EP2171073A2 - Production d'énergie à partir de matériel biologique - Google Patents

Production d'énergie à partir de matériel biologique

Info

Publication number
EP2171073A2
EP2171073A2 EP08763703A EP08763703A EP2171073A2 EP 2171073 A2 EP2171073 A2 EP 2171073A2 EP 08763703 A EP08763703 A EP 08763703A EP 08763703 A EP08763703 A EP 08763703A EP 2171073 A2 EP2171073 A2 EP 2171073A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
metal
unit
vegetation
producing
syngas
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP08763703A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2171073A4 (fr
Inventor
Amnon Yogev
Eliyahu Gamzon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Engineuity Research & Development Ltd
ENGINEUITY RES AND DEV Ltd
Original Assignee
Engineuity Research & Development Ltd
ENGINEUITY RES AND DEV Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US11/818,967 external-priority patent/US8366966B2/en
Application filed by Engineuity Research & Development Ltd, ENGINEUITY RES AND DEV Ltd filed Critical Engineuity Research & Development Ltd
Publication of EP2171073A2 publication Critical patent/EP2171073A2/fr
Publication of EP2171073A4 publication Critical patent/EP2171073A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
    • C12P5/00—Preparation of hydrocarbons or halogenated hydrocarbons
    • C12P5/02—Preparation of hydrocarbons or halogenated hydrocarbons acyclic
    • C12P5/023—Methane
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
    • C01B3/06—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of inorganic compounds containing electro-positively bound hydrogen, e.g. water, acids, bases, ammonia, with inorganic reducing agents
    • C01B3/08—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of inorganic compounds containing electro-positively bound hydrogen, e.g. water, acids, bases, ammonia, with inorganic reducing agents with metals
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07C29/00—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom not belonging to a six-membered aromatic ring
    • C07C29/15—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom not belonging to a six-membered aromatic ring by reduction of oxides of carbon exclusively
    • C07C29/151—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom not belonging to a six-membered aromatic ring by reduction of oxides of carbon exclusively with hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases
    • C07C29/1516—Multisteps
    • C07C29/1518—Multisteps one step being the formation of initial mixture of carbon oxides and hydrogen for synthesis
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12C—BEER; PREPARATION OF BEER BY FERMENTATION; PREPARATION OF MALT FOR MAKING BEER; PREPARATION OF HOPS FOR MAKING BEER
    • C12C11/00—Fermentation processes for beer
    • C12C11/02—Pitching yeast
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M21/00—Bioreactors or fermenters specially adapted for specific uses
    • C12M21/04—Bioreactors or fermenters specially adapted for specific uses for producing gas, e.g. biogas
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M43/00—Combinations of bioreactors or fermenters with other apparatus
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
    • Y02E50/30—Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/36—Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
    • Y02P20/10—Process efficiency
    • Y02P20/133—Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to methods for producing methanol or other fuels from simpler molecules, such as carbon dioxide, water, and/or methane.
  • the invention also relates to apparatuses for carrying out such methods.
  • methanol One such alternative energy carrier is methanol.
  • methanol economy A hypothetical future economy based on the idea of using methanol instead of fossil fuels as a means of transportation of energy is sometimes termed "the methanol economy".
  • An aspect of some embodiments of the invention relates to making fuel that is friendly to the environment, and preferably by consuming greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane.
  • the greenhouse gases are taken from microbiological conversion, for example, fermentation, of biological material.
  • An aspect of some embodiments of the invention relates to making fuel, for instance, methanol, from carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and water by reacting them with a metal.
  • metal oxide is obtained.
  • the metal is regenerated from the metal oxide.
  • the metal is regenerated by electrolysis of the metal oxide.
  • at least part of the metal is regenerated by reacting the metal oxide with methane, or any other carbonaceous material.
  • CO 2 is obtained from processes that produce it as a side-product, for instance, in processes that produce methane from biological sources, for instance, maize fermentation.
  • CO 2 is obtained from sources, where it is naturally present together with methane.
  • CO 2 , water, methane and metal are reacted together to produce synthesis gas, also called syngas, and metal oxide.
  • synthesis gas also called syngas
  • metal oxide synthesis gas
  • the CO 2 reacts with the metal to produce CO and metal oxide
  • water reacts with the metal to produce hydrogen and metal oxide
  • the methane reacts with the metal oxide to obtain more CO and metal.
  • some of the metal consumed by the water and the CO 2 is regenerated by the methane, and the amount of metal oxide that has to be regenerated by other means, for instance, electricity, is smaller than would be without the methane.
  • presence of methane in the process saves about 90% of the electricity required for regenerating the metal from the metal oxide.
  • a process and/or system according to the invention may be used for storing electrical energy.
  • Many conventional power plants produce at off-peak hours, for instance at night and during week ends, more electrical energy that the consumers consume.
  • metal is regenerated from the produced metal oxide by electrolysis at off-peak hours, using cheep electricity, and the produced metal is used to produce methanol to replace expensive electricity at peak-usage times.
  • methanol is produced in off-peak hours, and used in peak hours to produce electricity, for instance, using a gas turbine.
  • An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus for producing fuel from biological material, which consumes CO 2 from microbiological conversion of the biological material, water from any available source, and energy.
  • energy is obtained from renewable sources, such as solar power, wind energy, hydro energy, or the like.
  • energy is obtained from conventional carbon based electric power sources.
