Oxygen and methane production device

• US 5,362,373 A
• Filed: 07/13/1993
• Issued: 11/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Murdoch, Karen E., Birbara, Philip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GORGOS, KATHRYN L
• Application Number:
  US08/091,080
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 204/242, 422/189, 422/234, 422/186, 422/305, 422/186.03
• US Class Current: 204/242
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 1/12 from carbon dioxide with hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 9/04 Methane production by treatment of sewage C02F11/04; natural gas, synthetic natural gas C10L3/06
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/582 Recycling of unreacted starting or intermediate materials

Abstract

A system for producing oxygen and methane. This system comprises a methanation reactor for reacting carbon dioxide and hydrogen to produce methane and water, a reforming reactor for reforming the water and methane to hydrogen and carbon monoxide, a condenser for separating the methane and water, and an electrolyzer for electrolyzing the water to hydrogen and oxygen.

Claims

1. A device for producing oxygen and methane, which comprises:

a. a methanation reactor constructed and arranged for reacting carbon dioxide and hydrogen to produce methane and water;

b. a reforming reactor in flow communication with said methanation reactor, wherein said reforming reactor contains a reforming catalyst and is constructed and arranged for reforming water and methane to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide and wherein said reforming reactor is constructed for reaching and maintaining temperatures ranging from about 593°

C. to about 1200°

C.;

c. a means for separating methane and water in flow communication with said methanation reactor; and

d. an electrolyzer in flow communication with said means for separating, wherein said electrolyzer is constructed and arranged for electrolyzing water to hydrogen and oxygen.

2. A device as in claim 1 further comprising:

a. a means for separating hydrogen and oxygen in flow communication with said electrolyzer; and

b. a means for separating hydrogen and carbon monoxide in flow communication with said reforming reactor;

wherein said means for separating hydrogen and oxygen and said means for separating hydrogen and carbon monoxide are further in flow communication with said methanation reactor.

3. A system for producing oxygen and methane, consisting essentially of:

a. a methanation reactor for reacting carbon dioxide and hydrogen to produce methane and water;

b. a reforming reactor containing a reforming catalyst in flow communication with said methanation reactor, for reforming water and methane to hydrogen and carbon monoxide wherein said reforming reactor is constructed for reaching and maintaining temperatures ranging from about 593°

C. to about 1200°

C.

c. a means for separating methane and water in flow communication with said methanation reactor;

d. an electrolyzer in flow communication with said means for separating methane and water for electrolyzing water to hydrogen and oxygen;

e. a means for separating hydrogen and oxygen in flow communication with said electrolyzer; and

f. a means for separating hydrogen and carbon monoxide in flow communication with said reforming reactor.

4. A system for producing oxygen and methane as in claim 3, wherein said system is constructed such that

a. said methanation reactor is connected to said reforming reactor thereby allowing a portion of said methane and said water produced in said methanation reactor to be reformed to hydrogen and carbon monoxide,

b. said methanation reactor is also connected to said means for separating methane and water thereby allowing a second portion of methane and water produced in said methanation reactor to be separated,

c. said reforming reactor is connected to said means for separating hydrogen and carbon monoxide, thereby allowing the separation of said reformed hydrogen and reformed carbon monoxide,

d. said means for separating methane and water is connected to said electrolyzer thereby allowing said separated water to be electrolyzed to hydrogen and oxygen,

e. said electrolyzer is connected to said means for separating hydrogen and oxygen, thereby allowing the separation of said electrolyzed hydrogen and electrolyzed oxygen, and

f. said means for separating hydrogen and oxygen and said means for separating hydrogen and carbon monoxide are connected to said methanation reactor, thereby allowing said separated reformer hydrogen and said separated electrolyzer hydrogen to be recycled to said methanation reactor.