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Process and system for converting carbonaceous feedstocks into energy without greenhouse gas emissions

  • US 7,220,502 B2
  • Filed: 11/21/2003
  • Issued: 05/22/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A process for converting carbonaceous feedstocks into energy without the production of unwanted greenhouse gas emissions comprising:

  • (a) converting a carbonaceous feedstock selected from the group consisting of coal, hydrocarbon oil, natural gas, petroleum coke, oil shale, carbonaceous-containing waste oil, carbonaceous-containing medical waste, carbonaceous-containing military waste, carbonaceous-containing industrial waste, carbonaceous-containing medical waste, carbonaceous-containing sewage sludge and municipal solid waste, carbonaceous-containing agricultural waste, carbonaceous-containing biomass, biological and biochemical waste, and mixtures thereof, and a greenhouse gas stream in a gasification unit to synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, said gasification unit is a non-catalytic high temperature, gas-phase, indirectly heated kiln having an inlet means, a gas outlet means, and a solids outlet between the inlet means and the gas outlet means operating at a temperature gradient along the length of the kiln of about 200°

    to about 1600°

    C. (400-2900°

    F.) and at conditions to achieve a gas exit temperature of from at least 700°

    to about 1600°

    C. (1300-2900°

    F.);

    (b) electrochemically oxidizing at least a portion of said synthesis gas from said gasification unit in a first half-cell of a fuel cell (anode) to a first half-cell exit gas comprising carbon dioxide and water;

    (c) recovering the carbon dioxide from said first half-cell exit gas to serve as at least 20% of said greenhouse gas stream in step (a); and

    (d) electrochemically reducing an oxygen-containing gas in a second half-cell of said fuel cell (cathode) completing the circuit and resulting in the production of electrical energy.

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