Systems and methods for sustainable economic development through integrated full spectrum production of renewable material resources using solar thermal

• US 8,808,529 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2010
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• 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): Smith, Nicholas A
• Application Number:
  US12/857,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20110070510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 205/413, 205/462, 205/551, 205/637
• US Class Current: 205/637
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0283 containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/061 Methanol production
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/22 by decomposition of gaseous or liquid organic compounds C01B3/0005 takes precedence ; coking liquid carbonaceous materials C10B55/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46104 Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/10 Energy recovery
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/00 Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/02 Hydrogen or oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/03 perforated or foraminous
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 13/02 characterised by shape or form
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/00 Operating or servicing cells
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 3/00 Electrolytic production of organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/17 Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 5/02 the devices using heat
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 5/04 in combination with other waste heat from combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 11/005 with recuperation of waste heat
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/26 Internal combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/29 Electrical devices, e.g. computers, servers
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/30 Friction
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/20 Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/71 with parabolic reflective surfaces with cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces F24S23/74
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/103 : consisting of more than two coaxial conduits or modules of more than two coaxial conduits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 : Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 : Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/30 : Wastewater or sewage treatment systems using renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 : using solar energy

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a system for providing a renewable source of material resources is provided comprising: a first source of renewable energy; first stream of materials from a first materials source; an electrolyzer coupled to the first source of renewable energy and the first stream of materials, wherein the electrolyzer is configured to produce a first material resource by electrolysis; a processor for further processing or use or the material resource to produce a second material resource, wherein the processor comprises a solar collector and where the solar collector is configured to provide heat to the first materials resource for disassociation; and a material resource storage coupled to the electrolyzer for receiving the material resource from the electrolyzer or providing the material resource to the processor for further processing or use.

Claims

1. A method for providing a renewable source of a material resource comprising:

providing a first source of renewable energy;

providing a first stream of materials from a first materials source;

providing an electrolyzer configured for reversible operation coupled to the first stream of materials and the first source of renewable energy, wherein the electrolyzer produces a material resource from the first stream of materials through electrolysis,

providing the material resource to a first processor for further processing or use, wherein the step of providing the first material resource to the first processor for further processing or use comprises disassociating the material resource into pressurized hydrogen and elemental carbon wherein the elemental carbon is used to create a durable good.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the material resource comprises hydrogen.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the material resource comprises a carbon-based material.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the material resource comprises a hydrocarbon.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the material resource comprises a nitrogen-based material.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first materials source is selected from group comprising organic materials, biomass, and biowaste.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of further processing the material resource by adding heat to the material resource from the first processor.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first processor comprises a solar collector.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the solar collector is coupled to the electrolyzer.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the solar collector comprises a solar concentration mirror.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the solar concentration mirror comprises parabolic, spherical, or arrayed heliostatic mirrors.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising a first supplemental heat source to supplement or replace the heat from the solar collector.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the material resource comprises methane and the step of further processing the material resource comprises disassociating the methane to produce carbon and hydrogen.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the material resource further comprises carbon dioxide.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of converting the hydrogen into energy.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrolyzer is configured for selectably reversible operation as a fuel cell and the step of converting the hydrogen into energy comprises operation of the electrolyzer as a fuel cell.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of converting the carbon into one or more durable goods.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the one or more durable goods comprises one or more durable goods for use in the step of providing the first source of renewable energy.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of providing the carbon dioxide for agricultural use.