# US 10,246,724 B2 · Production of hydrogen using an anaerobic biological process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,724 B2 - Document ID: US10246724B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/358,008 - Filed: 2016-11-21 - Published: 2017-07-27 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-10 - Assignees: Purdue Research Foundation - Applicants: Purdue Research Foundation - Inventors: Robert Kramer; Libbie S. Pelter; John A. Patterson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246724B2 ## CPC - C12P 3/00: Preparation of elements or inorganic compounds except carbon dioxide {(recovery of carbon dioxides as by-products C12F3/02)} - C12M 21/04: {for producing gas, e.g. biogas (digesters for manure with production of biogas A01C3/028, biological treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F3/00, C02F11/02, preparation of natural gas or syngas C10L3/06, C10L3/10)} - C12M 43/00: {Combinations of bioreactors or fermenters with other apparatus} - C12M 43/08: {Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices or plants for production of electricity} - C12P 7/06: Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage - F03G 6/003: {having a Rankine cycle (F03G6/065 takes precedence)} - F03G 6/0055: {having other power cycles, e.g. Stirling or transcritical, supercritical cycles; combined with other power sources, e.g. wind, gas or nuclear} - F03G 6/071: {with energy storage devices} - C02F 11/04: Anaerobic treatment; Production of methane by such processes - C02F 2303/10: Energy recovery - H01M 2250/40: Combination of fuel cells with other energy production systems - Y02E 10/46: Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines - Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel - Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - Y02P 20/133: Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight - Y02P 20/59: Biological synthesis; Biological purification - Y02W 10/30: Wastewater or sewage treatment systems using renewable energies - Y02W 10/37: using solar energy - C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)} - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Various embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods for biological production of hydrogen. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention pertain to a modular energy system and related methods for producing hydrogen using organic waste as a feed stock. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular renewable energy system comprising: a solar collector system for generating heat energy; a bioreactor including a chamber for fermenting organic waste; and one of a fuel cell and a heat engine in gaseous communication with the bioreactor; wherein anaerobic fermentation of organic waste in the chamber generates hydrogen gas, the hydrogen gas being directed to the one of a fuel cell and a heat engine; and wherein heat energy effective for sterilization is applied to the organic waste subsequent to fermentation, the heat energy being generated by the solar collector system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular renewable energy system of claim 1, further comprising a housing having an interior and an exterior, wherein the bioreactor is located in the interior of the housing, the one of a fuel cell and a heat engine is located in the interior of the housing, and the solar collector system is located on the exterior of the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular renewable energy system of claim 1, wherein heat energy effective to substantially inactivate methane-producing microorganisms is applied to the organic waste prior to fermentation, the heat energy being generated by the solar collector system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular renewable energy system of claim 1, further comprising an apparatus for distilling water using heat energy generated by the solar collector system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular renewable energy system of claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling the temperature and pH within the bioreactor chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular renewable energy system of claim 1, wherein the heat engine combusts the hydrogen in a cylinder to drive a piston. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The modular renewable energy system of claim 1, wherein the heat engine combusts the hydrogen in the combustor of a gas turbine. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The modular renewable energy system of claim 1, wherein the one of a fuel cell and a heat engine is connected to the bioreactor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The modular renewable energy system of claim 1, wherein the solar collector system is connected to the bioreactor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The modular renewable energy system of claim 1, further comprising a gas conditioner for separating hydrogen from other gases, wherein hydrogen is directed to the gas conditioner prior to being directed to the one of a fuel cell and a heat engine. ### Claim 11 A modular renewable energy system comprising: a bioreactor including a chamber for fermenting organic waste; and one of a fuel cell and a heat engine in gaseous communication with the bioreactor; wherein anaerobic fermentation of organic waste in the chamber generates hydrogen gas, the hydrogen gas being directed to the one of a fuel cell and a heat engine; and wherein heat energy effective for sterilization is applied to the organic waste subsequent to fermentation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The modular renewable energy system of claim 11, further comprising a solar collector system for generating heat energy, wherein the heat energy effective for sterilization applied to the organic waste subsequent to fermentation is generated by the solar collector system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The modular renewable energy system of claim 12, further comprising a housing having an interior and an exterior, wherein the bioreactor is located in the interior of the housing, the one of a fuel cell and a heat engine is located in the interior of the housing, and the solar collector system is located on the exterior of the housing. ### Claim 14 A modular renewable energy system comprising: a solar collector system for generating heat energy; a bioreactor including a chamber for fermenting organic waste; and a post-processing unit in liquid communication with the bioreactor; wherein heat energy effective for sterilization is applied to the organic waste in the post-processing unit subsequent to fermentation of the organic waste in the chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The modular renewable energy system of claim 14, further comprising one of a fuel cell and a heat engine in gaseous communication with the bioreactor, wherein anaerobic fermentation of organic waste in the chamber generates hydrogen gas, the hydrogen gas being directed to the one of a fuel cell and a heat engine.