US 6,170,264 B2 · Hydrocarbon combustion power generation system with CO2 sequestration

Abstract

A low or no pollution engine is provided for delivering power for vehicles or other power applications. The engine has an air inlet which collects air from a surrounding environment. At least a portion of the nitrogen in the air is removed using a technique such as liquefaction, pressure swing adsorption or membrane based air separation. The remaining gas is primarily oxygen, which is then compressed and routed to a gas generator. The gas generator has an igniter and inputs for the high pressure oxygen and a high pressure hydrogen-containing fuel, such as hydrogen, methane or a light alcohol. The fuel and oxygen are combusted within the gas generator, forming water and carbon dioxide with carbon containing fuels. Water is also delivered into the gas generator to control the temperature of the combustion products. The combustion products are then expanded through a power generating device, such as a turbine or piston expander to deliver output power for operation of a vehicle or other power uses. The combustion products, steam and, with carbon containing fuels, carbon dioxide, are then passed through a condenser where the steam is condensed and the carbon dioxide is collected or discharged. A portion of the water is collected for further processing and use and the remainder is routed back to the gas generator. The carbon dioxide is compressed and cooled so that it is in a liquid phase or super critical state. The dense phase carbon dioxide is then further pressurized to a pressure matching a pressure, less hydrostatic head, existing deep within a porous geological formation, a deep aquifer, a deep ocean location or other terrestrial formation from which return of the CO2 into the atmosphere is inhibited.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A combustion engine providing clean power for various applications and featuring low NOx production and low CO2 release into the atmosphere, comprising in combination;

a source of air, the air including nitrogen and oxygen;
a source of fuel, the fuel including hydrogen and carbon;
an air separator having an inlet coupled to said source of air, a nitrogen separator, an oxygen enriched air outlet, and a nitrogen outlet separate from said oxygen enriched air outlet, such that at least a portion of the nitrogen is removed from the air entering said inlet;
a fuel combustor, said fuel combustor receiving fuel from said source of fuel and oxygen enriched air from said outlet of said air separator, said combustor combusting the fuel with the oxygen enriched air to produce elevated pressure and elevated temperature combustion products including H2O and CO2, said combustor having a discharge for said combustion products;
a combustion products separator which separates at least a portion of the H2O from other combustion products including CO2 coupled to said discharge and including an H2O outlet and an exhaust for the other combustion products including CO2;
a compressor coupled to said exhaust, said compressor pressurizing fluids passing there through to a pressure above atmospheric pressure;
and
a terrestrial formation injection system downstream from said compressor, said injection system coupled to said compressor and to a terrestrial formation beneath the atmosphere, said terrestrial formation capable of holding CO2 therein.

5 more elements

A combustion engine providing clean power for various applications and featuring low NOx production and low CO2 release into the atmosphere, comprising in combination:

a source of air, the air including nitrogen and oxygen;
a source of fuel, the fuel including hydrogen and carbon;
an air separator having an inlet coupled to said source of air, a nitrogen separator, an oxygen enriched air outlet, and a nitrogen outlet separate from said oxygen enriched air outlet, such that at least a portion of the nitrogen is removed from the air entering said inlet;
a fuel combustor, said fuel combustor receiving fuel from said source of fuel and oxygen enriched air from said outlet of said air separator, said combustor combusting the fuel with the oxygen enriched air to produce elevated pressure and elevated temperature combustion products including H2O and CO2, said combustor having a discharge for said combustion products;
a combustion product expansion device coupled to said discharge of said combustion device, said expansion device outputting power from said system and having an exhaust for said combustion products;
a condenser coupled to said exhaust, said condenser having an H2O outlet for liquid H2O and a gaseous combustion product outlet, said condenser configured such that the CO2 remains gaseous and exits said combustor through said gaseous combustion product outlet;
a compressor coupled to said gaseous combustion product outlet, said compressor compressing said gaseous combustion products to above atmospheric pressure;
and
a terrestrial formation injection system coupled to said compressor and to a terrestrial formation beneath the atmosphere, said terrestrial formation capable of holding CO2 therein.

6 more elements

A combustion engine providing clean power for various applications and featuring low NOx production, comprising in combination:

a source of air, the air including nitrogen and oxygen;
a source of fuel, the fuel including hydrogen and carbon;
an air treatment device having an inlet coupled to said source of air, and having an outlet, said air treatment device including means to remove at least a portion of the nitrogen from the air entering said inlet;
a fuel combustion device, said fuel combustion device receiving fuel from said source of fuel and O2 enriched air from said outlet of said air treatment device, said combustion device combusting said fuel with the O2 enriched air to produce elevated pressure and elevated temperature combustion products including steam, said combustion device having a discharge for said combustion products;
a combustion product expansion device coupled to said discharge of said combustion device, said expansion device outputting power from said engine;
wherein said source of fuel includes fuel having both hydrogen and carbon therein;
wherein said fuel combustion device produces elevated pressure and elevated temperature combustion products including H2O and CO2;
and
wherein said expansion device includes an exhaust for said combustion products including H2O and CO2, said exhaust coupled to a condenser, said condenser having an H2O outlet for liquid H2O and a gaseous combustion product outlet, said gaseous combustion products being a majority CO2, said condenser configured such that the CO2 remains gaseous and exits said condenser through said gaseous combustion product outlet;
whereby CO2 generated by said engine is separated from other combustion products for further storage, handling and disposal of the CO2.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hydrocarbon combustion power generation system with CO2 sequestration

Life of this patent

Hydrocarbon combustion power generation system with CO2 sequestration

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19