Hydrogen Production and Carbon Sequestration in Coal and Natural Gas-Burning Power Plants

Abstract

This invention describes a system of reactions for a partial sequestration of carbon (CO 2 and CO) from coal burning plants and zero emission production of hydrogen and hydrides. The only raw material to be used is salt (sodium chloride, NaCl), coal and water or a metal for the hydride. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) generated from the chloride is used for locking carbon dioxide in sodium carbonate and bicarbonate.

1 . A process to sequester carbon from flue gas of a power plant, comprising: reacting sodium hydroxide with an oxide of carbon from the flue gas to form sodium carbonate. 
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein the oxide of carbon is carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. 
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of adding natural gas and water to the carbon monoxide—sodium hydroxide reaction to produce sodium carbonate, or adding water to the carbon monoxide-sodium hydroxide reaction to produce sodium bicarbonate. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of adding coal to the carbon dioxide—sodium hydroxide reaction to produce sodium carbonate, or adding natural gas and water to the carbon dioxide—sodium hydroxide reaction to produce sodium carbonate, or adding water to the carbon dioxide—sodium hydroxide reaction to produce sodium bicarbonate. 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein the power plant is a coal-burning power plant or a natural gas-burning power plant. 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of generating hydrogen from the reaction. 
   
   
       12 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: conducting the reaction in a closed system to achieve zero emission of carbon gases, and generating hydrogen from the reaction. 
   
   
       13 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: using a form of energy obtained from the coal-burning plant to conduct said process, wherein said form of energy is selected from hot air, electric energy in off-peak production, or both. 
   
   
       14 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: using any gas mixtures exhausting from the power plant; and adjusting the composition of the feed stock (sodium hydroxide) to react with components of gas selected from sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, or both; and forming removable solids. 
   
   
       15 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: using one or more catalysts to promote the reaction kinetics. 
   
   
       16 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising wherein the process of carbonation is not a direct conversion of NaOH to Na 2 CO 3  but is a result of a reaction with other solids and gases usually producing hydrogen in important amounts. 
   
   
       17 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: using an integrated design for the execution of the processes such that the waste-energy provided by the coal burning power plant is used effectively by adhering to energy saving schedules which comprise off-peak utilization. 
   
   
       18 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: producing the sodium hydroxide at the site using energy selected from the power plant itself, nuclear, solar, wind, hydro-electric, alternate energy sources other than coal or any other fossil fuel, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       19 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: recovering additional cost by selling reaction products selected from sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, hydrogen, chlorine, or combinations thereof, at market prices to recover any additional costs that are incurred due to the use of sodium hydroxide. 
   
   
       20 . A system for sequestering carbon from flue gas of a power plant, comprising:
 (a) a burner for combusting a mixture of oxygen and fuel and generating flue gas and products of combustion;   (b) a stack in communication with said burner for collection and dispersion of the flue gas and the products of combustion; and   (c) a reactor for reacting sodium hydroxide with an oxide of carbon from the flue gas to form sodium carbonate.   
   
   
       21 . The reactor of  claim 20 , further comprising wherein the oxide of carbon is carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. 
   
   
       22 . The reactor of  claim 21 , further comprising means for adding natural gas and water to the carbon monoxide—sodium hydroxide reaction to produce sodium carbonate, or adding water to the carbon monoxide-sodium hydroxide reaction to produce sodium bicarbonate. 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . The reactor of  claim 24 , further comprising means for adding coal to the carbon dioxide—sodium hydroxide reaction to produce sodium carbonate, or adding natural gas and water to the carbon dioxide—sodium hydroxide reaction to produce sodium carbonate, or adding water to the carbon dioxide—sodium hydroxide reaction to produce sodium bicarbonate. 
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . The reactor of  claim 20 , further comprising wherein the power plant is a coal-burning power plant or a natural gas-burning power plant. 
   
   
       29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . The reactor according to  claim 20 , further comprising means for generating hydrogen from the reaction. 
   
   
       31 . The reactor according to  claim 20 , further comprising means for conducting the reaction in a closed system to achieve zero emission of carbon gases, and means for generating hydrogen from the reaction. 
   
   
       32 . The reactor according to  claim 20 , further comprising means for using a form of energy obtained from the coal-burning plant to conduct said process, wherein said form of energy is selected from hot air, electric energy in off-peak production, or both. 
   
   
       33 . The reactor according to  claim 20 , further comprising means for using any gas mixtures exhausting from the power plant; and means for adjusting the composition of the feed stock (sodium hydroxide) to react with components of gas selected from sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, or both; and forming removable solids. 
   
   
       34 . The reactor according to  claim 20 , further comprising means for using one or more catalysts to promote the reaction kinetics. 
   
   
       35 . The reactor according to  claim 20 , further comprising wherein the reactor of carbonation is not a direct conversion of NaOH to Na 2 CO 3  but is a result of a reaction with other solids and gases which produce hydrogen in substantial amounts. 
   
   
       36 . The reactor according to  claim 20 , further comprising means for using an integrated design for the execution of the processes such that the waste-energy provided by the coal burning power plant is used effectively by adhering to energy saving schedules which comprise off-peak utilization. 
   
   
       37 . The reactor according to  claim 20 , further comprising means for producing the sodium hydroxide at the site using energy selected from the plant itself, nuclear, solar, wind, hydro-electric, alternate energy sources other than coal or any other fossil fuel, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       38 . The reactor according to  claim 20 , further comprising means for recovering additional cost by selling reaction products selected from sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, hydrogen, chlorine, or combinations thereof, at market prices to recover any additional costs that are incurred due to the use of sodium hydroxide. 
   
   
       39 . The reactor according to  claim 20 , wherein the reactor is a retrofit module for an existing or a new power plant. 
   
   
       40 . The process of synthesizing a hydride such as magnesium hydride linked to the hydrogen being produced in the reactor according to  claim 20 .