WO2010065137A1

WO2010065137A1 - Recycling of greenhouse gasses in large scale plasma processes

Info

Publication number: WO2010065137A1
Application number: PCT/US2009/006396
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Charles Juranitch
Original assignee: Global Energies, Llc
Priority date: 2008-12-05
Filing date: 2009-12-04
Publication date: 2010-06-10

Abstract

A method and system for reducing emissions of greenhouse gasses during performance of a large scale industrial waste processes. The method includes the steps of supplying a waste material to a plasma melter; supplying steam to the plasma melter; extracting a syngas from the plasma melter; supplying the syngas to an industrial process; producing a waste greenhouse gas in the industrial process; returning the greenhouse gas to the plasma melter; and recycling the greenhouse gas in the plasma melter to form syngas. The waste material may be a biomass or an algae that is specifically grown from CO2 as a fuel for a plasma melter. Preferably, the plasma melter is operated in a pyrolysis mode.

Description

Recycling of Greenhouse Gasses in Large Scale Plasma Process

Relationship to Other Applications

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 61/200,946, filed December 5, 2008; Serial Number 61/215,959 filed May 11, 2009; and USSN 61/xxx,xxx filed November 19, 2009, entitled "High Energy Power Plant Fuel, and CO or CO₂ Sequestering Process," (Attorney Ref. JJF). This application is a continuation-in-part patent application of the following co-pending International Patent Applications, all of which designate the United States: (1) Serial Number PCT/US2009/06206 filed November 19, 2009, which claims the benefit of the filing date of United States Provisional Patent Application Number 61/270,035 filed July 3, 2009; (2) Serial Number PCT/US2009/003934 filed July 1, 2009, which claims the benefit of the filing dates of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial Numbers 61/133,596 filed July 1, 2008 and 61/201,464 filed December 10, 2008; (3) Serial Number PCT/US2009/06207 filed on November 19, 2009, which claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 61/199,837 filed November 19, 2008; (4) Serial Number PCT/US2009/06205 filed November 19, 2009, which claims the benefit of United States

Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 61/199,761 filed November 19, 2008; (5) Serial Number PCT/US2009/06202 filed November 19, 2009, which claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 61/199,760 filed November 19, 2008; and (6) Serial Number PCT/US2009/06201 filed November 19, 2009, which claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 61/199,828 filed November 19, 2008

Background of the Invention

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to methods and systems for reducing emissions of greenhouse gasses, and more particularly, to a system for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from large scale waste processing systems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In the current energy environment there is continuing pressure to produce more products and energy in a cost effective and clean way. Fuel prices continue to climb, and emission standards continue to tighten. Most of the modern world has attempted to limit the amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted into the atmosphere. It is considered by many that this gas has some responsibility in the climatic changes commonly referred to as global warming.

Most fuels are derived from fossil based feed stock. Consumption of such fuels releases greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere during the burning process. One known approach to the reduction of greenhouse gas emission involves the use of algae and biomass. These fuels are characterized by:

• high hydrocarbon content,

• fast growth rate,

• minimal fertilizer needs,

• no need of arid land, • capability of being produced using salt water, and

• amenability to sequestration of green house gasses, such as carbon dioxide, during the growth cycle.

However, algae and biomass fuels have drawbacks. One of-the major obstacles in bringing these new fuels to market has been the difficulty in extracting the hydrocarbons, or lipids, from algae and terrestrial biomass products. The problem starts when trying to segregate specific algae, or biomass, for large scale production of optimized lipids. A number of researchers are working on this problem by endeavoring to develop Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in an effort to optimize lipid production. Unfortunately, the selection or development of optimal species is contrary to the natural selection process, which tends toward a balanced ecosystem in which the strongest survive and continue to evolve. Thus, natural selection and the resulting balanced process can promote large scale healthy growth and production.

In today's methodology, once the biomass is generated it requires large amounts of energy to be dried and processed into its lipid component. At a lipid state considerably more energy and cost is expended to utilize this energy feed stock. There is a need, therefore, for an easier and more efficient way of growing, producing, and processing algae, and biomass into energy. Plasma melters are now becoming a reliable technology that is used to destroy waste. At this time there are few operational plasma melter installations, but the technology is gaining acceptance. It is a characteristic of plasma melters that they produce a low BTU syngas consisting of several different elements. If the plasma melters are operated in a pyrolysis mode of operation, they will generate large amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The syngas byproduct is typically used to run stationary power generators. The resulting electric power is then sold to the power grid.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a system for reducing the emission of greenhouse gasses during large scale waste processing.

It is another object of this invention to provide a system for facilitating the consumption of algae as a fuel.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a system that inexpensively enables the consumption of biomass fuels. It is a further object of this invention to provide a method and system of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

It is additionally an object of this invention to provide a method of improving industrial processes wherein waste carbon dioxide is obtained from a renewable energy source and therefore does not constitute an addition to the greenhouse gas carbon base. Summary of the Invention

The foregoing and other objects are achieved by this invention which provides a method of reducing emissions of greenhouse gasses during performance of a large scale industrial waste process. In accordance with the invention, the method includes the steps of: supplying a waste material to a plasma melter; supplying steam to the plasma melter; extracting a syngas from the plasma melter; supplying the syngas to an industrial process; producing a waste greenhouse gas in the industrial process; returning the greenhouse gas to the plasma melter; and recycling the greenhouse gas in the plasma melter to form syngas.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is further provided the step of supplying electrical energy to the plasma melter. In a further embodiment, prior to performing the step of supplying the syngas to an industrial process there is provided the step of pre-treating the output of the plasma melter to perform a cleaning of the syngas. The step of pre-treating the output of the plasma melter to perform a cleaning of the syngas includes, in some embodiments, the further step of generating heat. The generated heat is delivered to the plasma melter.