  • energy is obtained from combusting other portions of the biological material, for instance, sugarcane straw.
  • a fuel producing apparatus comprises the following units: I - A fermentation unit— this unit provides CO 2 and methane from biological material, or from any other available source, and releases the CO 2 for use in unit II described below.
  • II - A syngas producing unit this unit consumes water, the CO 2 and the methane provided by the first unit,; and reacts them with a metal to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide (CO), the mixture thereof is known in the art as synthesis gas, or in short, syngas.
  • This unit produces excess heat and creates a metal oxide as waste.
  • the excess heat is used in unit I, and the waste metal oxide is turned into metal in unit IV.
  • a fuel producing unit - this unit produces carbonaceous fuel, for instance, methanol, from the syngas produced by the syngas producing unit.
  • the metal recycling unit may reduce considerably the metal consumption of the entire apparatus, and in some cases reduce this consumption to zero.
  • the metal recycling unit comprises an electrolysis bath, configured to electrolyze the metal oxide to produce the metal.
  • hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of the metal oxide is added to the fuel producing unit, thus saving at least a portion of the metal and the electricity required for recycling this portion of metal.
  • Other hydrogen sources may also be used for supplying hydrogen to the fuel producing unit, in addition, or instead of, reacting water with the metal.
  • the metal recycling unit comprises a reaction chamber for reacting the metal oxide with methane or other low grade carbonaceous material as to regenerate the metal.
  • a reaction chamber for reacting the metal oxide with methane or other low grade carbonaceous material as to regenerate the metal.
  • such metal recycling unit receives heat from a heat source, for instance, a solar heat source, and/or heat from the syngas producing unit.
  • the metal is zinc, and it is regenerated from the zinc oxide by endothermically reacting the oxide with carbon. This endothermic reaction produces CO and zinc.
  • the zinc oxide and the carbon are reacted with each other in boiling zinc.
  • the CO obtained in the reaction is oxidized with air to produce heat, and this heat is used to feed the endothermic reaction between zinc oxide and carbon.
  • the amount of zinc leaving the reactor by evaporation (due to boiling) is balanced with the amount of zinc produced in the reactor from zinc oxide.
  • carbon is produced in situ by heating carbonaceous material, for instance, sawdust, to produce carbon and gases, and these gases are oxidized to provide the heat required for the endothermic reaction.
  • heating is in the absence of air, as to result in pyrolysis.
  • the heating is with some air, sufficient to partially oxidize the carbonaceous material.
  • the zinc oxide is reacted with carbonaceous material to produce zinc and combustible gases. These gases are optionally used similarly to CO in the preceding example.
  • metal recycling may be accomplished by heating the metal oxide to sufficiently high temperatures. Heat for such recycling process may be obtained, for instance, from solar energy. Optionally, such heating is in the presence of carbonaceous material, such as methane, or vegetation. In the presence of carbonaceous material less heating may be required than in the absence thereof.
  • Electric power may be supplied to the various units I-IV from any available power source, such as national or regional power plant.
  • the apparatus includes a fifth unit (hereinafter unit V), which produces electric power for operating the other units from locally available renewable sources such as wind or solar energy.
  • unit V utilizes combustion of a biological material to produce the electric power.
  • the method further comprises cutting vegetation; fermenting the vegetation to form biogas comprising methane and CO2; and reacting the biogas with water and metal to form synthesis gas and metal oxide.
  • the method comprises silaging the cut vegetation, and fermenting silaged vegetation.
  • silaging comprises obtaining compost.
  • the method further comprises recycling the metal oxide to obtain metal.
  • the metal is zinc; and recycling the metal oxide comprises reacting the zinc oxide with carbonaceous material in boiling zinc.
  • such method comprises condensing zinc vapor of the boiling zinc to obtain liquid zinc; and reacting methane and CO2 formed in in the biological conversion with the obtained liquid zinc.
  • the carbonaceous material is carbon
  • the method comprises obtaining the carbon in a method comprising gasifying biomass to obtain carbon and combustible gases.
  • the method further comprises oxidizing the obtained combustible gases; and heating the boiling zinc with heat obtained from oxidizing the combustible gases.
  • the heating is optionally from outside, for instance, with a heat exchanger.
  • recycling comprises electrolyzing.
  • recycling comprises thermally decomposing.
  • thermally decomposing comprises heating with solar thermal energy.
  • thermally decomposing is in the presence of carbonaceous material.
  • the carbonaceous material comprises at least one of vegetation and methane.
  • the vegetation comprises one or more of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), hay, forage, sugarcane or portion thereof, and starch forming plant, such as maize, rice, wheat, barley, sorghum, oats, millets, rye, triticale, and buckwheat.
  • recycling comprises utilizing electrical power, and the method comprises combusting portions of the vegetation to produce at least a portion of said electrical power.
  • the biological material microbiologically converted in (a) comprises at least one of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), hay, and forage.
  • the biological material comprises sugarcane.
  • the biological material comprises sugarcane bagasse or portions of sugarcane that are not fermentable to ethanol.
  • the biological material comprises green starch forming plant.
  • the green starch forming plant is not fully ripe.
  • the green starch forming plant is not ripe enough to be harvested for ethanol production.
  • the green starch forming plant is not ripe enough to be suitable as foods for humans.
  • the green starch forming plant is not ripe enough to be suitable as food for livestock.
