http://www.inl.gov/
We've presented a number of reports based on documents attesting to the development of a Carbon Dioxide recycling technology, seemingly labeled "Syntrolysis", by our United States Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory, in partnership with a private Utah-based company, Ceramatec, Inc., of Salt Lake City.
Those reports have included, for example, as accessible on the West Virginia Coal Association's web site:
USDOE Idaho Lab Recycles More CO2 | Research & Development; concerning: "Model of High Temperature H2O/CO2 Co-electrolysis; 2007; By: G. Hawkes, J. O'Brien, C. Stoots, Stephen Herring, Joe Hartvigsen; Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL); Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; Abstract: A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model has been created to model high temperature co-electrolysis of steam and carbon dioxide in a planar solid oxide electrolyzer (SOE) using solid oxide fuel cell technology. A research program is under way at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to simultaneously address the research and scale-up issues associated with the implementation of planar solid-oxide electrolysis cell technology for syngas production from CO2 and steam"; and:
More USDOE CO2 "Syntrolysis" | Research & Development; concerning: "Co-Electrolysis of Steam and Carbon Dioxide for Production of Syngas; 2007; J.E. O'Brien, C.M. Stoots, et. al.; Idaho National Laboratory (INL), USDOE; and Ceramatec, Inc., Utah; Abstract: An experimental study has been completed to assess the performance of single-oxide electrolysis cells ... simultaneously electrolyzing steam and carbon dioxide for the direct production of syngas. Syngas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, can be used for the production of synthetic liquid fuels via Fischer-Tropsch processes"; and:
Utah Recycles CO2 | Research & Development; concerning the: "Co-Electrolysis of Steam and Carbon Dioxide as Feed to a Methanation Reaction; Lyman Frost, Joseph Hartvigsen and S. Elangovan; Ceramatec, Inc.; Salt Lake City, UT; Abstract: Solid oxide fuel cells can be operated in reverse by applying an electric potential across the fuel cells and forcing the oxygen ion to flow in the opposite direction from the fuel cell mode. If a mixture of high temperature steam and carbon dioxide are fed to a fuel cell stack operating in this electrolysis mode, the result will be a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. By adjusting the input ratios of steam and carbon dioxide, the output of the electrolysis system can be modified to be in the proper ratio for the formation of a number of different hydrocarbons by catalytic process through either Fischer Tropsch or methanation reactions".
We note that the work documented in the above reports resulted quite recently in the issuance of a United States Patent confirming the validity of the Carbon Dioxide recycling approach used by our INL and Ceramatec, as seen in:
Utah 2011 CO2 + H2O = Hydrocarbon Syngas | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 8,075,746 - Electrochemical Cell for Production of Synthesis Gas Using Atmospheric Air and Water; December 13, 2011; Inventors: Joseph Hartvigsen, et. al., Utah; Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc., Salt Lake City; Abstract: A method is provided for synthesizing synthesis gas from carbon dioxide obtained from atmospheric air or other available carbon dioxide source and water using a sodium-conducting electrochemical cell. Synthesis gas is also produced by the coelectrolysis of carbon dioxide and steam in a solid oxide fuel cell or solid oxide electrolytic cell. The synthesis gas produced may then be further processed and eventually converted into a liquid fuel suitable for transportation or other applications."
As can be noted throughout most of our reports concerning the "Syntrolysis" CO2-recycling technology, the focus of forming a synthesis gas, as via the process, as above, of "United States Patent 8,075,746", from Water and Carbon Dioxide, is the ultimate production of "a liquid fuel".
An exception is seen in our above-cited report concerning: "Co-Electrolysis of Steam and Carbon Dioxide as Feed to a Methanation Reaction"; wherein the fact that a synthesis gas, consisting of Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen, produced by an "Electrochemical Cell" from "atmospheric air or other available carbon dioxide source and water" can, as well, be catalytically reacted in such a way that Methane gas is the primary product, is stipulated.
One example of related "Syngas-to-Methane" technology can be seen in our report of:
GE Converts Coal to Methane and Recycles Carbon for USDOE | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,558,027 - Catalysts for Carbon and Coal Gasification; 1985; Assignee: The United States of America; The invention relates to improved catalysts for carbon and coal gasification and improved processes for catalytic, coal gasification. The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. DE-AC21-80MC14591 between the U.S. Department of Energy and General Electric Co. Abstract: Catalyst for the production of methane from carbon and/or coal by means of catalytic gasification";
wherein the synthesis gas is stipulated to be made from Coal.
Methane is an immensely-valuable hydrocarbon to have, since its simplicity of structure enables the use of it both as a "building block" for higher hydrocarbons, as seen, for one instance, in our report of:
Pittsburgh DOE Converts Methane to Gasoline | Research & Development; concerning: "Conversion Of Methane To Gasoline-range Hydrocarbons; U.S. Department of Energy; Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center; Existing processes have been assembled in a novel combination capable of producing higher hydrocarbons from methane with high yield and selectivity. In the process described, the final hydrocarbon mixture is largely in the gasoline (C4-C10) boiling range";
and, as a co-reactant for other, intriguing, Carbon compounds, as seen for one instance in our report of:
Exxon 2010 CO2 + Methane = Liquid Hydrocarbons | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 7,772,447 - Production of Liquid Hydrocarbons from Methane; 2010; Assignee: ExxonMobil; Abstract: (A) process for converting methane to liquid hydrocarbons ... (by) contacting a feed containing methane and ... H2O (and) CO2 with a (specified) catalyst under conditions effective to convert said methane to aromatic hydrocarbons";
wherein Methane can be "reformed" with Carbon Dioxide gas, recovered from whatever handy source, with both the Methane and the CO2 being converted through such, and subsequent, reactions into "liquid hydrocarbons".
