Closed loop energy conversion process

• US 5,964,908 A
• Filed: 08/28/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mylan Malina
• Original Assignee: Mylan Malina
• Inventors: Malina, Mylan
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Walter D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tam M.
• Application Number:
  US08/921,946
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 48/127.1, 48/197 R, 48/199, 48/204, 48/198.3, 204/129
• US Class Current: 48/197.00R
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/042 Decomposition of water
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/50 from carbon dioxide with hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

A closed loop energy conversion system for converting a non-fossil fuel energy source to a fossil fuel without generating air polluting emissions when the fossil fuel is combusted to provide energy to an external source. The closed loop energy conversion apparatus employed in this process includes a dissociation unit for dissociating water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas and separating hydrogen gas from oxygen gas. An energy source provides energy to the dissociation unit. Oxygen gas and hydrocarbon gas react in a hydrocarbon combustion unit to form a combustion product comprising carbon dioxide gas and water vapor. A first heat exchanger cools the combustion product and condenses water vapor from the combustion product. A carbon dioxide separator separates carbon dioxide gas from water condensed in the first heat exchanger. Carbon dioxide gas reacts with hydrogen gas in a hydrocarbon synthesis reactor to form a mixture comprising hydrocarbon gas and water vapor. A second heat exchanger cools the mixture and condenses water vapor from the mixture. A hydrocarbon separator separates hydrocarbon gas from water condensed in the second heat exchanger. A conduit system directs oxygen gas from the dissociation unit to the hydrocarbon combustion unit, carbon dioxide gas from the hydrocarbon combustion unit to the hydrocarbon synthesis reactor, water from the hydrocarbon combustion unit and the hydrocarbon synthesis reactor to the dissociation unit, hydrogen gas from the dissociation unit to the hydrocarbon synthesis reactor, and hydrocarbon gas from the hydrocarbon synthesis reactor to the hydrocarbon combustion unit.

Claims

1. A method for providing energy from hydrocarbon synthesis and combustion in a closed loop system, the method comprising:

dissociating water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas;

separating hydrogen gas from oxygen gas;

reacting oxygen gas with hydrocarbon gas to form a combustion product comprising carbon dioxide gas and water vapor;

transferring energy from the combustion product to an external source;

condensing water vapor from the combustion product;

separating carbon dioxide gas from water;

reacting carbon dioxide gas with hydrogen gas to form a mixture comprising hydrocarbon gas and water vapor;

transferring energy from the mixture to an external source;

condensing water vapor from the mixture;

separating hydrocarbon gas from water; and

recycling hydrocarbon gas for reaction with oxygen gas, water from the mixture and the combustion product for dissociation, and carbon dioxide gas for reaction with hydrogen gas.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of mixing oxygen gas and hydrocarbon gas prior to reaction, and mixing carbon dioxide gas and hydrogen gas prior to reaction.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon gas is methane.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon gas is ethane, propane, butane or pentane.

5. A method for converting non-fossil fuel energy into fossil fuel energy, the method comprising:

dissociating water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas using an external energy source;

separating hydrogen gas from oxygen gas;

reacting oxygen gas with hydrocarbon gas to form a combustion product comprising carbon dioxide gas and water vapor;

transferring energy from the combustion product to an external source;

condensing water vapor from the combustion product;

separating carbon dioxide gas from water;

reacting carbon dioxide gas with hydrogen gas to form a mixture comprising hydrocarbon gas and water vapor;

transferring energy from the mixture to an external source for other use;

condensing water vapor from the mixture;

separating hydrocarbon gas from water;

recycling hydrocarbon gas for reaction with oxygen gas;

recycling carbon dioxide gas for reaction with hydrogen gas; and

recycling water from the mixture and the combustion product for dissociation.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the hydrocarbon gas is methane.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the hydrocarbon gas is ethane, propane, butane or pentane.

8. A method for providing energy from a closed loop energy conversion system without the production of nitrogen oxides, the method comprising:

dissociating water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas by means of an external energy source;

separating hydrogen gas from oxygen gas;

reacting oxygen gas with hydrocarbon gas to form a combustion product comprising carbon dioxide gas and water vapor;

transferring energy from the combustion product to an external source;

condensing water vapor from the combustion product;

separating carbon dioxide gas from water;

reacting carbon dioxide gas with hydrogen gas to form a mixture comprising hydrocarbon gas and water vapor;

transferring energy from the mixture to an external source for other use;

condensing water vapor from the mixture;

separating hydrocarbon gas from water;

recycling hydrocarbon gas for reaction with oxygen gas;

recycling carbon dioxide gas for reaction with hydrogen gas; and

recycling water from the mixture and the combustion product for dissociation,

wherein the recycling of the carbon dioxide gas and the water produced during the hydrocarbon combustion step of the process thereby avoids the release of the carbon dioxide gas and the water outside of the closed loop energy conversion system.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the hydrocarbon gas is methane.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the hydrocarbon gas is ethane, propane, butane or pentane.