NZ544571A - Process for generating power using renewable biomass - Google Patents
Process for generating power using renewable biomassInfo
- Publication number
- NZ544571A NZ544571A NZ544571A NZ54457103A NZ544571A NZ 544571 A NZ544571 A NZ 544571A NZ 544571 A NZ544571 A NZ 544571A NZ 54457103 A NZ54457103 A NZ 54457103A NZ 544571 A NZ544571 A NZ 544571A
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- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- boiler
- nox
- biomass material
- process according
- fertilizer
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- 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
- Y02E20/00—Combustion technologies with mitigation potential
- Y02E20/14—Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
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- Treating Waste Gases (AREA)
- Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
Abstract
A process and apparatus are disclosed for generating electrical energy using grains or other renewable biomass as the fuel, and for producing fertilizer to grow subsequent crops. In the process, a biomass material is incinerated in a firebox of a boiler to power a first turbine to create electricity. An excess air flow is introduced into the firebox to increase NOx production. The oxidation area of the boiler is operated at a temperature exceeding about 2,000 DEG F, and the flue gases are maintained in the high temperature environment for an increased residence time to increase NO, production. The flyash from the incinerated biomass is filtered from the flue gases exhausted from the boiler. The NO, is removed from the filtered flue gases and used to produce a nitrogen fertilizer. The nitrogen fertilizer is blended with the flyash to form a balanced fertilizer product which allows sustainable production of the biomass material.
Description
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PROCESS FOR GENERATING POWER USING RENEWABLE BIOMASS
BACKGROUND OF THE TNVENTION Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates generally to processes and systems that use renewable biomass for generating power in the form of electricity and heat, for
producing nitric acid-based fertilizer as a valuable by-product, and for accomplishing atmospheric remediation by sequestering carbon dioxide.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] The most prevalent form of electrical energy generation at this time in the United States is from fossil fuel systems. These include mainly coal and natural
gas fired systems, as well as nuclear systems which account for about 15% of the market. While some progress is being made in making these systems more environmentally safe, they nonetheless produce large quantities of pollutants and toxic chemicals.
[0003] S02 and NOx are in the form of gases that turn to liquids once they are 15 vented and are the primary source of acid rain. The mechanisms to reduce these offensive and dangerous byproducts are expensive to build and take large amounts of energy from the plant to operate. The energy consumed in reducing these byproducts reduces the net electrical output of the generation plant, and thereby lowers the efficiency of a conventional plant into a range of 34 to 42%.
[0004] Conventional energy plants also generate high volumes (25 to 30% of fuel volume) of undesirable waste in the form of cinders and flyash which contains, among other things, arsenic, lead, cadmium, zinc, and mercury. As these materials exit the firebox, they carry along large amounts of heat, further reducing the efficiency of the plant. The fossil fuel systems are nonrenewable and consume fuels 25 for which there are limited supplies.
[0005] While nuclear power generation produces minimal CO, (primarily from electrical activity), decommissioning of nuclear power plants is expensive and inevitably leaves a contaminated site behind.
[0006] A well-known fact in the agricultural community is that grains are
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overproduced causing low commodity prices. The problem is too much grain and not enough uses and/or exports. Input costs continue to rise also causing losses to producers that have had to be subsidized by the government to stay viable. Fertilizer costs are the third highest input cost after land and machinery in grain production. 5 [0007] The most common fertilizers used today are nitric acid-based fertilizers.
These fertilizers are typically produced by processes that use the gas phase oxidation of nitric oxide (NO) to nitric dioxide (NO2) and partially back to nitric oxide. However, such processes are considered relatively inefficient, expensive, and limited in their industrial applicability.
[0008] An improved process for recovering nitric acid (HNO3) from the NOx in a flue gas stream is described in U.S. Patent No. 6,294,909 of Drinkard, Jr. This improved process involves reacting nitric acid with NOx to form N2O3 and water. The N2O3 reacts with water and is further oxidized to form additional nitric acid. Drinkard, Jr. has applied this technology to recover nitrogen gases from electric arc furnace dust 15 in the steel industry. Drinkard, Jr. does not disclose the use of his NOx removal process in conjunction with a sustainable agricultural system that burns biomass to generate power, produce fertilizer, and sequester carbon.
