Methods for biotechnological conversion of natural gas into animal feed as a substitute for flaring and related systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12565623-B2
Application number	US-202218051676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2022
Priority date	Nov 16, 2021
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

Methods include providing a natural gas stream; directing a first fraction of the natural gas stream to a bioreactor including a propagating culture of hydrocarbon degrading microbes; directing a second fraction of the gas stream to a local power generator and converting the natural gas stream to electricity and heat; using a dynamic control system to balance of the gas stream to the first fraction and the second fraction based on one or more of the availability of electricity from an electricity grid and the price of electricity from the electricity grid; powering, at least in part, the bioreactor with the electricity generated by the local power generator; and harvesting the hydrocarbon degrading microbes from the bioreactor as a biomass. Related systems are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
providing a natural gas stream; directing a first fraction of the natural gas stream to a bioreactor comprising hydrocarbon degrading microbes; directing a second fraction of the stream to a local power generator and converting the natural gas stream to electricity and heat; powering, at least in part, the bioreactor with the electricity generated by the local power generator; and harvesting the hydrocarbon degrading microbes from the bioreactor as a biomass.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bioreactor is powered, at least in part, by an electricity grid, and further comprising a dynamic control system that balances the power demands of the bioreactor between the electricity grid and the local power generator based on one or more of the availability of electricity from the electricity grid and the price of electricity from the electricity grid.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a heat output from the local power generator as an input for an absorptive cooler that provides cooling to the bioreactor.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the power generator generates at least 60% of the power required to operate the bioreactor.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the power generator generates at 100% of the power required to operate the bioreactor.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising processing the biomass to produce a protein feedstock.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon degrading microbes comprise a methanotrophic bacteria.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon degrading microbes comprise an archae or fungi.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the natural gas stream is sourced from hydrocarbon production.

10 . A method comprising:
providing a natural gas stream; directing a first fraction of the natural gas stream to a bioreactor comprising a propagating culture of hydrocarbon degrading microbes; directing a second fraction of the gas stream to a local power generator and converting the natural gas stream to electricity and heat; using a dynamic control system to balance the first fraction and the second fraction based on one or more of the availability of electricity from an electricity grid and the price of electricity from the electricity grid; powering, at least in part, the bioreactor with the electricity generated by the local power generator; and harvesting the hydrocarbon degrading microbes from the bioreactor as a biomass.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the dynamic control system further balances the power demands of the bioreactor between the electricity grid and the local power generator.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising using a heat output from the local power generator as an input for an absorptive cooler that provides cooling to the bioreactor.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising processing the biomass to produce a protein feedstock.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the power generator generates at least 60% of the power required to operate the bioreactor.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the power generator generates 100% of the power required to operate the bioreactor.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the hydrocarbon degrading microbes comprise a methanotrophic bacteria.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the electricity converted by the local power generator produced is in excess of the demands of the bioreactor, the method further comprising selling the excess electricity to the electricity grid.

18 . The method claim 17 , further comprising reducing the bioreactor production and maximizing production of excess electricity.

Assignees

• Exxonmobil Technology & Engineering Company

Inventors

• Nedwed Timothy J
• Zhao Lin
• Aminfard Sam

Classifications

• C12M21/04

  for producing gas, e.g. biogas (digesters for manure with production of biogas A01C3/028, biological treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F3/00, C02F11/02, preparation of natural gas or syngas C10L3/06, C10L3/10) · CPC title

• C10L3/10 Primary

  Working-up natural gas or synthetic natural gas · CPC title

• C12M43/08 Primary

  Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices or plants for production of electricity · CPC title