  • the green starch forming plants comprises at least one of maize, rice, wheat, barley, sorghum, oats, millets, rye, triticale, and buckwheat.
  • the method also comprises (d) combusting a portion of the biological material to obtain electricity.
  • recycling the metal oxide comprises utilizing the electricity obtained in (d).
  • the biological material comprises sugarcane
  • the sugarcane comprises sugar, bagasse, and leaves and stems
  • the method comprises: (al) microbiologically converting the bagasse to form biogas comprising methane and CO2;
  • Another aspect of some embodiments of the invention concerns a method of producing methanol, the method comprising: producing synthesis gas in a method according to any embodiment of the inventio; and processing the synthesis gas to form methanol.
  • Another aspect of some embodiments concerns a method of forming an ester, the method comprising: forming alcohol from a first vegetation in a process comprising microbilological conversion of the vegetation; microbiologically converting a second vegetation to form a carboxylic acid; and reacting said alcohol with said carboxylic acid to obtain the ester.
  • the process comprises: microbiologically converting the second vegetation to biogas comprising CO2 and methane; reacting the biogas with water and metal to obtain syngas and metal oxide; and producing an alcohol from the syngas.
  • the alcohol comprises methanol.
  • the carboxylic acid comprises at least one of succinic acid and butyric acid.
  • the process comprises biologically converting the second vegetation to ethanol.
  • the first vegetation is sugarcane bagasse; and the second vegetation is sugarcane sugar.
  • the method comprises recycling the metal oxide to from the metal.
  • recycling comprises electrolyzing.
  • recycling comprises utilizing electrical energy.
  • the method comprises forming the electrical energy in a process comprising combusting vegetation.
  • recycling comprises thermally decomposing in the presence of carbonaceous material.
  • heating is with solar thermal energy.
  • thermally decomposing is in the presence of carbonaceous material.
  • a syngas producing unit configured for receiving said biogas and water, and reacting said biogas with a first metal and said water with a second metal, which is the same or different from said first metal, to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
  • a fuel producing unit configured for producing a carbonaceous fuel from products of the syngas producing unit
  • a metal regenerating unit configured for regenerating metal from metal oxide produced in the syngas producing unit.
  • the metal regenerating unit comprises: a carbon source; a reactor with liquid zinc, having an inlet for receiving metal oxide from the syngas producing unit, an inlet for receiving carbonaceous material from said carbon source, and an outlet for exiting gaseous zinc.
  • the metal regenerating unit also comprises a heat exchanger, keeping the temperature of said reactor above the boiling temperature of zinc.
  • the heat exchanger receives heat from a combustor, which receives combustible gas from said reactor and combusts the received combustible gas.
  • the inlet receives carbon from a pyrolysis chamber, wherein carbonaceous material is pyrolized.
  • the carbonaceous material is pyrolized in the absence of air.
  • the carbonaceous material comprises vegetation, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), hay, forage, and waste residues from processing plant materials, for instance, sugarcane bagasse vinasse, and/or sawdust.
  • the carbonaceous material comprises carbon.
  • the carbonaceous material In some embodiments of the invention, the system comprises an electric power producing unit, configured to supply electric power to said metal regenerating unit.
  • the electric power producing unit is configured to utilize renewable energy sources.
  • the electric power producing unit comprising a combustion chamber for combusting biological material.
  • the syngas producing unit comprises:
  • reaction chamber configured for receiving liquid metal from said container and comprises: an inlet for receiving biogas, and an outlet for letting out syngas produced in the reaction chamber;
  • the container with liquid metal has a metal inlet, for introducing metal in solid state into said container.
  • the inlet comprises elastic seals.
  • the heat transferring member is a portion of the container, and this portion directly contacts liquid metal in the container.
  • reaction chamber and said container are concentric.
  • metal regenerating unit comprises an electrolytic bath.
  • the reaction chamber is configured for receiving a carbonaceous material and reacting the carbonaceous material with a metal oxide produced by a reaction between the metal and the biogas and water.
  • the carbonaceous material is methane.
  • the first and second metals are the same.
  • the metal regeneration unit comprises: a conduit, for receiving metal oxide from said syngas producing unit and transferring said metal oxide to a metal reproducing unit; a heat exchanger, for cooling said metal oxide; a first valve and a second valve defining between them along said conduit an intermediate zone, said first valve connecting said intermediate zone to said syngas producing unit and said second valve connecting said intermediate zone to said metal reproducing unit.
  • such a system comprises acid inlet for introducing an acid into said intermediate zone.
  • the metal reproducing unit comprises an electrolytic bath.
  • the reproducing unit comprises a solar heater, capable of heating said metal oxide as to decompose it.
  • the reproducing unit comprises an inlet for a carbonaceous material.
  • An aspect of some embodiments of the invention concerns a system for producing liquid fuel, the system comprising:
  • a bagasse fermentation unit having an outlet for biogas, the bagasse fermentation unit being configured for producing biogas from at least one of bagasse and other sugarcane portions not fermentable to ethanol, such as vinasse.
  • a syngas producing unit configured for receiving biogas from the bagasse fermentation unit, and for producing syngas from said biogas
  • a fuel producing unit configured for producing a carbonaceous fuel from products of the syngas producing unit
  • a metal regenerating unit configured for regenerating metal from metal oxide produced in the syngas producing unit.
