Patent Application
20250149607
This disclosure relates generally to a dual-purpose energy plant and more particularly to an energy plant that generates electricity with reduced or even negative carbon emissions as a whole.
Electricity for an electric grid generally has several power plants that combust fossil fuel to produce energy for powering an electric generator connected to the electric grid. As is generally known, the combustion process emits carbon as a byproduct of the combustion. Unfortunately, the emitted carbon can contribute to atmospheric “greenhouse” gasses that can be a contributor to so called climate change. Climate change can be potentially dangerous as causing natural disasters or economic problems, which can result from a rise in sea level or agricultural problems for example. Hence, the power industry would welcome improvements in technology to generate electricity with reduced carbon emissions compared to conventional power plants or even negative carbon emissions where the electricity generation process as a whole removes more carbon from the atmosphere than any that may be added by combustion.
Disclosed is a system for generating electricity with reduced or negative carbon emissions. The system includes: a power plant section comprising a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system and a direct air capture (DAC) section. The SOFC system includes: a SOFC fuel cell reactor having a fuel input for receiving hydrogen fuel and an air input for receiving compressed air, the fuel cell reactor being configured for reacting hydrogen and the compressed air for generating the electricity; a combustor coupled to an output of the SOFC fuel cell reactor discharging unutilized fuel, the combustor being configured for combusting the unutilized fuel to provide an energy exchange path; a reformer coupled to a hydrocarbon fuel supply and coupled to a heat output and a steam output of the fuel cell reactor, the reformer being configured for reforming the hydrocarbon fuel using heat and steam from the fuel cell reactor to provide the hydrogen fuel to the SOFC reactor; and a high-pressure compressor having a high-pressure output coupled to the air input of the SOFC fuel cell for compressing air provided to the SOFC reactor. The direct air capture (DAC) section includes: a carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption device having a CO2 adsorbent material; and a ventilator electrically coupled to the SOFC fuel cell reactor, the ventilator configured for flowing air through the CO2 adsorption device in a carbon capture mode; wherein the CO2 adsorption device is coupled to and in energy communication with the energy exchange path for releasing adsorbed CO2 in a carbon release mode.
Also disclosed is a method for generating electricity with reduced or negative carbon emissions. The method includes: generating the electricity in a power plant section comprising a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system; gathering by adsorption carbon dioxide (CO2) from air in a direct air capture (DAC) section using a CO2 adsorption device having a CO2 adsorbent material in a carbon capture mode; flowing the air through the CO2 adsorption device using a ventilator receiving electric power from the SOFC system in the carbon capture mode; and, releasing CO2 from the CO2 adsorption device by providing energy to the CO2 adsorbent material from the energy exchange path in a carbon release mode. The SOFC system: receives hydrogen fuel and an air; reacts hydrogen and the air for generating the electricity; combusts unutilized fuel to provide an energy exchange path; reforms a hydrocarbon fuel from a hydrocarbon fuel supply using heat and steam from the fuel cell reactor to provide the hydrogen fuel to the SOFC reactor; and compresses air to provide the compressed air to the SOFC reactor.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the figures, in which like elements are numbered alike.
Figures are presented below that illustrate various embodiments for generating electricity with reduced or negative carbon emissions. These figures include arrows for illustrating direction of fluid flow from a first component to a second component that is coupled to the first component. These arrows represent conduits, pipes, tubing, ducts or other types of flow paths for containing and directing the fluid flow. These arrows may also represent valves or dampers in the flow paths for controlling fluid flow in the flow paths in accordance with a mode of operation. These valves may be remotely controlled by a controller that may provide for automatic or manual operation. These arrows may also represent any pumps required for motivating fluid flow in accordance with a design configuration of the disclosed components. Arrows identifying electrical communication represent electrical conductors, transformers, switchgear, or other components needed for electrically powering a device. Locations where arrows leave or enter a component can represent output ports or input ports, respectively, for fluid flow or connections for electrical components. As can be seen in the figures, the arrows also indicate how a component is coupled, either directly or indirectly (with an intermediate component), to another component.
Disclosed herein are embodiments of an electric power plant system that generates electric power with reduced or negative carbon emissions. Hence, the electric power plant system has a dual purpose-generating electric power and reducing carbon emissions into the ambient air or even taking carbon out of the ambient air in total.
