In a fairly recent dispatch, now accessible on the West Virginia Coal Association's web site via the link:
we made report of:
"United States Patent 8,138,380 - Electrolysis of Carbon Dioxide ... for Production of Methanol; 2012; Inventors: George Olah and G.K. Surya Prakash, CA; Assignee: University of Southern California, Los Angeles; Abstract: An environmentally beneficial method of producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning power plants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself."
As sometimes happens, as we have noted for you previously, inter net links provided by the United States Patent and Trademark Office can somehow "shift", or change their allegiances, and don't take you to the Patent document they are supposed to - even though their appearances and included numbers remain the same.
That has happened in the case of the above report, as we discovered just yesterday, with, in this instance, some interesting implications.
Before proceeding, however, lest you doubt it's reality, here are some fresh links to "United States Patent 8,138,380 - Electrolysis of Carbon Dioxide ... for Production of Methanol":
United States Patent: 8138380;
Interestingly, even intriguingly, what the link now embedded in our above-cited report concerning "United States Patent 8,138,380" now connects with, on the US Patent and Trademark Office web site, should you actually be motivated enough to check it out, is another United States Patent about which we were already preparing a report, a US Patent awarded quite recently to a scientist about whom we've already told you.
First, we remind you of another of our reports:
West Virginia Coal Association | New York City Reclaims and Recycles Carbon Dioxide | Research & Development; concerning:
"Global Thermostat, LLC; New York, NY: Global Thermostat's patent-pending technology uses low-cost left over process heat as energy for the capture of CO2 from the atmosphere. It can be installed at new or legacy power plants, cement smelters, refineries, etc. Since energy typically accounts for two-thirds of the total operating cost with other carbon capture technologies, Global Thermostat's solution allows for dramatic cost efficiencies in reducing carbon emissions. The use of process heat reverses the current paradigm of more energy equals more emissions. With GT the more energy one produces the more carbon one reduces. With Global Thermostat, the possibility of carbon negative emissions is real and achievable. It is a commercially viable solution."
In our discussion of Global Thermostat, LLC, we included information concerning the founding partners:
Graciela Chichilnisky - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia; "Graciela Chichilnisky", who has been on the faculty of Columbia University since 1977, and, while there, "helped create and design the concept of the carbon market and worked with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which won part of the 2007 Nobel Prize for peace"; and:
Peter Eisenberger: "Peter Eisenberger", who, with degrees from Princeton and Harvard, in 1968 "joined the staff at Bell Laboratories (and, from) 1974-1981 he was a department head". He later, in 1981, joined Exxon Research and Engineering Company as Director of their Physical Sciences Laboratory. In 1989 he was appointed Professor of Physics and Director of the Princeton Materials Institute at Princeton University. He is currently a Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University, where from 1996-1999 he held the posts of Vice Provost of the Earth Institute of Columbia University and Director of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University".
As it happens, "Global Thermostat's patent-pending technology", which "uses low-cost left over process heat as energy for the capture of CO2 from the atmosphere", is no longer patent-pending.
And, the link now embedded in our above-cited report concerning "US Patent 8,138,380 - Electrolysis of Carbon Dioxide ... for Production of Methanol", last time we checked, now takes you, strangely and almost serendipitously, as excerpted from the initial link in this dispatch, to:
"United States Patent 8,163,066 - Carbon Dioxide Capture/Regeneration Structures and Techniques
Date: April 24, 2012
Inventor: Peter Eisenberger, NJ
Abstract: New and useful system and method concepts are provided, for removing carbon dioxide from a flow of carbon dioxide laden air. More specifically, a sorbent structure is used in new and useful structures and techniques to bind carbon dioxide in a carbon dioxide laden air stream, and process heat is used to separate carbon dioxide from the sorbent structure and regenerate the sorbent structure.
(Before proceeding further, just in case the initial link in this dispatch somehow "slips" away from "United States Patent 8,163,066", here are some additional records of it that should help to keep us anchored:
Patent US8163066 - Carbon dioxide capture/regeneration structures and techniques - Google Patents;
and:
Carbon dioxide capture/regeneration structures and techniques - Eisenberger, Peter.)
