Capturing Carbon Dioxide While Making Electricity with Hydrogen and Solar

This patent describes an integrated system that captures carbon dioxide from the air or industrial exhaust while simultaneously generating clean electricity using a hydrogen gas turbine powered by solar-generated hydrogen and oxygen, all without burning fossil fuels.

What it covers

This system combines four main parts to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) and make electricity at the same time. First, a 'non-ionized hydrogen gas turbine unit' generates power using hydrogen and oxygen gases, converting their chemical energy into electricity with high efficiency (Claim 1a). Second, a 'carbon dioxide capturing system unit' pulls CO2 from the atmosphere or 'flue gases' (like exhaust from factories), using the clean electricity and waste heat produced by the system (Claim 1b). Third, a 'hybrid solar hydrogen-oxygen gas generator system unit' continuously makes the hydrogen and oxygen needed for the turbine, using renewable energy sources (Claim 1c). Finally, a 'waste recovery system unit' collects leftover heat from the turbine and CO2 capture process to power an additional steam turbine, boosting the total electricity output and making the system more efficient (Claim 1d). For example, exhaust heat from the hydrogen turbine helps power the CO2 absorption process.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover systems that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels or other hydrocarbons, as it explicitly states operation 'without utilizing hydrocarbons' (Claim 1).
• —Does not cover standalone carbon capture systems that are not integrated with an electrical energy generation system (Claim 1).
• —Does not cover hydrogen gas turbines that use ionized hydrogen or other fuel types, as it specifies a 'non-ionized hydrogen gas turbine unit' (Claim 1a).
• —Does not cover systems where the hydrogen and oxygen are produced solely from non-renewable sources or without a 'hybrid solar' component (Claim 1c).
• —Does not cover systems that do not use waste heat to power the carbon dioxide capturing process, as this integration is a key feature (Claim 1b, 1d).

The clever bit

The truly novel aspect is the tight integration and co-functioning of all four units: a non-ionized hydrogen turbine, a CO2 capture system, a solar hydrogen generator, and a waste heat recovery system. Powering the energy-intensive CO2 capture process directly with the waste heat from the hydrogen turbine and using solar to produce the hydrogen makes the entire system self-sustaining and carbon-neutral.

Why it matters

This patent addresses two major global challenges: climate change, by capturing CO2, and the need for clean energy, by generating electricity without carbon emissions. By integrating these functions, it aims to create a more efficient and sustainable approach than separate systems. This could be important for industries looking to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining or increasing energy production.

Real-world examples

• 1.Future hydrogen power plants
• 2.Industrial carbon capture facilities
• 3.Large-scale renewable energy projects with integrated storage
• 4.Direct air capture facilities