Process and apparatus for generating power, producing fertilizer, and sequestering, carbon dioxide using renewable biomass

A process for generating electricity and producing fertilizer, comprising the steps of:

• incinerating a biomass material to create electricity;
• capturing NOx from exhaust gases produced by incinerating the biomass material;
• and
• using the NOx to produce a nitrogen-based fertilizer;
• wherein said step of capturing NOx from the exhaust gases comprises exposing the gases to a solution of nitric acid and excess reacted trivalent nitric oxides to produce additional nitric acid.

A process for generating electricity and producing fertilizer, comprising the steps of:

• incinerating a biomass material to create electricity;
• capturing NOx from exhaust gases produced by incinerating the biomass material;
• and
• using the NOx to produce a nitrogen-based fertilizer;
• further comprising the step of collecting flyash of the incinerated biomass and blending the flyash with the nitrogen-based fertilizer to form a balanced fertilizer product that allows sustainable production of the biomass material as a fuel source.

A process for generating electricity and producing fertilizer, comprising the steps of:

• incinerating a biomass material in a firebox of a boiler with the oxidation area of the boiler operating at a temperature exceeding 2,000° F. to create electricity;
• introducing an excess air flow into the firebox to provide 5 to 7% more oxygen in the firebox than needed for complete combustion of the biomass material to increase NOx production;
• collecting flyash from the incinerated biomass;
• removing NOx from flue gases exhausted from the boiler by passing the flue gases through an aqueous solution of nitric acid and excess reacted trivalent nitric oxides to produce additional nitric acid;
• and
• using the additional nitric acid produced from the NOx together with the collected flyash to make a nitrogen-based fertilizer.

A system for generating electricity and producing fertilizer, comprising:

• means for incinerating a biomass material in boiler operating at a temperature exceeding 2,000° F. to create electricity;
• means for introducing an excess air flow into the boiler to provide 5 to 7% more oxygen than needed for complete combustion of the biomass material to increase NOx production;
• means for collecting flyash of the incinerated biomass from the boiler;
• means for removing NOx from the exhausted flue gases by passing the gases through aqueous solution of nitric acid and excess reacted trivalent nitric oxides to produce additional nitric acid;
• and
• means for combining the additional nitric acid produced from the NOx together with the collected flyash to make a nitrogen-based fertilizer.