  • the metal regenerating unit comprises: a carbon source; a reactor with liquid zinc, having an inlet for receiving metal oxide from the syngas producing unit, an inlet for receiving carbonaceous material from said carbon source, and an outlet for exiting gaseous zinc.
  • the metal regenerating unit also comprises a heat exchanger, keeping the temperature of said reactor above the boiling temperature of zinc.
  • the heat exchanger receives heat from a combustor, which receives combustible gas from said reactor and combusts the received combustible gas.
  • the carbon source comprises a pyrolysis chamber for pyrolyzing carbonaceous material.
  • the pyrolysis chamber is configured for pyrloyzing the carbonaceous material in the absence of air.
  • the carbonaceous material received in the reactor from said carbon source is carbon.
  • the carbonaceous material comprises vegetation, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), hay, forage, and waste residues from processing plant materials, for instance, sugarcane bagasse vinasse, and/or sawdust.
  • the system further comprises a sugar fermentation unit, configured to produce ethanol from sugar.
  • the system comprises an electric power producing unit, configured to supply electric power to said metal regenerating unit.
  • the electric power producing unit comprises a combustion chamber configured for combusting sugarcane leaves and stems.
  • Another aspect of some embodiments of the invention concerns a method of producing synthesis gas from sugarcane comprising sugar, bagasse, and leaves and stems, the method comprising:
  • Fig. IA is a simplified block diagram of a system for producing syngas according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. IB is a schematic illustration of powder inlet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figs. 2 A and 2B are schematic illustrations of syngas producing units according to embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 3 A is a schematic illustration of an oxide removing device, for removing oxide from a syngas producing unit according to an embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 3B is a schematic illustration of a zinc regenerating unit according to an embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 4 is a flowchart describing actions taken in a method of producing ethanol and methanol from sugarcane according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Microbiologically converting the biological material is optionally carried out in known methods.
  • One of many such methods may be found in U.S. Patent No. 6,454,944 to Raven, titled "Process and apparatus for conversion of biodegradable organic materials into product gas”.
  • methane or any other carbonaceous material is also introduced into the syngas producing unit.
  • it is optional to operate the unit with carbon dioxide : methane : water molar ratios of
  • preferable working temperature is around 800°C, and excess of carbon sources over the hydrogen source, allows working at a broader temperature range. At higher pressure, higher temperature is required.
  • the reaction between methane and metal oxide consumes the heat produced by the exothermic reactions of water and/or carbon dioxide with the metal, and lowers the temperature in the syngas producing unit to below preferable operation temperature. In these embodiments, it may be advisable to supply the syngas producing unit with heat from an external source, for example, from the fuel-producing unit.
  • the amount of energy required for recycling the metal per product unit depends on the relative amount of methane used.
  • the regeneration comprises reacting the metal oxide with carbon, optionally solid carbon. In such embodiments, using more methane in the syngas formation reaction permits using less carbon in the metal regeneration process. Syngas producing reactions
  • metal is introduced into the reaction chamber in small droplets, to let the gases react with the metal faster.
  • Introducing the metal as droplets may be with any commercially available metal sprayer, as, for instance, those used for spraying corrosion-resistant coatings, such as zinc or aluminum.
  • the metals are preferably but not limited to Al, Mg, and Zn, or alloys of these metals or alloys of one or more of these metals with other metals.
  • metal oxide produced in the reaction chamber sinks on the floor of the reaction chamber due to its relatively high density.
  • This metal oxide is optionally removed from the reaction chamber through an outlet in the floor of the reaction chamber.
  • the removed metal oxide is then cooled, and reacted with an acid to provide an aqueous solution.
  • the produced aqueous solution is electrolyzed to obtain metal that is optionally used again to react with fresh water and CO 2 .
  • part or all of the metal oxide is created as a powder made of very small particles, and rather than sinking to the floor of the reaction chamber, this powder floats and creates together with the produced gas an aerosol.
  • the metal oxide is removed from the reaction chamber together with the produced gases.
  • the produced aerosol is cooled, and bubbled into an electrolysis solution, in which the metal oxide reacts to produce metal and the gases contained in the aerosol leave the electrolysis solution free of metal oxide powder. Heat economy
  • heat produced in one or more of the exothermic (heat producing) processes is supplied to the endothermic (heat consuming) processes.
  • the heat endothermic processes optionally include reacting carbonaceous material with metal oxide, and/or regenerating the metal and the exothermic processes optionally include:
  • heat produced in one or more of the exothermic processes is used to operate a heat machine, for instance, a turbine.
  • syngas exits the syngas producing unit at about 800° is cooled or heated to a temperature selected for producing the fuel in the fuel producing unit.
  • syngas exits the syngas producing unit at a pressure suitable for producing the fuel at the selected temperature.
  • cooling the syngas comprises expanding it through a gas turbine, thus utilizing the heat carried by the syngas to produce work.
  • heat excess from any of the units in a system according to embodiments of the invention may be used for operating one or more steam turbine(s). It is also possible to use excess heat for heating houses, water in domestic water systems, etc. Sources of CO 2
  • CO 2 is optionally supplied with gas mixtures that are rich with CO 2 .
  • a gas mixture is natural gas.
  • CO 2 is present together with the natural gas (methane).
  • the CO 2 is treated as a contamination, separated from the methane, and released to the atmosphere.
  • the two gases are reacted together, in the presence of water and a metal, to form synthesis gas, which is preferably used for producing a liquid fuel, such as methanol.
