Timothy John Reilly

US Patent:

20110041740, Feb 24, 2011

Filed:

Aug 20, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/860520

Inventors:

Timothy J. REILLY - Rockport MA, US

International Classification:

F23L 7/00
F23C 9/00

US Classification:

110341, 110214

Abstract:

The methods and systems described herein relate to a recuperative combustion system that recuperates energy from fuel combustion that would otherwise be lost. The recuperative combustion system minimizes or eliminates the need for an air separator unit through the use of a clean water splitter section, consisting of a thermochemical cycle or high-temperature electrolysis. Water is split into its component hydrogen and oxygen, primarily with process heat from the combustion process. The oxygen produced by the water splitter provides oxygen necessary for oxy-fuel combustion, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for the power intensive air separator unit and/or external oxygen source, significantly increasing the efficiency of the oxy-fuel combustion cycle. Hydrogen produced by the water splitter may be used for a variety of industrial uses, or combined with carbon dioxide (captured from the flue gases produced by said combustion process) to produce methanol. Methanol can further be refined in a methanol to gasoline reactor to produce dimethyl ether, olefins or high grade gasoline. Described herein are methods and systems that 1) increase oxy-fuel combustion efficiency, 2) produce hydrogen for a suite of industrial/energy uses, and 3) capture carbon dioxide and convert it to high value hydrocarbons.