[0008a] A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is not to be taken as an admission or a suggestion that that document or 20 matter was, known or that the information it contains was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It would be desirable to provide a closed-loop facility fueled with biomass to produce heat, power, and nitrogen-based fertilizer with improved economic
and environmental impacts.
[0010] It would also be desirable to provide a process for generating power using renewable biomass that reduces emissions as compared to fossil fuel-fired power generation, and that sequesters carbon and saves soil nutrients, thereby improving the environment.
[0011] Further, it would be desirable to provide a process for producing nitrogen-based fertilizers as a byproduct of power generation, and that reduces harmful emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.
[0011a] Viewed from one aspect, the present invention provides a process for generating electricity and producing fertilizer, including the steps of:
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incinerating a biomass material to create electricity;
capturing NOx from exhaust gases produced by incinerating the biomass material; and using the NOx to produce a nitrogen-based fertilizer;
wherein said step of capturing NOx from the exhaust gases includes exposing the gases to a solution of nitric acid and excess reacted trivalent nitric oxides to produce additional nitric acid.
[0012] One embodiment of the present invention is described as follows. A biomass material is incinerated in a firebox of a boiler to generate steam and power a
first turbine to create electricity. An excess air flow is introduced into the firebox to increase NOx production. The oxidation area of the boiler is operated at a temperature exceeding about 2,000°F, and the flue gases are maintained in the high temperature environment for an increased residence time to increase NOx production. The flyash from the incinerated biomass is filtered from the flue gases exhausted from the boiler.
The NOx is removed from the filtered flue gases and used to produce a nitrogen fertilizer. The nitrogen fertilizer is blended with the flyash to form a balanced fertilizer product which allows sustainable production of the biomass material as a fuel source.
[0013] Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for generating electric energy from grains and other biomass, instead of fossil fuels. The system
improves the efficiency over conventional fossil fuel systems by more fully utilizing all the heat produced by the burning grain and reclaiming valuable by-products. The by-products include minerals in the flyash and nitrogen from the NOx both of which reclaimed and used as fertilizer to regrow the grain. This allows for a continuous cogeneration system that has been mostly limited to spacial heating at this time and
limited to upwards of 70% efficiency due to low burning temperatures. A variety of biomass products can be used in this system besides grain. For example, grain dust,
switch grass, spent coffee grounds, moldy or musty grain, an array of blended products, intentionally or accidentally mixed grains, and adulterated or contaminated grains can be used.
[0014] With the present invention, it is not necessary to have exhaust gases exit a chimney at 400°F or more to disperse undesirable and potentially toxic exhaust fumes over a broad area. Therefore, the invention can use heat exchangers to extract the last few hundred degrees from the flue gases as described, for example, in U.S.
Patent No. 5,146,755, and additionally in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,711,093, 3,978,663, and
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2,955,917. As a result, the efficiency of the energy production can be increased by up to 20 percent without detrimental effects on the atmosphere.
[0015] The present invention captures nitrogen that has been burned out of the atmosphere and fuel with the same energy that is producing the steam for electrical
generation. Thus, the operating cost of fuel to produce the fertilizer is practically zero. This savings in the cost of fertilizer production will reduce input costs for the next grain crop to be produced.
[0016] Numerous other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and
described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, simply by way of illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modification in various obvious aspects without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description should be regarded as illustrative 15 in nature and not restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The present invention will become more clearly appreciated as the disclosure of embodiments of the invention is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
[0018] Fig. 1 is a schematic flow chart of the process and system according to an embodiment of the present invention for generating power, producing fertilizer and sequestering carbon dioxide using renewable biomass.
[0019] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the current domestic corn-based agriculture, ammonia production, and coal-fired power plants showing the key product
transfers between industries.
[0020] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of how a corn-based power facility using the present invention could alter the CO2 cycle and energy requirements as compared to the current scenario shown in Fig. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 30 [0021] A process and system for generating power, producing fertilizer and sequestering carbon dioxide using renewable biomass will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings. The potential impact upon agriculture, energy consumption, and the environment in the United States will then be explained with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.
