Method and an apparatus for producing energy by recycling materials during a fuel combustion process

• US 9,745,895 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fortum Oyj
• Original Assignee: Fortum Oyj
• Inventors: Suoninen, Esa, Surakka, Martti
• Primary Examiner(s): Battisti, Derek
• Application Number:
  US14/117,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20140338361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/04 for producing gas, e.g. biogas digesters for manure with production of biogas A01C3/028, biological treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F3/00, C02F11/02, preparation of natural gas or syngas C10L3/06, C10L3/10
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/04 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with combustion devices or plants, e.g. for carbon dioxide removal C12M43/06 takes precedence; recovery of carbon dioxide C12F3/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 3/28 using a separate gas producer for gasifying the fuel before combustion
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/10 supplying working fluid to a user, e.g. a chemical process, which returns working fluid to a turbine of the plant
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/1807 using the exhaust gases of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/30 Technologies for a more efficient combustion or heat usage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing energy by recycling materials during a fuel combustion process, wherein the fuel combustion process comprises combusting fuel introduced into the fuel combustion process. Further, the invention relates to an apparatus for producing energy by recycling materials during a fuel combustion process.

Claims

1. A method for producing energy by recycling materials during a fuel combustion process (1) taking place in a fuel combustion device, which is a boiler or a furnace, wherein the fuel combustion process comprises combusting fuel introduced into the fuel combustion process, wherein the method comprises:

introducing a stream of flue gas (4) comprising carbon dioxide and produced in the fuel combustion process (1) into a biomass cultivating process (2), where the flue gas takes part in the production of biomass and oxygen;

introducing at least part of the biomass produced in the biomass cultivating process (2) into a biogas production process (3), where the biomass takes part in the production of biogas;

introducing at least part of the oxygen produced in the biomass cultivating process (2) into the fuel combustion process (1);

introducing at least part of the biogas produced in the biogas production process (3) into the fuel combustion process (1), where the biogas is combusted as fuel; and

introducing combustion air (9) comprising oxygen and nitrogen into the fuel combustion process;

such that the need to introduce fuel (11) selected from a group of fossil fuel comprising coal, biofuel, industrial waste, municipal waste and any combination thereof, into the fuel combustion process (1) during the fuel combustion process in addition to the biogas produced in the biogas production process (3) and introduced into the fuel combustion process is reduced.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein 300-1500 kg, preferably 650-850 kg, and more preferably 740-800 kg of oxygen (6) produced in the biomass cultivating process (2) is introduced into the fuel combustion process (I) per 1000 kg of carbon dioxide produced in the fuel combustion process.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein 100-800 kg, preferably 300-400 kg, and more preferably 330-370 kg of biogas (7) produced in the biogas production process (3) is introduced into the fuel combustion process (1) per 1000 kg of carbon dioxide produced in the fuel combustion process.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein 200-900 kg, preferably 400-600 kg, and more preferably 450-550 kg of biomass is produced in the biomass cultivating process (2) per 1000 kg of carbon dioxide (4) introduced into the biomass cultivating process.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein 0-500 kg, preferably 0-100 kg, and more preferably 40-80 kg of fuel (11) is introduced into the fuel combustion process (1) in addition to the biogas produced in the biogas production process (3) and introduced into the fuel combustion process per 1000 kg of carbon dioxide produced in the fuel combustion process.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the stream of flue gas (4) further comprises NO, NO₂ and/or N₂.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the biogas (7) comprises methane, carbon dioxide or a combination comprising methane and carbon dioxide.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass (5) is selected from a group of algae, water grass and a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises introducing at least part of fermentation sludge (13) formed in the biogas production process (3) into the biomass cultivating process (2).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises introducing growing media (8) comprising waste water into the biomass cultivating process (2).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel introduced into the fuel combustion process comprises coal.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises recovering water (10) from the fuel combustion process (1).

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises introducing carbon dioxide (14) into the biomass cultivating process (2) in addition to the carbon dioxide contained in the stream of flue gas (4).