Preferably, the plasma melter is operated in a pyrolysis mode. A slag is extracted from the plasma melter in some embodiments of the invention, the extracted slag having commercial value as a construction product.

The industrial process is directed, in various embodiments of the invention, to the production of methane, or to the production of ethylene, or to the production of ammonia, or to the production of ethylene. In an embodiment where the waste greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide, the industrial process is directed to the production of a useful greenhouse gas, such as CO₂, which is known to be useful to enhance algae growth. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the step of supplying a waste material to the plasma melter includes the step of supplying a biomass to the plasma melter. In other embodiments of the invention, the step of supplying a waste material to the plasma melter comprises the step of supplying algae to the plasma melter.

Heat that is generated by the industrial process is delivered, in some embodiments of the invention, to the plasma melter. Such heat may take the form of steam. Brief Description of the Drawing

Comprehension of the invention is facilitated by reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a simplified function block and schematic representation of a specific illustrative embodiment of the invention. Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a simplified function block and schematic representation of a specific illustrative embodiment of the invention. As shown in this figure, a greenhouse gas recycling system 100 receives municipal waste, or specifically grown biomass 110 that is deposited into a plasma melter 112. In the practice of some embodiments of the invention, the process is operated in a pyrolysis mode {i.e., lacking oxygen). Steam 115 is delivered to plasma melter 112 to facilitate production of a syngas 118 that in this embodiment of the invention includes hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Also, in some embodiments of the invention electrical power 116 is delivered to plasma melter 112. Hydrogen rich syngas 118 is produced at an output (not specifically designated) of plasma melter 112, as is a slag 114 that is subsequently removed. In some applications of the invention, slag 114 is sold as building materials, and may take the form of mineral wool, reclaimed metals, and silicates, such as building blocks. In some embodiments of the invention, the BTU content, plasma production, and slag production can also be "sweetened" by the addition of small amounts of coke or other additives (not shown). In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the syngas is cooled, cleaned, and separated in a pretreatment step 120. The cleaned syngas then is delivered to an industrial process 124 that can be, for example, a methane producing process, an ammonia producing process, an ethylene producing process, a power plant, etc.

Waste greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide 126, are stripped out of industrial process 124. Carbon dioxide, for example, is not considered an addition to the greenhouse gas carbon base. This is due to the fact it is obtained in its entirety from a reclaimed and renewable source energy. In this embodiment of the invention, the energy source is predominantly municipal waste 110.

In accordance with the invention, the greenhouse gasses, specifically including the carbon dioxide, can in some embodiments of the invention be recycled into plasma melter 112 and reprocessed into carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syngas).

Pretreatment step 120, and in some embodiments industrial process 124, are exothermic processes that generate heat. The heat produced is used in some such embodiments to supply steam to plasma melter 112, or to a turbine generator (not shown), or to any other process (not shown) that utilizes heat. In other embodiments of the invention, the supplying of waste material 110 to plasma melter 112 includes the step of supplying algae 130 to plasma melter.

Although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments and applications, persons skilled in the art may, in light of this teaching, generate additional embodiments without exceeding the scope or departing from the spirit of the invention herein claimed. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawing and description in this disclosure are proffered to facilitate comprehension of the invention, and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of reducing emissions of greenhouse gasses during performance of a large scale industrial waste process, the method comprising the steps of: supplying a waste material to a plasma melter; supplying steam to the plasma melter; extracting a syngas from the plasma melter; supplying the syngas to an industrial process; producing a waste greenhouse gas in the industrial process; returning the greenhouse gas to the plasma melter; and recycling the greenhouse gas in the plasma melter to form syngas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein there is further provided the step of supplying electrical energy to the plasma melter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to performing said step of supplying the syngas to an industrial process there is provided the step of pre-treating the output of the plasma melter to perform a cleaning of the syngas.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of pre-treating the output of the plasma melter to perform a cleaning of the syngas comprises the further step of generating heat, and there is provided the further step of delivering the generated heat to the plasma melter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plasma melter is operated in a pyrolysis mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the industrial process is directed to the production of methane.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the industrial process is directed to the production of ethylene.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the waste greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the industrial process is directed to the production of a useful greenhouse gas.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the industrial process is directed to the production of ammonia.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein there is further provided the step of extracting a slag from the plasma melter.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of supplying a waste material to the plasma melter comprises the step of supplying a biomass to the plasma melter.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of supplying a waste material to the plasma melter comprises the step of supplying algae to the plasma melter.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein prior to performing said step of supplying algae to the plasma melter there is provided the step of recycling the greenhouse gas to grow the algae.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the industrial process generates heat, and there is provided the further step of delivering the generated heat to the plasma melter.