Back to results
US 8,945,915 B2Granted
Energy production systems utilizing 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.
Claims5
A system configured to simultaneously reduce environmental enteric fermentation methane emissions and produce harvestable biomass, comprising:
- (a) one or more ruminant animals;
- (b) a first and second 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 oxygen and said first gas;
- (c) a bioreactor housing a culture of microorganisms;
- and
- (d) a conveyor configured to direct, move, and/or convey said second gas to contact said device;
- wherein introduction of said first gas and said second gas to said device results in oxidation of a portion of said first gas to methanol, water, and/or carbon dioxide, thereby simultaneously reducing environmental enteric fermentation methane emissions and producing harvestable biomass.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.