Claims: A method of removing carbon dioxide from carbon dioxide-laden ambient air, comprising directing a flow of carbon dioxide-laden air through a vertically oriented, monolithic carbon dioxide capture structure that is supporting an amine sorbent that binds carbon dioxide, to remove carbon dioxide from the air by binding carbon dioxide to the sorbent, moving the vertically oriented, monolithic carbon dioxide capture structure into a regeneration enclosure, and directing saturated steam at a temperature of not greater than about 120C, carrying process heat, at the carbon dioxide capture structure in the regeneration enclosure to separate the carbon dioxide from the sorbent, and regenerate the sorbent, withdrawing the carbon dioxide from the regeneration enclosure together with any remaining steam, and selectively moving the vertically oriented carbon dioxide capture structure out of the regeneration enclosure and back to a position that is in the flow of carbon dioxide-laden ambient air, so that the regenerated sorbent can continue to be used to bind carbon dioxide, to remove carbon dioxide from the flow of carbon dioxide-laden air.
The method ... wherein the vertically oriented carbon dioxide capture structure comprises a top support member, and a sorbent support structure depending from the top support member, and wherein the regeneration enclosure is substantially enclosed except for a top opening that is closed by the top support structure when the carbon dioxide capture structure is moved into the regeneration enclosure, rendering the regeneration enclosure substantially air-tight.
The method ... wherein a pair of vertically oriented carbon dioxide capture structures are provided, each of which is selectively configured and operable in the manner described ..., and wherein one of the pair of vertically oriented carbon capture structures is in the path of carbon dioxide-laden ambient air while the other of the pair of vertically oriented carbon capture structures is being heated with process heat steam to separate the carbon dioxide from the sorbent and regenerate the sorbent, in the manner described ... .
The method of capturing CO2 ..., further comprising a) providing a flow of CO2-laden ambient air, b) adding a small amount (by volume) of flue gas to the flow of CO2-laden ambient air, to produce a combined fluid flow in which the concentration of CO2 is significantly increased, in comparison to the CO2 concentration in the flow of CO2-laden ambient air, and c) passing the combined fluid flow through the vertically oriented carbon dioxide capture structure that binds CO2 from the combined fluid flow.
(One interpretation of the above is that this "method of capturing CO2" could be installed just a little ways down wind of, but not necessarily attached, via an expensive retrofit, to, a Coal-fired power plant's smoke stack, where the CO2 collector would thus be provided with "a combined fluid flow in which the concentration of CO2 is significantly increased". Such a location could also provide for the supply of "process heat steam", which, at the specified "120C," temperature, would be fairly low-grade steam, perhaps as that which exits an electricity generation turbine at that Coal-fired power plant, still laden with waste heat. And, this process perhaps could be driven by waste heat that would otherwise be extracted from a power plants process water by the cooling towers. A potential which would seem confirmed by the following claim.)
The method ... wherein the process heat that is directed at the carbon dioxide capture structure is provided by a co-generation process wherein process heat steam provided from a primary process is directed at the carbon dioxide capture structure.
The method ... wherein the steam is directed at the carbon dioxide capture structure in a manner such that the steam releases captured carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide capture structure and transports the released carbon dioxide to a predetermined location.
(In the above claim, we have a combined stream of "the steam" and the released "captured carbon dioxide" being transported "to a predetermined location". And, we submit, that, as an alternative to "United States Patent 8,138,380 - Electrolysis of Carbon Dioxide ... for Production of Methanol", that "predetermined location" could also be one operating the process a like that disclosed in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | 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; 2011; Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.; Abstract: A method is provided for synthesizing synthesis gas from carbon dioxide ... . Synthesis gas is ... 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";
wherein the Steam laden with Carbon Dioxide wouldn't necessarily have to be condensed into liquid before it was electrolyzed. Such a method, however, would, instead of, as in the process of "United States Patent 8,138,380", producing liquid Methanol directly, produce a hydrocarbon "synthesis gas", which could then be catalytically condensed, as via, for one example, the Fischer-Tropsch process, into another sort of "liquid fuel" also "suitable for transportation ... applications".)
Background: (There) is much attention currently focused on trying to achieve three energy related and somewhat conflicting energy related objectives:
1) provide affordable energy for economic development;
2) achieve energy security; and:
3) avoid the destructive climate change caused by global warming.
Many different approaches are being considered to address climate change, including increasing the use of clean, non polluting renewable energy sources such as biofuels, solar, wind and nuclear, attempting to capture and sequester the carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel plants, as well as increased conservation efforts.
Some of these approaches, such as solar power, have had their large scale implementation blocked due to their current high costs as compared to the cost of fossil based electricity, and other approaches, such as nuclear, are restrained by their environmental and security risks. In fact, the infrastructure and supply for renewable energy is so underdeveloped (e.g., only about 0.01% of our energy is provided by solar) that there is no feasible way to avoid using fossil fuels during the rest of this century if we are to have the energy needed for economic prosperity and avoid energy shortfalls that could lead to conflict.
