Electromethanogenesis reactor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021363473-A1
Application number	US-202117392935-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 3, 2021
Priority date	Apr 10, 2018
Publication date	Nov 25, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Generation of energy and storage of energy for subsequent use is provided by electromethanogenesis of carbon dioxide into a fuel gas and the storage of the fuel gas for subsequent use. An electromethanogenic reactor includes an anode conductor and a cathode conductor wherein the cathode conductor includes submicron to micron scale pores. Electromethanogenesis microbes and/or enzymes are located in the micron scale pores of the cathode electrode conductor. Carbon dioxide is introduced into the electromethanogenic reactor and the electromethanogenesis microbes/enzymes and the carbon dioxide interact and produce a fuel gas. The fuel gas is stored for subsequent use, for example use in power generation.

First claim

1 . A method of generating energy and storing the energy for subsequent use, comprising the steps of:
providing carbon dioxide, electromethanogenesis of said carbon dioxide into a fuel gas, and storing said fuel gas for subsequent use.

2 . The method of generating energy and storing the energy for subsequent use of claim 1 wherein said electromethanogenesis of said carbon dioxide into a fuel gas comprises electromethanogenesis of said carbon dioxide into methane gas.

3 . The method of generating energy and storing the energy for subsequent use of claim 1 wherein said electromethanogenesis of said carbon dioxide into a fuel gas comprises electromethanogenesis of said carbon dioxide into syngas.

4 . The method of generating energy and storing the energy for subsequent use of claim 1 wherein said step of storing said fuel gas for subsequent use comprises using said fuel gas for power generation.

Assignees

• L Livermore Nat Security Llc

Inventors

• Knipe Jennifer Marie
• Baker Sarah E
• Worsley Marcus A
• Chandrasekaran Swetha

Classifications

• Y02P20/10

  Process efficiency · CPC title

• C12N13/00

  Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves · CPC title

• C12M35/02

  Electrical or electromagnetic means, e.g. for electroporation or for cell fusion · CPC title

• C12M21/04 Primary

  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

• C12M23/34

  Internal compartments or partitions · CPC title