Hydrocarbon combustion power generation system with CO2 sequestration

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 through an oxygen enriched air inlet adapted to deliver substantially H2O free oxygen enriched air into said fuel combustor, 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.

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 oxygen enriched air from said outlet of said air treatment device through an oxygen enriched air inlet adapted to deliver substantially H2O free oxygen enriched air into said fuel combustion device, said combustion device combusting said fuel with the oxygen 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 upstream from 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.

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, said combustion products separator downstream from said discharge and including an H2O outlet and an exhaust for the other combustion products including CO2, said H2O outlet coupled to an H2O diluent path leading to an H2O inlet into said combustor, said H2O diluent path spaced from an oxygen enriched air inlet into said combustor;
• 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.

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 downstream from 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, said H2O outlet coupled to an H2O diluent path leading to an H2O inlet into said combustor, said H2O diluent path spaced from an oxygen enriched air inlet into said combustor;
• 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.

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 oxygen enriched air from said outlet of said air treatment device, said combustion device combusting said fuel with the oxygen 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 upstream from a condenser, said condenser having an H2O outlet for liquid H2O and a gaseous combustion product outlet, said H2O outlet coupled to an H2O diluent path leading to an H2O inlet into said combustion device, said H2O diluent path spaced from an oxygen enriched air inlet into said combustion device, 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.

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 oxygen enriched air outlet of said air separator through an oxygen enriched air inlet adapted to deliver substantially H2O free oxygen enriched air into said fuel combustor, 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 located downstream from said discharge of said combustion device, said expansion device outputting power from said system and having an exhaust for said combustion products;
• a combustion products separator downstream from said exhaust, said separator having a first outlet for combustion products including H2O and a second gaseous combustion product outlet, said combustion products separator configured such that at least a portion of the CO2 remains gaseous and at least a portion of the CO2 exits said combustor through said second gaseous combustion product outlet;
• said first outlet containing a stream of combustion products from said separator having a greater percentage of H2O than a percentage of H2O in the combustion products entering said separator, such that the stream of combustion products passing through said first outlet is H2O enriched;
• a compressor located downstream from said gaseous combustion product outlet, said compressor compressing said gaseous combustion products to above atmospheric pressure;
• and
• a terrestrial formation injection system located downstream from said compressor and upstream from a terrestrial formation beneath the atmosphere, said terrestrial formation capable of holding CO2 therein.

A combustion engine providing clean power for various applications and featuring low NOx production and low CO2 release into the Earth's 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 treatment device having an inlet coupled to said source of air, and having an outlet, said air treatment device including a nitrogen separator, 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 O2 enriched air from said outlet of said air treatment device through an oxygen enriched air inlet adapted to deliver substantially H2O free oxygen enriched air into said fuel combustor, said combustor combusting said fuel with the oxygen enriched air to produce elevated pressure and elevated temperature combustion products including steam and carbon dioxide, said combustor having a discharge for said combustion products;
• a combustion product expander located downstream from said discharge of said combustor, said expander outputting power from said engine and having an exhaust for said combustion products;
• wherein said fuel combustor produces elevated pressure and elevated temperature combustion products including H2O and CO2;
• a combustion products separator located downstream of said combustor exhaust, said separator including an H2O outlet for an H2O enriched stream of the combustion products and a CO2 outlet for a CO2 enriched stream of the combustion products;
• wherein said CO2 rich combustion product outlet of said separator is located upstream from a compressor, said compressor compressing the gaseous combustion products including CO2 to a pressure above atmospheric pressure;
• and
• a terrestrial formation injection system located downstream from said compressor and upstream from a terrestrial formation beneath the atmosphere, said terrestrial formation capable of holding CO2 therein without substantial release of CO2 into the atmosphere.

A combustion device producing carbon dioxide 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 through an oxygen enriched air inlet adapted to deliver substantially H2O free oxygen enriched air into said fuel combustor, 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 downstream from said combustor device which separates at least a portion of the H2O from other combustion products including CO2 downstream from said discharge and including an H2O outlet for an H2O rich stream of the combustion products and an exhaust for the other combustion products including CO2;
• a compressor downstream from 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 leading to a terrestrial formation beneath the atmosphere, said terrestrial formation capable of holding CO2 therein.

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 oxygen enriched air 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 located downstream from said discharge of said combustion device, said expansion device outputting power from said system and having an exhaust for said combustion products;
• a combustion products separator downstream from said exhaust, said separator having a first outlet for combustion products including H2O and a second gaseous combustion product outlet, said first outlet coupled to an H2O diluent path leading to an H2O inlet into said combustor, said H2O diluent path spaced from an oxygen enriched air inlet into said combustor, said combustion products separator configured such that at least a portion of the CO2 remains gaseous and at least a portion of the CO2 exits said combustor through said second gaseous combustion product outlet;
• said first outlet containing a stream of combustion products from said separator having a greater percentage of H2O than a percentage of H2O in the combustion products entering said separator, such that the stream of combustion products passing through said first outlet is H2O enriched;
• a compressor located downstream from said gaseous combustion product outlet, said compressor compressing said gaseous combustion products to above atmospheric pressure;
• and
• a terrestrial formation injection system located downstream from said compressor and upstream from a terrestrial formation beneath the atmosphere, said terrestrial formation capable of holding CO2 therein.

