Method for producing negative carbon fuel

• US 8,430,937 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cool Planet Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cool Planet Biofuels, Inc. (Cool Planet Energy Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cheiky, Michael, Sills, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Toomer, Cephia D
• Application Number:
  US13/416,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20130025188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 446/20, 446/28, 444/47, 444/48, 444/49, 444/51, 446/05, 446/06
• US Class Current: 44/605
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/05 Preparation or purification of carbon not covered by groups C01B32/15, C01B32/20, C01B32/25, C01B32/30
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/366 by physical processes, e.g. by irradiation, by using electric current passing through carbonaceous feedstock or by using recyclable inert heating bodies
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/50 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 11/00 Other organic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 11/02 from peat, brown coal, and similar vegetable deposits
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/60 Heating or cooling during the treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 9/04 Biological compost
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 47/02 with stationary charge
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 47/12 in which the charge is subjected to mechanical pressures during coking
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 53/02 of cellulose-containing material production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 57/02 Multi-step carbonising or coking processes
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/008 Controlling or regulating of liquefaction processes
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/02 by distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/10 from rubber or rubber waste
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/32 with the use of catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1011 Biomass
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/02 Gasoline
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/04 Diesel oil
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/08 Jet fuel
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0903 Feed preparation
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0916 : Biomass
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/092 : Wood, cellulose
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0946 : Waste, e.g. MSW, tires, glass, tar sand, peat, paper, lignite, oil shale
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1656 : Conversion of synthesis gas to chemicals
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/002 : Horizontal gasifiers, e.g. belt-type gasifiers
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/62 : with separate withdrawal of the distillation products
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/02 : essentially based on components consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/04 : essentially based on blends of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0469 : Renewables or materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/02 : Combustion or pyrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/06 : Heat exchange, direct or indirect
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/447 : Carbonized vegetable substances, e.g. charcoal, or produced by hydrothermal carbonization of biomass
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0064 : Carbon dioxide sequestration storing fluids in porous layers B65G5/005
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 : Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/20 : Fertilizers of biological origin, e.g. guano or fertilizers made from animal corpses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 : Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/145 : the feedstock being materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/20 : using bio-feedstock
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/678 : Aviation using fuels of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/40 : Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse

Abstract

A method and process is described for producing negative carbon fuel. In its broadest form, a carbon-containing input is converted to combustible fuels, refinery feedstock, or chemicals and a carbonaceous solid concurrently in separate and substantially uncontaminated form. In an embodiment of the invention, biomass is converted via discrete increasing temperatures under pressure to blendable combustible fuels and a carbonaceous solid. The carbonaceous solid may be reacted to synthesis gas, sold as charcoal product, carbon credits, used for carbon offsets, or sequestered.

Claims

1. A method for making negative carbon fuel, comprising:

providing a device containing (i) a programmable number of processing stations (N) and a series of catalysts, and (ii) a processing station for subjecting biomass to at least one programmable starting temperature (Tstart) and for incrementing the temperature by programmable increments (Δ

T) to produce a volatile and non-volatile component;

using the device to concurrently convert a carbon-containing biomass to;

(a) combustible fuels, refinery feedstock or chemicals; and

(b) sequesterable carbon;

wherein the combustible fuels, refinery feedstock or chemicals arise in substantially separate and uncontaminated form from the sequesterable carbon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the carbon-containing biomass comprises subjecting the biomass to ramps of temperatures and pressure shocks.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the sequesterable carbon is reacted with oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane or steam to generate synthesis gas, and wherein the synthesis gas is converted to combustible fuels, refinery stock or chemicals.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising blending the combustible stocks, refinery stock, or chemicals with one or more of:

gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, light naphtha, heavy naphtha, light cycle oil, and heavy cycle oil.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising blending the combustible stocks, refinery stock, or chemicals with one or more of:

methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butanol, t-butanol, pentanol, hexanol, butanediol, dimethyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME), tertiary hexyl methyl ether (THEME), ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE), tertiary amyl ethyl ether (TAEE), and diisopropyl ether (DIPE).

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising blending the combustible stocks, refinery stock, or chemicals with one or more of:

detergent, combustion improver, cetane improver, emulsifier, antioxidant, antifoam agent, corrosion inhibitor, wax crystal modifier, icing inhibitor, lubricity agent and distillate flow improver.

7. A method for making negative carbon fuel, comprising:

providing a device containing a programmable number of processing stations (N) and a series of catalysts including a dehydration catalyst;

using the device to concurrently convert a lipid-rich biomass to;

(a) combustible fuels, refinery feedstock or chemicals; and

(b) sequesterable carbon;

wherein the combustible fuels, refinery feedstock or chemicals arise in substantially separate and uncontaminated form from the sequesterable carbon.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein converting the lipid-rich biomass comprises subjecting the biomass to ramps of temperatures and pressure shocks.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein at least some of the sequesterable carbon is reacted with oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane or steam to generate synthesis gas, and wherein the synthesis gas is converted to combustible fuels, refinery stock or chemicals.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising blending the combustible stocks, refinery stock, or chemicals with one or more of:

gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, light naphtha, heavy naphtha, light cycle oil, and heavy cycle oil.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising blending the combustible stocks, refinery stock, or chemicals with one or more of:

methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butanol, t-butanol, pentanol, hexanol, butanediol, dimethyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME), tertiary hexyl methyl ether (THEME), ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE), tertiary amyl ethyl ether (TAEE), and diisopropyl ether (DIPE).

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising blending the combustible stocks, refinery stock, or chemicals with one or more of:

detergent, combustion improver, cetane improver, emulsifier, antioxidant, antifoam agent, corrosion inhibitor, wax crystal modifier, icing inhibitor, lubricity agent and distillate flow improver.

13. A method for making negative carbon fuel, comprising:

concurrently converting a carbon-containing input via the application of pressure shocks and sequential ramps of temperature or pressure shocks and concurrent ramps of temperature to;

(a) combustible fuels, refinery feedstock or chemicals; and

(b) sequesterable carbon;

wherein the combustible fuels, refinery feedstock or chemicals arise in substantially separate and uncontaminated form from the sequesterable carbon.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least some of the sequesterable carbon is reacted with oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane or steam to generate synthesis gas, and wherein the synthesis gas is converted to combustible fuels, refinery stock or chemicals.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising blending the combustible stocks, refinery stock, or chemicals with one or more of:

gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, light naphtha, heavy naphtha, light cycle oil, and heavy cycle oil.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising blending the combustible stocks, refinery stock, or chemicals with one or more of:

methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butanol, t-butanol, pentanol, hexanol, butanediol, dimethyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME), tertiary hexyl methyl ether (THEME), ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE), tertiary amyl ethyl ether (TAEE), and diisopropyl ether (DIPE).

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising blending the combustible stocks, refinery stock, or chemicals with one or more of:

detergent, combustion improver, cetane improver, emulsifier, antioxidant, antifoam agent, corrosion inhibitor, wax crystal modifier, icing inhibitor, lubricity agent and distillate flow improver.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein a ratio of sequesterable carbon to combustible fuel is controlled via selection of biomass feedstock or by selection of temperature ramp profile and pressure.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the sequesterable carbon is sequestered by use as a soil amendment.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the sequesterable carbon is used for carbon offsets or carbon credits.