# US 2015/0147255 A1 · Systems and methods for abating waste methane

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- Number: US 2015/0147255 A1
- Document ID: US20150147255A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/091,175
- Filed: 2013-11-26
- Published: 2015-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2013-11-26
- Assignees: Elwha LLC
- Applicants: Elwha LLC
- Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde; Jordin T. Kare; Lowell L. Wood,, JR.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150147255A1

## CPC

- B01D 53/864: {Removing carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons}
- B01D 53/8696: {Controlling the catalytic process}
- F23C 13/08: characterised by the catalytic material
- F23G 5/50: Control or safety arrangements
- F23G 7/07: in which combustion takes place in the presence of catalytic material
- B01D 2257/7025: Methane
- Y02C 20/20: of methane
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- F23C: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION USING FLUID FUEL OR SOLID FUEL SUSPENDED IN {A CARRIER GAS OR} AIR (burners F23D)
- F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION
- Y02C: CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG]

## Abstract

A system for abating waste methane includes a catalytic combustor device configured to catalytically combust waste-associated methane emissions generated by waste in a waste container, where the catalytic combustion is based on a reaction of the methane emissions and a catalyst of the catalytic combustor device in the presence of heat. The system further includes a combustion sensor configured to generate combustion data based on the catalytic combustion, a transmitter, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to control operation of the catalytic combustor device, determine an amount of methane abated by the catalytic combustor device, where the amount of methane abated is based on the combustion data, and report, via the transmitter, the amount of methane abated by the catalytic combustor device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for abating waste methane, comprising:
a catalytic combustor device configured to catalytically combust waste-associated methane emissions generated by waste in a waste container, wherein the catalytic combustion is based on a reaction of the methane emissions and a catalyst of the catalytic combustor device in the presence of heat;
a combustion sensor configured to generate combustion data based on the catalytic combustion;
a transmitter; and
a processing circuit configured to:
control operation of the catalytic combustor device;
determine an amount of methane abated by the catalytic combustor device, wherein the amount of methane abated is based on the combustion data; and
report, via the transmitter, the amount of methane abated by the catalytic combustor device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the combustion sensor comprises a product sensor configured to generate combustion data based on a product of the catalytic combustion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the combustion sensor comprises an energy sensor configured to generate combustion data based on an energy release of the catalytic combustion.

### Claim 4

(canceled)

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the combustion sensor comprises a methane sensor configured to generate methane data based on the methane emissions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine a relative amount of methane abated by the catalytic combustor device, wherein the relative amount of methane abated is based on the combustion data and the methane data.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine a concentration of methane based on the methane data, and wherein the amount of methane abated is determined based on comparing a concentration of methane prior to catalytic combustion with a concentration of methane after catalytic combustion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the catalytic combustor device is mounted above an exhaust of the waste container, and wherein the methane emissions are directed to an atmosphere above the exhaust of the waste container.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the exhaust of the waste container is coupled to a vent tube, and wherein the catalytic combustor device is coupled to the vent tube.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the catalytic combustor device is mounted within the waste container, and wherein the methane emissions are directed to an atmosphere within the waste container.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine a global warming abatement amount based on the amount of methane abated by the catalytic combustor device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
determine an amount and a type of a product of the catalytic combustion of the methane emissions and the catalyst; and
report, via the transmitter, the amount and the type of the product.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the product includes at least one of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water, and heat.

### Claim at position 14

14-17. (canceled)

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine a greenhouse gas emission value based on the amount and the type of the product.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to calculate an emission credit based on the amount of methane abated and the amount and the type of the product.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine a carbon offset generated by the catalytic combustor device, wherein the carbon offset is based on the amount of methane abated and the amount and the type of the product.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to maintain a history of the amount of methane abated and the amount and the type of the product, and wherein the carbon offset is further based on the history.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein controlling the operation of the catalytic combustor device is based on the amount of methane abated.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, wherein the processing circuit is further configured disable the catalytic combustor device when the amount of methane abated reaches a target amount of methane abated.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to change an operational mode of the catalytic combustor device when the amount of methane abated reaches a target amount of methane abated.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to receive, via a receiver, a price of an emission credit related to methane abatement, and wherein operation of the catalytic is based on the price of the emission credit.

