Synergistic process for the production of carbon dioxide using a cogeneration reactor

Claim 2

A synergistic cogeneration process for the production of carbon dioxide, oxygen and hydrogen comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a feed stream comprising an organic combustible fuel and hydrogen; (b) introducing said feed stream and air into a cogeneration reactor for combusting said feed stream and producing steam, electricity and stack gases containing carbon dioxide, said reactor having a generator and means for combusting said feed stream drivingly connected to said generator via shaft means; (c) using electricity to electrolyze water to produce hydrogen and oxygen; (d) recovering said hydrogen from step (c) and recycling at least a portion of said hydrogen to step (a) for preparation of said feed stream; and, (e) recovering said carbon dioxide from said stack gases.

Claim 3

The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said organic combustible fuel is a gaseous fuel.

Claim 4

The process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said gaseous fuel comprises methane.

Claim 5

The process as claimed in claim 3 wherein said gaseous fuel is natural gas.

Claim 6

The process as claimed in claim 3 wherein said oxygen is recovered from electrolysis step (c) and at least a portion of said oxygen is recycled to step (b) for introduction into said reactor.

Claim 7

The process as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least a portion of said electricity used to power electrolysis step (c) is produced in off-peak time.

Claim 8

The process as claimed in claim 6 wherein said feed stream comprises from about 10% to about 20% hydrogen on a volume basis.

Claim 9

The process as claimed in claim 7 wherein said feed stream contains about 15% hydrogen on a volume basis.

Claim 10

The process as claimed in claim 7 wherein said feed stream is combusted in air and from about 0% to about 30% oxygen on a volume basis.

Claim 11

The process as claimed in claim 9 wherein said feed stream is combusted with air and about 15% oxygen on a volume basis.

Claim 12

The process as claimed in claim 9 further comprising the step of adding at least a portion of said carbon dioxide recovered in the step (e) to a methanol synthesizer to produce methanol.

Claim 13

The process as claimed in claim 11 further compressing the step of reforming at least a portion of said methanol to produce methyl tertiary butyl ether.

Claim 14

The process as claimed in claim 11 wherein said cogeneration reactor is a single cycle cogenerator.

Claim 15

The process as claimed in claim 11 wherein said cogeneration reactor is a combined cycle cogenerator.

Claim 16

The process as claimed in claim 9 wherein at least a portion of said steam is added to a fermenter together with an alcohol precursor to produce ethanol.

Claim 17

The process as claimed in claim 15 further comprising the step of reforming at least a portion of said ethanol to produce ethanyl tertiary butyl ether.

Claim 18

A synergistic cogeneration process for the production of methanol comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a feed stream comprising an organic combustible fuel and hydrogen; (b) introducing said feed stream and air into a cogeneration reactor for combusting said feed stream and producing steam, electricity and stack gases containing carbon dioxide, said reactor having a generator and means for combusting said feed stream drivingly connected to said generator via shaft means; (c) electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen and oxygen; (d) recovering said hydrogen from step (c) and recycling at least a portion of said hydrogen to step (a) for preparation of said feed stream; (e) recovering said carbon dioxide from said stack gases; and, (f) adding at least a portion of said carbon dioxide recovered in the step (e) to a methanol synthesizer to produce methanol.

Claim 19

A synergistic cogeneration process for the production of methanol comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a feed stream comprising an organic combustible fuel and hydrogen; (b) introducing said feed stream and air into a cogeneration reactor for combusting said feed stream and producing steam, electricity and stack gases containing carbon dioxide, said reactor having a generator and means for combusting said feed stream drivingly connected to said generator via shaft means; (c) electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen and oxygen; (d) recovering said hydrogen from step (c) and recycling at least a portion of said hydrogen to step (a) for preparation of said feed stream; (e) recovering said carbon dioxide from said stack gases; and, (f) adding at least a portion of said carbon dioxide recovered in the step (e) to a methanol synthesizer to produce methanol.

Claim 20

The process as claimed in claim 17 wherein said oxygen is recovered from electrolysis step (c) and at least a portion of said oxygen is recycled to step (b) for introduction into said reactor.

Claim 21

The process as claimed in claim 18 wherein said organic combustible fuel is a gaseous fuel.

Claim 22

The process as claimed in claim 19 wherein a portion of the electricity produced in step (c) is used to power electrolysis step (c).

Claim 23

The process as claimed in claim 17 wherein at least a portion of said electricity used to power electrolysis step (c) is produced in off-peak time.