# US 2020/0399768 A1 · Improved grid level energy storage system and process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0399768 A1 - Document ID: US20200399768A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/968,962 - Filed: 2019-02-12 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-12 - Assignees: Gridthink Inc. - Applicants: Gridthink Inc. - Inventors: James P. O'MALLEY; Donald MONTGOMERY - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399768A1 ## CPC - C10G 3/00: Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oxygen-containing organic materials, e.g. fatty oils, fatty acids (production from non-melting solid oxygen-containing carbonaceous materials C10G1/00) - C25B 3/29: Coupling reactions - C25B 3/03: Acyclic or carbocyclic hydrocarbons - C25B 9/17: Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof - Y02P 20/133: Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight - Y02P 30/20: using bio-feedstock - C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES - C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract There is disclosed an improved Kolbe reactor system for converting electrical power into a hydrocarbon fuel and hydrogen. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a Kolbe reactor system comprising an open cavity Kolbe reactor and an initial hydrocarbon chemical formulation comprising from about 3N to about 6N C2-C5 carboxylic acid and from about 2M to about 4M alkali C2-C5 carboxylate, wherein the C2-C5 carboxylate and carboxylic acid have the same carbon alkyl length. The Kolbe reactor system can be continuously fed with C2-C5 carboxylic acid to maintain the initial formulation for a continuous process. Electrical energy is stored by converting the carboxylic acid to hydrocarbon fuel and hydrogen, and is recovered by combustion of the hydrocarbon fuel and hydrogen, and or conversion in a hydrogen fuel cell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A Kolbe reactor system comprising an one or plurality of open cavity Kolbe reactor cells and a hydrocarbon chemical formulation comprising an initial formulation of from about 4N to about 6N of a C2-C5 carboxylic acid and from about 2M to about 4M of a alkali C2-C5 carboxylate, wherein the C2-C5 carboxylate and carboxylic acid have the same carbon alkyl length. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The Kolbe reactor system of claim 1, wherein the C2-C5 carboxylic acid is acetic acid and the alkali C2-C5 carboxylate is potassium acetate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The Kolbe reactor system of claim 2, wherein the concentration of acetic acid in the initial formulation is approximately 6N. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The Kolbe reactor system of claim 1, wherein The Kolbe reactor system further comprises a continuously fed formulation comprising from about 4N to about 6N C2-C5 carboxylic acid, whereby addition of the C2-C5 carboxylic acid maintains the initial formulation for a continuous process. ### Claim 5 A process for storing energy by converting electric power into hydrocarbon chemicals and hydrogen, comprising: a. providing an open cavity Kolbe reactor; b. introducing a formulation of a 2-5 carbon chain primary carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof, at a total acid concentration of from about 3N to about 6N, and an alkali salt of the carboxylic acid; c. providing electrical power to the Kolbe reactor; and d. recovering a product stream generated of a C2-8 alkane, CO2 and H2. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The process of claim 5, wherein the C2-5 carboxylic acid is acetic acid and the C2-8 alkane is ethane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The process of claim 5, further comprising recovering the C2-8 alkane by a liquefaction process comprising compressing or cooling the gas effluent. ### Claim 8 A process for harvesting electrical power from a renewable energy source by conversion of electric power into hydrocarbon chemicals and hydrogen, comprising: a. providing an open cavity Kolbe reactor; b. introducing a formulation of a 2-5 carbon chain primary carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof, at a total acid concentration of from about 3N to about 6N, and a potassium salt of the carboxylic acid; c. providing electrical power to the Kolbe reactor; and d. recovering a product stream generated of a C2-8 alkane, CO2 and H2. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The process of claim 8, wherein the C2-8 carboxylic acid is acetic acid and the C2-8 alkane is ethane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The process of claim 8, wherein the process further comprises recovering the C2-8 alkane by a liquefaction comprising compressing the gas effluent. ### Claim 11 A Kolbe reactor system comprising an open cavity Kolbe reactor and a chemical formulation comprising an initial formulation of from about 3N to about 6N of a C2-C5 carboxylic acid and from about 2M to about 4M of an alkali C2-C5 carboxylate, wherein the C2-C5 carboxylate and carboxylic acid have the same carbon alkyl length. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The Kolbe reactor system of claim 11, further comprising a continuously fed formulation comprising from about 3N to about 6N C2-C5 carboxylic acid, whereby addition of a C2-C5 carboxylic acid maintains the initial formulation for a continuous process. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The Kolbe reactor system of claim 11, wherein the C2-C5 carboxylic acid is acetic acid and the alkali C2-C5 carboxylate is potassium acetate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The Kolbe reactor system of claim 11, wherein the concentration of acetic acid in the initial formulation is approximately 6N. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The Kolbe reactor system of claim 11, wherein the C2-C5 carboxylic acid is acetic acid, the alkali carboxylate salt is potassium acetate, and the C2-C8 alkane is ethane.