The DAC section 12 includes a ventilator 19 that provides or directs ambient air to a carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption device 20. The CO2 adsorption device 20 removes CO2 and thus the associated carbon from the ambient air. Air having less CO2 is then discharged from the CO2 adsorption device 20. The ventilator 19 is electrically coupled to and receives electric power from the electricity generating unit 9. Hereinafter, any discussion of the electricity being supplied by the electric generator 14 inherently includes electricity being supplied by the fuel cell system when used as the electricity generating unit 9.
A controller 25 may be disposed in the power plant section 11 and/or the DAC section 12 for controlling operations of the electric power plant system 10 related to operating apparatus disclosed herein to enable electric power production with reduced or negative carbon emissions in accordance with the different modes of operation discussed herein. For example, the controller 25 may be configured to control valves or dampers for controlling a flow of fluid such as a working fluid, a heat transfer fluid, CO2 for sequestration or export or for recycling, or air. Also, the controller 25 may be configured to control electrical switchgear for controlling power to the ventilator 19 and/or CO2 compressors. The controller 25 may be configured to accept manual inputs and/or to provide automatic control. Automatic control may be implemented by an analog or digital processor implementing an algorithm. The algorithm may include model-based learning, machine learning, and/or artificial intelligence. In one or more embodiments, the algorithm may implement a neural network. The controller 25 may also include traditional control systems such as proportional, integral, and/or derivative (PID) control. Additionally, the controller 25 may receive inputs from sensors such as temperature, pressure, and/or flow sensors distributed throughout the electric power plant system 10. Further, the controller 25 may be configured to communicate with other processing devices whether locally such as by wireless communication or remotely such as by over the internet. Accordingly, the controller 25 can be used to optimize the reduction of carbon emissions.
CO2 and water discharged from the CO2 adsorption device 20 goes to a second water absorber or water separator 30 where water is separated from the entering CO2 and water. Dry CO2 from the second water separator 30 goes to the first compressor 18. A first portion of compressed CO2 from the first compressor 18 is recycled back to the engine 13 while a second portion of the compressed CO2 is exported for sequestration. Optionally, a carbon export heat exchanger (HX) 31 may be coupled to an output of the first compressor 18 (e.g., disposed in a pipeline conveying the second portion of the compressed CO2 for export) to extract energy from the second portion of the compressed CO2 for heating the CO2 adsorbent material 21 in the carbon release mode. The second portion of the compressed CO2 flows through a primary side of the carbon export heat exchanger 31 to heat a heat transfer fluid in the secondary side of the carbon export heat exchanger 31. This heat transfer fluid conveys energy to the CO2 adsorbent material 21 in the carbon release mode to aid in releasing the adsorbed CO2.
Downstream of the HRPC, the exhaust heat exchanger 95 further cools the exhaust from the gas turbine 90. The exhaust is cooled by air or other cooling source in the secondary side of the exhaust heat exchanger 95. From the exhaust heat exchanger 95, a first portion of the exhaust flows to a CO2 capture device 97, which captures CO2 from the exhaust. In one or more embodiments, the CO2 capture device 97 implements a Chilled Ammonia Process (CAP) or a Compact Carbon Capture with rotating bed (3C), all known in the art. The captured CO2 is then compressed by a first captured CO2 compressor 98 and dried by a captured CO2 water separator 99. The dried captured CO2 is then further compressed by a second captured CO2 compressor 89 and provided for export and sequestration. A second portion of the exhaust discharged by the exhaust heat exchanger 95 is used for exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and flows to a water separator 96 to separate water from the second portion of the exhaust to provide dry EGR exhaust. The dry EGR exhaust is then combined with air entering the gas turbine 90 for combustion.
Block 132 calls for gathering by adsorption carbon dioxide (CO2) from air in a Direct Air Capture (DAC) section of the electric power plant system using a CO2 adsorption device having a CO2 adsorbent material in a carbon capture mode.
Block 133 calls for flowing the air through the CO2 adsorption device using a ventilator receiving electric power from the electricity generating unit in the carbon capture mode.
Block 134 calls for releasing CO2 from the CO2 adsorption device by providing energy to the CO2 adsorbent material with energy from the energy exchange path in a carbon release mode.