### Claim at position 23

26-30. (canceled)

### Claim 31

A method of abating waste methane, comprising:
controlling, with a processing circuit, operation of a catalytic combustor device;
catalytically combusting, with the catalytic combustor device, waste-associated methane emissions, wherein the waste-associated methane emissions are generated by waste in a waste container, and wherein the catalytic combustion is based on a reaction of the methane emissions and a catalyst of the catalytic combustor device in the presence of heat;
generating, with a combustion sensor, combustion data based on the catalytic combustion by the catalytic combustor device;
determining an amount of methane abated by the catalytic combustor device, wherein the amount of methane abated is based on the combustion data; and
reporting the amount of methane abated by the catalytic combustor device.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the combustion sensor comprises a product sensor configured to generate combustion data based on a product of the catalytic combustion.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the combustion sensor comprises an energy sensor configured to generate combustion data based on an energy release of the catalytic combustion.

### Claim 34

(canceled)

### Claim 35 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the combustion sensor comprises a methane sensor configured to generate methane data based on the methane emissions.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The method of claim 35, further comprising determining a relative amount of methane abated by the catalytic combustor device, wherein the relative amount of methane abated is based on the combustion data and the methane data.

### Claim 37 (depends on 35)

The method of claim 35, further comprising determining a concentration of methane based on the methane data, and wherein the amount of methane abated is determined based on comparing a concentration of methane prior to catalytic combustion with a concentration of methane after catalytic combustion.

### Claim at position 31

38-40. (canceled)

### Claim 41 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, further comprising determining a global warming abatement amount based on the amount of methane abated by the catalytic combustor device.

### Claim 42 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, further comprising:
determining an amount and a type of a product of the catalytic combustion of the methane emissions and the catalyst; and
reporting the amount and the type of the product.

### Claim at position 34

43-47. (canceled)

### Claim 48 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, further comprising determining a greenhouse gas emission value based on the amount and the type of the product.

### Claim 49 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, further comprising calculating an emission credit based on the amount of methane abated and the amount and the type of the product.

### Claim 50 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, further comprising determining a carbon offset generated by the catalytic combustor device, wherein the carbon offset is based on the amount of methane abated and the amount and the type of the product.

### Claim at position 38

51-60. (canceled)

### Claim 61

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to perform operations for abating waste methane, the operations comprising:
controlling operation of a catalytic combustor device;
catalytically combusting, by the catalytic combustor device, waste-associated methane emissions, wherein the waste-associated methane emissions are generated by waste in a waste container, and wherein the catalytic combustion is based on a reaction of the methane emissions and a catalyst of the catalytic combustor device in the presence of heat;
receiving, from a combustion sensor, combustion data based on the catalytic combustion by the catalytic combustor device;
determining an amount of methane abated by the catalytic combustor device, wherein the amount of methane abated is based on the combustion data; and
reporting the amount of methane abated by the catalytic combustor device.

### Claim 62 (depends on 61)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 61, wherein the combustion sensor comprises a product sensor configured to generate combustion data based on a product of the catalytic combustion.

### Claim at position 41

63-70. (canceled)

### Claim 71 (depends on 61)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 61, wherein the operations further comprise determining a global warming abatement amount based on the amount of methane abated by the catalytic combustor device.

### Claim 72 (depends on 61)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 61, wherein the operations further comprise:
determining an amount and a type of a product of the catalytic combustion of the methane emissions and the catalyst; and
reporting the amount and the type of the product.

### Claim at position 44

73-77. (canceled)

### Claim 78 (depends on 72)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 72, wherein the operations further comprise determining a greenhouse gas emission value based on the amount and the type of the product.

### Claim 79

(canceled)

### Claim 80 (depends on 72)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 72, wherein the operations further comprise determining a carbon offset generated by the catalytic combustor device, wherein the carbon offset is based on the amount of methane abated and the amount and the type of the product.

### Claim at position 48

81-90. (canceled)