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[0022] First, it should be noted that grains and grain by-products and virtually all organic materials suited to burn as a fuel for a commercial boiler can be used in the present invention. For example, conventional grains, including corn, milo, wheat, soybeans, and so forth, can be used, as well as other agricultural crops, such as
switchgrass and the like. These biomass products are all combustible, although they have different fat and caloric content and slightly different mineral contents. For convenience of illustration and understanding, the present invention will be explained in connection with the production and consumption of corn, as well as its potential impact on the U.S. com industry. Those skilled in the art will be able to apply the 10 teachings herein to other suitable crops and biomass products.
[0023] In Figure 1, closed-loop process is shown where grain is produced on farmland 11 and then delivered to the power plant. Electric energy is then produced by burning the grain. Specifically, the grain is conveyed in a controlled manner to an inlet of the firebox 12 of a cyclonic or opposing wall fired burner system. These are
the preferred boiler designs due to the high levels of turbulence encountered in the burning area which enhance the production of NOx by 85% to 900% over low temperature fluidized bed systems and tangentially fired systems. Approximately 90% of the NOx of the flue gas exhausted from the firebox 12 is NO (nitrogen oxide), and the remaining 10% is NO,. Flame temperature, equivalence ratio, and air and 20 fuel preheat temperatures all affect NOx production.
[0024] The grain or other biomass is blasted into the firebox 12 and burned as fuel for the plant. The firebox 12 is preferably maintained at a temperature exceeding about 2,000 °F by the burning grain and provides the primary steam source to power a turbine 13 to create electricity 14.
[0025] To this fuel stream is added preheated excess air flows to provide 5 to
7% excess oxygen (25-45% excess air). At these excess 02 levels, the NOx production will double over the normal levels of most existing boilers. [0026] The desired temperature of the oxidation area is the highest that the particular boiler design can withstand under normal safety limits. The temperature 30 used today in most situations is approximately 1,600°F. If the temperature is raised to 2,000°F, NOx production will increase by 60%. If the temperature is farther raised to
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2,400°F, NOx production will increase by another 60%. A further increase from 2,400°F to 2,800°F will triple NOx production. Any temperature over 2.800°F will increase production of NOx exponentially. Therefore, a preferred system according to the present invention will operate at a temperature exceeding about 2,800°F. 5 [0027] The flue gases are maintained in the high temperature environment of the firebox 12 of the boiler as long as possible to enhance the production of NOx. The increased residence time, which is the time the incoming air is held in the firebox 12 of the boiler at these high temperatures, can increase NOx production by 2 to 3 times. For example, if a conventional boiler in a fossil fuel plant has a residence time of one 10 second, the boiler used in the present invention may have a residence time of 2 to 5 seconds.
[0028] The higher operating temperature within the boiler in the present system will increase NOx production in the range of sixfold over conventional boiler systems. The higher operating temperature will also increase the efficiency of the
boiler by producing more working steam per Btu of fuel than is possible with fossil fuel fired systems operating at low temperatures. The working steam will come off the superheater headers as in normal operations.
[0029] Once the flue gases have passed through the economizer section and the reheat tube assemblies, it will pass through a bag house 15 that filters and collects
the mineral content or flyash of the incinerated grain. This v/ill amount to no more than 1.5% of the volume of the grain fuel. This is collected and delivered to a fertilizer blending plant 16 to be added back to the fertilizer blend as prescribed by the soil agronomist.
[0030] The filtered gases then pass through an optional centrifugal separator 25 17 that splits the NO (nitrogen oxide) from the CO, and any water vapor (H,0) that may still be present along with minor amounts of N02, S02, and other possibly volatilized trace minerals. The energy released from the centrifugal separator can be utilized in a refrigerant working fluid system to power a second turbine 19 to create electricity. An example of such a system is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,146,755. 30 [0031] The separated NO and CO, streams then pass through two separate heat exchangers 18 to further cool the gases and to preheat the intake of combustion
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air for the firebox 12 of the boiler. As explained above, the preheated combustion air provides approximately 25 to 45% excess air flow to the firebox 12, thereby resulting in 5 to 7% more oxygen than necessaiy for combustion of the biomass. The preheated excess air flow to the firebox 12 increases the NOx production. 5 [0032] Once the NO gas mixture reaches a temperature of about 70 °F, the water vapor condenses. At this point, the NOx must be captured from the flue gas stream. This can be accomplished by using a suitable nitric acid scrubber 20, which can be in the form of multiple reaction chambers followed by wash chambers. When N02 contacts H20, it reacts to form nitric acid. Ten percent of the remaining NO then 10 reacts with oxygen in the air to form more N02. Theoretically, this reaction never reaches zero nitrogen oxide (NO) because only 10% reacts each time. However, the use of multiple reaction chambers and wash chambers and the recycling of the NOx through the chambers will improve the NOx capture.