(It) is clear that there is no solution that only reduces human contributions to carbon dioxide emissions that can remove the risk of climate change. With air extraction and the capability to increase or decrease the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere one can in principle compensate for other greenhouse gases like methane that can change their concentrations and cause climate change.
(There) is a broadly recognized need for a system and method for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere ... and for providing a low cost, non-polluting renewable energy source as a substitute for fossil fuels.
The present invention provides further new and useful system and method concepts for removing carbon dioxide from a mass of carbon dioxide laden air by directing the CO2 laden air through a sorbent structure that binds (captures) CO2, and removing CO2 from the sorbent structure (and thereby effectively regenerating the sorbent structure) by using process heat to heat the sorbent structure. In this application, the sorbent structure preferably comprises an amine that binds CO2, which is carried by a substrate, or forms part of a monolithic sorbent structure. In addition, in this application, reference to a "mass" (or "flow" or "stream") of "CO2 laden air (or carbon dioxide laden air)" means air at a particular location with a concentration of CO2 that is similar to the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere at that particular location.
In the system and method ... carbon dioxide laden air is directed through a substrate that is coated with (or has embedded in it) a sorbent that absorbs or binds carbon dioxide, to remove the carbon dioxide from the air. Process heat converted into the form of steam or other medium (e.g. gas) is directed at the sorbent, to separate the carbon dioxide from the sorbent (so the carbon dioxide can be drawn off and ... to regenerate the sorbent (so that the sorbent can continue to be used to remove carbon dioxide from the air).
Moreover, in another of its aspects, this application provides some additional structures and techniques that can be used to capture carbon dioxide from carbon dioxide laden air, and using process heat to separate carbon dioxide from a sorbent and regenerate the sorbent, in a manner that enables the carbon dioxide separation and regeneration to be practiced directly in line with a source of flue gases that would otherwise emanate directly from that source and direct carbon dioxide laden air into the atmosphere.
The system includes an air extraction system and a collection system that isolates the removed carbon dioxide to a location for ... generation of a renewable carbon fuel or the generation of a non-fuel product such as fertilizer and construction materials ... or to enhance the rate of microbial production of biofuels.
(Concerning the above-suggested uses for recovered Carbon Dioxide, see, for several examples:
West Virginia Coal Association | USDOE Algae Recycle More CO2 and Produce Ethanol | Research & Development; concerning: "US Patent 7,973,214 - Designer Organisms for Photosynthetic Production of Ethanol from CO2 and Water; 2011; Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge; Abstract: The present invention provides a revolutionary photosynthetic ethanol production technology based on designer transgenic plants, algae, or plant cells. The designer plants, designer algae, and designer plant cells are created such that the endogenous photosynthesis regulation mechanism is tamed, and the reducing power and energy acquired from the photosynthetic (processes) are used for immediate synthesis of ethanol directly from carbon dioxide and water"; and:
Germany Awarded 2011 CO2 Recycling US Patent | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 7,989,507 - Production of Fuel ... Utilizing Waste Carbon Dioxide; 2011; Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (AG), Munich, Germany; Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for utilizing CO2 waste comprising recovering carbon dioxide from an industrial process that produces a waste stream comprising carbon dioxide (and) producing hydrogen using a renewable energy resource and producing a hydrocarbon material utilizing the produced hydrogen and the recovered carbon dioxide"; and:
West Virginia Coal Association | USDOE Converts Coal Exhaust into Fertilizer | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 6,447,437 - Method for Reducing CO2, CO, NOx and SOx Emissions; 2002; Assignee: UT Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN; Abstract: Industrial combustion facilities are integrated with greenhouse gas-solidifying fertilizer production reactions so that CO2, CO, NOx, and SOx emissions can be converted prior to emission into carbonate-containing fertilizers". - JtM)
In the present invention, the heat is process heat generated e.g. by a solar energy generator, such as a solar collector ... . In other embodiments, process heat may be provided by other types of energy sources, such as, for example, fossil fuel, geothermal, nuclear, biomass, and other renewable energy sources.
The term "process heat" as used herein refers to the lower temperature heat remaining after the higher temperature heat has been used to generate electricity.
(And, thus, our above-suggested use of waste heat from a Coal-fired power plant is directly indicated.)
