CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to, claims the earliest available effective filing date(s) from (e.g., claims earliest available priority dates for other than provisional patent applications; claims benefits under 35 USC § 119(e) for provisional patent applications), and incorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of the following listed application(s) (the“Related Applications”) to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith; the present application also claims the earliest available effective filing date(s) from, and also incorporates by reference in its entirety- all subject matter of any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the Related Application^) to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith:

United States provisional patent application 62/779533 entitled“Improved Semi- Closed Cycle with Turbo Membrane 02 Source”, naming Paul M. Dunn as inventor, filed 14 December 2018.

Background

1. Field of Use

[0001] This invention generally relates to semi-closed cycle power systems and more particularly power systems including carbon capture equipment or at least having concentrated exhaust C02 levels, enabling lower cost CQ2 capture equipment to be employed. Furthermore, this invention relates to oxygen plants, in particular membrane oxygen plants, with a corresponding method to reduce the specific power of those plants and make them competitive with Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption (VPSA) oxygen plants.

2. Description of Prior Aft (Background)

[0002] Conventional power systems, whether internal or external combustion, burn fuel with air and generally vent the untreated combustion products (exhaust / flue gas) to the air (or via underwater interface to the air). This is true of natural gas, gasoline, and diesel piston engines, and also of gas turbines, jet engines, or even steam boiler based power plants.

[0003] Emissions of the untreated flue gas to the air, while simple to execute, is not desirable for environmental reasons. Gases such as $02* NOx, CO, PIC (unburned hydro carbon) and more recently C02 are defined as pollutants and emissions are regulated. In addition, for special purpose applications, in particular for undersea applications, the requirement to tie the system exhaust pressure to the ambient pressure (elevated backpressure.) can lower engine cycle efficiency significantly

[0004] Historically, prior work on various closed or semi-closed power systems (in the first part of the 1900’s) was mostly related to special purpose applications. More recently prior work is mostly about the ability to provide higher efficiency and/or effectively control emissions or even capture system emissions, in particular CQ2 US 9, 194,340 B2, also by this inventor, provides the history and citation of relevant patents. [0005] At first, due to unavailability of conventional fuels, as a result of isolation, poverty, or war, and later from a desire to use renewable fuels, there has been a vast array of tinkering, research, patents, and commercialization of pyrolysis and gasification systems which, mostly via high temperature thermal decomposition, break down an available feed stock or fuel (coal, solid waste, wood waste, paper, plastic) which cannot be, or is not easily, burned in an engine, into at least one component, generally a synthesis gas, that is easily burned in an engine.

[0006] Pyrolysis and gasification systems generally fall into two categories: continuous feed machines, or batch (autoclave) type machines. Tire preferred machine will depend on the feedstock and to a large degree whether that feedstock can be effectively transported by conveyor, screw or other means into the reaction zone; where possible, the continuous feed type machine is preferred. US 8,784,616 B2, with parent and child patents, provides a thorough set of citations to over a dozen patent and non-patent documents in this area.

[0007] PCT/IJS2018/000163, disclosed a method to integrate and improve upon the pyrolysis techniques, and to reduce oxygen levels in the exhaust of the semi-closed cycle (SCC), which improved metrics, and enabled a carbon negative power system.

3. Motivation to Improve the State of the Art

[0008] The existing semi-closed cycle power systems and related prior art are encumbered with a significant operational penalty. The oxygen plant, discussed in the prior art literature, is frequently the highest operational cost of the power system and consumes a significant portion of the net power produced. Furthermore, low backpressure of the power system results in a large fraction of water vapor in the exhaust, which complicates engine operation, while also complicating gas cleanup system requirements, since the raw€02 stream must be dehydrated.

[0009] Additionally, the gas clean up system, when mole sieve based, requires a high horsepow'er blow'er to increase exhaust pressure to a level where the mole sieves are effective (for Thermal Swing Absorption (TSA) or Vacuum Pressure Swing, Absorption (VPS A) processes). Finally, the TSA process requires a significant quantity of hot dry gas to regenerate the absorption beds.

[0010] As can be seen from the prior art, there is a further desire for power systems to become non-emissive and/or to have less of an adverse environmental impact.

Brief Summary

[0011] The invention is directed towards: 1) improving the efficiency of the semi-closed Cycle process, consuming less of the produced power to operate auxiliary systems, 2) reducing the capital cost of oxygen generation (nitrogen removal) systems, 3) reducing the compression power associated with a membrane oxygen plant, making it competitive if not better than a VPSA oxygen plant, 4) reducing the size, complexity, and parasitic power associated with the C02 gas cleanup system of the semi-closed cycle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] The Subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] Figure 1 (prior art) is a simulation flow sheet of a nominally 400 kW, 600 hp, piston engine, running on the semi-closed cycle. with VPSA based oxygen generation and molecular sieve based gas cleanup system.