  • the liquid fuel is advantageous over the natural gas in that it may be easily transferred; it does not leak as easily as gas does; it is biodegradable, and is less dangerous in handling.
  • methane and carbon dioxide are produced from solid waste, for instance, from landfills, but usually only the methane is used.
  • the carbon dioxide is also used, to produce with the methane a liquid hydrocarbon, such as methanol.
  • Fermentation facilities used for producing ethanol as a gasoline substitute, are another optional CO 2 source. Fermentation facilities produce ethanol from fermentation of biological material. In most cases, the fermentation product includes CO 2 that is not used in the formation of ethanol. Using embodiments of the present invention to form methanol from this CO 2 may double the energy produced by these facilities, and save the environment from considerable amounts of CO 2 .
  • syngas is produced from CO 2 and methane obtained from microbiological conversion of biological materials or waste, for example, vegetation, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), hay, forage, and waste residues from processing plant materials, for instance, sugarcane bagasse and/or vinasse.
  • the vegetation comprises starch forming plants, for example, maize, rice, wheat, barley, sorghum, oats, millets, rye, triticale, and/or buckwheat.
  • the vegetation is harvested green, since at this stage it contains more cellulose and less starch than in later stages.
  • Cellulose is richer in energy than lignin or starch.
  • starch forming plant is considered green if it is not fully ripe, that is, if starch formation is not complete.
  • starch forming plant is considered green if it is not ripe enough to be harvested for ethanol production.
  • starch forming plant is considered green if it is no ripe enough to be suitable as foods for humans. Still alternatively, starch forming plant is considered green if it is no ripe enough to be suitable as food for livestock.
  • maize is a starch forming plant, which if harvested before ripening of the grains to complete starch formation, may produce three times more energy than if harvested when the grains are ripe.
  • syngas is produced from CO 2 and methane obtained from microbiological conversion of bagasse, which is the biomass remaining after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juice.
  • syngas is produced from CO 2 and methane obtained from microbiological conversion of sugar juice content which is not fermented to ethanol.
  • sugar juice content which not fermented to ethanol comprises vinasse.
  • vegetation portions that are less useful for producing methane and/or CO 2 are used as fuel for thermal processes, to provide electric power.
  • electric power obtained this way is used for running the syngas production. For instance, if the metal is regenerated by electrolysis, the electricity may be used for metal regeneration, and the system may be self-contained.
  • non-edible portions of plants are biologically converted to biogas, while edible portions are used as food.
  • This embodiment may allow utilizing the vegetation for both food and fuel production.
  • vegetation is harvested green, thus allowing shorter life cycle of the crops, and growing more crops per hectare per year.
  • various portions of sugarcane: sugar, bagasse, and straw are processed to obtain liquid fuel.
  • the liquid fuel comprises methanol and ethanol.
  • Ethanol is optionally produced in known methods from the sugar juice.
  • Methanol is optionally produced from portions of sugar juice that are not fermented to ethanol, comprising what is referred to in the art as vinasse.
  • the vinasse is fermented to provide biogas containing carbon dioxide and methane, and the biogas is reacted with water and metal to provide synthesis gas, which in turn may be made into methanol.
  • the biogas may be obtained from bagasse fermentation.
  • the liquid fuel comprises esters of carboxylic acids.
  • esters may be used as fuel for diesel engines.
  • a method according to this embodiment comprises: fermenting vegetation to obtain carboxylic acid; forming an alcohol in a process comprising fermenting vegetation; and reacting the alcohol and the carboxylic acid to obtain ester.
  • the process of forming an alcohol comprises fermenting the vegetation to biogas, and reacting the biogas to form alcohol.
  • the vegetation fermented to alcohol and the vegetation fermented to biogas are of the same kind.
  • One such method where the vegetation fermented to alcohol and that fermented to biogas are two portions of the same plant comprises, for example: fermenting sugar to obtain a carboxylic acid; processing bagasse, to obtain biogas comprising methane and carbon dioxide; processing the biogas to obtain alcohol; and reacting the obtained alcohol with the obtained carboxylic acid.
  • processing the biogas to obtain alcohol comprises reacting the biogas with water and metal.
  • Reacting the alcohol with the acid is optionally carried out in a method known in the art.
  • the carboxylic acid is succinic acid, butyric acid, or a mixture thereof.
  • Other aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acids may also be formed from the sugar and reacted with the methanol according to embodiments of the invention.
  • succinic acid is produced using BSDA technology, commercially available from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (WA, USA).
  • Some of the embodiments of the present invention consume energy.
  • this energy is obtained from renewable sources, such as solar energy, nuclear energy, hydroelectric energy, geothermic energy, and/or wind.
  • heat produced in some steps of the inventive processes may be used to replace external energy source.
  • Some embodiments of the invention comprise producing metal from metal oxide. This is optionally done by electrolysis at night, when electricity is relatively cheap.
  • Fig. IA is a simplified block diagram of an apparatus 100 for producing syngas from biological material and water according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • block 120 is a syngas producing unit.
  • Syngas producing unit 120 has an inlet 125, for receiving CO 2 and methane.
  • CO 2 and methane are received from a fermentation unit 127.
  • Fermentation unit 127 is of a kind known in the art per se.
  • inlet 125 also receives water vapor.
