Method for providing heat from an oxidation process and from electrical energy

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for obtaining a hydrocarbon-containing gas, comprising the generation of heat by operating an apparatus for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon-containing gas, characterized in that alternatively a required provision of heat from the oxidation of the hydrocarbon-containing gas is substituted by the provision of heat from electrical energy with an apparatus for providing heat by using electrical power and the hydrocarbon-containing gas that is not oxidized is provided. A facility for carrying out the present method is also described.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method for obtaining a hydrocarbon-containing gas, comprising a generation of heat by operating an apparatus for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon-containing gas, wherein alternatively a required provision of heat from the oxidation of the hydrocarbon-containing gas is substituted by the provision of heat from electrical energy with an apparatus for providing heat by using electrical power and the hydrocarbon-containing gas that is not oxidized is provided. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing gas provided is stored. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing gas provided is stored in a reservoir selected from the group consisting of a pore storage facility, a cavern storage facility, a pipe storage facility, a spherical reservoir or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing gas provided is stored in a natural gas pipeline network by raising the pressure. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing gas provided is stored in spatial proximity to the apparatus for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon-containing gas. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the gas inlet to the reservoir is at most 10 000 m away from the gas inlet of the apparatus for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon-containing gas. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing gas provided is stored with a spatial separation from the apparatus for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon-containing gas. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the gas inlet to the reservoir is at least 10 000 m away from the gas inlet of the apparatus for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon-containing gas. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the electrical energy that is alternatively used for providing heat originates at least partially from renewable energy sources. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the use of electrical energy is chosen in dependence on the supply of electrical energy. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the use of electrical energy is chosen in dependence on the load of the electricity transmission network. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein an amount of thermal energy to be provided within a specific time period is alternatively provided by burning gas and/or by using electrical energy. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the specific time period within which an amount of thermal energy is to be provided is at most 24 hours. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein a decision with regard to the type of provision of the thermal energy is taken at most 12 hours before the time period within which the thermal energy is to be provided. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the apparatus for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon-containing gas comprises a combined heat and power generating plant. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the ratio of the heating capacity achievable by gas to the heating capacity that is provided by electrical energy lies in the range from 2:1 to 1:2. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a facility with which the method is carried out does not comprise a heat reservoir that can store more than the heat requirement for a week. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the electrical energy is transformed into heat by resistance heating. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the electrical energy is transformed into heat by microwaves. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein electrical energy is transformed into heat by induction heating. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the heat serves for generating steam. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the heat generates a chemical product. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the method is operated in a unit-type cogenerating plant. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 31 , comprising the steps
 a) determining supply of electrical energy,   b) use of the electrical energy for generating heat if the supply exceeds a predetermined value, and   c) use of gas for generating heat if the supply is below said predetermined value.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein weather forecasting data is used for determining supply of electrical energy. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 31 , comprising the steps
 a) determining the load of an electricity transmission network,   b) use of the electrical energy for generating heat if the load of the electricity transmission network exceeds a predetermined value,   c) use of gas for generating heat if the load of the electricity transmission network is below said predetermined value.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the heat generated from electrical energy and/or by oxidation of gas increases the temperature of a liquid by at least 10° C. 
     
     
         58 . A Facility for carrying out the method of claim  1 , comprising at least one consuming entity with at least one device to be heated, at least one apparatus for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon-containing gas and at least one apparatus for providing heat by using electrical power, the device to be heated being designed such that it can be heated both by the apparatus for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon-containing gas and by the apparatus for providing heat by using electrical power, said facility further comprising at least one control device which is connected via data lines to the apparatuses for generating heat and to a measuring device determining the demand for thermal energy, said measuring device being in connection with the device to be heated. 
     
     
         59 . The facility of  claim 58 , wherein the device to be heated is a heating boiler. 
     
     
         60 . The facility of  claim 58 , further comprising at least one gas reservoir.