US20130042614A1

US20130042614A1 - Emission free system for generating energy from organic matter

Info

Publication number: US20130042614A1
Application number: US13/210,244
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert James Evinger, III
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-08-15
Filing date: 2011-08-15
Publication date: 2013-02-21

Abstract

A system for generating energy includes a greenhouse;

a greenhouse, a gasifier connected to the greenhouse, a carburetor connected to the gasifier and the greenhouse, and a generator connected to the carburetor. The generator is configured to generate electricity. The greenhouse is configured to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen by action of sunlight. The oxygen is utilized by the gasifier and generator.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a system for generating electricity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for generating electricity from organic matter.
The modern world depends on coal as one source for the generation of energy. Coal is burned for electricity generation, gasified to produce gaseous fuel, or liquefied to produce liquid fuel. Unfortunately, these processes release carbon dioxide and harmful pollutants to the Earth's atmosphere that results in the absorption of solar radiation. As concerns of global warming intensify, there is increased pressure on the countries to reduce the amount of gases and harmful pollutants released into the atmosphere.
As can be seen, there is a need for an environmentally friendly system for producing energy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a system for generating energy includes a greenhouse; a gasifier connected to the greenhouse, a carburetor connected to the gasifier and the greenhouse, a generator connected to the carburetor, the generator is configured to generate electricity, the greenhouse is configured to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen by action of sunlight, and the oxygen is utilized by the gasifier and generator.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for producing energy from waste organic matter includes the steps of: producing oxygen from the action of sunlight and plants in the greenhouse; producing woodgas in a gasifier from biomass; producing a mixed gas by introducing on a carburetor the woodgas and oxygen; introducing the mixed gas into a generator to produce energy.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system for generating energy from organic matter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram showing a fuel flow of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram showing a gas flow of the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.
Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide an environmentally friendly system for generating energy. In addition, the present invention provides a system and method for using waste of organic matter for generating energy.
FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 for generating energy according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system 10 includes a greenhouse 12, a gasifier 14 connected to the greenhouse 12, a carburetor 16 connected to the gasifier 14 and the greenhouse 12, and a generator 18 connected to the carburetor 16.
The system 10 may use waste organic matter 30 that in other ways may be disposed in landfills or from agricultural fields. The system 10 uses the carbon dioxide released that would normally be released to the atmosphere to produce fuel. The amount of carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere may be zero because it is absorbed by the plants during photosynthesis in the greenhouse 12. The system 10 may not increase the greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in a near net zero addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
The waste organic matter 30 may include carbon containing solids, coals, lignites, plant matter, wood chips, dry animal waste, crop waste, plant matter derived products, animal wastes, oil and oil derived products, household waste, or sewage plant sludge. In some embodiments, the organic matter may include bamboo plants. The waste organic matter 30 may be brought to the facility and deposited on a storage area (not shown) until needed. When needed, the waste organic matter 30 may be sorted by size by using a standard device for size separation (not shown). In some embodiments, the size separation device (not shown) may be screens or grates. The size of the waste organic matter 30 may be controlled to allow a proper production of woodgas in the gasifier 14. If the size is larger than required, the large waste organic matter may be sent to a shredder (not shown) to reduce the size, and then resent through the size separation device (not shown). In some embodiments, the required size of the waste organic matter 30 may be 1 inch high, 1 inch wide, and 1 inch deep. The waste organic matter 30 may have less than 30% moisture by weight. A heater (not shown) may be used to lower the moisture on the waste organic matter 30.
The gasifier 14 may be a commercially available gasifier. Inside the gasifier, the waste organic matter 30 may be converted into producer gas. The producer gas may contain carbon dioxide, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane. The producer gas may be made by using a non-combustion thermal process called pyrolysis. The gasifier 14 may be closed and air tight. The gasifier 14 may include a first inlet 34 to introduce heat produced by the generator 18 into the gasifier 14. A second inlet 38 may allow the introduction of a controlled amount of high oxygen gas 40 to the gasifier 14. The high oxygen gas 40 may be supplied to the gasifier 14 by the greenhouse 12 or directly from the atmosphere 44 as necessary. The amount of high oxygen gas 40 entering to the gasifier 14 may be controlled by using valves 42. An outlet 48 may retrieve producer gas 50 formed inside the gasifier 14.
The producer gas may go through a filter device (not shown) to remove any solid particle such as ash and tar from the producer gas 50. The ash formed on the gasifier 14 may be dissolved in water, neutralized with acid, and used as fertilizer for the plants in the greenhouse 12. The producer gas 50 may go through a heat exchanger (not shown) to reduce the temperature of the gas before passing through the filter system (not shown). The filter system (not shown) may be a dry cyclone filter device. In some embodiments, the filtering system (not shown) may include a second and/or a third filter (not shown).
After passing through the filter (not shown), the producer gas 50 may be introduced into the carburetor 16. The carburetor 16 may be a commercially available carburetor. In some embodiments, the carburetor 16 may be an automatic mixing carburetor. In the carburetor 16, the producer gas 50 may be mixed with a secondary air introduced by an inlet 62. The amount of gases entering the carburetor 16 may be controlled by using valves 54. A blower and flare 52 may be connected to the carburetor 16. The blower and flare 52 may help create a low pressure to assist in starting the gasifier 14.
A mixed gas 56 may exit the carburetor 16. The flow of the mixed gas 56 out of the carburetor 16 may be controlled by a valve 58 which may be controlled by the speed of the generator 18.
The gasifier 14 and generator 18 may be a boiler, an incinerator/boiler system, a wood gas powered generator, or any such combination that allows for the extraction of energy out of the biomass and utilized. The steam produced by a boiler or incinerator/boiler 18 may be used to power a steam turbine (not shown) to generate electricity. A burner (not shown) may be used to power the boiler (not shown).
Exhaust from the generator 22 may be cooled and introduced to the greenhouse 12. The plants in the greenhouse 12 may convert the carbon dioxide facilitated by sunlight 46 and give off oxygen. This high oxygen gas 40 is used to operate the gasifier 14 and generator 18. The greenhouse 12 may depend on the type of organism, density, temperature, relative humidity, gas mixing, plant shape and pattern, fertilizer type, dosage and delivery of fertilization, water type, watering frequency, watering dosage, etc. The above mentioned variables may be optimized for each case to ensure optimal carbon fixation and smallest greenhouse volume/area.
A heating and/or cooling device (not shown) may be connected to the greenhouse 12 to compensate for weather conditions and maintain plants at the optimal conditions. External lights (not shown) may be added to the greenhouse 12 to promote the fixation during night time.
In addition, condensation may form inside the greenhouse 12. The condensate may be captured and used to maintain the carbon fixing organisms in the greenhouse 12 or may be further processed to produce water for other uses. A greenhouse outlet 26 on the greenhouse 12 may allow harvesting the biomass 24 from the greenhouse 12 to be utilized in the gasifier 14.
The greenhouse 12 plants may be living organisms that fix carbon, for example, plants, algae and cyanobacteria. These living organisms may be later harvested and introduced Into the gasifier 14 as harvested biomass 24.
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a fuel flow of the system 10. FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a gas flow of the system 10.
The user may start the gasifier 14 by following a standard procedure as indicated on the manufacturer instructions. During initial startup, the gasifier 14 and the generator 18 may use regular air for operation. Once the gasifier 14 reaches the predetermined temperature as indicated on the manufacturer instructions, the carburetor 16 may be opened, and the generator 18 may be started. The system 10 may be operated at atmospheric pressure except where a vacuum may be generated (in between the gasifier 14 and the generator 18).
Heat removed from the output gases on the generator 18 may be introduced to other components of the system 10. For example, the removed heat may be used to preheat the waste organic matter 30, heating/cooling the greenhouse 12 to maintain the optimal temperature for carbon fixation, heating buildings, cooling buildings, or on any other process where heat may be utilized.
The system 10 may be an automated system. The automated system may continuously monitor fuel addition, gas flow rates, gas mixture, engine RPM, organic matter levels, temperatures, pressure, and CO₂fixation.
The system 10 may solve the problem of disposing organic waste on landfills, as well as producing electricity, in an emission-free way.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A system for generating energy comprising:

