System and method for preparing liquid fuels
Techniques, methods and systems for preparation liquid fuels from hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide are disclosed. The present invention can transform hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide generated from organic feed stocks or other industrial emissions into renewable engineered liquid fuels and store them in a cost-efficient way. The method of the present invention includes: supplying hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide to a heated area of a reaction chamber in controlled volumes; forming carbon monoxide by the energy provided by the heated area; transporting carbon monoxide and hydrogen to an reactor in controlled volumes; supplying additional hydrogen to the reactor; regulating the pressure in the reactor by adjusting the controlled volumes in order to achieve a predetermined object; forming the liquid fuel in the reactor according to the predetermined object; and, storing the liquid fuel in a storage device.
1. A method for preparing a liquid fuel, the method comprising:
supplying a first controlled volume of hydrocarbon to a heated area positioned within a reaction chamber, wherein the reaction chamber has a housing and the housing further has at least one solar window;
supplying a second controlled volume of carbon dioxide to the heated area;
at least partially opening or closing the solar window in response to a status of the heated area;
forming carbon monoxide and hydrogen from the hydrocarbon and the carbon dioxide at the heated area;
transporting a third controlled volume of the carbon monoxide to a reactor positioned within the reaction chamber;
transporting a fourth controlled volume of the hydrogen to the reactor;
selectively supplying a fifth controlled volume of additional hydrogen to the reactor;
adjusting the controlled volumes to regulate a pressure in the reactor so as to achieve a predetermined object; and
forming the liquid fuel from the hydrogen and the carbon monoxide in the reactor according to the predetermined object.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined object includes at least one of a maximum production of the liquid fuel, a minimum energy input to the reaction chamber, and a longest use duration of a catalyst used in the reaction chamber.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure in the reactor is regulated by a valve located between the heated area and the reactor.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
heating up the hydrocarbon and the carbon dioxide by a heat exchanger.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the additional hydrogen is pressurized and supplied cyclically.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a sixth controlled volume of additional carbon dioxide by a combustor; and
heating the heated area by the combustor.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
supplying a seventh controlled volume of oxygen to the combustor; and
supplying an eighth controlled volume of additional carbon monoxide to the combustor.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
directly heating the heated area by solar energy.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon comprises methane, and wherein the liquid fuel comprises methanol.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transforming the liquid fuel into a gaseous form by recycled heat energy.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid fuel is stored with at least one of water, a carbon donor, ammonia, and an additive used to improve energy density.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide is supplied from an ethanol plant.
13. A method for preparing a liquid fuel, the method comprising:
supplying a first controlled volume of hydrocarbon to a heated area positioned within a reaction chamber, wherein the reaction chamber has a housing and the housing further has at least one solar window;
supplying a second controlled volume of carbon dioxide to the heated area;
at least partially opening or closing the solar window in response to a status of the heated area;
forming carbon monoxide and hydrogen from the hydrocarbon and the carbon dioxide by at the heated area;
transporting a third controlled volume of the carbon monoxide to a reactor positioned within the reaction chamber;
transporting a fourth controlled volume of a first part of the hydrogen to the reactor;
transporting a second part of the hydrogen to form ammonia;
selectively supplying a fifth controlled volume of additional hydrogen to the reactor;
adjusting the controlled volumes to regulate a pressure in the reactor so as to achieve a predetermined object;
forming the liquid fuel from the hydrogen and the carbon monoxide in the reactor; and
storing the liquid fuel and the ammonia in a storage device.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined object includes at least one of a maximum production of the liquid fuel, a minimum energy input to the reaction chamber, and a longest use duration of a catalyst used in the reaction chamber.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pressure in the reactor is regulated by a valve located between the heated area and the reactor.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
heating up the hydrocarbon and the carbon dioxide by a heat exchanger.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the additional hydrogen is pressurized and supplied cyclically.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
generating a sixth controlled volume of additional carbon dioxide by a combustor; and
heating the heated area by the combustor.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
supplying a seventh controlled volume of oxygen to the combustor; and
supplying an eighth controlled volume of additional carbon monoxide to the combustor.
20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
directly heating the heated area by solar energy.
21. The method of claim 13 , wherein the hydrocarbon comprises methane, and wherein the liquid fuel comprises methanol.
22. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
transforming the liquid fuel into a gaseous form by recycled heat energy.
23. The method of claim 13 , wherein the liquid fuel is stored with at least one of water, a carbon donor, and an additive used to improve energy density.
24. The method of claim 13 , wherein the carbon dioxide is supplied from an ethanol plant.