Systems for the utilization of ruminant animal methane emissions
AssigneeNewlight Technologies, LLC
InventorsMarkus Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for the utilization of the methane produced by enteric fermentation, specifically to a process that utilizes methane produced by ruminant animals through enteric fermentation as a source of carbon and/or energy for the directed production of methane-based goods or processes is provided.
Claims18
A system configured to simultaneously reduce environmental enteric fermentation methane emissions and produce energy, comprising:
- (a) one or more ruminant animals contained in an enclosure;
- (b) a first, second, and third gas,
- wherein said first gas comprises enteric fermentation-derived methane gas that has been emitted by and collected from said animals,
- wherein said second gas comprises enclosure air comprising oxygen,
- wherein the concentration of said enteric fermentation-derived methane in a combination of first and second gases is above 1.7 ppm, and
- wherein said third gas comprises methane;
- (c) an energy-generating device that oxidizes methane to produce energy;
- and
- (d) a conveyor configured to direct, move, and/or convey said second gas and/or to contact a combination of two or more of said gases with said device;
- wherein introduction of a combination of said first, second, and third gases to said device results in oxidation of a portion of said methane in both said first and third gases to methanol, water, and/or carbon dioxide, thereby simultaneously reducing environmental enteric fermentation methane emissions and producing energy.
An energy production system that utilizes enteric-fermentation derived methane emissions comprising:
- (a) a first, second, and third gas,
- wherein said first gas comprises enteric fermentation-derived methane gas that has been emitted by and collected from one or more ruminant animals contained in an enclosure,
- wherein said second gas comprises enclosure air comprising oxygen,
- wherein the concentration of said enteric fermentation-derived methane in a combination of first and second gases is above 1.7 ppm, and
- wherein said third gas comprises methane;
- and
- (b) an energy-generating device that oxidizes methane to produce energy;
- wherein introduction of a combination of said first, second, and third gases to said device results in oxidation of a portion of said methane in both said first and third gases to methanol, water, and/or carbon dioxide, thereby producing energy.
A system configured to simultaneously reduce environmental enteric fermentation methane emissions and produce electricity, comprising:
- (a) a first, second, and third gas,
- wherein said first gas comprises enteric fermentation-derived methane gas that has been emitted by and collected from one or more ruminant animals contained in an enclosure,
- wherein said second gas comprises enclosure air comprising oxygen,
- wherein the concentration of said enteric fermentation-derived methane in a combination of first and second gases is above 1.7 ppm, and
- wherein said third gas comprises methane;
- (b) an electricity generating turbine that oxidizes methane to produce electricity;
- and
- (c) a conveyor configured to direct, move, and/or convey said second gas and/or
- to contact a combination of two or more of said gases with said electricity generating turbine;
- and
- wherein introduction of a combination of said first, second, and third gases to said turbine results in oxidation of a portion of said methane in both said first and third gases to methanol, water, and/or carbon dioxide, thereby simultaneously reducing environmental enteric fermentation methane emissions and producing electricity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.