[0033] Alternatively, the NOx capture and production of nitric acid from the 15 NOx can be accomplished in a more efficient manner by using a nitric acid scrubber
that passes the flue gas through a tower of nitric acid and excess reacted trivalent nitric oxides (N,03) in aqueous (liquid) form. This method of NOx capture will use the technology developed recently by Drinkard, Jr. (U.S. Patent No. 6,264,909). The Drinkard, Jr. process involves reacting NO from a source of NO, with HN03 in the 20 presence of N02" to produce nitric trioxide (N203) and water, and then reacting the nitric trioxide with oxygen and water to produce nitric acid. The NO? gas from the NO., is converted to nitric acid and NO by reacting with water, and the remaining NO product is then converted to nitric acid as described above. According to Drinkard, Jr., the nitric trioxide can be produced rapidly in high concentrations and will react 25 quickly to form nitric acid. The reactions will proceed in the liquid phase, presumably in a water column, atomizer or the like, and high pressure and temperature are not required.
[0034] Once the concentrated nitric acid 21 is produced from the captured NO . by the process described above, the nitric acid can be collected in a holding tank
22 and used to produce a nitrogen-based fertilizer in a known manner. For example, one of several high nitrogen fertilizer bases can be produced by reacting the
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concentrated nitric acid with aqueous ammonia 23 to produce ammonium nitrate 24, limestone (calcium carbonate) to produce calcium nitrate, or several other known compounds common to the fertilizer industry. The C02, HzO, N02, stream with the final cooling will have the water vapor condense and wash out the remaining NO, as a 5 weak nitric acid 25 that can be blended in with the concentrated nitric acid 21 to maintain a concentration level sufficient to produce the fertilizer products. [0035] The C02 can be collected in a holding container 26 and sold as a commercial product in its own market, and a small portion of it can be used to aerate the onsite grain storage structures to act as an insecticide and control vermin. 10 [0036] The nitrogen-based fertilizer product 24 is transferred to the fertilizer blending plant 16 that adds back the micro nutrients that were collected as flyash in the bag house 15. The resulting fertilizer product 27 will have approximately the same fertilizer and mineral content as was removed from the farmland 11 by the grain harvest. This will return to the soil the same nutrients that were removed in the grain 15 fuel and that will be needed to sustain continuous crop production. As the next crop grows in the field it will take in vast amounts of C02 and incorporate the carbon into the plant and roots to be eventually returned to the soil.
[0037] The potential impact of the present invention on the affected industries will be explained by a comparison of Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of 20 the current domestic corn-based agriculture, ammonia production, and power generation using coal-fired power plants. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of how a corn-based power facility using the present invention could alter the C02 cycle and energy requirements as compared to the scenario shown in Fig. 2.
[003;! | The farmer in both Figs. 1 and 2 consumes fuel to produce corn. Fuel
consumption and C02 production on the farm are the same for both scenarios. Fuel consumption of six gallons per acre was assumed based on known averages. C02 production was calculated based on the consumption of gasoline. Grain production of 9506 million bushels was based on the USDA figures for total U.S. production in 2001. Nitrogen requirements of 150 lb/acre were assumed based on known averages. 30 [0039] Fig. 2 assumes all coal-fired utility electrical generation totaling 1654
billion kWh. Coal is assumed to generate 10,000 Btu/lb and to be available at a
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purchase price of $1,20/MMBtu. Ammonia use is based on all power plants controlling unabated NOx emissions of 1.25 lb/MMBtu firing rate and achieving reduction of 75% using selective catalytic reduction. The ammonia requirement based on this performance is 0.3 lb. NH3/MMBtu firing rate.
