplying heat energy from said heat exchanger to said electrochemical reactor.

11. The method of claim 1 or 10, wherein said hydrocarbon fuel is syngas, ethanol, methane, methanol, or dimethylether.

12. The method of claim 1 or 10, further comprising producing H₂ at said electrochemical reactor.

13. The method of claim 1 or 10, further comprising mixing said hydrocarbon fuel produced at said electrochemical generator with a primary fuel for said ICE.

10. A method for producing hydrocarbon fuel produced by an internal combustion engine (ICE) on a moving vehicle, comprising transporting water vapor and CO₂ from exhaust gas produced by said ICE to an electrochemical reactor and reacting said H₂O and CO₂ at said electrochemical reactor to form hydrocarbon fuel.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising converting said H₂O and CO₂ to H₂ and CO, and transporting said H₂ and CO to a Fisher Tropsch reactor to produce hydrocarbons.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising converting said H₂O and CO₂ to and CO, transporting said H₂ and CO to a water gas shift, and adding H₂O thereto to produce more hydrogen.