Methods and systems for carbon nanofiber production
AssigneeC2Cnt LLC
InventorStuart Licht
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for utilizing solar power to generate carbon nano-materials. A system for utilizing the carbon dioxide byproduct of a fossil fuel power generation process to drive an electrolysis reaction which produces carbon nano-materials, and methods of producing the same.
Claims44
A system to produce carbon nano-materials, the system comprising:
- a solar powered heating and electrolysis chamber system, including,
- (a) a combined heating and electrolysis chamber,
- (b) carbonate material within the combined heating and electrolysis chamber,
- (c) a concentrator that receives sunlight, at least a part of the sunlight being used to heat the combined heating and electrolysis chamber to heat the carbonate material to produce molten carbonate, and
- (d) an anode and a cathode positioned within the heating and electrolysis chamber and electrically connected to a power source;
- a fossil fuel combustion chamber in fluid communication with the combined heating and electrolysis chamber via an exhaust conduit,
- wherein the fossil fuel combustion chamber provides a source of carbon dioxide to the combined heating and electrolysis chamber via the exhaust conduit.
(canceled)
The system of claim, further comprising an inlet extending between and in fluid communication with the combined heating and electrolysis chamber and the fossil fuel combustion chamber wherein the oxygen is circulated to the fossil fuel combustion chamber via the inlet.
9-11. (canceled)
19-20. (canceled)
A method of producing carbon nano-materials, the method comprising:
- (a) utilizing sunlight to heat a combined heating and electrolysis chamber containing carbonate material;
- (b) inserting an anode and a cathode into the carbonate material once melted;
- (c) injecting carbon dioxide into the carbonate material, wherein the carbon dioxide is supplied from a fossil fuel combustion chamber;
- and
- (d) generating an electrolysis reaction of the carbonate material between the anode and the cathode to form carbon nano-materials and oxygen.
23-26. (canceled)
29-33. (canceled)
A system to produce carbon nano-materials, the system comprising:
- an electrolysis chamber containing a carbonate material, said electrolysis chamber having an intake for receiving a source of carbon dioxide;
- and
- a concentrator that receives sunlight, at least a part of the sunlight being used to at least partially heat the electrolysis chamber to heat the carbonate material to produce molten carbonate to absorb the carbon dioxide.
A system to produce carbon nano-materials, the system comprising:
- an electrolysis chamber having a molten carbonate, said electrolysis chamber having an intake;
- a combustion chamber having carbon dioxide, said combustion chamber having an exhaust;
- and
- a conduit coupled to the exhaust of the combustion chamber and the intake of the electrolysis chamber to provide the carbon dioxide from the combustion chamber to the electrolysis chamber.
The method of claim 49, wherein the oxygen is produced at the anode and the carbon nano-materials is produced at the cathode.
The method of claim 52, wherein the oxygen is mixed with atmospheric air before being circulated to the fossil fuel combustion chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.