RENEWABLE POWER TO RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS USING BIOLOGICAL METHANE PRODUCTION
Systems, methods and devices for the production of renewable natural gasses are provided.
1 . A method for the production of a gas comprising the use of an electrolyzer capable of producing pressurized hydrogen gas in an aqueous solution wherein the electrolyzer comprises a water/oxygen phase separator, a pump, an electrolyzer stack, and a back pressure regulator and wherein the electrolyzer does not comprise a hydrogen drying system or a hydrogen/water phase separator.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the gas is a biogas.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the biogas is methane.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the pressurized hydrogen gas in an aqueous solution is provided to a bioreactor comprising a biocatalyst.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the biocatalyst catalyzes the production of the gas.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the biocatalyst is Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus.
7 . The method of claim 4 wherein the aqueous solution is alkaline.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the aqueous solution comprises KOH or NaOH.
9 . The method of claim 4 wherein the pressurized hydrogen gas in an aqueous solution is used to control the pH of an aqueous solution in the bioreactor.
10 . The method of claim 5 wherein a carbon containing gas and the pressurized hydrogen gas in an aqueous solution are provided to the bioreactor.
11 . The method of claim 4 further comprising the production of hydrogen gas.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the hydrogen gas and hydrogen dissolved in an aqueous solution is provided to the bioreactor directly from the electrolyzer stack.
13 . An electrolyzer capable of producing pressurized hydrogen gas in an aqueous solution wherein the electrolyzer comprises a water/oxygen phase separator, a pump, an electrolyzer stack, and a back pressure regulator and wherein the electrolyzer does not comprise a hydrogen drying system or a hydrogen/water phase separator.
14 . A system for the production of a gas comprising an electrolyzer capable of producing pressurized hydrogen gas in an aqueous solution wherein the electrolyzer comprises a water/oxygen phase separator, a pump, an electrolyzer stack, and a back pressure regulator and wherein the electrolyzer does not comprise a hydrogen drying system or a hydrogen/water phase separator and wherein the system further comprises a bioreactor that uses the pressurized hydrogen gas in an aqueous solution and a carbon containing gas and a biocatalyst in an aqueous solution to produce the gas.
15 . The system of claim 14 wherein the gas is methane.
16 . The system of claim 15 wherein the carbon containing gas is carbon dioxide.
17 . The system of claim 15 wherein the biocatalyst is Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus.
18 . The system of claim 14 wherein the pressurized hydrogen gas in an aqueous solution is used to control the pH of an aqueous solution within the bioreactor.
19 . The system of claim 14 wherein the pressurized hydrogen gas in an aqueous solution is alkaline.
20 . The system of claim 19 wherein the aqueous solution comprises KOH or NaOH.