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US 2014/0272615 A1Published application
Integrated power generation and carbon capture using fuel cells
AssigneeExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
InventorsPaul J. Berlowitz, Timothy Andrew Barckholtz, Frank Hershkowitz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for capturing CO2 from a combustion source using molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs). At least a portion of the anode exhaust can be recycled for use as a fuel for the combustion source. Optionally, a second portion of the anode exhaust can be recycled for use as part of an anode input stream. This can allow for a reduction in the amount of fuel cell area required for separating CO2 from the combustion source exhaust and/or modifications in how the fuel cells can be operated.
Claims37
A method for capturing carbon dioxide from a combustion source, the method comprising:
- introducing one or more fuel streams and an O2-containing stream into a combustion zone;
- performing a combustion reaction in the combustion zone to generate a combustion exhaust, the combustion exhaust comprising CO2;
- processing at least a first portion of the combustion exhaust with a fuel cell array of one or more molten carbonate fuel cells to form a cathode exhaust stream from at least one cathode outlet of the fuel cell array, the one or more fuel cells each having an anode and a cathode, the molten carbonate fuel cells being operatively connected to the combustion exhaust through one or more cathode inlets of fuel cells in the fuel cell array;
- reacting carbonate from the one or more fuel cell cathodes with hydrogen within the one or more fuel cell anodes to produce electricity, an anode exhaust stream from at least one anode outlet of the fuel cell array comprising CO2 and H2;
- separating CO2 from the anode exhaust stream in one or more separation stages to form a CO2-depleted anode exhaust stream;
- and
- passing at least a first portion of the CO2-depleted anode exhaust stream to the combustion zone.
4 more elements
A system for power generation, comprising:
- a combustion turbine including a compressor, the compressor receiving an oxidant input and being in fluid communication with a combustion zone, the combustion zone further receiving a first fuel input and a second fuel input, the combustion zone being in fluid communication with an expander having an exhaust output;
- an exhaust gas recirculation system providing fluid communication between a first portion of the expander exhaust output and the combustion zone;
- a fuel cell array having at least one cathode input, at least one cathode output, at least one anode input, and at least one anode output, a second portion of the expander exhaust output being in fluid communication with the at least one cathode input;
- and
- an anode recycle loop comprising one or more carbon dioxide separation stages, a first portion of an anode recycle loop output being provided to the combustion zone as at least a portion of the second fuel input.
2 more elements
A method for capturing carbon dioxide from a combustion source, the method comprising:
- introducing one or more fuel streams and an O2-containing stream into a reaction zone;
- performing a combustion reaction in the combustion zone to generate a combustion exhaust, the combustion exhaust comprising about 10 vol % CO2 or less;
- processing at least a first portion of the combustion exhaust with a fuel cell array of one or more molten carbonate fuel cells, the one or more fuel cells each having an anode and a cathode, the molten carbonate fuel cells being operatively connected to the combustion exhaust through one or more cathode inlets of fuel cells in the fuel cell array, a cathode exhaust stream from at least one cathode outlet of the fuel cell array containing about 2.0 vol % or less of carbon dioxide;
- reacting carbonate from the one or more fuel cell cathodes with hydrogen within the one or more fuel cell anodes to produce electricity, an anode exhaust stream from at least one anode outlet of the fuel cell array comprising CO2 and at least about 5 vol % H2, at least a portion of the H2 reacted with the carbonate comprising H2 recycled from the anode exhaust stream;
- separating CO2 from the anode exhaust stream in one or more separation stages to form a CO2-depleted anode exhaust stream;
- passing at least a first portion of the CO2-depleted anode exhaust stream to the combustion zone;
- and
- recycling at least a second portion of the CO2-depleted anode exhaust stream to one or more of the fuel cell anodes.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.