US 8,038,744 B2 · Reduced-emission gasification and oxidation of hydrocarbon materials for hydrogen and oxygen extraction

Abstract

A system and process for maximizing the generation of marketable products from a variety of hydrocarbon feedstocks. The hydrocarbon feedstocks are first gasified and then oxidized in a two-chamber system and process using oxygen gas rather than ambient air. Intermediate gases generated in the system and process are recirculated and recycled to the gasification and oxidation chambers in order to maximize both energy generation and the resulting stoichiometric reaction products. The energy produced through the system and process is used to generate steam and produce power through conventional steam turbine technology. In addition to the release of heat energy, the hydrocarbon feedstocks are oxidized to the pure product compounds of water and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is subsequently purified and marketed. The water recovered from the system and process is collected and electrolyzed to generate oxygen and hydrogen gases. These gases are separated using conventional gas separation technologies and also marketed. The system and process minimizes environmental emissions.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A process for combusting hydrocarbon feedstock streams, recovering the water and carbon dioxide produced during combustion, and generating oxygen and hydrogen gases from the recovered water, the process comprising the steps of:

reacting a hydrocarbon feedstock-containing stream with a stream of substantially pure oxygen in a combustion chamber under conditions producing a reaction product stream comprising carbon dioxide and water vapor;
removing particulate matter from the reaction product stream;
separating the reaction product stream into a recycle stream and an intermediate product stream;
sending the recycle stream back into the combustion chamber after first passing the recycle stream through activated carbon;
scrubbing the intermediate product stream to neutralize and remove acidic impurities;
condensing water vapor from the intermediate product stream;
refrigerating the intermediate product stream to condense any remaining water and to liquefy the carbon dioxide;
generating steam from the condensed water;
electrolyzing the steam to produce oxygen and hydrogen gases;
and
separating the oxygen and hydrogen gases.

8 more elements

A system for combusting hydrocarbon feedstock streams, recovering the water and carbon dioxide produced during combustion, and generating oxygen and hydrogen gases from the recovered water, the system comprising:

a combustion chamber for reacting a hydrocarbon feedstock-containing stream and a substantially pure oxygen stream;
a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with said combustion chamber, said first heat exchanger for recovering heat from reaction products of said combustion chamber;
a bag house, downstream of said first heat exchanger, for removing particulate from the reaction products;
a reaction product manifold in fluid communication with said bag house, said manifold comprising a first recirculation line for recycling a portion of the reaction products to said combustion chamber, and a second line carrying remaining reaction products;
an activated carbon filter in fluid communication with said bag house and said combustion chamber, said activated carbon filter positioned between said manifold and said combustion chamber and arranged and designed to allow the recycled portion of the reaction products of said first recirculation line to flow therethrough;
a scrubbing column in fluid communication with said second line;
a condenser, downstream of said scrubbing column, for condensing water from the remaining reaction products;
a purification unit, downstream of said condenser, for purifying carbon dioxide from the remaining reaction products;
a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with said condenser, said second heat exchanger arranged and designed to generate steam from the water condensed by said condenser;
an electrolyzer, downstream of said second heat exchanger, for electrolyzing the steam and generating oxygen and hydrogen gases therefrom;
and
a separation unit, downstream of said electrolyzer, for separating the oxygen and hydrogen gases.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Reduced-emission gasification and oxidation of hydrocarbon materials for hydrogen and oxygen extraction

Life of this patent

Reduced-emission gasification and oxidation of hydrocarbon materials for hydrogen and oxygen extraction

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18