In embodiments where the electricity generating unit operates in a supercritical CO2 power cycle, the method 130 may also include: (1) combusting a hydrocarbon fuel using a combustor disposed in the supercritical CO2 power cycle; (2) converting energy released by the combusting to mechanical output energy using an expander disposed in the supercritical CO2 power cycle and coupled to an output of the combustor; (3) providing oxidant to the combustor using an air separation unit (ASU) coupled to an input the combustor; and (4) extracting water from working fluid flow after expansion in the expander using a water separation unit coupled to an output of the expander; wherein the electric generator is coupled to a mechanical output of the expander; and wherein the energy exchange path is a working fluid discharge path of the expander.
The method 130 may also include using an energy exchanger coupled to a working fluid discharge path of the expander for supplying energy indirectly in a form of heat or directly in a form of CO2 mass flow to the CO2 adsorption device in the carbon release mode to release CO2 from the CO2 adsorbent material, wherein the CO2 adsorbent material comprises metal-organic-framework (MOF).
The method 130 may also include introducing a CO2 flow from the DAC section in the carbon release mode into the combustor by using a first CO2 compressor disposed in the DAC section and receiving electric power from the electrical generator for compressing the CO2 released from the CO2 adsorption material in the carbon release mode.
The method 130 may also include compressing CO2 discharged from the energy exchanger and from the output of the first CO2 compressor using a second CO2 compressor disposed in the power plant section, receiving electric power from the electric generator, and coupled to an output of the water separator and an output of the first CO2 compressor, wherein a first portion of a discharge from the second CO2 compressor is exported for the sequestration and a second portion of the discharge from the second CO2 compressor is recycled into the combustor.
In embodiments where the electricity generating unit includes a gas turbine, reciprocating engine, or fuel cell system each having an energy exhaust, the method 130 may include: (1) capturing CO2 from the energy exhaust using a CO2 capture unit coupled to the energy exhaust path; and (2) compressing the CO2 captured by the CO2 capture unit for exporting the compressed CO2 using a CO2 compressor coupled to an outlet of the CO2 capture unit, the CO2 compressor receiving electric power from the electricity generating unit. The CO2 capture unit may implement a Chilled Ammonia Process (CAP) or a Compact Carbon Capture with rotating bed (3C). The CO2 adsorbent material may include a metal-organic-framework (MOF). The method 130 may also include: (3) recovering heat from the energy exhaust path for generating steam using a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) disposed in the power plant section in the energy exhaust path between the engine and the CO2 capture unit; and (4) generating the electricity using a steam turbine coupled to an electric generator, the steam turbine receiving steam from the HRSG. The method 130 may further include: (5) compressing the CO2 captured by the CO2 capture unit using a first CO2 compressor coupled to an outlet of the CO2 capture unit, the first CO2 compressor receiving electric power from the electricity generating unit; extracting water from compressed CO2 from the first CO2 compressor using a water separator coupled to an output of the first CO2 compressor to provide dry compressed CO2; and (6) compressing the dry compressed CO2 using a second CO2 compressor coupled to an output of the water separator, the second CO2 compressor receiving electric power from the electricity generating unit.
As disclosed herein, the term “fuel cell” relates to a type of fuel cell or fuel cell system that produces a carbon dioxide stream and an energy discharge stream. One example of this type of fuel cell is a solid-oxide-fuel-cell (SOFC) system referred to as a SOFC 140 illustrated in
The SOFC system 140 integrated with the above components are configured to produce electric power that is provided to the grid, to the EM 150, and to the DAC components. The SOFC system 140 produces electrical power when a fuel and oxidant undergo an electrochemical reaction inside the SOFC 140 under certain defined conditions. The expander produces mechanical power by converting work of high pressure and temperature exhaust gas of the SOFC system 140 that is expanded to low temperature and low pressure. The LP and HP compressors 151 and 152 are configured to deliver high pressure oxidant (e.g., air) to the SOFC system 140. The SOFC system 140 is configured to receive compatible hydrocarbon fuels such as natural gas for example. The heat exchanger 154 is external to the SOFC system 140 and is configured to allow heat exchange between 3 streams—(1) a fuel stream of a SOFC fuel feed line, upstream the SOFC 140, (2) the exhaust gas from the SOFC 140, downstream of SOFC 140, and (3) a high-pressure oxidant feed line to the SOFC 140, upstream of SOFC 140.
