United States Patent Application: 0120228148
Although it's unlikely any of our direct addressee's are attending to their email this day after Christmas, we thought we would go ahead and send this slightly belated gift along, since it does have some, sort of oblique, tie-ins to Christmas, which we'll highlight with inserted comments as we go through our excerpts.
First of all, our gift to you is one we've repeated many times:
Carbon Dioxide, as is emitted in only a small way, relative to natural sources of the gas, such as the Earth's inexorable processes of planetary volcanism, from our economically essential use of Coal in the generation of abundant and truly affordable electric power, is a valuable raw material resource.
Technologies exist which would enable us to harvest it efficiently from any convenient source, either, for instance, the flue gasses of Coal-burning power generation plants or even the atmosphere itself, and then convert it on a practical basis into any, quite literally any, naturally-occurring hydrocarbon compound and any, again quite literally any, man-made hydrocarbon compound derived from those naturally-occurring hydrocarbon compounds.
In this case, we are again demonstrating that Carbon Dioxide can be efficiently converted into that natural gas we don't have to drill and frack, or, as old friends sometimes seem so sadly wont to do, as seen in:
West Virginia gas line explodes, burns homes and roads | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com; "At least five homes went up in flames Tuesday afternoon and a badly burned section of Interstate 77 in West Virginia was closed after a natural gas line exploded in an hour-long inferno. "The flames were so high, they were so massive," (a witness said). "It actually cooked the interstate," he said. "It looks like a tar pit." The interstate will be shut down for two days while engineers and inspectors repair the damage and assess whether a bridge was compromised"; burn our bridges, for: Methane.
As seen in excerpts, with comment inserted and appended, from the initial link in this dispatch to:
Date: September 13, 2012
Inventor: Steven Alan Wolfowitz, South Africa
(Wolfowitz is not a hydrocarbon specialist.
He is, though - - and here's a gift-giving and Christmas-like tie-in - - a somewhat eclectic genius who has devoted a good deal of his time and effort to devising ways in which the lives of the truly poor, especially those poor still living in the execrable shanty-town remnants of South Africa's apartheid era, can help themselves, at least a little. He is the inventor of "Wolf Bags", which are actually empty, specially-formed and reinforced plastic bags, which can be made out of low-cost, recycled plastic materials. The empty bags can be shipped where they are needed, then filled on site with whatever loose material - sand, etc. - is available, and, then, stacked and secured through an interlock system that is an integral part of their design. They can be built up quickly by unskilled people with few tools to work with and formed into energy-conserving, though simple, secure homes. Feel free to search for photos of Soweto on the web; as in:
Then, have a look at what Wolfowitz and company are offering to replace the shanties there with, via:
About Wolfbag Building Systems; "Wolfbag Building Systems is a patented building system invented and developed by South African inventor Steven Wolfowitz ... a successful South African businessman, entrepreneur and inventor who has devoted much of the past 20 years to the invention, design and development of numerous patented inventions and registered designs across a diverse range of interests and applications. Living in South Africa and being witness to the harsh living conditions and extreme poverty many of its poorest population endure has inspired and driven Steven to concentrate much of his efforts towards the design and development of low cost building methods and systems that will benefit the poorest of the poor by providing cheap solid dwellings to replace the shack dwellings and shanty town structures that many of the population currently inhabit".
He has, according to the few reports we've been able to sift out of the overwhelming number concerning another, far more famous and globetrotting, and likely much less altruistic, Wolfowitz, that pop up when you do a search, arranged for low-cost manufacture and free, or nearly free, delivery of his "Wolfbag Building System" components to South African shanty towns like Soweto; and, has also begun to undertake similar work in India.)
Assignee: FFGF Limited, Tortola
(Tortola is the capital of the British Virgin Islands; and, although the British Virgins are considered a part of the United Kingdom, they enjoy a great deal of autonomy in the conduct of their domestic and international business affairs, with confidentiality being a hallmark of that conduct; and, one might think of them as a little, semi-tropical Switzerland. It would be nice to tie in a Christmas theme here by claiming the islands were named for the Virgin Mary; but, that isn't the case. The best explanation is that Columbus, who did discover and name them, called them the Virgin Islands in honor of St. Ursula, and her reputed 11,000 virgin followers; since there are a lot of small islands, most uninhabited, in the Virgin Island chain, most of them visible one to another.
