US 12,325,674 B1
Modular system for renewable fuel generation
Halen Garrett Mattison, Manhattan Beach, CA (US); Luke David Hall Neise, Los Angeles, CA (US); and Anna Lee Tonkovich, Gilbert, AZ (US)
Assigned to General Galactic Technologies Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed by General Galactic Technologies Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/607,293.
Int. Cl. B01J 8/04 (2006.01); B01J 8/06 (2006.01); C07C 1/12 (2006.01); C25B 1/04 (2021.01); C25B 15/08 (2006.01)
CPC C07C 1/12 (2013.01) [B01J 8/04 (2013.01); B01J 8/0496 (2013.01); B01J 8/06 (2013.01); B01J 8/067 (2013.01); C25B 1/04 (2013.01); C25B 15/081 (2021.01); C25B 15/083 (2021.01); B01J 2208/00132 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00212 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00513 (2013.01); B01J 2208/0053 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0002 (2013.01); Y02C 20/40 (2020.08); Y02E 60/36 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A modular system configured to generate renewable fuel, the modular system comprising:
a container including:
an inlet configured to intake water from a source exterior to the modular system;
an inlet configured to intake a feedstock containing carbon dioxide from a source exterior to the modular system;
an inlet configured to receive a source of power from a source exterior to the modular system;
an outlet configured to output the renewable fuel;
the container enclosing:
an electrolysis subsystem configured to:
receive water and power from the water and power inlets to perform electrolysis to produce hydrogen and oxygen; and
a methanation reactor including:
a reaction bed having a stratified arrangement of alternating sections of catalyst material and inert material, and a reactant channel traversing at least a portion of the reaction bed,
wherein the reaction bed and the reactant channel are configured to perform an exothermic reaction using hydrogen received from the electrolysis subsystem and carbon dioxide received from the feedstock inlet,
wherein the hydrogen and carbon dioxide pass through the stratified arrangement of alternating sections of catalyst material and inert material and the reactant channel to produce the renewable fuel including a hydrocarbon-based gas or liquid, and coproducts, and
wherein the hydrogen and carbon dioxide react through the reactant channel to perform the exothermic reaction in a single-pass process;
a heat transfer medium in thermal communication with the alternating sections of catalyst material and inert material,
wherein the heat transfer medium is configured to perform active cooling of the methanation reactor to remove heat from the reaction bed; and
a heat conductive member configured to remove heat radially away from the reaction bed.