Biomass-fuel cell cogeneration apparatus and method
AssigneeEnergy Research Corporation
InventorsPinakin S. Patel, Jen Jung Fan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Integrated ethanol manufacturing by fermentation of biomass, with an electrical fuel cell generator of electrical and heat energy, the cogeneration including use by the fuel cell of the alcohol, and of the carbon dioxide from the fermentation, which increases the generation of energy, and use by the alcohol manufacturing of the heat and electrical energy from the fuel cell, which increases the fuel manufacture.
Claims46
A biomass fermentation-electrical fuel cell cogeneration process including the steps of:
- (a) fermenting a biomass,
- (b) collecting carbon dioxide from the fermenting biomass,
- (c) delivering the carbon dioxide to the cathode of an electrical fuel cell which uses the carbon dioxide as a chemical reducing agent in generating electrical energy.
A biomass fermentation-electrical fuel cell cogeneration process including the steps of:
- taking biomass, and
- (a) fermenting the biomass,
- (b) collecting alcohol of a preselected concentration from the biomass fermented in step (a)
- (c) fueling an electrical fuel cell with the alcohol obtained in step (b).
A process of fueling a molten carbonate fuel cell with a fuel that consists predominantly of partially dewatered alcohol of a preselected concentration.
A biomass fermentation-electrical fuel cell cogeneration system comprising:
- means for holding a biomass,
- means for fermenting the biomass, connected to said means for holding,
- means for separating alcohol of preselected concentration from the fermented biomass, connected to said means for fermenting,
- an electrical fuel cell connected to said means for separating alcohol from the fermented biomass, for receiving said alcohol for generating electrical energy electrochemically and chemical heat energy from said alcohol.
A biomass-electrical fuel cell cogeneration system comprising means for making alcohol of preselected concentration from biomass and at least one of electrical energy and heat energy, by fermentation;
- electrical fuel cell means connected to said means for making alcohol for receiving said alcohol and generating electricity electrochemically and chemical heat energy from said alcohol, said means for making alcohol receiving said at least one of electrical energy and heat energy from said electrical fuel cell means.
A biomass-electrical fuel cell cogeneration system comprising means for making alcohol of preselected concentration from biomass and at least one of electrical energy and heat energy, by fermentation;
- electrical fuel cell means connected to said means for making alcohol for receiving said alcohol partially dewatered and generating electricity electrochemically and chemical heat energy from said partially dewatered alcohol, said means for making alcohol receiving said at least one of electrical energy and heat energy from said electrical fuel cell means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.