The electrical power is generated by the pressurized fuel cell reactor 141 performing an electrochemical reaction between pre-heated fuel and oxidant streams coming from the multi-stream heat exchanger 154. A combustion chamber of the combustor 142 is an integral part of SOFC 140, that helps in burning unutilized fuel from the pressurized fuel cell reactor 141 by use of oxidant, producing high temperature exhaust gases. The hot exhaust gases from the fuel cell reactor 141 exchange heat with fuel and oxidant streams in the multi-stream heat exchanger 154. The expander 153 is arranged down stream of heat exchanger 154 and is driven by hot exhaust gases of SOFC system 140. The expander 153 and HP compressor 152 are connected to each other through a common shaft in one or more embodiments. The power produced by the expander 153 is used to drive the HP compressor 152 and excess power may be extracted through a generator (not shown) connected to the other side of the shaft of the expander 153.
The power producing unit, the solid oxide fuel cell system 140 integrated with the expander 153 operates as follows. Air to the SOFC system 140 is compressed through a two-stage compression system. An air stream is drawn from atmosphere by the low-pressure compressor 151, which is driven by the small electrical motor 150, is compressed to a first stage of pressure. The air from the first stage of compression is fed to the high-pressure compressor 152, which is driven by the gas expander 153, and the air is further compressed to high pressure. A compressed air stream from the HP compressor 152 is passed through the heat exchanger 154 before being introduced in to SOFC system 140. The heat exchanger 154 also heats a fuel stream, the source of power, from an outside source. The heated stream of air and the heated stream of fuel from the heat exchanger are injected in to the SOFC system 140. Inside the fuel cell reactor 141, the heated air and the heated fuel undergo an electro-chemical reaction at the electrodes of the fuel cell reactor 141 to produce electrical power. The exhaust gases, unutilized fuel and air are mixed in the integral combustor 142 of the SOFC 140 and combusted in the combustion chamber. This energy of combustion further increases the temperature of the exhaust gas stream from the combustor 142. The high temperature exhaust gas stream is then fed to the heat exchanger 154 to exchange heat with incoming streams of fuel and air. From the heat exchanger 154, the high pressure and high temperature exhaust gas stream is fed to the expander 153. The high pressure and high temperature exhaust gas stream undergoes expansion in the expander 153 converting its energy to work and further optionally to electrical power. The expander 153 transmits part power to HP compressor 152 and optionally remaining power to a generator through connected common shaft.
Block 172 calls for gathering by adsorption carbon dioxide (CO2) from air in a direct air capture (DAC) section using a CO2 adsorption device having a CO2 adsorbent material in a carbon capture mode.
Block 173 calls for flowing the air through the CO2 adsorption device using a ventilator receiving electric power from the SOFC system in the carbon capture mode.
Block 174 calls for releasing CO2 from the CO2 adsorption device by providing energy to the CO2 adsorbent material from the energy exchange path in a carbon release mode. The releasing may include at least one of heating the CO2 adsorbent material using mass flow of a fluid in the energy exchange path or heating the CO2 adsorbent material using a heat transfer fluid heated by a heat exchanger in a secondary side, a primary side of the heat exchanger being heated by energy from the energy exchange path.
The method 170 may also include capturing CO2 using a CO2 capture device receiving an exhaust from the combustor.
The method 170 may also include: compressing CO2 released by the CO2 adsorbent material and the CO2 capture device to provide compressed CO2; separating water from the compressed to provide dry compressed CO2; compressing the dry compressed CO2 to provide further compressed dry CO2; and exporting the further compressed dry CO2.
The method 170 may also include: driving a high-pressure compressor providing the compressed air to the SOFC reactor using an expander coupled to the high-pressure compressor and driven by exhaust from the combustor; and reforming the hydrocarbon fuel using energy from the SOFC reactor.
The method 170 may also include providing low-pressure compressed air to the high-pressure compressor using a low-pressure compressor; and driving the low-pressure compressor using an electric motor coupled to the low-pressure compressor.
The method 170 may also include: drying exhaust from the expander to provide dried exhaust; and recycling the dried exhaust into the low-pressure compressor.