  • syngas producing unit 120 has a separate water inlet 130, but this may be omitted if the CO 2 is supplied with sufficient amounts of water.
  • syngas producing unit 120 has only one inlet, for receiving all the non-metallic reactants.
  • unit 120 may include two reaction chambers (not shown), one for reacting the CO 2 with a first metal, and the other for reacting water with a second metal, which may be the same or different from the first metal. In other cases, the CO 2 and the water may react in a single reaction chamber.
  • metal is introduced into the syngas producing unit through a metal inlet, 135.
  • Syngas producing unit 120 comprises a syngas outlet 140.
  • the syngas leaves unit 120 at a pressure, which is most suitable for producing methanol, that is, at about 50Atm, although other pressures may be used.
  • the temperature and/or pressure is adjusted to the temperature and/or pressure required in fuel producing unit 150 after the syngas leaves unit 120.
  • syngas outlet 140 supplies the syngas to a fuel producing unit 150, which produces fuel, for instance, methanol from the syngas by any method known in the art per se. Production of methanol from syngas is described, for instance in Kirk Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology published by Wiley Interscience.
  • Syngas unit 120 also comprises a metal oxide outlet 145, leading into a metal regeneration unit, 160.
  • metal regeneration unit 160 comprises an electrolysis bath, in which the metal oxide is electrolyzed to produce a metal.
  • the electrolysis bath receives electrical power from power source 170.
  • Power source 170 is optionally a national or regional power plant, or a local power source.
  • a local power source optionally uses combustion of biological material to produce electric power.
  • local power source may produce power from renewable sources, such as solar energy, wind, hydroelectric power, etc.
  • metal produced in regeneration unit 160 is introduced to the syngas producing unit, for instance, through inlet 135.
  • syngas producing unit 120 is independent of metal regeneration unit 160, such that syngas is produced irrespective of metal regeneration. This allows regenerating the metal only when cheep electricity supply is available, while producing syngas around the clock. Metal regeneration or fuel production may be limited, for instance, to daytime, when solar energy is available, to night time, when central power plants provide cheap electric power, or whenever there is wind that is capable of operating a wind driven power plant, all in accordance with the specific kind of power source 170 that is being used.
  • water reacts with a metal to form hydrogen and metal oxide and CO 2 reacts with a metal to form CO and metal oxide.
  • these reactions may require ignition. Ignition is optionally supplied by electric spark, discharge, and/or a hot filament.
  • Metal is preferably introduced into syngas producing unit 120 during operation. Metal introduction is optionally synchronous with introduction of the other reactants, such that there is no excess of metal over the other reactants. Excess of metal may turn the reaction in the opposite direction, to produce CO 2 from CO and metal oxide. Metal is optionally introduced into the syngas producing unit by sprinkling with a metal sprayer, for instance, of the kind used for spraying metals to coat substrates. Syngas produced by the reactions between CO 2 , water, and metal in the syngas producing unit (120) exits into methanol producing unit 150, wherein fuel is catalytically prepared from the syngas using methods that are known in the art. Optionally, the fuel is an alcohol, such as methanol or ethanol, or any other hydrocarbon.
  • Metal oxide produced by the reactions that take place in the syngas producing unit exits into metal regeneration unit, 160, where it is reacted to regenerate the metal.
  • the regenerated metal is optionally returned to syngas producing unit 120, to react with fresh amounts of water and CO 2 .
  • Figs. 2A and 2B are simplified schematic illustrations of syngas producing units 400 and 400' for oxidizing metals with water to form hydrogen and metal oxide and/or for oxidizing metals with CO 2 to form CO and metal oxide.
  • Another suitable syngas producing unit is described in Applicants' patent application WO2006/123330, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
  • Other methods, known in the art for producing syngas from CO 2 and water can also be used, in some embodiments of the invention.
  • Devices 400 and 400' comprise two containers.
  • One container (405) is a reaction chamber, and the other container (410) contains the metal (420) in liquid form.
  • Reaction chamber 405 comprises a sprinkle or nozzle (415), configured to supply liquid metal 420 from container 410 to the reaction chamber.
  • metal 420 is supplied to container 410 in solid state, for instance, in the form of powder, a rod or a wire, and heated to liquefy and/or to remain at liquid state by heat produced in reaction chamber 405 during operation.
  • pressure is optionally used to force the metal into the container through inlet 422.
  • inlet 422 comprises elastic seals, as described, for instance, in Applicants' patent application No. WO2006/123330, incorporated herein by reference.
  • metal 420 is supplied as powder.
  • inlet 422 is as described in Fig. IB.
  • inlet 422 is shown to be in communication with a powder reservoir 705 having metal powder 420 through a powder conduit 710 having two valves, 715 and 720.
  • Valve 715 separates conduit 710 from reservoir 705, and valve 720 separates conduit 710 from container 410.
  • valve 720 is closed, valve 715 is opened and allows introducing metal powder into conduit 710. Then, valve 715 is closed, and valve 710 is opened to transfer the powder to container 410.
  • the pressure used to force the metal into container 405 is utilized for pushing liquid metal 420 into reaction chamber 405. Additionally or alternatively, a pump 425 is used for said pushing.
  • a heat exchanger 430 is used to transfer the heat from reaction chamber 405 to container 410.
  • the two containers 405 and 410 are structured in a concentric structure, allowing the absence of a heat exchanger between them.
