IP Library Granted Patent US 7,191,736
Granted Patent B2
US 7,191,736 · App. 10/760,915 · Granted Mar 20, 2007

Low emission energy source

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,191,736
App. No.
10/760,915
Granted
Mar 20, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power generator provides power with minimal CO 2 , NO x , CO, CH 4 , and particulate emissions and substantially greater efficiency as compared to traditional power generation techniques. Specifically nitrogen is removed from the combustion cycle, either being replaced by a noble gas as a working gas in a combustion engine. The noble gas is supplemented with oxygen and fuel, to provide a combustion environment substantially free of nitrogen or alternatively working in 100% oxygen-fuel combustion environments. Upon combustion, Very little to no nitrogen is present, and thus there is little production of NO x compounds. Additionally, the exhaust constituents are used in the production of power through work exerted upon expansion of the exhaust products, and the exhaust products are separated into their constituents of noble gas, water and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide may be used in conjunction with a biomass to accelerate the biomass growth and to recover the oxygen enriched air resulting from algae photosynthesis for enhancing the operation of the power generator using the as Biomass for processing into methanol/ethanol and biological oils as fuel for the power generator. The biomass fuel is seen as a solar fuel and may be used in conjunctions with other solar fuels like heated thermal oil and others, as well as clean fossil fuels to optimize to clean, and efficient operation of the power generator in various regulatory contexts.

Claims (38)

1. A method of generating power, comprising the steps of:

providing a combustion location;

providing to said combustion volume a noble gas, a combustion gas and a fuel and;

separating, from the exhaust of the combustion volume, at least the noble gas; and

reusing the noble gas for introduction to the combustion volume.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including the steps of:

recovering H 2 O from the exhaust of the combusted materials of the combustion volume;

reusing the H 2 O to provide cooling to the combustion chamber.

3. The method of claim 2 , further including the steps of:

providing a vehicle having a rotational propulsion input:

providing an output shaft from the power generator

coupling an output shaft of the power generator to the propulsion input.

4. The method of claim 3 , where the vehicle is a ship, a train or a motor vehicle.

5. A method of generating power, comprising the steps of:

providing a combustion location;

providing to said combustion volume a noble gas, a combustion gas and a fuel;

selectively excluding air from the combustion volume;

combusting said combustion gas and fuel in the combustion volume;

exhausting, from said combustion volume, an exhaust stream of the noble gas and the products of combustion of said combustion gas and said fuel;

passing exhaust stream through an additionally energy recovery device; and

recovering energy from the exhaust stream,

directing the exhaust stream from the additional energy recovery device; and

separating, from the exhaust stream including CO 2 , H 2 O and the noble gas, the individual components thereof.

6. The method of claim 5 , further including the step of providing the biomass generated biomass fuel to the engine.

7. The method of claim 5 , further including the steps of:

providing the noble gas and fuel to the combustion volume in a first mixture;

separately providing the combustion gas to the combustion volume,

providing oxygen as the combustion gas by removing the non oxygen species from ambient air.

8. The method of claim 5 , further including the steps of:

providing the noble gas and fuel to the combustion volume in a first mixture;

separately providing the combustion gas to the combustion volume,

supplying a source of purified oxygen as the combustion gas.

9. The method of claim 5 , further including the steps of:

providing a biomass generated biomass fuel to the engine

providing the noble gas and fuel to the combustion volume in a first mixture;

separately providing the combustion gas to the combustion volume.

10. The method of claim 9 , further including the step of selectively supplying a mixture of air and fuel to the combustion chamber, rather than a mixture of fuel, noble gas and combustion gas.

11. The method of claim 10 , further including the steps of providing a manifold in communication with the combustion volume and an injector in communication with the combustion volume.

Assignments (17)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2023
From: VANTAGEPOINT VENTURE PARTNERS IV(Q) L.P.; VANTAGEPOINT VENTURE PARTNERS IV L.P.; VANTAGEPOINT VENTURE PARTNERS IV PRINCIPALS FUND, L.P.; VANTAGEPOINT PARTNERS 2006 (Q) P.; VANTAGEPOINT CLEANTECH PARTNERS L.P.; VANTAGEPOINT CLEANTECH PARTNERS II L.P.
To: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 064321/0156 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2023
From: HOGAN FAMILY TRUST NO. 1 DATED DECEMBER 20, 2012
To: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 064171/0054 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2023
From: CMB INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT GROUP VII, LP
To: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 064171/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2014
From: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.
To: ALSTOM RENEWABLE HOLDING BV; VANTAGEPOINT VENTURE PARTNERS IV (Q), L.P.; VANTAGEPOINT VENTURE PARTNERS IV, L.P.; VANTAGEPOINT VENTURE PARTNERS IV PRINCIPALS FUND, L.P.; VANTAGEPOINT VENTURE PARTNERS 2006 (Q), L.P.; VANTAGEPOINT CLEANTECH PARTNERS, L.P.; VANTAGEPOINT CLEANTECH PARTNERS II, L.P.
Reel/Frame 034010/0100 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2014
From: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.
To: CMB INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT GROUP VII, LP
Reel/Frame 033752/0616 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2014
From: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.
To: HOGAN FAMILY TRUST NO. 1 DATED DECEMBER 20, 2012
Reel/Frame 033752/0552 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2014
From: HERCULES TECHNOLOGY GROWTH CPAITAL, INC.
To: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.; BRIGHTSOURCE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, INC.; BRIGHTSOURCE ASSET HOLDINGS, LLC; BRIGHTSOURCE DEVELOPMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 033656/0634 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 1, 2013
From: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.; BRIGHTSOURCE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, INC.; BRIGHTSOURCE ASSET HOLDINGS, LLC; BRIGHTSOURCE DEVELOPMENT, LLC
To: HERCULES TECHNOLOGY GROWTH CAPITAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 029743/0215 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2011
From: HERCULES TECHNOLOGY GROWTH CAPITAL, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.; BRIGHTSOURCE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, INC.; SOLAR PARTNERS I, LLC; SOLAR PARTNERS II, LLC; SOLAR PARTNERS VIII, LLC
Reel/Frame 027033/0668 →
CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY AGREEMENT IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Oct 7, 2011
From: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.; BRIGHTSOURCE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, INC.; BRIGHTSOURCE ASSET HOLDINGS, LLC
To: HERCULES TECHNOLOGY GROWTH CAPITAL, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027035/0043 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2011
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
To: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 026095/0843 →
CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Jan 5, 2011
From: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.; BRIGHTSOURCE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, INC.; SOLAR PARTNERS I, LLC; SOLAR PARTNERS II, LLC; SOLAR PARTNERS VIII, LLC
To: HERCULES TECHNOLOGY GROWTH CAPITAL, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 025587/0594 →
CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY AGREEMENT IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Oct 11, 2010
From: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 025114/0516 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2008
From: LOS ANGELES ADVISORY SERVICES, INCORPORATED
To: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 020935/0808 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2007
From: LOS ANGELES ADVISORY SERVICES (LAAS), INCORPORATED
To: BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 019028/0738 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2006
From: GOLDMAN, ARNOLD J
To: LOS ANGELES ADVISORY SERVICES INC.
Reel/Frame 018408/0676 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2004
From: GOLDMAN, ARNOLD J.
To: LOS ANGELES ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 014893/0921 →