Contrary opinion has it that he, less romantically, simply called them "virgin", for "unexplored", islands.
In any case, they have become a haven for international business operations; and, more can be learned via:
Tortola - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; wherein we're told that the British Virgin Islands do indeed have a great deal of independence, insofar as structuring their internal domestic, especially business, laws. For instance, even though they are officially ruled by and are a part of the United Kingdom, i.e., Great Britain, their official currency is the United States Dollar. There are financial advantages to officially headquartering a business there, even though those headquarters might consist only of a secretary and a company officer responsible, at least through title, for some corporate financial matters. And, in fact, "Financial services are the main source of income to the island", due to the "popular International Business Companies Act, passed in the early 1980s" which "led to significant growth in government revenue. The island is home to many offshore companies that do business worldwide".)
Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the production of hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide and water, using electrolysis and two separate reaction vessels. A first reaction vessel contains a positive electrode and a liquid electrolytic medium comprising water and ionized material. A second reaction vessel contains a negative electrode and a liquid electrolytic medium comprising a mixture of water and carbon dioxide. The reaction vessels are connected with connection means which allow ions to pass between the electrolytic media of the first and second reaction vessels. A direct electrical current is applied to the positive electrode and the negative electrode to produce hydrocarbons (typically methane); and oxygen.
Claims: A method for the production of hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide and water includes the steps of: providing a first reaction vessel containing a positive electrode and a liquid electrolytic medium comprising water and ionizing material; providing a second reaction vessel containing a negative electrode and a liquid electrolytic medium comprising a mixture of water and carbon dioxide; connecting the first and second reaction vessels with connection means which allows electrons and/or ions to pass between the electrolytic media of the first and second reaction vessels; applying a direct electrical current to the positive electrode and the negative electrode to: cause electrons to flow from the cathode to the anode, through the electrolytic media in the reaction vessels; form hydrocarbons in the reaction vessel.
(As is made clear further on in the full Disclosure, "the connecting means which allow electrons and/or ions to pass", but not atoms or molecules, is a micro-porous membrane; perhaps a solid membrane, like the microporous "barrier" employed by the technology disclosed in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | Connecticu?t and Honda 2012 CO2 and H2O to Hydrocarbo?n Fuels | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent Application 20120241327 - Materials and Design for an Electrocatalytic Device and Method which Produces Carbon Nanotubes and Hydrocarbon Transportation Fuels; 2012; Assignee: The University of Connecticut and Honda Motor Company;
Abstract: The present teachings are directed toward an electrocatalytic cell including a barrier, having at least a first side and a second side opposite the first side, comprising a material permeable to oxygen ions and impermeable to at least CO2, CO, H2, H2O and hydrocarbons ...".
In fact, though not, due to length and complexity, reflected in our excerpts, Wolfowitz does go into some detail on "capillary" molecular migration processes which would be much like those explained as the "barrier" transport mechanism in the above-cited "United States Patent Application 20120241327".)
(And) wherein the hydrocarbons includes methane.
The method ... wherein oxygen is (also separately generated).
The method ... wherein the positive electrode in the first reaction vessel is in the form of a hollow microporous cylinder which is closed at one end and which is made of Platinum (and) wherein the negative electrode in the second reaction vessel is in the form of a hollow microporous cylinder which is closed at one end and which is made from a Copper-Platinum amalgam or Platinum.
(And) wherein the hydrocarbons includes methane.
The method ... wherein oxygen is (also separately generated).
The method ... wherein the positive electrode in the first reaction vessel is in the form of a hollow microporous cylinder which is closed at one end and which is made of Platinum (and) wherein the negative electrode in the second reaction vessel is in the form of a hollow microporous cylinder which is closed at one end and which is made from a Copper-Platinum amalgam or Platinum.
(Yeah, Platinum is expensive; but, it isn't used up or consumed to any appreciable extent.)
The method ... wherein the first and second reaction vessels are operated at a pressure of above 5.1 atm (and) wherein the first and second reaction vessels are operated at a pressure of from 10 to 200 atm.