  • the reaction chamber 405 has in it a heat exchanger 432 for cooling the atmosphere in the reaction chamber, to allow evacuating heat from the reaction chamber as to push forward the exothermic reactions that take place in the reaction chamber.
  • An external heat exchanger 435 is optionally used for supplying heat from reaction chamber 405 (or metal container 410) to other applications, for instance, for a CO 2 separation unit.
  • Reaction chamber 405 is equipped with at least one inlet 440, configured to inlet at least one of water, carbon dioxide, and methane.
  • reaction chamber 405 has one, two, or more additional inlets, each configured to inlet at least one of water, carbon dioxide and methane.
  • inlet 440 is for inletting methane and carbon dioxide together, optionally, from a source having them together, for instance, a fermentation unit.
  • inlet 440 is adopted for inletting water carbon dioxide, and methane together.
  • the pressure in reaction chamber 405 is designed to fit the pressure under which the syngas has to react in the fuel producing unit to give fuel. For instance, if methanol is to be produced at about 50 Atm (5000 kPa), the syngas producing unit is optionally operated at 50 Atm.
  • inlet 440 is configured for simultaneous inletting of water, CO 2 and methane.
  • Reaction chamber 405 also has a syngas outlet 450 and optionally a metal oxide outlet 455.
  • An oxide outlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is described bellow in relation to Fig. 3A.
  • the metal oxide exits together with the syngas, and a separate outlet such as 455 is optionally omitted.
  • a control system (460) controls the syngas composition by controlling the rate of introduction of the reactants (including metal, and at least one of water, carbon dioxide, and methane) into the reaction chamber (405).
  • Control system 460 optionally also controls syngas outlet 450, and/or oxide outlet 455.
  • syngas outlet 450 is controlled by a fuel producing unit (for example unit 150 in Fig. 1) that receives the syngas leaving from the outlet.
  • the fuel producing unit communicates with the syngas producing unit through control system 460.
  • control system 460 receives data on temperature and pressure inside reaction chamber 405 from temperature sensor 465 and pressure sensor 470.
  • device 400 or 400' comprises a plurality of temperature sensors, for sensing temperature at a plurality of locations inside reaction chamber 405.
  • Ignition of the metal in reaction chamber 405 is obtained, for example, by electric spark, discharge, or a hot filament.
  • Fig. 3A is a schematic illustration of an oxide removing device 500, for removing oxide from a syngas producing unit 400 according to an embodiment of the invention. Details of unit 400 are not provided, except for outlet 455. Optionally, unit 400 has a conical lower surface with the tip being at outlet 455, such that oxide particles formed during operation of unit 400 concentrate by gravity at outlet 455. Smaller or lighter oxide particles, that do not fall down, but rather go up with the syngas stream are not treated by device 500.
  • Device 500 comprises a conduit 505, optionally leading into an electrolytic bath 510.
  • Conduit 505 has an upper gate valve 530 and a lower gate valve 535, defining between them an intermediate zone (537).
  • An acid inlet 540 is provided for introducing acid into intermediate zone 537.
  • a heat exchanger 520 is positioned as to cool particles going from unit 400 towards conduit 505.
  • oxide particles coming into conduit 505 from syngas producing unit 400 are first cooled by heat exchanger 520, and then enter the conduit through upper gate valve 530.
  • Acid for example sulfuric acid
  • Acid inlet 540 is entered into conduit 505 through acid inlet 540 to dissolve the oxide particles.
  • Lower gate valve 535 opens to allow the metal oxide particles dissolved in the acid to pour into bath 510.
  • the metal oxide is electrolyzed in bath 510.
  • the pressure in the syngas producing unit 400 is preferably higher than the pressure in the conduit (the latter being optionally atmospheric pressure), to facilitate movement of oxide particles down into conduit 505 and prevent movement of acid up through the conduit.
  • metal regeneration is not by electrolysis
  • the use of acid to dissolve the metal oxide and/or the use of an electrolyzer may be omitted.
  • the metal oxide is optionally cooled, and transferred for regeneration by reaction with methane, by heat, or by any other way known in the art per se.
  • Fig. 3B is a block diagram of a zinc regenerating unit 600 according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Unit 600 comprises a reactor 605, filled with boiling zinc.
  • Unit 600 receives zinc oxide particles from syngas producing unit 400, and carbon particles from carbon reservoir 612. Both carbon and zinc oxide are less dense than liquid zinc, and therefore, in some embodiments, they float to the outer surface of bubbles of the boiling zinc, so as to mix the zinc.
  • the zinc oxide particles react with the carbon particles to produce zinc and CO.
  • Gaseous CO and gaseous zinc exit from reactor 605.
  • the gaseous zinc liquefies upon cooling to below the melting temperature
  • gaseous CO enters into combustor 625, where the CO is oxidized with air, to produce CO 2 and heat.
  • the heat produced in combustor 625 is transferred to reactor 605 with heat exchanger 630 to compensate for heat losses due to the endothermic reaction between zinc oxide and carbon.
  • Heat exchanger 630 optionally heats reactor 605 from outside and keeps reactor 605 at a temperature somewhat above the melting temperature of zinc, for instance, about 1000°C.
  • carbon reservoir 612 receives carbon from a pyrolysis chamber
  • pyrolysis chamber having an inlet for carbonaceous material.
  • pyrolysis chamber has also an air inlet (not shown), allowing partial oxidation of the carbonaceous material.
