System and method for renewable resource production, for example, hydrogen production by microbial, electrolysis, fermentation, and/or photosynthesis

• US 9,416,457 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McAlister, Roy Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): LANGEL, WAYNE A
• Application Number:
  US14/519,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20150140632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0272 containing a non-catalytic decomposition step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1235 Hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/02 Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/06 by reaction of inorganic compounds containing electro-positively bound hydrogen, e.g. water, acids, bases, ammonia, with inorganic reducing agents by electrolysis of water C25B1/04
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/24 of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/28 Anaerobic digestion processes
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 3/00 Preparation of elements or inorganic compounds except carbon dioxide recovery of carbon dioxides as by-products C12F3/02
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/02 Hydrogen or oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• 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: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/33 using wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

System and method for sustainable economic development which includes hydrogen extracted from substances, for example, sea water, industrial waste water, agricultural waste water, sewage, and landfill waste water. The hydrogen extraction is accomplished by thermal dissociation, electrical dissociation, optical dissociation, and magnetic dissociation. The hydrogen extraction further includes operation in conjunction with energy addition from renewable resources, for example, solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, or biomass resources.

Claims

1. A sustainable economic development process comprising:

extracting carbon from a carbon source using at least one of thermal dissociation and electrical dissociation;

forming an architectural construct using the carbon, wherein the architectural construct provides a reaction zone;

anaerobically digesting organic matter in the reaction zone; and

collecting energy from a renewable resource, wherein said energy is at least partially received in the reaction zone, and wherein said energy that is collected is greater than the amount of energy that could have been converted by the oxidation of the carbon by means selected from the group consisting of an internal combustion engine, an external combustion engine, an electrochemical fuel cell, and a thermoelectric cell.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the carbon source is a hydrocarbon substance, and wherein said carbon extraction includes dehydrogenation of the hydrocarbon substance to form one or more layers of the architectural construct.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

extracting pressurized hydrogen from a water-based solution containing the organic matter, wherein the reaction zone includes an anaerobic microorganism to promote production of the hydrogen from the water-based solution.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

applying the energy to the reaction zone; and

extracting pressurized hydrogen from a water-based solution in the reaction zone, wherein the pressurized hydrogen exerts higher pressure than an initial pressure of the water-based solution.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein extracting pressurized hydrogen includes dissociating hydrogen and oxygen from the water-based solution by electrolysis.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the architectural construct contains hydrogenase, and wherein the process further comprises:

dissociating at least a portion of a water-based solution into at least hydrogen and another substance using said energy in the reaction zone; and

catalyzing hydrogen production according to equation

2H⁺+2e⁻

→

H₂,

wherein the equation is catalyzed by the hydrogenase.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the architectural construct includes a surface capable of enhancing growth of a microorganism.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein anaerobically digesting the organic matter in the reaction zone includes generating an electrolyte that releases hydrogen at a lower voltage than the voltage required to dissociate water.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the renewable resource is selected from a group consisting of solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, and biomass.

10. A sustainable economic development process comprising:

extracting carbon from a carbon source using at least one of thermal dissociation and electrical dissociation;

forming an architectural construct using the carbon, wherein the architectural construct provides a reaction zone;

collecting energy from a renewable resource, wherein said energy is at least partially received in the reaction zone, and wherein said energy that is collected is greater than the amount of energy that could have been converted by the oxidation of the carbon by means selected from the group consisting of an internal combustion engine, an external combustion engine, an electrochemical fuel cell, and a thermoelectric cell;

applying said energy to the reaction zone; and

extracting pressurized hydrogen from a water-based solution in the reaction zone.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein the pressurized hydrogen exerts higher pressure than an initial pressure of the water-based solution.

12. The process of claim 11 wherein extracting pressurized hydrogen includes dissociating hydrogen and oxygen from the water-based solution by electrolysis.

13. The process of claim 10 wherein extracting pressurized hydrogen includes dissociating hydrogen and oxygen from the water-based solution by electrolysis.

14. The process of claim 10 wherein the renewable resource is selected from a group consisting of solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, and biomass.

15. A sustainable economic development process comprising:

extracting carbon from a carbon source using at least one of thermal dissociation and electrical dissociation;

forming an architectural construct using the carbon, wherein the architectural construct provides a reaction zone, and wherein the architectural construct contains hydrogenase;

collecting energy from a renewable resource, wherein said energy is at least partially received in the reaction zone, and wherein said energy that is collected is greater than the amount of energy that could have been converted by the oxidation of the carbon by means selected from the group consisting of an internal combustion engine, an external combustion engine, an electrochemical fuel cell, and a thermoelectric cell; and

dissociating at least a portion of a water-based solution into at least hydrogen and another substance using said energy in the reaction zone.

16. The process of claim 15 further comprising catalyzing hydrogen production according to equation

2H⁺+2e⁻

→

H₂,

wherein the equation is catalyzed by the hydrogenase.

17. The process of claim 15 wherein the renewable resource is selected from a group consisting of solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, and biomass.