# US 2014/0338361 A1 · Method And An Apparatus For Producing Energy By Recycling Materials During A Fuel Combustion Process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0338361 A1 - Document ID: US20140338361A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/117,657 - Filed: 2012-05-18 - Published: 2014-11-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-18 - Assignees: Fortum Oyj - Inventors: Esa Suoninen; Martti Surakka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140338361A1 ## CPC - F02C 6/10: supplying working fluid to a user, e.g. a chemical process, which returns working fluid to a turbine of the plant - C12M 21/02: {Photobioreactors (culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12)} - 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 43/04: {Bioreactors or fermenters combined with combustion devices or plants, e.g. for carbon dioxide removal (C12M43/06 takes precedence; recovery of carbon dioxide C12F3/02)} - F02C 3/28: using a separate gas producer for gasifying the fuel before combustion - F22B 1/1807: {using the exhaust gases of combustion engines} - Y02E 20/30: Technologies for a more efficient combustion or heat usage - Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel - 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) - 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} - F22B: METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION; STEAM BOILERS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The present invention relates to a method for producing energy by recycling materials during a fuel combustion process, wherein the fuel combustion process comprises combusting fuel introduced into the fuel combustion process. Further, the invention relates to an apparatus for producing energy by recycling materials during a fuel combustion process. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing energy by recycling materials during a fuel combustion process (1) taking place in a fuel combustion device, which is a boiler or a furnace, wherein the fuel combustion process comprises combusting fuel introduced into the fuel combustion process, wherein the method comprises the following steps of: introducing a stream of flue gas (4) comprising carbon dioxide and produced in the fuel combustion process (1) into a biomass cultivating process (2), where the flue gas takes part in the production of biomass and oxygen; introducing at least part of the biomass produced in the biomass cultivating process (2) into a biogas production process (3), where the biomass takes part in the production of biogas; introducing at least part of the oxygen produced in the biomass cultivating process (2) into the fuel combustion process (1); introducing at least part of the biogas produced in the biogas production process (3) into the fuel combustion process (1), where the biogas is combusted as fuel; and introducing combustion air (9) into the fuel combustion process; such that the need to introduce fuel (11) selected from a group consisting of fossil fuel comprising coal, biofuel, industrial waste, municipal waste and any combination thereof, into the fuel combustion process (1) during the fuel combustion process in addition to the biogas produced in the biogas production process (3) and introduced into the fuel combustion process is reduced. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein 300-1500 kg, preferably 650-850 kg, and more preferably 740-800 kg of oxygen (6) produced in the biomass cultivating process (2) is introduced into the fuel combustion process (1) per 1000 kg of carbon dioxide produced in the fuel combustion process. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein 100-800 kg, preferably 300-400 kg, and more preferably 330-370 kg of biogas (7) produced in the biogas production process (3) is introduced into the fuel combustion process (1) per 1000 kg of carbon dioxide produced in the fuel combustion process. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein 200-900 kg, preferably 400-600 kg, and more preferably 450-550 kg of biomass is produced in the biomass cultivating process (2) per 1000 kg of carbon dioxide (4) introduced into the biomass cultivating process. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein 0-500 kg, preferably 0-100 kg, and more preferably 40-80 kg of fuel (11) is introduced into the fuel combustion process (1) in addition to the biogas produced in the biogas production process (3) and introduced into the fuel combustion process per 1000 kg of carbon dioxide produced in the fuel combustion process. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the stream of flue gas (4) further comprises NO, NO2 and/or N2. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the biogas (7) comprises methane, carbon dioxide or a combination comprising methane and carbon dioxide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass (5) is selected from a group consisting of algae, water grass and a combination thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises introducing at least part of fermentation sludge (13) formed in the biogas production process (3) into the biomass cultivating process (2). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises introducing growing media (8) comprising waste water into the biomass cultivating process (2). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel introduced into the fuel combustion process comprises coal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises recovering water (10) from the fuel combustion process (1). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises introducing carbon dioxide (14) into the biomass cultivating process (2) in addition to the carbon dioxide contained in the stream of flue gas (4). ### Claim 14 An apparatus (15) for producing energy by recycling materials during a fuel combustion process, wherein the apparatus comprises a fuel combustion device (1), which is a boiler or a furnace, for combusting fuel introduced into the fuel combustion device, wherein the apparatus further comprises: means (4) for introducing a stream of flue gas comprising carbon dioxide and produced in the fuel combustion device (1) into a biomass cultivating device (2); a biomass cultivating device (2) for producing biomass and oxygen; means (5) for introducing at least part of the biomass produced in the biomass cultivating device (2) into a biogas reactor (3); a biogas reactor (3) for producing biogas; means (6) for introducing at least part of the oxygen produced in the biomass cultivating device (2) into the fuel combustion device (1); means (7) for introducing at least part of the biogas produced in the biogas reactor (3) into the fuel combustion device (1) for combusting biogas as fuel; and means for introducing combustion air (9) into the fuel combustion device; and in that the apparatus is configured such that the need to introduce fuel (11) selected from a group consisting of fossil fuel comprising coal, biofuel, industrial waste, municipal waste and any combination thereof, into the fuel combustion device (1) during the fuel combustion process in addition to the biogas produced in the biogas reactor (3) and introduced into the fuel combustion device is reduced. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus (15) comprises means (13) for introducing at least part of fermentation sludge formed in the biogas reactor (3) into the biomass cultivating device (2). ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus (15) comprises means (8) for introducing growing media comprising waste water into the biomass cultivating device (2). ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus (15) comprises means (11) for introducing fuel into the fuel combustion device (1). ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus (15) comprises means (10) for recovering water from the fuel combustion device (1). ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus (15) comprises means (14) for introducing carbon dioxide into the biomass cultivating device (2) in addition to the carbon dioxide introduced by the means (4) for introducing a stream of flue gas comprising carbon dioxide and produced in the fuel combustion device (1) into a biomass cultivating device (2).