The method ... wherein the first and second reaction vessels are operated at a pressure of above 5.1 atm (and) wherein the first and second reaction vessels are operated at a pressure of from 10 to 200 atm.
(Wolfowitz provides multiple ranges of pressures in associated Claims; some of them impracticably high. The "200 atm" seems to be the preferred high end of the range, though, and that is achievable on a somewhat practical, industrial scale, though it would demand some significant energy input.)
The method ... wherein the reaction vessels ... are operated at different temperatures (and) wherein the first reaction vessel ...is operated at a temperature of 20 C to 200 C (and) wherein the second reaction vessel is operated at a temperature of -50 C to 200 C.
(Wolfowitz narrows the specific temperature ranges down a bit in more extended Claims; and, they don't have to be nearly as high as "200 C" or nearly as low as "-50 C". The main reason for having such different temperatures in the different reaction vessels is, apparently, that the temperature differential facilitates and reduces the power requirements of the subsequently specified electrolysis.)
The method ... wherein the voltage applied across the (electrodes) is from -0.5v to -20v (and) wherein the voltage applied across the positive electrode and the negative electrode is from -0.5v to -10v (and) wherein the voltage applied across the positive electrode and the negative electrode is from -0.5v to -6v.
(And) wherein the direct current applied across the positive electrode and the negative electrode is from 50 to ... 200 mA.
(Those are pretty-darned eentsy power requirements. The maximum "200 mA" is only two tenths of an Amp, as we calculate it. Your electric coffee maker is rated higher.)
The method ... wherein carbon dioxide and water in the second reaction vessel are mixed at a volumetric ratio of 1:1 to 1:2 or in stoichiometric (or greater) proportions according to the formula:
The method ... wherein carbon dioxide and water in the second reaction vessel are mixed at a volumetric ratio of 1:1 to 1:2 or in stoichiometric (or greater) proportions according to the formula:
CO2 + 2H2O = CH4 (Methane) + 2O2.
An apparatus for the production of hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide and water, the apparatus comprising: a first reaction vessel for containing water in the liquid phase; a second reaction vessel for containing a mixture of carbon dioxide and water in the liquid phase; a positive electrode located within the first reaction vessel; a negative electrode located within the second reaction vessel; and connection means connecting electrolytic media in the first and second reaction vessels ... (and) wherein the connection means is a liquid electrolytic medium.
The apparatus ... wherein the connection means includes a membrane which allows electrons to pass through, and possibly some ions, but not atoms (and) wherein the connection means is defined by one or more ... capillary tube/s (as specified).
An apparatus for the production of hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide and water, the apparatus comprising: a first reaction vessel for containing water in the liquid phase; a second reaction vessel for containing a mixture of carbon dioxide and water in the liquid phase; a positive electrode located within the first reaction vessel; a negative electrode located within the second reaction vessel; and connection means connecting electrolytic media in the first and second reaction vessels ... (and) wherein the connection means is a liquid electrolytic medium.
The apparatus ... wherein the connection means includes a membrane which allows electrons to pass through, and possibly some ions, but not atoms (and) wherein the connection means is defined by one or more ... capillary tube/s (as specified).
The apparatus ... including a high pressure intensifier for equalizing the pressures in both reaction vessels (and) wherein the high pressure intensifier is pressurized with CO2, and pressurizes the second reaction vessel directly with CO2, and a high pressure accumulator is provided for pressurizing the first reaction vessel with H2O.
Background and Field: The planet Earth is currently plagued by ... excessively high crude oil and consequently high petrol and diesel prices (and, an) object of this invention is to reduce (that problem) and thus improve the future of the world.
It is an object of this invention to provide a process and apparatus which ... provides a chemical raw material feedstock for the production of hydrocarbons, including fuels.
It is an object of this invention to provide a process and apparatus which ... provides a chemical raw material feedstock for the production of hydrocarbons, including fuels.
