Fuel generation using high-voltage electric fields methods

• US 9,765,270 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2013
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Powerdyne, Inc. (Powerdyne International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Powerdyne, Inc. (Powerdyne International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hirson, Geoffrey, Shouse, Gus F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tai, Xiuyu
• Application Number:
  US14/426,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20150232772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0009 Settling tanks making use of electricity or magnetism electric ultra filters B01D61/425; filters making use of electricity or magnetism B01D35/06; magnetic or electrostatic separation B03C
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/01 using flocculating agents for purifying water C02F1/52; for liquid radioactive waste G21F9/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 12/002 carried out in the plasma state generating or handling plasma H05H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/088 giving rise to electric discharges for heating purposes H05B7/00; for the production of ozone C01B13/11, H01T19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00063 of the reactants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00162 controlling the pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00186 controlling the composition of the reactive mixture
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0809 employing two or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0815 involving stationary electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0871 Heating or cooling of the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0875 Gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0877 Liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0879 Solid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0892 involving catalytically active material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0898 Hot plasma
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 3/29 involving a melting or softening step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0283 containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/062 Hydrocarbon production, e.g. Fischer-Tropsch process
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0861 by plasma
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0883 by indirect heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1205 : Composition of the feed
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/02 : Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/042 : Decomposition of water
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/12 : by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 1/04 : from carbon monoxide with hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/32 : with the use of catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/332 : of the iron-group
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/333 : of the platinum-group
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/50 : from carbon dioxide with hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1238 : by plasma
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1671 : with the production of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1675 : making use of a steam turbine
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/00 : Production of combustible gases containing carbon monoxide from solid carbonaceous fuels destructive distillation processes C10B
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/04 : essentially based on blends of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/06 : for spark ignition
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/08 : for compression ignition
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0415 : Light distillates, e.g. LPG, naphtha
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0423 : Gasoline
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/043 : Kerosene, jet fuel
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0446 : Diesel
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0492 : Fischer-Tropsch products
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2270/023 : for gasoline engines
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2270/026 : for diesel engines, e.g. automobiles, stationary, marine
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2270/04 : for turbines, planes, power generation
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/06 : Heat exchange, direct or indirect
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/30 : Pressing, compressing or compacting
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/38 : Applying an electric field or inclusion of electrodes in the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/42 : Fischer-Tropsch steps
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/06 : using mixtures of different fluids plants using mixtures of steam and gas F01K21/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/05 : characterised by the type or source of heat, e.g. using nuclear or solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/34 : Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/42 : with provisions for introducing materials into the plasma, e.g. powder, liquid arc stabilising or constricting arrangements H05H1/3405; coaxial protecting fluids H05H1/341; electrostatic spraying, spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically B05B5/00 ; cf. B23K9/324, B05B7/22
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/44 : using more than one torch
• 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 20/129 : Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines

Abstract

Methods of making fuel are described herein. A method may include providing a first working fluid, a second working fluid, and a third working fluid. The method may also include exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field to produce a first plasma, exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field to produce a second plasma, and exposing the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field to produce a third plasma. The method may also include providing and contacting a carbon-based feedstock with the third plasma, the second plasma, and the first plasma within a processing chamber to form a mixture, cooling the mixture using a heat exchange device to form a cooled mixture, and contacting the cooled mixture with a catalyst to form a fuel.

Claims

1. A method of making fuel, the method comprising:

providing a first working fluid of oxygen gas;

exposing the first working fluid to a first electric field to produce a first plasma;

providing a second working fluid of water vapor;

exposing the second working fluid to a second electric field to produce a second plasma;

providing a third working fluid of carbon dioxide;

exposing the third working fluid to a third electric field to produce a third plasma;

providing a carbon-based feedstock;

contacting the carbon-based feedstock with the third plasma, the second plasma, and the first plasma within a processing chamber to form a mixture;

cooling the mixture using a heat exchange device to form a cooled mixture; and

contacting the cooled mixture with a catalyst to form a fuel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transporting the mixture to the heat exchange device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting the fuel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the first working fluid to the first electric field comprises:

providing an anode surface;

providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface;

providing an electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface of about 2.4 kV times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the distance in centimeters; and

causing the first working fluid to traverse the gap.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the second working fluid to the second electric field comprises:

providing an anode surface;

providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface;

providing an electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface of about 2.4 kV times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the distance in centimeters; and

causing the second working fluid to traverse the gap.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the third working fluid to the third electric field comprises:

providing an anode surface;

providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface;

providing an electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface of about 2.4 kV times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the distance in centimeters; and

causing the third working fluid to traverse the gap.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the first working fluid to the first electric field comprises causing the first working fluid to pass through a plasma torch.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the second working fluid to the second electric field comprises causing the second working fluid to pass through a plasma torch.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the third working fluid to the third electric field comprises causing the third working fluid to pass through a plasma torch.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon-based feed stock comprises at least one of bagasse, coal, wood, green waste, sugar beets, corn, or bio-waste products.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture has a temperature of about 7232°

F. (4000°

C.) to about 36032°

F. (20000°

C.).

15. The method of claim 1, wherein cooling the mixture comprises cooling the mixture to a temperature of about 100°

F. (38°

C.) to about 2950°

F. (1620°

C.).

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange device is a heat recovery steam generator.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second working fluid comprises at least in part an amount of steam generated by the heat recovery steam generator.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooled mixture comprises at least carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooled mixture comprises at least carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas in a ratio of about 1:

2.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooled mixture comprises carbon dioxide.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the third working fluid comprises at least in part an amount of carbon dioxide obtained from the cooled mixture.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the catalyst is a Fischer-Tropsch type catalyst.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one of cobalt, iron, ruthenium, nickel, copper, an alkali metal oxide, silica, alumina, or a zeolite.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel comprises at least one of naphtha, diesel fuel, a diesel fuel blend, JP-8 fuel, jet fuel, a jet fuel blend, or gasoline.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein cooling the mixture using the heat exchange device comprises:

contacting the mixture with the heat exchange device, thereby conveying at least some heat from the mixture to a source of a vaporizable fluid;

vaporizing the vaporizable fluid with the at least some heat from the mixture;

contacting the vaporized fluid with an electrical generator; and

generating electrical power by the electrical generator.