[0014] Figure 2, is a simulation flow sheet of the same nominally 400 kW, -600 hp, piston engine, running on the semi-closed cycle, with a membrane based oxygen generation system, and special features of this invention which will be discussed herein. Detailed Description

[0015] The following brief definition of terms shall apply throughout the application:

[0016] The term ‘'comprising'' means including but not limited to, and should be interpreted in the manner it is typically used in the patent context;

[0017] The phrases“in one embodiment,”“according to one embodiment,” and the tike generally mean that the particular feature, structure, or characteristic following the phrase may be included in at least one embodiment of the present invention, and may be included in more than one embodiment of the present invention (importantly, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment);

[0018] If the specification describes something as“exemplary” or an“example,” it should be understood that refers to a non-exclusive example; and

[0019] If the specification states a component or feature“may,”“can,”“could,”“should,” “'preferably,”“possibly,”“typically,”“'optiona lly,”“for example,” or“might” (or other such language) be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or to have the characteristic.

[0020] The present invention is now described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an illustrated embodiment of the present invention is shown. The present invention is not limited in any way to the illustrated embodiment as the illustrated embodiment described below Is merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms, as appreciated hy one skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that any structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. Furthermore, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.

[0021] Where a range of values is pro vided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges is also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either both of those included limits are also included in the invention.

[0022] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, exemplary methods and materials are now _' described. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited.

[0023] It must be understood that, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms“a”,“an,” and“the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to“a stimulus” includes a plurality of such stimuli and reference to“the signal” includes reference to one or more signals and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth

[0024] The present invention generally relates to a system of operating a compression ignition, spark ignition, rich or lean burn reciprocating piston engine, or lean burn gas turbine, in a semi-closed cycle, in a manner which is non-emissive, and winch produces products, to include C02 at pressure and power, optionally while processing its own fuel or a fuel for others via pyrolysis. [0025] C-02 at pressure is required for a process. Enhanced Oil Recovery is an example of such a process. It is further to be appreciated that the system of the present invention is applicable to two stroke or four stroke piston engines, rich or lean burn, rotary piston engines, or small gas turbines.

[0026] Medium speed engines (which have greater time for the combustion process), and especially engines tolerant of operation at high“boost” (intake manifold) net mean effective pressure (such as medium speed opposed piston engines or heavy duty low to medium speed four stroke engines) are suited to the cycle but the invention is not to be understood to be limited to such medium speed engines.

[0027] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views.

[0028] Figure 1 schematically illustrates the basic components of a generic SCC power system, including N2 removal (oxygen plant), gas cleanup system (GCS), and product compression. Referring to Figure 1, the components 02_V AC, 02 BLWR, 02_Beds, and associated heat exchangers and valves leading up to mixer M4 represent a simplified view of a VPSA Oxygen Plant. As is disclosed in PCT/US2018/000163 and other prior art, air is compressed, and flows through the beds (typically 2 or 3) which adsorb nitrogen, C02, water, and other contaminants, resulting in an oxygen argon mixture, typically 88-93% oxygen, balance argon and nitrogen. Periodically the bed is loaded in nitrogen, which is then removed via vacuum, with purging of some of the product oxygen.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, about 6,5 tons per day of 02 product, at 88% purity, is delivered to mixer M4, with a total mechanical parasitic load of about 84 hp. This high purity oxygen is mixed with air, to generate a 35.5% purity oxygen, nitrogen, argon mixture at the discharge of M4 [0030] Components between CPI and EX i represent the engine. CPI is the turbo charger compressor, which delivers about 15 psig of boost pressure (30 psia); C7 is the aftercooler, which cools hot compressor exhaust to 300 F; M2 represents the mixing of fuel and working fluid that occurs typically in the intake manifold; compressor TCS represents the sum of the total compression strokes of the piston engine (or compressor of the gas turbine), with C8 representing the heat loss in that portion of tire engine; ERx 1 represents the combustion, modeling chemical equilibrium and additional heat loss; and TPS and EX1 represent the total power stroke and turbo charger turbine work. This simulation accurately predicts the exhaust temperature (from the turbo charger) and engine port (turbo charger inlet) exhaust temperature for a particular rich burn turbo charged natural gas piston engine.

[0031] It is recognized that while a piston engine example was modeled herein, the gross exhaust constituents, semi-closed cycle methods, and gas cleanup and oxygen generation requirements apply equally to small industrial gas turbines, with similar exhaust temperatures.

[0032] As has been discussed in the prior art, water is sprayed into the exhaust at M5, and separated at Sep I, resulting in cooled exhaust (~1 10 F) which is circulated back to the engine inlet via Ml . The exhaust mixes with the nominally 35% 02 from the VPS A / Air mixer M4 to produce 21-22% oxygen for the engine. This method of engine operation effectively almost doubles the exhaust C02 concentration, enabling cost effective carbon capture.