In support of the teachings herein, various analysis components may be used, including a digital and/or an analog system. For example, the controller 25 may include digital and/or analog systems. The system may have components such as a processor, storage media, memory, input, output, communications link (wired, wireless, optical or other), user interfaces (e.g., a display or printer), software programs, signal processors (digital or analog) and other such components (such as resistors, capacitors, inductors and others) to provide for operation and analyses of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein in any of several manners well-appreciated in the art. It is considered that these teachings may be, but need not be, implemented in conjunction with a set of computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, including memory (ROMs, RAMs), optical (CD-ROMs), or magnetic (disks, hard drives), or any other type that when executed causes a computer to implement the method of the present invention. These instructions may provide for equipment operation, control, data collection and analysis and other functions deemed relevant by a system designer, owner, user or other such personnel, in addition to the functions described in this disclosure.
Batteries to supply electric power for start-up or shutdown purposes may be disposed in various locations throughout the electric power plant system 10. The batteries may be charged using electricity generated in the power plant section 11.
Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:
Embodiment 1. A system for generating electricity with reduced or negative carbon emissions, the system including a power plant section comprising a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system, the SOFC system including a SOFC fuel cell reactor having a fuel input for receiving hydrogen fuel and an air input for receiving compressed air, the fuel cell reactor being configured for reacting hydrogen and the compressed air for generating the electricity, a combustor coupled to an output of the SOFC fuel cell reactor discharging unutilized fuel, the combustor being configured for combusting the unutilized fuel to provide an energy exchange path, a reformer coupled to a hydrocarbon fuel supply and coupled to a heat output and a steam output of the fuel cell reactor, the reformer being configured for reforming the hydrocarbon fuel using heat and steam from the fuel cell reactor to provide the hydrogen fuel to the SOFC reactor, a high-pressure compressor having a high-pressure output coupled to the air input of the SOFC fuel cell for compressing air provided to the SOFC reactor, a direct air capture (DAC) section including a carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption device having a CO2 adsorbent material, and a ventilator electrically coupled to the SOFC fuel cell reactor, the ventilator configured for flowing air through the CO2 adsorption device in a carbon capture mode, wherein the CO2 adsorption device is coupled to and in energy communication with the energy exchange path for releasing adsorbed CO2 in a carbon release mode.
Embodiment 2. The system according to any prior embodiment, further including an expander having an output shaft coupled to the high-pressure compressor for driving the high-pressure compressor and a fluid input coupled to the energy discharge path.
Embodiment 3. The system according to any prior embodiment, further including a low-pressure compressor having a fluid output coupled to a fluid input of the high-pressure compressor.
Embodiment 4. The system according to any prior embodiment, further including an electric motor coupled to the low-pressure compressor for driving the low-pressure compressor.
Embodiment 5. The system according to any prior embodiment, further including a multi-stream heat exchanger, the multi-stream heat exchanger including a primary side input coupled to the energy exchange path of the SOFC combustor, a primary side output coupled to the input of the expander, a first secondary side input coupled to an input of the high-pressure compressor, a first secondary side output coupled to an air input of the SOFC reactor for providing heated air to the SOFC reactor, a second secondary side input coupled to a supply of the hydrocarbon fuel, and a second secondary side output coupled to the fuel input of the reformer, wherein heat from the primary side is transferred to the first secondary side and the second secondary side.
Embodiment 6. The system according to any prior embodiment, further including a CO2 compressor coupled to a CO2 release port of the CO2 adsorption device for compressing a portion of the adsorbed CO2 in a carbon release mode and providing the portion for export, and a carbon export heat exchanger having a primary side coupled to an output of the CO2 compressor and a secondary side coupled to the CO2 adsorption device for heating the CO2 adsorbent material in the carbon release mode.
Embodiment 7. The system according to any prior embodiment, further including a water separation unit having an input coupled to an output of the expander and an output coupled to the input of the low-pressure compressor for recycling dry exhaust gas.
Embodiment 8. The system according to any prior embodiment, further including a heat exchanger including a primary side coupled to an exhaust output of the expander, and a secondary side coupled to and in energy communication with the carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption device in the carbon release mode.
