Patent Application
20100227368
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a renewable energy system, and more particularly, to a renewable energy cycle which uses biomass to produce fuels, e.g., ethanol and bio-diesel; chemicals, e.g., glycerin; and dry distilled grains (DDGs) for feeding livestock, e.g., cows. The invention also relates to a process in a renewable energy system.
2. Description of Related Art
Renewable energy processes may involve one or more renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind, water, plants, animals and municipal wastes, since these resources always exist. Renewable energy resources generally offer clean alternatives to fossil fuels, e.g., coal, oil and natural gas, for supplying most energy needs since the renewable energy resources produce very little or no pollution or greenhouse gases.
A prior art renewable energy process uses coal bed methane, coal gasification and land fill gas recovery for biogas production used to produce steam, heat and electricity needed in the cycle. Manure slurries are used to produce dry fertilizer products for fertilizing the corn fields. The corn is used in the production of ethanol and bio-diesel. Such a process is illustrated in the brochure entitled “Where Can Fluid Engineering Help Your Bio-fuel Plant?” provided by Fluid Engineering, Erie, Pa.
Among many things, this illustration shows that carbon dioxide produced within the system can be bubbled into ponds to grow algae that can be converted into bio-diesel fuel, and one source of carbon dioxide is from the fermentation tanks for the corn. Corn is used to produce DDGs for feeding livestock. Corn, corn oil, algae and other products are used to produce bio-diesel which is made through a chemical process called transesterification whereby glycerin is separated from the fat and/or vegetable oils. The transesterification process leaves behind two products—methyl esters which is the chemical name for bio-diesel and glycerin which is used in food and beverages, phalli aceuticals, cosmetics and toiletries, paper and printing, textiles, livestock, and biodegradable packaging.
It can be appreciated that this prior art renewable energy process involves a complicated system and uses coal bed methane, coal gasification, landfill gas recovery and manure slurries as its main input components for producing outputs such as ethanol and bio-diesel.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a simple compact renewable energy system and related process for producing as outputs ethanol, DDGs and bio-diesel fuel. It is another object of the invention to provide a simple, compact renewable energy system and related process which utilizes biomass as its main input component for generating the required heat, steam and electricity for operating the system and for producing electricity for human consumption. It is still yet another object of the invention to provide a simple, compact renewable energy system and related process which contains several units having one output, which is a final product for human consumption and another output, which is either used to produce the bio-diesel fuel or which is biomass which is fed to the biomass unit. It is therefore a still further object of the invention to provide a simple, compact renewable energy system and related process which is more efficient than prior art processes and systems.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an improved renewable energy system and related process for producing outputs such as drain distilled grains (DDGs) for livestock, and bio-diesel fuel, ethanol and electricity for human consumption. The system includes a biomass energy unit, a power plant, a power grid, an algae farm unit, a corn stover unit, a corn unit, a fermentation cycle unit between the corn stover unit and the corn unit and a biomass unit. The system uses biomass as the energy input into the system. Sources for this biomass energy include organic components from municipal wastes, rubber from used tires and hog fuel also known as wood waste which includes agricultural and forestry waste and residue.
This biomass is used directly to produce steam and electricity in a power plant. Most of the electricity is distributed to a power grid for public consumption; however, a small percentage of the electric power along with a great percentage of the steam is distributed to the several units in the system. Specifically, the electric power is distributed to the bio-diesel unit for producing the bio-diesel fuel. The electric power and steam are distributed to the algae farm units to produce oil whereby some of this oil is cycled to the bio-diesel unit and some of the oil is cycled as biomass to the biomass unit. Electric power and steam are distributed to the corn unit and to the corn stover unit to produce ethanol. The fermentation unit produces carbon dioxide which along with the carbon dioxide produced by the power plant is cycled to the algae farm to grow algae. The algae are used to produce an oil that is converted into bio-diesel fuel in the bio-diesel unit as described hereinabove. Some of the by-product from the corn stover unit is used as biomass. Corn oil from the corn unit is fed along with algae oil, animal fat and soybean oil to the bio-diesel unit to produce bio-diesel fuel. Glycerin is extracted from the bio-diesel fuel in the bio-diesel unit and is used in products, such as glycerol soap, or to treat lumber.
