United States Patent: 5128003
Given the Assignee, below, by whom we suppose the Inventors to be employed, we'll presume this to be one of the inventions developed, and patented by proxy, for the United States Department of Defense, in their program, which we have earlier documented, to develop technologies whereby Carbon Dioxide and water, extracted from the ocean, can be processed together aboard special ships to synthesize liquid fuels for the fleet at sea.
That might sound far-fetched, but the program is quite real, and is thoroughly documented in the WV Coal Association's R&D Blog archives.
However, mention is also made of space exploration, and this patent might relate as well to the NASA plans we have documented, where they intend to synthesize rocket fuel on Mars by processing the primarily Carbon Dioxide Martian atmosphere. Seriously.
In any case, the details follow of how we can make liquid fuels by reacting Carbon Dioxide with water:
"Method for the conversion of carbon dioxide and hydrogen to ... methane and oxygen
United States Patent 5128003
Inventors: Murdoch, Karen E.; Birbara, Philip J. (Connecticut)
Date: July 7, 1992
Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Hartford, CT)
Abstract: A method for producing oxygen and methane from carbon dioxide, and hydrogen utilizing a methanation reactor, a reforming reactor, and an electrolyzer. Carbon dioxide and hydrogen are reacted to produce methane and water. A portion of the water along with a portion or all of the methane is directed to a reforming reactor where it is reacted to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, while the remaining portion of the methane is stored. The hydrogen is recycled to the methanation reactor while the carbon monoxide is vented or stored for use as a fuel. The second portion of the water is electrolyzed to its constituents, hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is stored or used for life support while the hydrogen is recycled to react with additional carbon dioxide.
Background: The oxygen and methane production consists of converting carbon dioxide and hydrogen to methane and water vapor. The methane and water vapor are separated by cooling the methane and water vapor stream such that the water condenses. The condensed water is directed to an electrolyzer where it is electrolyzed to its constituents, hydrogen and oxygen. This hydrogen is recycled for additional conversion of carbon dioxide to water and methane. The oxygen can be stored for use as an oxidant for fuel or utilized for life support.
Disclosure: The present invention is directed to a method for producing oxygen from carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Carbon dioxide and hydrogen react to form methane and water in a methanation reactor. Due to the stoichiometry of the above reaction, a greater amount of water than methane is produced. The water and methane produced are introduced to a reforming reactor where they produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Due to the stoichiometry of this reaction, excess water exits the reforming reactor after the conversion of the methane. This water is electrolyzed to its constituents, hydrogen and oxygen.
(And)
A method for producing oxygen and methane from carbon dioxide, and hydrogen utilizing a methanation reactor, a reforming reactor, and an electrolyzer. Carbon dioxide and hydrogen are reacted to produce methane and water. A portion of the water along with a portion or all of the methane is directed to a reforming reactor where it is reacted to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, while the remaining portion of the methane is stored. The hydrogen is recycled to the methanation reactor while the carbon monoxide is vented or stored for use as a fuel. The second portion of the water is electrolyzed to its constituents, hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is stored or used for life support while the hydrogen is recycled to react with additional carbon dioxide."
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We will forgo excerpting specifics of the claims. They are detailed and comprehensive. They fully support the fact that: "Carbon dioxide and hydrogen are reacted to produce methane and water", and, the needed Hydrogen is directly obtained from the electrolysis of water and other related processes.
It can all be done to form, not just Methane, but a blend of "hydrogen and carbon monoxide", which, we submit, is basic synthesis gas, syngas, and could, instead of being separated into it's constituents, with the Hydrogen then charged to a methanation reactor, be directed whole over Fischer-Tropsch, or related, catalysts, and condensed into liquid hydrocarbons.
Or, if preferable, the Methane could be separated and directly converted into liquid fuels, as, for instance, via one of the multiple technologies we've documented to have been patented by ARCO. And, as above, "the carbon monoxide" could find "use as a fuel" to help drive this process of Carbon Dioxide recycling.
Either way: Carbon Dioxide, as is emitted by our Coal-use industries in small amounts relative to natural sources, such as volcanism and seasonal vegetative rot, is a raw material resource. We can recycle it via processes such as the one documented herein to form hydrocarbons of utility and value. We shouldn't allow our Coal-use industries to be taxed out of existence, through shell games like "Cap & Trade"; or, to be extorted into the service of Big Oil through scams like mandated geologic sequestration.
Guaranteed: Once he gets us to, all at our Coal industries' expense, stuff our effluent Carbon Dioxide down his depleted petroleum reservoirs and thereby fill those reservoirs back up the gas, he'll start pumping it back out and selling it, converted, via Methane, into Gasoline, back to us.
Let's just do it all ourselves and keep the money - and the jobs - home, where they belong, in United States Coal Country.