A combustion engine providing clean power for various applications and featuring low NOx production and low CO2 release into the Earth's 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 treatment device having an inlet coupled to said source of air, and having an outlet, said air treatment device including a nitrogen separator, 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 treatment device, said combustor combusting said fuel with the oxygen enriched air to produce elevated pressure and elevated temperature combustion products including steam and carbon dioxide, said combustor having a discharge for said combustion products;
• a combustion product expander located downstream from said discharge of said combustor, said expander outputting power from said engine and having an exhaust for said combustion products;
• wherein said fuel combustor produces elevated pressure and elevated temperature combustion products including H2O and CO2;
• a combustion products separator located downstream of said combustor exhaust, said separator including an H2O outlet for an H2O enriched stream of the combustion products and a CO2 outlet for a CO2 enriched stream of the combustion products, said H2O outlet coupled to an H2O diluent path leading to an H2O inlet into said combustor, said H2O diluent path spaced from an oxygen enriched air inlet into said combustor;
• wherein said CO2 rich combustion product outlet of said separator is located upstream from a compressor, said compressor compressing the gaseous combustion products including CO2 to a pressure above atmospheric pressure;
• and
• a terrestrial formation injection system located downstream from said compressor and upstream from a terrestrial formation beneath the atmosphere, said terrestrial formation capable of holding CO2 therein without substantial release of CO2 into the atmosphere.

A combustion device producing carbon dioxide 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 downstream from said combustor device which separates at least a portion of the H2O from other combustion products including CO2 downstream from said discharge and including an H2O outlet for an H2O rich stream of the combustion products and an exhaust for the other combustion products including CO2, said H2O outlet coupled to an H2O diluent path leading to an H2O inlet into said combustor, said H2O diluent path spaced from an oxygen enriched air inlet into said combustor;
• a compressor downstream from 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 leading to a terrestrial formation beneath the atmosphere, said terrestrial formation capable of holding CO2 therein.

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 means to separate at least a portion of the nitrogen from the oxygen, an oxygen enriched air outlet, and a nitrogen outlet separate from said oxygen enriched air outlet;
• a fuel combustor, said fuel combustor receiving fuel from said source of fuel and oxygen enriched air from said oxygen enriched air outlet of said air separator through an oxygen enriched air inlet adapted to deliver substantially H2O free oxygen enriched air into said fuel combustor, said combustor combusting at least a portion of the fuel with at least a portion of 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 located downstream from said discharge of said combustion device and having an exhaust for said combustion products;
• a reheater downstream from said exhaust of said combustion product expansion device, said reheater elevating a temperature of said combustion products entering said reheater;
• a combustion products separator downstream from said fuel combustor, said separator having a first outlet for combustion products including H2O and a second combustion product outlet for at least a portion of the CO2;
• a compressor located downstream from said second combustion product outlet, said compressor compressing said combustion products to above atmospheric pressure;
• and
• a terrestrial formation injection system located downstream from said compressor and upstream from a terrestrial formation beneath the atmosphere, said terrestrial formation capable of holding CO2 therein.

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 means to separate at least a portion of the nitrogen from the oxygen, an oxygen enriched air outlet, and a nitrogen outlet separate from said oxygen enriched air outlet;
• a combustor, said combustor including a fuel inlet downstream from said fuel source, an oxygen inlet adapted to deliver substantially H2O free oxygen into said combustor downstream from said oxygen enriched air outlet of said air separator, and a discharge for a first working fluid including products of combustion of the fuel from said fuel source with the oxygen from said air separator, said first working fluid including H2O and CO2;
• a first expander located downstream from said combustor, said first expander having an outlet for said first working fluid;
• and
• a reheater located downstream from said first expander, said reheater elevating a temperature of the first working fluid entering said reheater.

A hydrocarbon combustion power generation system, 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 means to separate at least a portion of the nitrogen from the oxygen, an oxygen enriched air outlet, and a nitrogen outlet separate from said oxygen enriched air outlet;
• a combustor downstream of said source of fuel and said oxygen enriched air outlet of said air separator through an oxygen enriched air inlet adapted to deliver substantially H2O free oxygen enriched air into said combustor, 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 first combustion products expander located downstream from said discharge of said combustor;
• a reheater downstream from said first combustion products expander;
• a second combustion products expander located downstream from said reheater;
• and
• at least one of said expanders adapted to output power from said power generation system.

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 means to separate at least a portion of the nitrogen from the oxygen, an oxygen enriched air outlet, and a nitrogen outlet separate from said oxygen enriched air outlet;
• a fuel combustor, said fuel combustor receiving fuel from said source of fuel and oxygen enriched air from said oxygen enriched air outlet of said air separator, said combustor combusting at least a portion of the fuel with at least a portion of 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 located downstream from said discharge of said combustion device and having an exhaust for said combustion products;
• a reheater downstream from said exhaust of said combustion product expansion device, said reheater elevating a temperature of said combustion products entering said reheater;
• a combustion products separator downstream from said fuel combustor, said separator having a first outlet for combustion products including H2O and a second combustion product outlet for at least a portion of the CO2, said first outlet coupled to an H2O diluent path leading to an H2O inlet into said combustor, said H2O diluent path spaced from an oxygen enriched air inlet into said combustor;
• a compressor located downstream from said second combustion product outlet, said compressor compressing said combustion products to above atmospheric pressure;
• and
• a terrestrial formation injection system located downstream from said compressor and upstream from a terrestrial formation beneath the atmosphere, said terrestrial formation capable of holding CO2 therein.