The present invention is also directed to a process for a renewable energy system for producing at least bio-diesel fuel and ethanol as end products, the steps including: providing a biomass energy unit for receiving at least one source of biomass energy; converting the biomass energy into electric power and steam in a power plant for receiving the one source of biomass energy; converting vegetable oil and animal fat into bio-diesel fuel in a bio-diesel unit for receiving the electric power from the power plant; producing ethanol and corn oil; in a corn stover unit for receiving the electric power and the steam from the power plant, producing ethanol and biomass in a corn unit for receiving the electric power and the steam from the power plant; distributing the biomass in the corn stover unit to the biomass energy unit; providing a fermentation cycle unit for producing ethanol and corn oil in the corn unit and for producing ethanol and biomass in the corn stover unit; providing an algae farm that receives the electric power and the steam from the power plant for producing algae oil; and distributing the algae oil to the bio-diesel unit for conversion into bio-diesel fuel. The carbon dioxide discharged from the fermentation cycle unit and the power plant is distributed to the algae farm to grow algae, and the corn oil is distributed to the bio-diesel unit where it is converted into bio-diesel fuel.
The present invention is also directed to a method for converting carbon dioxide to oxygen comprising the steps of: a) providing a source of carbon dioxide gas; b) providing algae; c) contacting the carbon dioxide gas with the algae; and d) reacting the algae with the carbon dioxide gas such that the carbon dioxide gas is converted to oxygen and other by-products. In one aspect, the carbon dioxide is produced by a fermentation process, such as the fermentation of corn or other grains. In another aspect, the by-product produced is oil, water or biomass.
The present invention is also directed to an apparatus for producing oxygen comprising: a) a means for providing a source of carbon dioxide gas; b) a means for providing algae; c) a means for contacting the carbon dioxide gas with the algae; and d) a means for reacting the algae with the carbon dioxide gas such that the carbon dioxide gas is converted to oxygen and other by-products. In one embodiment, the means for providing a source of CO2 gas is a fermentor. In another embodiment, the means for providing algae is an algae farm. In an additional embodiment, the means for contacting the carbon dioxide gas with the algae is an algae pond unit. In another embodiment, the means for reacting the algae with the carbon dioxide gas such that the carbon dioxide gas is converted to oxygen and other by-products is electric power. In still another embodiment, the means for reacting the algae with the carbon dioxide gas such that the carbon dioxide gas is converted to oxygen and other by-products is steam. In one aspect, the fermentor is a grain fermentor, such as a corn fermentor. In another aspect, the by-product produced is oil, water or biomass.
These and other features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structures and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description with reference to the accompany drawing, all of which form a part of this specification.
A renewable energy system 10 of
As shown by arrow 32 in
As shown by an arrow 48, electric power is delivered to the bio-diesel unit 16 to produce bio-diesel fuel as indicated by an arrow 50 which can be used directly in any type of diesel engine or can be shipped to domestic and international markets for human use. As shown, the bio-diesel fuel is produced from algae oil as indicated by an arrow 52, animal fat or yellow fat as indicated by an arrow 54, corn oil as indicated by an arrow 56, and soybean oil as indicated by an arrow 58. As discussed hereinabove, bio-diesel is made through a chemical process referred to as transesterification whereby glycerin is separated from the fat and vegetable oils. The glycerin may be used in the manufacture of glycerol soap as shown by an arrow 60, is used to treat lumber as shown by an arrow 62 and is used as bio-diesel as shown by an arrow 64. One of skill in the art would recognize that the glycerin produced by this process may have multiple applications. Bio-diesel fuel has advantages over diesel fuel which is made from fossil fuels, e.g., coal and natural gas, in that it burns cleaner, is renewable and does not cause air pollution. Also, bio-diesel fuel can be made from cooking oil and other types of fresh oils other than those vegetable oils shown in
To the left of the bio-diesel unit 16 of
To the left of algae farm 18 of
To the left of corn unit 20 and as indicated respectively by arrows 102 and 104, electric power and steam from power plant 14 is delivered to corn stover unit 22 which are used to produce ethanol and biomass as indicated by arrows 106 and 108, respectively. This corn stover unit 22 produces approximately 20 million gallons of ethanol per year. In one non-limiting embodiment, as indicated by an arrow 106, the ethanol is also delivered to railroad car 94 which is then shipped for human use. As is known, corn stover is a by-product of corn and is made from stalks or husks that remain once the corn is harvested. As indicated by an arrow 108, the cornhusks and stalks, now considered as sources of biomass energy, are delivered as indicated by an arrow 110 to the biomass unit 12. The amount of ethanol produced is a function of the size of the corn stover unit 22 and amount of corn stover supplied thereto.
The fermentation cycle unit 24 is located between and is associated with corn unit 20 and the stover unit 22 in
Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of this description. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional. Application No. 60/994,352 filed on Sep. 19, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US08/76996 | 9/19/2008 | WO | 00 | 3/12/2010 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60994352 | Sep 2007 | US |