Moreover, "process heat" may be provided from the use of sources of energy to produce products other than power or electrical generation. For example, primary processing such as chemical processing, production of cement, steel or aluminum, production of energy products like coal to liquid energy products, refining, may use heat to drive the primary processing, and the unused heat remaining after the primary processing or created during the primary processing would be the process heat of such processing, and can be used in a system or method according to the principles of the present invention. A particularly preferred way of providing process heat is by a co-generation process, in which a primary process (e.g. for generating electricity) provides a source of process heat (either directly in the form of steam, or in a form that can be used to heat a body of liquid to produce steam) and that process heat is further used in the manner described herein to remove CO2 from a substrate and regenerate the sorbent carried by the substrate.
In most power plants a steam supply is extracted from the low pressure turbine to heat the feed water to the system. This extraction steam would be suitable for use in the proposed process to remove CO2 from the sorbent structure as it is in co-generation of electricity and industrial heat. In the cogeneration of electricity and CO2 described in this embodiment it is possible to use very low pressure (2 lb above atmosphere pressure and temperature around 105 C) and can return the condensate to heat the boiler since the process heat being used is only the latent heat of the steam. While cogeneration of electricity and industrial heat reduces the electricity produced it does raise the overall thermal efficiency of using the heat generated to useful energy from 35-40% to 85-95%. It is thus favored when there are nearby uses for the low temperature and pressure steam (usually 120 deg C., 2 lbs above atmosphere steam). In the cogeneration of electricity and CO2 capture one can site the facility close enough to use the low temperature and pressure steam and by being able to use even lower pressure and temperature steam and recirculating the hot condensate in the process heat steam loop back to heat the boiler minimize the impact on electricity generation and thus the cost of the steam."
------------------------
In sum, and in other words, we can install the Carbon Dioxide capture and separation system of our subject herein, "United States Patent 8,163,066 - Carbon Dioxide Capture/Regeneration Structures and Techniques", just downwind from a Coal-fired power plant, or a group of Coal-fired power plants, and, using waste heat from the Coal-fired power plant(s), collect and separate a product consisting of Carbon Dioxide and Steam.
Alternatively, it also seems to be indicated that the same thing could be accomplished at a factory wherein the Fischer-Tropsch, or related or similar, Coal conversion process, wherein Coal is first partially oxidized, to form a synthesis gas blend of Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen, with the co-generation of some heat energy, and which synthesis gas is then catalytically condensed into liquid hydrocarbons, was being operated; as in "'process heat' may be provided from the use of sources of energy to produce products other than power or electrical generation. For example, ...like coal to liquid energy products".
The full Disclosure of "United States Patent 8,163,066" does go into some discussion of how the combined blend of H2O and the CO2 can then be separated.
But, since, as seen in yet another example, in our report of:
Standard Oil Electrolyzes CO2 to Carbon Monoxide | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,668,349 - Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 by Square Planar Transition Metal Complexes; 1987; Assignee: The Standard Oil Company; Abstract: A process for the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide comprises immersing a transition metal complex with square planar geometry into an aqueous or nonaqueous solution which has been acidified to a (specified) hydrogen ion concentration ... , adding the carbon dioxide, applying an electrical potential of from about -0.8 volts to about -1.5 volts ... , and reducing the carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide";
we can, using very low voltage and power, convert such a solution of Carbon Dioxide in Water into Carbon Monoxide, and, then, as seen in:
Standard Oil Carbon Monoxide + Water = Gasoline | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,559,363 - Process for Reacting Carbon Monoxide and Water; 1985; Abstract: A process for reacting carbon monoxide and water ... direct production of gasoline";
react that Carbon Monoxide with the Water and thereby produce Gasoline, why would we want to bother separating them?
And, remember, the process of our subject, "United States Patent 8,163,066", is one which is designed to "raise the overall thermal efficiency of" a thermal energy, i.e., Coal, power plant, up to "85-95%", by using otherwise wasted heat energy to effect the capture and separation of Carbon Dioxide.
How much higher, we are compelled to ask, would that "efficiency" be, if, instead of just burying the Carbon Dioxide so recovered, that CO2 were, instead, utilized, as in the processes cited in our separate reports noted above, concerning "United States Patent 7,989,507 - Production of Fuel ... Utilizing Waste Carbon Dioxide" and "United States Patent 8,138,380 - Electrolysis of Carbon Dioxide ... for Production of Methanol", and thereby converted into liquid hydrocarbon fuels?