[0040] In Fig. 3, an industrial facility for producing fertilizer, ammonia, and electricity is shown which is fueled with the total U.S. domestic production of corn. The scenario shown in Pig. 3 results in a 30% reduction in the amount of coal consumed annually to meet electricity demands in the United States. Nitrogen is derived from the flue gas, as explained above in connection with the process shown in Fig. 1. Natural gas is consumed to produce ammonia for the production of ammonium nitrate at the power plant. The key process production assumptions for Fig. 3 are as follows:
Electrical generation efficiency 35%
Higher heating value (HHY) corn 8928 Btu/lb Excess air 20%
2,000 ppm NOx production
Power plant CO, production 222 lb C02/MMBtu fuel
Net nitric acid production 5.36 lb/MMBtu corn
Nitrogen production 0.46 lb N/HN03 produced
Ammonia to make ammonium nitrate 0.3 lb NH3/lb HN03 produced
Natural gas consumption to make ammonia 33.5 MMBtu/ton NH3
COj production calculated from the Haber Process
[0041] The requirements for ammonia as fertilizer in the existing scenario shown in Fig. 2 will decrease in the scenario shown in Fig. 3. Ammonium nitrate will be produced from NOx generated by combustion of corn in a power plant, as explained above with reference to Fig. 1. As a result, natural gas required to produce ammonia using the well-known Haber Process will be decreased by 42% in the scenario shown in Fig. 3 as compared to the scenario shown in Fig. 2. This reduction will account for a substantial decrease in C02 emissions to the atmosphere.
[0042] Fig. 3 illustrates the macroscopic economics and environmental impacts of a widespread adoption of the present invention in the United States. On a
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smaller scale, it will be seen that promising economics can also be achieved for small industrial power plants using the teachings of the present invention. For example, an electric power plant of approximately 500 kW can be fueled from approximately 640 acres of either com or switchgrass. The following Table 1 is presented to show the 5 feasibility of an industrial facility fueled with either corn or switchgrass.
Table 1. Economics for Corn and Switchgrass Production for a 500-kW Power Plant
Corn
Switchgrass
Harvested Acres
640 acres •
640 acres
Production
88,448 bu
2560 tons
Fuel Value
44,221 MMBtu
40,960 MMBtu
Electricity Production
4,534,840 kWh
4,200,410 kWh
Capacity
518 kW
479 kW
NOx Production
69 tons
63 tons
Nitric Acid
119 tons
110 tons
Nitrogen Production
54.5 tons
50.5 tons
Ammonia Use
.6 tons
32.9 tons
Revenues
Electricity ($Q.066/kWh)
$299,299
$277,227
Nitrogen ($272/ton)
$14,828
$13,735
Purchases
Fuel ($5.00)
$221,106
$81,920
Ammonia ($224/ton)
$7,964
$7,377
Net Revenue
$85,058
$201,665
Capital Investment ($2,000/kW)
$1,035,352
$958,998
ROI
12.2 years
4.8 years
[00431 In the above Table 1, it is assumed that power efficiency of the electric power plant using the higher temperatures taught by the present invention will be 35% greater than in conventional fossil fuel-based power plants. By assuming NOx production at 2,000 ppm, a return on investment of 5 to 12 years is shown. Switchgrass is shown as having even better returns than corn because of low fuel 35 prices. Fuel cost and electricity value are the primary economic factors. However, if NOx levels can approach 50,000 ppm, then fertilizer production becomes the most significant economic factor. NQS levels of at least 8,000 ppm are possible, as taught by The John Zink Combustion Handbook (CRC, 2001), which would produce
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nitrogen revenues at approximately 10% of electricity revenues.
[0044] It is estimated that a coal power plant produces 1,950 lbs. of C02/MWe of electricity produced. It would require approximately 30 bushels of corn (approximately 1/4 acre) to produce 1 MWe based on present fossil fuel burning
efficiencies. This amount of corn would remove approximately 8216 lbs. of C02 from the atmosphere, less approximately 2,016 lbs. attributed to the burning of the grain. The present invention would thus provide a net removal of about 6,200 lbs. of C02 from the atmosphere per MWe of electricity generated. A 50MWe grain fueled power plant according to the present invention would allow for the net remediation of 10 1.3 million tons of CO, from the atmosphere on an annual basis. 150 such plants,
which is approximately what would be required to burn the present excess grain production capabilities in the United States, would sequester 197 million tons of C02 annually.
