Method for reducing the carbon footprint of a conversion process

• US 9,260,666 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cool Planet Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cool Planet Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hago, Wilson, Aelion, Vital, Daugaard, Daren
• Primary Examiner(s): Toomer, Cephia D
• Application Number:
  US14/139,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20140109638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 9/04 Biological compost
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 1/02 from oxides of a carbon preparation of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures of undefined composition C10G2/00; of synthetic natural gas C10L3/06
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 53/02 of cellulose-containing material production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/002 in combination with oil conversion- or refining processes
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/02 by distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/00 Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures of undefined composition from oxides of carbon
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/30 from carbon monoxide with hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0916 Biomass
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/092 Wood, cellulose
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/094 Char
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0959 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0969 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0976 as steam
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1612 CO2-separation and sequestration, i.e. long time storage
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1631 Ash recycling
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1671 with the production of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/02 Fixed-bed gasification of lump fuel
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/62 with separate withdrawal of the distillation products
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/04 : essentially based on blends of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/02 : Combustion or pyrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/04 : Gasification
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/24 : Mixing, stirring of fuel components
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/447 : Carbonized vegetable substances, e.g. charcoal, or produced by hydrothermal carbonization of biomass
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/00 : Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
• 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 20/133 : Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/145 : the feedstock being materials of biological 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 is described for reducing the carbon footprint of any commercially important industrial conversion process. The output of this conversion process can be combustible fuels, chemicals, electricity or heat energy. In its broadest form, a carbon negative module outputs energy to a conversion energy and this energy replaces conventional fossil-fuel based energy. A sequesterable carbonaceous solid is produced by the carbon negative process which represents a net carbon withdrawal from the atmosphere.

Claims

1. A method for reducing the carbon footprint of a conversion process, comprising:

(a) conducting an external carbon negative process having biomass as input and sequesterable carbon and one or both of renewable energy and renewable feedstock as outputs, and

b) utilizing said renewable energy to at least partly power said conversion process and/or utilizing said renewable feedstock as input to said conversion process.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the conversion process includes one or more of:

electricity production, electrochemical reduction process, smelting, fossil fuel extraction, chemical refining, chemical conversion processes.

3. A method according to claim 1 in which the renewable energy is one or more selected from the group consisting of:

heat, combustible biovapors, combustible fuels and electricity.

4. A method according to claim 1 in which electricity is produced by combustion of one or both of combustible biovapors or renewable fuels obtained as output from the carbon negative process.

5. A method according to claim 1 in which the renewable feedstock comprises one or more of light hydrocarbons, C1-C5 light gases, or C6-C20 hydrocarbons.

6. A method according to claim 1 in which the sequesterable carbon is greater than 50% fixed carbon.

7. A method according to claim 1 in which the carbon footprint reduction is greater than 1%.

8. A method according to claim 1 in which the carbon footprint reduction is greater than 10%.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequesterable carbon is sequestered by use as a soil amendment.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequesterable carbon is sequestered by underground storage.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequesterable carbon is sequestered by addition to soil containing compost material.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequesterable carbon is used for carbon offsets.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequesterable carbon is used for carbon credits.

14. A method according to claim 1 in which at least some of the sequesterable carbon is reacted with oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane or steam to generate synthesis gas, which displaces fossil carbon.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the synthesis gas is converted to combustible fuels, refinery stock or chemicals.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the combustible fuels, refinery stock or chemicals is certified as carbon negative.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the output of a plurality of carbon negative processes serve as input to the conversion process.

18. The method of claim 1 in which the carbon negative process causes the conversion process to qualify for RINs.

19. A system for reducing the carbon footprint of a conversion process, comprising:

(a) an external carbon negative system having biomass as input and sequesterable carbon and one or both of renewable energy and renewable feedstock as outputs to the conversion process; and

b) a conversion process directly coupled to the external carbon negative system for receiving one or more of said renewable energy as power in said conversion process and said renewable feedstock as input to said conversion process.

20. A system according to claim 19 in which the size of the carbon negative system is adjustable.

21. A system according to claim 19 in which the carbon negative system produces biochar and biovapors.

22. A system according to claim 19 in which a plurality of external carbon negative system are directly coupled into said conversion process.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of external carbon negative systems communicate in parallel with said conversion process.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of external carbon negative systems communicate in series with said conversion process.