Gas hydrate conversion system for harvesting hydrocarbon hydrate deposits

• US 8,623,107 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2010
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Green Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McAlister, Roy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MERKLING, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US12/857,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20110064644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 48/61, 423/644, 299/8, 299/9, 373/07, 166/352
• US Class Current: 48/61
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0266 containing a decomposition step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/84 Energy production
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/24 of hydrocarbons
• 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: C23C 16/26 Deposition of carbon only
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/4581 characterised by material of construction or surface finish of the means for supporting the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/4583 the substrate being supported substantially horizontally
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/46 characterised by the method used for heating the substrate C23C16/48, C23C16/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 25/08 Reaction chambers; Selection of materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 25/10 Heating of the reaction chamber or the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/02 Elements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0099 specially adapted for drilling for or production of natural hydrate or clathrate gas reservoirs; Drilling through or monitoring of formations containing gas hydrates or clathrates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0606 with means for production of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6416 With heating or cooling of the system

Abstract

In one embodiment, a gas hydrate conversion system is provided comprising a floating factory, an appendage for harvesting a gas hydrate from an oceanic hydrate deposit, and one or more storage tanks. The floating factory comprises one or more heat exchange assemblies, one or more heat pump assemblies and an engine. In another embodiment, a method for harvesting hydrocarbon hydrate deposits is provided, the method comprising providing a gas hydrate conversion system; inducing release of methane from an oceanic hydrate deposit; capturing the methane from a primary methane capture zone and/or a secondary methane capture zone; and converting the methane to hydrogen and carbon.

Claims

1. A gas hydrate conversion system, the system comprising:

a floating factory comprising;

one or more heat exchange assemblies;

one or more heat pump assemblies;

furnace adapted to disassociate one mole of methane into two moles of hydrogen and one mole of carbon; and

an engine;

an appendage for harvesting a gas hydrate from an oceanic hydrate deposit;

one or more storage tanks; and

a solar energy apparatus including a light conduit, the light conduit having reflective walls to provide high-intensity delivery of solar energy to the oceanic hydrate deposit.

2. The conversion system of claim 1, wherein the furnace is adapted to operate in the range of 1,500 degrees C. to 3,000 degrees C.

3. The conversion system of claim 1, wherein the floating factory further comprises a set of filters for separating harvested gas hydrates and/or separating exhaust gases.

4. The conversion system of claim 1, wherein the engine is a turbine engine, a turbo generator or a combustion engine.

5. The conversion system of claim 1, wherein the appendage for harvesting a gas hydrate further comprises:

a heat distributor for delivering warm water to the oceanic hydrate deposit;

a moveable pickup bell for capturing the gas hydrates from an inner capture zone;

an outer flexible skirt for capturing the gas hydrates from an outer capture zone; and

a hydrate conduit that carries the gas hydrates to the floating factory.

6. The conversion system of claim 1, further comprising a solar energy apparatus.

7. The conversion system of claim 1, wherein the gas hydrate is methane.

8. The conversion system of claim 1, further comprising a robot spray cleaning system (RSCS).

9. The conversion system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a return distributor.

10. The conversion system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a robot spray cleaning system (RSCS).

11. The conversion system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a return distributor.