And, herein, we submit report of more work originating at the USDOE's Idaho National Laboratory, wherein it's emphasized that the technology exists whereby that Methane, which can be used to convert Carbon Dioxide into "liquid hydrocarbons", can itself be made, via "syntrolysis", from Carbon Dioxide.
Comment follows highly-abbreviated, due to dense technical content, excerpts from the initial link in this dispatch to:
"Results of Recent High Temperature Co-Electrolysis Studies at the Idaho National Laboratory
November, 2007
Carl Stoots, James O’Brien, Idaho National Laboratory, and Joseph Hartvigsen, Ceramatec, Inc.
(The above Hartvigsen being one of the named co-inventors of "US Patent 8,075,746 - Electrochemical Cell for Production of Synthesis Gas Using Atmospheric Air and Water", as cited above. Further, we have now made many references to "Ceramatec, Inc.", relative to the USDOE's development of Carbon Dioxide recycling technology; and, lest anyone be misled into thinking Ceramatec are some sort of ephemeral, entrepreneurial "start-up", as we will document in coming reports concerning more of their technology, they are, in fact, a technology "spin-off" from the University of Utah, and, have been around since 1976.)
Introduction: For the past several years, the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and subcontractor Ceramatec, Inc. have been studying the ... high temperature coelectrolysis of steam/CO2 mixtures to produce syngas:
the raw material for synthetic fuels production.
The INL and Ceramatec have been conducting experiments to characterize the electrochemical performance of coelectrolysis, as well as validate INL- developed computer models. An inline methanation reactor has also been tested to study direct methane production from coelectrolysis products.
(High) temperature coelectrolysis can provide a carbon neutral means of producing syngas while consuming CO2. Coelectrolysis is significantly more complex than simple steam electrolysis. This is primarily due to the multiple reactions that occur: steam electrolysis, CO2 electrolysis, and the reverse shift reaction.
It is also feasible to produce syngas by separately electrolyzing steam and CO2. There are, however, significant advantages to electrolyzing steam and CO2 simultaneously, the primary one of which is electrical efficiency. For a given solid oxide electrolysis cell, pure CO2 electrolysis will exhibit a higher area specific resistance (ASR) than steam electrolysis. This is due to the slower overall kinetics of CO2 electrolysis and the higher overpotentials required. In coelectrolysis, the reverse gas shift reaction is relied upon for most of the CO production and therefore the overall electrical requirement is less.
Summary: The Idaho National Laboratory has demonstrated the feasibility of using high temperature solid oxide cells to coelectrolyze H2O and CO2 simultaneously to produce syngas (and, the) concept of directing coelectrolysis products through a methanation reactor was tested, with yields of 40-50 volume % methane being produced. Overall, the coelectrolysis process appears to be a promising technique for large-scale syngas production."
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First, to get it out of the way, the INL, due we suppose to their own predilections, stipulate the use of nuclear energy to generate the Steam and the electricity, and to achieve the necessary reaction temperatures.
We submit that waste power plant heat could be utilized instead. But, if not, then, as seen variously in:
Hydropower: A Small but Growing Presence in W.Va. Electric Grid - State Journal - STATEJOURNAL.com; wherein we're told by one Kent Carson, of American Municipal Power: "hydropower is a vast untapped resource on the Ohio River"; and, in:
Mountaineer Wind Energy Center - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; concerning the: "Mountaineer Wind Energy Center is a wind farm on Backbone Mountain in ... West Virginia"; and, in:
Geothermal Energy; which informs that: "New research produced by Southern Methodist University’s Geothermal Laboratory ... suggests that the temperature of the Earth beneath the state of West Virginia is significantly higher than previously estimated and capable of supporting commercial baseload geothermal energy production";
we do have some Coal-conserving US Coal Country options available to us for generating a little extra, and non-Three Mile Island, electricity, which non-Carbon electricity could power both the Syntrolysis of Carbon Dioxide and Water, and, bring the reactants to the necessary temperature.
Further, though not well, or specifically, addressed herein by the USDOE, although the yields of Methane are stated to be only in the range of "40-50 volume %", it's important to understand that other products, as well, including liquid hydrocarbons, are being generated from the synthesis gas; and, that, the Methane can actually be seen and treated as a by-product of liquid hydrocarbon fuel production from syngas.
We have previously documented, and will address the topic further in coming reports, that, the catalytic condensation of "syngas", as the INL stipulates, into hydrocarbons, results in the synthesis of both liquid and gaseous products - of which Methane is a primary constituent. And, a great deal of effort has, in fact, been directed by some petroleum companies towards decreasing the Methane "make" during the Fischer-Tropsch, and related, catalytic condensation of syngas into liquid hydrocarbons.
The Methane, thus, might be better viewed as the byproduct of manufacturing liquid hydrocarbons from a synthesis gas made, as via the USDOE's "High Temperature Co-Electrolysis" herein, from Water and Carbon Dioxide.
And, we again remind you, that, once we have the byproduct Methane, generated, again according to the USDOE herein, from Water and Carbon Dioxide, we can then, as seen in:
More Standard Oil 1944 CO2 + CH4 = Hydrocarbons | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 2.347.682 - Hydrocarbon Synthesis; 1944; Assignee: Standard Oil Company of Indiana; Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method and means for effecting the synthesis of hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. In practicing my invention I ... prefer to employ... methane (which is) mixed with such proportion of carbon dioxide and steam as to give a gas ... consisting chiefly of hydrogen and carbon monoxide ... hereinafter referred to as ... 'synthesis' gas";
react that CO2-derived Methane with even more Carbon Dioxide, and thereby make even more "'synthesis' gas", which we can use "for effecting the synthesis of" even more "hydrocarbons".