Embodiment 9. The system according to any prior embodiment, further including a CO2 capture unit coupled to a primary side output of the heat exchanger for removing CO2 from exhaust of the expander.
Embodiment 10. The system according to any prior embodiment, further including a first CO2 compressor having an input coupled to a CO2 output of the CO2 capture unit and to an output of the CO2 adsorption device in the carbon release mode.
Embodiment 11. The system according to any prior embodiment, further including a water separation unit having an input coupled to an output of the first CO2 compressor, and a second CO2 compressor having an input coupled to an output of the water separation unit and an output coupled to a CO2 export path.
Embodiment 12. The system according to any prior embodiment, wherein the CO2 adsorbent material comprises a metal-organic-framework (MOF) and the CO2 capture unit comprises a chilled ammonia process (CAP) or a compact carbon capture with rotating bed (3C).
Embodiment 13. A method for generating electricity with reduced or negative carbon emissions, the method including generating the electricity in a power plant section comprising a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system, the SOFC system, receiving hydrogen fuel and an air, reacting hydrogen and the air for generating the electricity, combusting unutilized fuel to provide an energy exchange path, reforming a hydrocarbon fuel from a hydrocarbon fuel supply using heat and steam from the fuel cell reactor to provide the hydrogen fuel to the SOFC reactor, compressing air to provide the compressed air to the SOFC reactor, gathering by adsorption carbon dioxide (CO2) from air in a direct air capture (DAC) section using a CO2 adsorption device having a CO2 adsorbent material in a carbon capture mode, flowing the air through the CO2 adsorption device using a ventilator receiving electric power from the SOFC system in the carbon capture mode, and releasing CO2 from the CO2 adsorption device by providing energy to the CO2 adsorbent material from the energy exchange path in a carbon release mode.
Embodiment 14. The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein releasing includes at least one of heating the CO2 adsorbent material using mass flow of a fluid in the energy exchange path, or heating the CO2 adsorbent material using a heat transfer fluid heated by a heat exchanger in a secondary side, a primary side of the heat exchanger being heated by energy from the energy exchange path.
Embodiment 15. The method as in any prior embodiment, further including capturing CO2 using a CO2 capture device receiving an exhaust from the combustor.
Embodiment 16. The method as in any prior embodiment, further including compressing CO2 released by the CO2 adsorbent material and the CO2 capture device to provide compressed CO2, separating water from the compressed to provide dry compressed CO2, compressing the dry compressed CO2 to provide further compressed dry CO2, and exporting the further compressed dry CO2.
Embodiment 17. The method as in any prior embodiment, further including driving a high-pressure compressor providing the compressed air to the SOFC reactor using an expander coupled to the high-pressure compressor and driven by exhaust from the combustor, and reforming the hydrocarbon fuel using energy from the SOFC reactor.
Embodiment 18. The method as in any prior embodiment, further including providing low-pressure compressed air to the high-pressure compressor using a low-pressure compressor, and driving the low-pressure compressor using an electric motor coupled to the low-pressure compressor.
Embodiment 19. The method as in any prior embodiment, further including drying exhaust from the expander to provide dried exhaust, and recycling the dried exhaust into the low-pressure compressor.
Elements of the embodiments have been introduced with either the articles “a” or “an.” The articles are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “including” and “having” and the like are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the elements listed. The conjunction “or” when used with a list of at least two terms is intended to mean any term or combination of terms. The term “configured” relates to one or more structural limitations of a device that are required for the device to perform the function or operation for which the device is configured. The term “coupled” relates to being coupled directly or indirectly using an intermediate device. The terms “first” and “second” and the like are used to distinguish terms and not to denote a particular order.
The flow diagram depicted herein is just an example. There may be many variations to this diagram or the steps (or operations) described therein without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, operations may be performed in another order or other operations may be performed at certain points without changing the specific disclosed sequence of operations with respect to each other. All of these variations are considered a part of the claimed invention.
The disclosure illustratively disclosed herein may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.
While one or more embodiments have been shown and described, modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustrations and not limitation.
It will be recognized that the various components or technologies may provide certain necessary or beneficial functionality or features. Accordingly, these functions and features as may be needed in support of the appended claims and variations thereof, are recognized as being inherently included as a part of the teachings herein and a part of the invention disclosed.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.