[0033] The GCS includes the components starting at SF1, and ending with the final stage of CQ2 compression at CG2_Stage_3, via the 3 Bed TSA, which dehydrates the exhaust, and 3_Bed_VPSA, which captures the purified C02.

[0034] It should be noted that, excluding C02 compression, the net power of the engine, nominally 600 hp, has been reduced by the 02 plant loads, of 84 hp, and TSA blower load, of 32 hp. It should be further noted that significant heat loads exist which burden the system, to include the blow'er discharge heat exchanger, C3; TSA discharge heat exchanger, C5; and the heat associated with regeneration of the TSA beds. Typically, a chiller, and usehjl capture of the exhaust waste heat from the engine is employed to service these heating and cooling requirements. For example, a chiller sized for this system is about 30 tons, and further reduces engine net output power by ~40 hp.

[0035] Figure 2 schematically illustrates the basic components of the improved SC C power system, including N2 removal (oxygen plant), gas cleanup system (GCS), and product compression. Referring to Figured, the components 02_V AC, 02_BLWR, 02_Beds, and associated items from Figure 1 have been removed and are replaced with a membrane oxygen generator

[0036] Membrane oxygen generation systems are commercially available, and lower cost than V PS A 02 plants. However, the membrane plant requires more air flow, at higher pressure, to produce the same Oxygen content, and produce that oxygen content at lower purity. As shown herein, the membrane is receiving air at 132 psia (117 psig) and 4000 lb/hr, compared to 14 psig and 3200 Ibm/hr of the VPS A in Figure 1 As a result, the compression power required for the membrane is normally too high for this application and would be over 200 hp if that were provided conventionally.

[0037] The membrane disclosed herein operates via selective membrane elements, which pass“fast gases” like oxygen, C02, and water, while not passing much nitrogen or argon. The membrane receives air at 132 psia, and produces 122 psia dry nitrogen, at 95% purity at one discharge port (1766 Ibm/hr). The other port, the permeate side (2233 Ibm/hr), is lower pressure, in this instance 30 psia, and is 35% oxygen.

[0038] As before, the flow at Ml, at 22% mixed 02 purity, is -3600 Ib/hr, which: is what the engine needs to operate, the difference is that it is now at ~30 psia, not atmospheric pressure. As a result, the engine turbo charger and aftercooler have been removed, and the engine receives the working fluid at the required pressure, and at a slightly lower temperature (107 F) which improves performance and reduces knock. [0039] The engine exhaust pressure, at what would have been turbo charger turbine inlet, is actually slightly higher than with the turbo charger, but is still consistent with the engine capability. Engine mass flow and exhaust port temperature are slightly higher than with the turbocharger and VESA based 02 plant, but not significantly.

[0040] The hot exhaust now flows via a new component, a counter flow heat exchanger, El, before going through the balance of SCC and GCS equipment as before.

[0041] Going back to the membrane plant, the membrane requires 132 psia of air, at 4000 Ib/hr Rather than use a single oil flooded screw compressor, there is what looks like a turbo charger compressor, CPI , which is functioning as a first stage compressor prior to the screw. This component is consuming 120 hp to provide the air at 55 psia to Cl , which cools it back to 110 F. This reduces the power required at CP2 from -200 hp to 75 hp. Thus, the CP2 compressor requirement for the membrane Oxygen source is now less than the prior art power requirement for the VESA oxygen source.

[0042] The high pressure dry nitrogen side of the membrane output is heated via counterfiow heat exchanger El, and is expanded via a turbo charger like expander, EXl, which is directly coupled to CP I . In effect, removing the engine turbo charger, and instead turbo charge the membrane, while still meeting the engine requirements for compressed working fluid. The pressure drop across EXl is higher than a typical turbo charger, at 105 psi. EXl could be a two stage turbo charger expander, driving a one or two stage compressor. It: is also possible to reheat between EXl stage 1 and stage 2, which would further improve the metrics.

[0043] The SCC pressure, at SPl, is now at engine boost pressure, of 30 psia vs. 14.7 psia. Thus, the water vapor concentration is reduced, from 8 6% to 4,3%. This will reduce the size of the beds at 3_Bed_TS A. [0044] More significantly, the TSA blower power, which rvas 32 hp, is now essentially zero hp. The simulation shows it at 2 hp, but in fact the blower is really operating here as a control mechanism for the recirculation flow, and could be replaced with a valve.

[0045] Finally, the exhaust from the EXl expander is still hot enough, 650 F, and dry enough (-40 dew point) to regenerate the TSA beds, without requiring additional components.

[0046] The net power is this example, excluding the C02 compression is improved by ~40 hp. In addition, the water loads, which drive the chiller requirements, are significantly reduced.