a greenhouse;

a gasifier connected to the greenhouse;

a carburetor connected to the gasifier and the greenhouse; and

a generator connected to the carburetor,

wherein the generator is configured to generate electricity;

wherein the greenhouse is configured to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen by action of sunlight; and

wherein the oxygen is utilized by the gasifier and generator.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the waste organic matter comprises carbon containing solids, coals, lignites, plant matter, wood chips, dry animal waste, crop waste, plant matter derived products, animal wastes, oil and oil derived products, household waste, sewage plant sludge, or bamboo plants.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the gasifier includes a first inlet port to introduce the waste organic matter, a second inlet port to introduce waste heat, third inlet port to introduce an oxygen gas, and an output port to release a producer gas formed inside the gasifier.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the carburetor includes a first inlet port to feed the producer gas, a second inlet port to introduce oxygen gas, and an outlet port to release a mixed gas.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the mixed gas is fed to the generator by using a speed valve.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the generator is a boiler, an incinerator/boiler system, or a wood gas powered generator.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein the generator generates heat, wherein the heat is used for preheating the waste organic matter, heating or cooling the greenhouse, heating buildings, or cooling buildings.

8. A method for producing energy from waste organic matter, the method comprising the steps of:

producing oxygen and convert carbon dioxide with the action of sunlight in a greenhouse;

making producer gas in a gasifier with an organic waste matter and oxygen;

producing a mixed gas by introducing on a carburetor the producer gas with oxygen;

introducing the mixed gas into a generator to produce energy;

introducing the generator exhaust into the greenhouse. introducing a biomass produced in the greenhouse into the gasifier as fuel; and

utilizing ashes from the gasifier as fertilizer for the plants in the greenhouse.