Integrated power generation and carbon capture using fuel cells
AssigneeExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
InventorsPaul J. Berlowitz, Timothy Andrew Barckholtz, Frank Hershkowitz
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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 part of 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.
Claims31
A method for capturing carbon dioxide from a combustion source, said method comprising:
- capturing an output stream from a combustion source, said captured output stream comprising oxygen and carbon dioxide;
- processing the captured output stream 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 carbon dioxide stream through one or more cathode inlets of molten carbonate fuel cells in the fuel cell array;
- reacting fuel with carbonate from the one or more fuel cell cathodes 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 carbon dioxide and hydrogen, at least a portion of the fuel reacted with carbonate comprising hydrogen recycled from the anode exhaust stream;
- passing the anode exhaust stream through a water gas shift reaction stage;
- separating carbon dioxide from the water gas shifted anode exhaust stream in one or more separation stages;
- and
- recycling at least a portion of the anode exhaust stream to the anode after separation of the carbon dioxide from the anode exhaust stream.
A method for capturing carbon dioxide from a combustion source, said method comprising:
- capturing an output stream from a combustion source, said captured output stream comprising oxygen and carbon dioxide;
- processing the captured output stream 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 carbon dioxide stream through one or more cathode inlets of molten carbonate fuel cells in the fuel cell array;
- reacting fuel with carbonate from the one or more fuel cell cathodes at a fuel utilization of about 60% or less 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 carbon dioxide hydrogen, at least a portion of the fuel reacted with carbonate comprising hydrogen recycled from the anode exhaust stream;
- separating carbon dioxide from the anode exhaust stream in one or more separation stages;
- and
- recycling at least a portion of the anode exhaust stream to the anode after separation of the carbon dioxide from the anode exhaust stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.