  • the carbonaceous material optionally comprises vegetation, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), hay, forage, and waste residues from processing plant materials, for instance, sugarcane bagasse vinasse, and/or sawdust.
  • the carbonaceous gasified in chamber 635 to obtain combustible gases and carbon.
  • the carbon exits into reservoir 612, from where it arrives at reactor 605.
  • the carbon is delivered from combustor 635 directly to reactor 605, and reservoir 612 is omitted.
  • the gases are optionally oxidized (for example, in oxidizer 625), and heat obtained in this oxidation is used for heating, from outside, reactor 605 and/or pyrolysis chamber 635.
  • the gases that exit pyrolysis chamber 635 enter combustor 625, where they are oxidized. Heat obtained in this oxidation is optionally supplied to reactor 605, to maintain the zinc in reactor 605 boiling, and/or to pyrolysis chamber 635, to supply heat for the pyrolysis of the carbonaceous material.
  • carbonaceous material rather than carbon, is introduced to reactor 605.
  • the carbonaceous material reduces the zinc oxide to provide zinc and various gases, comprising, for example, gaseous hydracarbons, the exact composition of which depends on the composition of the carbonaceous material used for reducing the oxide. These gases are optionally combusted in combustor 625 to heat reactor 605 and keep the zinc at boiling point.
  • pyrolysis chamber 635 may be omitted, and reservoir 612 is a reservoir of carbonaceous material
  • the carbonaceous material optionally comprises vegetation, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), hay, forage, and waste residues from processing plant materials, for instance, sugarcane bagasse, vinasse bagass, corn-straw, other kinds of straw, and/or sawdust.
  • reactor 605 receives both carbonaceous materials and carbon particles.
  • Fig. 4 is a flowchart describing actions taken in a method 900 of producing liquid fuel from sugarcane according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Sugarcane comprises sugar juice; bagasse; and leaves and stems.
  • the method of Fig. 4 can make uses of all these components at actions 910, 920, 930 respectively.
  • ethanol is produced from the sugar juice by microbiologic conversion, optionally, in methods known in the art.
  • other portions of the sugarcane are microbiologically converted to biogas.
  • the other portions may comprise, for example, bagasse and portions of the sugar juice that are not fermented to ethanol, for example, vinasse.
  • the non-fermented sugar portions are completely non-fermentable to ethanol.
  • the non-fermented sugar portions comprise fermentable and non- fermentable sugar-juice portions.
  • the remaining of the sugarcane for instance, leaves and stems, are combusted; and the heat of their combustion is used for generating electrical power.
  • the biogas obtained is reacted, at action 922, with water and metal to form syngas.
  • metal oxide is formed.
  • the metal is regenerated from the metal oxide.
  • the regeneration comprises electrolysis, or other electric power consuming processes.
  • some or all of the electric power utilized to regenerate the metal is obtained from combusting the leaves and stems, at action 930.
  • Metal regenerated at action 924 is optionally used for reaction with the biogas, in action 922.
  • the syngas produced at 922 is reacted to obtain liquid fuel, for instance, methanol.
  • Fig. 4 may be practiced without fermenting sugar to ethanol.
  • the sugar may be marketed for eating, fermented to methane, or be used for any other purpose.
  • the method as depicted in Fig. 4 is useful for increasing the fuel output of such facilities, without decreasing the ethanol production, if such decreasing is not desirable.

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Abstract

L'invention porte sur des procédés et des systèmes de production d'un gaz de synthèse. Dans certains modes de réalisation, le procédé consiste à convertir du matériel biologique microbiologiquement pour former du méthane et du CO2 ; et faire réagir du méthane et du CO2 formés en (a) avec de l'eau et un métal pour former un gaz de synthèse. Facultativement, le procédé consiste également à découper un végétal ; à faire fermenter le végétal pour former un biogaz comprenant du méthane et du CO2 ; et à faire réagir du biogaz avec de l'eau et un métal pour former un gaz de synthèse et un oxyde métallique. Dans certains modes de réalisation de l'invention, le métal réagi est régénéré par un oxyde métallique produit par la réaction. Dans certains modes de réalisation, la régénération comporte la réaction de l'oxyde dans un bain de zinc bouillant.
EP08763703A 2007-07-13 2008-07-10 Production d'énergie à partir de matériel biologique Withdrawn EP2171073A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/818,967 US8366966B2 (en) 2006-10-25 2007-07-13 Methods and systems for producing energy from carbon dioxide
PCT/IL2007/001576 WO2008050350A2 (fr) 2006-10-25 2007-12-19 Procédés et systèmes permettant de produire de l'énergie à partir du dioxyde de carbone
US6404308P 2008-02-12 2008-02-12
PCT/IL2008/000964 WO2009010959A2 (fr) 2007-07-13 2008-07-10 Production d'énergie à partir de matériel biologique

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WO2015170312A1 (fr) * 2014-05-07 2015-11-12 Engineuity Research And Development Ltd. Production de gaz de synthèse avec alimentation de chaleur d'oxydation cyclique
WO2015181180A1 (fr) * 2014-05-26 2015-12-03 MWK Bionik GmbH Procédé de production et dispositif de conversion microbiologique de gaz

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CA2692626A1 (fr) 2009-01-22
BRPI0812607A2 (pt) 2019-04-30
AU2008277248A1 (en) 2009-01-22

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