[0045] The present invention will also reduce the demand for burning natural 15 gas to produce anhydrous ammonia. For example, the conventional Haber Process requires 25 million Btu to produce one ton of anhydrous ammonia. This is approximately $75.00 worth of natural gas at $3.00 per million Btu, a cost which will be saved with the present invention. The present invention will produce sufficient levels of NOx at maximum operation to provide more than enough nitrogen to regrow 20 the subsequent crop.
[0046] The present invention provides an organic, renewable process for generating electricity which eliminates pollutants, such as cadmium, arsenic, lead, and an array of heavy metals common to the fossil fuel process.
[0047] The present invention will result in a net decrease of C02 in the
atmosphere due to the amount of carbon sequestered by the annual growth of a corn,
milo, wheat, or other annual plant used in comparison to the amount of C02 given off in the oxidation of the grain fuel it produces. This is further enhanced by the practice of no-till fanning, which minimizes soil disturbance thereby reducing the escape of CO, from the soil.
[0043] Adherence to the agronomic processes (no-till and balanced fertilizer application) will improve the farm ground used for production of the fuel used by the
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applicant's system.
[0049] The value of commodity grains in rural areas will increase due to increased usage of grain, reduced costs to transport the grain, and reduced cost to transport the final end product, electricity. The electricity generated can be sold and
delivered through existing power grids. Furthermore the fertilizer is produced in the vicinity of the fields and does not incur significant transportation costs.
[0050] Development and implementation of the present invention will comply with and compliment current efforts being made by state and federal governments for rural development. The invention will provide employment in the construction phase,
future ongoing operations, and attraction of businesses dependent upon reliable,
clean, environmentally responsible electrical energy.
[0051] While the invention has been specifically described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.
Claims (20)
1. A process for generating electricity and producing fertilizer, including the steps 5 of: incinerating a biomass material to create electricity; capturing NOx from exhaust gases produced by incinerating the biomass material; and using the NOx to produce a nitrogen-based fertilizer; 10 wherein said step of capturing NOx from the exhaust gases includes exposing the gases to a solution of nitric acid and excess reacted trivalent nitric oxides to produce additional nitric acid.
2. The process according to claim 1, wherein said biomass material is incinerated 15 in a firebox of a boiler to generate steam for powering a first turbine to create electricity, and further including the step of introducing excess oxygen into the firebox to increase NOx production.
3. The process according to claim 2, wherein said step of introducing excess 20 oxygen includes introducing 5 to 7% more oxygen in the firebox than needed for complete combustion of the biomass material.
4. The process according to claim 2 or claim 3, further including the step of maintaining flue gases in a high temperature environment of the boiler for a sufficient 25 residence time to substantially increase NOx production in the boiler.
5. The process according to any one of the preceding claims including the step of operating an oxidation area of the boiler at a temperature exceeding about 2,000°F. 30
6. The process according to claim 5, further including the step of operating the oxidation area of the boiler at a temperature exceeding about 2,800°F. 544571 14
7. The process according to any one of the preceding claims further including the step of passing flue gases exhausted from the boiler through a heat exchanger to further cool the gases and power a second turbine to create electricity. 5
8. The process according to claim 7, further including the step of using the heat exchanger to preheat an excess air flow introduced into the boiler which provides said excess oxygen.
9. The process according to any one of the preceding claims further including the 10 step of passing flue gases exhausted from the boiler through a separator to split a nitrogen oxide component of the gas mixture from a carbon dioxide component
10. The process according to claim 9, further including the step of collecting the 15 separated carbon dioxide component for commercial use.
11. The process according to any one of the preceding claims further including the step of blending the nitric acid with a fertilizer base to produce said nitrogen-based fertilizer.
12. The process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said biomass material is a grain selected from the group including corn, wheat, milo and soybeans.
13. The process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said step of 25 incinerating a biomass material includes incinerating a biomass material in a firebox using a burner system having a high level of turbulence to enhance the production of
14. The process according to claim 13, wherein said burner system is a cyclonic or 30 opposing wall fired burner system. thereof. 20 NOx. 2 1 OCT 2008 W:\AEG\PatentstSPEC AEGVNZ14583-06 amended pages 9.10.0S.doc 544571 15
15. A process for generating electricity and producing fertilizer, including the steps of: incinerating a biomass material to create electricity; 5 capturing NOx from exhaust gases produced by incinerating the biomass material; and using the NOx to produce a nitrogen-based fertilizer; wherein said step of capturing NOx from the exhaust gases includes bubbling the gases through an aqueous solution of nitric acid and excess reacted trivalent nitric oxides to 10 produce nitric acid.