Summary and Description: A method for the production of hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide and water includes the steps of:
(a) providing a first reaction vessel containing a positive electrode and a liquid electrolytic medium comprising water and ionizing material;
(b) providing a second reaction vessel containing a negative electrode and a liquid electrolytic medium comprising a mixture of water and carbon dioxide;
(c) connecting the first and second reaction vessels with connection means which allows electrons and/or ions to pass between the electrolytic media of the first and second reaction vessels;
(d) applying a direct electrical current to the positive electrode and the negative electrode to:
cause electrons to flow from the cathode to the anode (or transmit their charges from atom to adjacent atom thereby ionizing them and de-ionising them successively) through the electrolytic media in the reaction vessels;
effect ionization of hydrogen, carbon in the second reaction vessel and to produce positively charged hydrogen and carbon ions which combine to form hydrocarbons
(typically methane), and possibly carbon, hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
effect ionization of oxygen in the first reaction vessel, which combine to form oxygen.
Hydrocarbons (typically methane) are recovered from the second reaction vessel.
Oxygen is recovered from the first reaction vessel."
Hydrocarbons (typically methane) are recovered from the second reaction vessel.
Oxygen is recovered from the first reaction vessel."
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There is a lot of far more excruciating detail to it; detail which describes and quantifies the tradeoffs between higher versus lower combinations of temperature and pressure, and varying electricity inputs, and subsequent production of Methane; which production, at lower temperatures and pressures, can be pretty darned small, on a percentage basis; so low the process likely isn't worth actually operating for the purposes of synthesizing Methane.
However, the tradeoffs are interesting since they display the fact that higher temperatures, which seem easy enough to achieve, can lower the pressure and electricity requirements. In that respect, the process of our subject begins to resemble to process of "Syntrolysis" developed by our USDOE, as described, for just one example, in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | USDOE Converts CO2 into Methane via "Syntrolysis" | Research & Development; concerning: "Results of Recent High Temperature Co-Electrolysis Studies at the Idaho National Laboratory; 2007; Idaho National Laboratory (and) Ceramatec, Inc.; 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";
where the electrolytic process is carried out at higher temperatures with the raw materials all in the gaseous phase; with the products of the reaction including not just Methane, but, preferentially Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide, which are both, too, identified as potential reaction products in the full Disclosure of our subject, "United States Patent Application 20120228148 - Production of Hydrocarbons"; and, which Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen can be subsequently catalyzed and reacted together, and made to form a range of gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons.
But, with the higher pressures specified herein by "United States Patent Application 20120228148", the reactants can be maintained in a "supercritical" state, wherein they, as our take has it, behave more like, or are actually forced to remain as, liquids, and the results are more like those seen in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | Chicago Recycles CO2 to Methane | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,609,440 - Electrochemical Synthesis of Methane; 1986; Assignee: Gas Research Institute; Abstract: A method is described for electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide to form methane by electrolyzing an aqueous solution containing carbon dioxide utilizing a cathode which comprises ruthenium. If desired, solar energy can be utilized to provide the potential for the electrolyzing. In such an instance, solar energy is, in essence, stored as chemical energy which can later be recovered from the methane".
In any case, it is beginning to seem pretty clear, that, as in one aspect of our subject, Carbon Dioxide and Water can be acted upon by electricity in the presence of known catalysts and be converted into Methane, with the co-generation of byproduct Oxygen.
And, we again remind you, that, once we have Methane, as synthesized according to the process of our subject, "United States Patent Application 20120228148 - Production of Hydrocarbons", from Carbon Dioxide, we can then, as seen for only one example, out of many similar, in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | Amoco CO2 + CH4 = Hydrocarbon Syngas | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 5,614,163 - Process for Making Synthesis Gas; 1997; Amoco Corporation; Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide by partial oxidation of hydrocarbyl compounds using ... an oxygen-containing gas (and) wherein the oxygen-containing gas comprises carbon dioxide (and) wherein partial oxidation of ... methane ... is carried out ... (and) recovering ... a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide (which) can be used to prepare methanol ... as well as higher molecular weight hydrocarbons";
react that CO2-derived Methane with even more Carbon Dioxide, and thereby form "a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide" which can be catalytically and chemically condensed, as via, we suggest, the long-known Fischer-Tropsch process, and be converted into "higher molecular weight hydrocarbons" most definitely suitable for the further refining of conventional liquid hydrocarbon fuels.