Energy Citations Database (ECD) - - Document #6600389
Herein we present further evidence of the USDOD's development of Carbon Dioxide recycling technologies, intended to convert CO2 into hydrocarbon fuels.
We have made several earlier reports about such US Government technology, one more recent example of which is accessible via: US Navy 1982 CO2 + CH4 = Hydrocarbon Syngas | Research & Development | News; and, wherein is detailed "United States Patent: 4347891 - Thermochemical Energy Transport Process; 1982; Talbot Chubb, VA; Assignee: The USA as represented by the Secretary of the Navy".
The disclosed technology in Patent 4347891 is an example of CO2-Methane "bi-reforming", wherein the two gases are reacted together, and made to form a synthesis gas, composed of Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide and suitable for catalytic condensation, as via, for one example, the Fischer-Tropsch process, into liquid hydrocarbons.
We remind you that, as per award of the 1912 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Paul Sabatier, the Methane needed in such bi-reforming processes, to be reacted with Carbon Dioxide, can itself be made from Carbon Dioxide. Other of our reports have documented how NASA plans to utilize that technology to manufacture rocket fuel on the planet Mars, out of the primarily Carbon Dioxide atmosphere there.
In any case, as accessible via the initial link in this dispatch, we submit some documentation of Chubb's development of CO2 bi-reforming technology, prior to issuance of USP 4347891.
We find it of some special interest since it centers on an aspect of CO2 recycling technologies we have documented to be feasible from a number of other sources, including the USDOE's Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories:
Various environmental energies, especially Solar, can be collected and, with or without conversion into other energy forms, utilized in the harvesting of Carbon Dioxide, and in the conversion of that CO2 into more valuable hydrocarbons.
Summary comment follows excerpts from the initial link in this dispatch to:
"Solar-chemical energy converter (SOLCHEM)
Chemical Engineering News; July, 1979
Authors: J. McCrary, New Mexico State University, and T.A. Chubb
(Note: No affiliation is provided for T. A. - "Talbot" - Chubb. However, as noted above, we have cited him previously with regards to Carbon Dioxide recycling developments, in addition to his status as a named inventor of United States Patent: 4347891 . According to other web-accessible reports, Chubb was a chief scientist at the US Naval Research Laboratory, who had, at the time of the report we document herein, been employed there by the Navy/USDOD for very nearly thirty years - since 1950. - JtM)
Abstract: New Mexico State University has tested a key step in a solar concept originated by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory involving the high-temperature endothermic reaction of methane and carbon dioxide to form mainly synthesis gas. The reaction would take place at a solar collector, and the reverse exothermic reaction would be used in a closed loop to generate steam. The converter consists of spirally coiled coaxial tubes, with the innermost coil carrying a nickel catalyst. In the test, which was carried out by J. McCrary (N.M. State Univ.), the reaction took place at approximately 925C ... . According to McCrary, the reaction temperature is kept below 1100C, since at higher temperatures the catalyst could be damaged; the reaction must be carried out above 750C, since at a lower temperature carbon dioxide could react to form carbon monoxide and carbon, which would plug the reactor. The ultimate SOLCHEM, as viewed by T.A. Chubb (Nav. Res. Lab.) would use a chemical converter located at the focus of a 6-7 meter diameter parabolic solar energy collector, which would provide 25 kw of thermal energy and would use a synthesis gas storage tank, where the reverse reaction would take place, where the heat would be stored in eutectic salt mixture modules, and where steam would be generated."
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Note that the "solar concept" for recycling Carbon Dioxide had to have been "originated by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory" sometime well-prior to this three decades-old report.
Also note that these New Mexico scientists had addressed, more than thirty years ago, one problem in similar Carbon Dioxide recycling technologies being developed, as documented in earlier of our reports, in Switzerland, Israel and Singapore: Deposition of elemental Carbon, extracted from CO2, on catalyst, and other, surfaces.
Swiss and Israeli scientists have addressed the problem by adding Steam to the reaction mix of Methane and Carbon Dioxide, thus their label "tri-reforming"; and, though not spelled out, the US Navy-New Mexico research herein seems to indicate a similar understanding, since "steam" is being intentionally generated and stored.
Moreover, they seem to have fine-tuned the issue in other ways, as well, by defining and specifying optimal temperature ranges for the reactions.
And, it all stands as testament to the fact, that:
Decades ago, certain facets of our United States Government recognized Carbon Dioxide for what it is:
An available and valuable raw material resource from which hydrocarbon "synthesis gas" could be generated, by - using freely-available environmental energy - reacting reclaimed CO2 with Methane - - which we have known, since award of the 1912 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, can itself be synthesized from Carbon Dioxide.