16. A process for generating electricity and producing fertilizer, including the steps of: incinerating a biomass material to create electricity; 15 capturing NOx from exhaust gases produced by incinerating the biomass material; and using the NOx to produce a nitrogen-based fertilizer; further including the step of collecting flyash of the incinerated biomass and blending the flyash with the nitrogen-based fertilizer to form a balanced fertilizer product that 20 allows sustainable production of the biomass material as a fuel source.
17. A process for generating electricity and producing fertilizer, including the steps of: incinerating a biomass material in a firebox of a boiler with the oxidation area 25 of the boiler operating at a temperature exceeding 2,000°F to create electricity; introducing an excess air flow into the firebox to provide 5 to 7% more oxygen in the firebox than needed for complete combustion of the biomass material to increase NOx production; collecting flyash from the incinerated biomass; 30 removing NO* from flue gases exhausted from the boiler by passing the flue gases through an aqueous solution of nitric acid and excess reacted trivalent nitric oxides to produce additional nitric acid; and using the additional nitric acid produced from the NOx together with the collected flyash to make a nitrogen-based fertilizer.;W:\AEG\Patents\SPEC AEGWZ145S3-0S amended pages 9.10.08.doc;2 1 °CT 2008;R Pr* r- i. 544571 16
18. The process according to claim 17, further including the steps of: passing the exhausted flue gases through a heat exchanger to cool the gases and power a second turbine to create electricity; and 5 using the heat exchanger to preheat the excess air flow before it is introduced into the boiler.
19. The process according to claim 17 or claim 18, further including the step of operating the oxidation area of the boiler at a temperature exceeding about 10 2,800°F.
20. A system for generating electricity and producing fertilizer, the system including: means for incinerating a biomass material in a boiler operating at a temperature 15 exceeding 2,000°F to create electricity; means for introducing an excess air flow into the boiler to provide 5 to 7% more oxygen than needed for complete combustion of the biomass material to increase NOx production; means for collecting flyash of the incinerated biomass from the boiler; 20 means for removing NOx from the exhausted flue gases by passing the gases through an aqueous solution of nitric acid and excess reacted trivalent nitric oxides to produce additional nitric acid; and means for combining the additional nitric acid produced from the NOx together with the collected flyash to make a nitrogen-based fertilizer. 25
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NZ544571A NZ544571A (en) | 2003-06-13 | 2003-06-13 | Process for generating power using renewable biomass |
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NZ544571A NZ544571A (en) | 2003-06-13 | 2003-06-13 | Process for generating power using renewable biomass |
PCT/US2003/018872 WO2005005786A1 (en) | 2002-01-07 | 2003-06-13 | Process for generating power using renewable biomass |
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NZ544571A true NZ544571A (en) | 2008-11-28 |
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ID=34421117
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
NZ544571A NZ544571A (en) | 2003-06-13 | 2003-06-13 | Process for generating power using renewable biomass |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU2003304332B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2538228C (en) |
NZ (1) | NZ544571A (en) |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3956126A (en) * | 1973-07-20 | 1976-05-11 | Streebin Leale E | Apparatus for disposing of organic waste materials |
US3965362A (en) * | 1974-03-20 | 1976-06-22 | New York Testing Laboratories, Inc. | Energy system for production of hydrogen from waste incineration |
US6447437B1 (en) * | 2000-03-31 | 2002-09-10 | Ut-Battelle, Llc | Method for reducing CO2, CO, NOX, and SOx emissions |
-
2003
- 2003-06-13 AU AU2003304332A patent/AU2003304332B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2003-06-13 CA CA002538228A patent/CA2538228C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2003-06-13 NZ NZ544571A patent/NZ544571A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2538228A1 (en) | 2005-01-20 |
AU2003304332B2 (en) | 2010-09-02 |
AU2003304332A1 (en) | 2005-01-28 |
CA2538228C (en) | 2008-11-18 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
RENW | Renewal (renewal fees accepted) | ||
RENW | Renewal (renewal fees accepted) | ||
LAPS | Patent lapsed |