# US 11,451,059 B2 · Systems and methods for generating and consuming power from natural gas > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,451,059 B2 - Document ID: US11451059B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/575,483 - Filed: 2022-01-13 - Published: 2022-05-05 - Granted: 2022-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-01 - Assignees: Crusoe Energy Systems Inc. - Applicants: Crusoe Energy Systems Inc. - Inventors: Charles Cavness; Chase Lochmiller; Kenneth Parker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451059B2 ## CPC - H02J 3/38: Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel - C10L 3/104: {Carbon dioxide} - E21B 43/16: Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons - F02C 3/22: the fuel or oxidant being gaseous at standard temperature and pressure (F02C3/28 takes precedence) - G06Q 20/065: {using e-cash} - G06Q 20/0855: {involving a third party} - G06Q 20/145: {Payments according to the detected use or quantity} - G06Q 20/3678: {e-cash details, e.g. blinded, divisible or detecting double spending} - G07F 15/001: {for gas} - H02J 3/001: Arrangements for handling faults or abnormalities, e.g. emergencies or contingencies - H02J 3/0012: characterised by the contingency detection means in AC networks, e.g. using phasor measurement units [PMU], synchrophasors or contingency analysis - H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators} - H02J 3/40: Synchronisation of generators for connection to a network or to another generator - H04L 9/50: {using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees} - G06Q 2220/00: Business processing using cryptography - H02J 2101/10: Dispersed power generation using fossil fuels, e.g. diesel generators - Y04S 50/12: Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract Systems and methods are provided to mitigate flaring of natural gas. A natural gas processing system may process raw natural gas into a fuel gas stream that may be used to power any number of on-site power generation modules. In turn, the power generation modules may convert the fuel gas stream into an electrical output, which may be employed to power any number of distributed computing units housed within one or more mobile data centers. In certain embodiments, the distributed computing units may be adapted to mine cryptocurrency or perform other distributed computing tasks to generate revenue. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, by a power generation system, a fuel gas stream comprising a fuel gas having a heat value of at least about 1,000 Btu/scf; generating, by the power generation system, from the fuel gas, a high-voltage electrical output associated with a first voltage, wherein said generating is performed by a power generation module of the power generation system, the power generation module including a generator component adapted to convert the fuel gas into electrical energy, the power generation module further including monitoring and control equipment, the monitoring and control equipment of the power generation module being in direct communication with the generator component and in remote communication with a monitoring and control system, transforming, by the power generation system, the high-voltage electrical output into a low-voltage electrical output associated with a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage; powering, by the power generation system, via the low-voltage electrical output, a plurality of distributed computing units; automatically monitoring, by the monitoring and control equipment of the power generation module, one or more operational parameters of the power generation module and controlling the generator component; and upon determining a change in the one or more operational parameters of the power generation module, modulating an electrical load of the plurality of distributed computing units by the monitoring and control system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein: the one or more operational parameters of the power generation module include a temperature associated with a location within the power generation module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of distributed computing units are adapted to mine a cryptocurrency. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of distributed computing units are disposed within one or more mobile data centers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, wherein the one or more mobile data centers comprises at least two mobile data centers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the fuel gas stream is received from a natural gas processing system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein: the high-voltage electrical output is from about 70 kW to about 2 MW; the first voltage is from about 480 V to about 4.16 kV; and the second voltage is from about 208 V to about 240 V. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein: the high-voltage electrical output is from about 1 MW to about 2 MW; and the first voltage is about 480 V. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein: the high-voltage electrical output comprises from about 2 MW to about 30 MW; the first voltage is from about 4.16 kV to about 12 kV; and the second voltage is from about 208 V to about 240 V. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more operational parameters of the power generation module include a composition of the fuel gas. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more operational parameters of the power generation module include a fuel gas supply pressure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more operational parameters of the power generation module include a fuel gas flow rate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more operational parameters of the power generation module include fuel gas characteristics. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more operational parameters of the power generation module include emissions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring and control equipment include sensors at the power generation system. ### Claim 16 A method comprising: receiving, by a power generation system, a fuel gas stream comprising a fuel gas having a heat value of at least about 1,000 Btu/scf; generating, by a power generation module of the power generation system, from the fuel gas, a high-voltage electrical output associated with a first voltage; and transforming, by the power generation system, the high-voltage electrical output into a low-voltage electrical output associated with a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage; powering, by the power generation system, via the low-voltage electrical output, a plurality of distributed computing units; monitoring, by monitoring and control equipment, operational parameters of the power generation module, the monitoring and control equipment being in direct communication with the power generation module and in remote communication with a monitoring and control system; and automatically modulating, by the monitoring and control system, based on the monitored operational parameters, an electrical load of the plurality of distributed computing units. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the operational parameters comprise a composition of the fuel gas. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the operational parameters comprise a temperature associated with a location within the power generation module. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of distributed computing units are adapted to mine a cryptocurrency. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of distributed computing units are disposed within one or more mobile data centers. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20, wherein the one or more mobile data centers comprises at least two mobile data centers. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the fuel gas stream is received from a natural gas processing system. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the operational parameters comprise a fuel gas supply pressure. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the operational parameters comprise a fuel gas flow rate. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the operational parameters comprise fuel gas characteristics. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the operational parameters comprise emissions. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the monitoring and control equipment include sensors at the power generation system.