Lithium extraction with an oxy-fuel combustor

Abstract

An oxy-fuel combustion gas generator combusts fuel with oxygen to produce high temperature steam and carbon dioxide. A lithium brine is introduced into the gas generator to cause at least a portion of the water within the lithium brine to be converted into steam. A steam separator downstream from the gas generator separates steam and carbon dioxide from a resulting higher concentration lithium brine. This higher concentration lithium brine can then be beneficially utilized. Furthermore, the steam and CO 2 from the steam separator can be utilized to generate power, such as by a turbine, can supply CO 2 for use within the lithium extraction plant or within a geological formation for sequestration away from the atmosphere and/or for enhanced recovery of lithium brine from the geological structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for concentration of lithium brine using a reactor producing an increased concentration lithium brine suitable for feedstock to a lithium extraction plant, the system comprising in combination:
 a reactor that operates using carbon-based fuel and oxygen to concentrate lithium brine and output additional energy, both concentrated lithium brine and energy supplied from the reactor to the lithium extraction plant.   
     
     
         2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the device that supplies concentrated lithium brine includes a steam and brine separator. 
     
     
         3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the reactor includes a combustion device. 
     
     
         4 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein a gas expander is powered by the stream from the reactor and outputs energy to the lithium extraction plant. 
     
     
         5 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising, a separator assembly that is operatively connected to an exhaust outlet of the reactor and/or the gas expander to separate CO 2  and water. 
     
     
         6 . The system as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the separator assembly includes a condenser that condenses the water from water vapor in the exhaust. 
     
     
         7 . The system as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the condenser directs at least some condensed water to other system processes. 
     
     
         8 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the carbon-based fuel is taken from the group including: at least one of a biogas or biomethane sourced from a renewable fuel source, a carbon-based fuel from a fossil fuel source, and a carbon-based fuel from synthetic chemical processes. 
     
     
         9 . A system for separating at least a portion of water from a first lithium brine to produce a second lithium brine with a higher concentration of lithium than the first lithium brine, the system comprising in combination:
 a separator having a hot gas mixture inlet for a mixture of at least water/steam, CO 2  and lithium;   said separator having a first outlet for said second lithium brine and a second outlet for at least water/steam;   an oxy-combustion gas generator having a hydrocarbon fuel inlet, an oxygen containing oxidizer inlet and at least one cooling fluid inlet, with said gas generator combusting the oxygen with the hydrocarbon fuel to produce an exhaust gas of at least steam and carbon dioxide, at least some of the steam of said gas generator exhaust comprised of water entering said gas generator through said at least one cooling fluid inlet, and an outlet for the exhaust of said gas generator;   a source of said first lithium brine upstream of said at least one cooling fluid inlet of said gas generator, such that said exhaust gas includes steam, carbon dioxide and lithium; and   routing said exhaust gas of said gas generator upstream of said hot gas mixture inlet of said separator.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein a turbine expander is located downstream of said second outlet of said separator. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said turbine outputs power to a lithium extraction plant which also receives said second lithium brine therein, which lithium extraction plant outputs marketable lithium. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said turbine powers an electric generator, said electric generator supplying electric power to said lithium extraction plant. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said separator includes a cooling fluid circuit for receiving heat from the hot gas mixture to a cooling fluid passing through the cooling fluid circuit; and
 wherein said source of said first lithium brine is routed along said cooling fluid circuit of said condenser separator, upstream of said cooling fluid inlet of said direct steam gas generator. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein a water/brine treatment is located downstream from said source of said first lithium brine and upstream of said cooling fluid circuit of said separator. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said source of said first lithium brine includes a subterranean space containing lithium therein. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said second outlet for at least water of said separator also outputs CO 2 , with the water and the CO 2  exiting said separator through said second outlet being at least partially in a gaseous state;
 wherein a condenser is located downstream of said second outlet of said separator, said condenser having a cooling fluid circuit in heat transfer relationship with the steam and carbon dioxide entering said condenser through a condenser inlet; 
 said condenser having a liquid outlet for a liquid of mostly water and a gaseous outlet for a gas containing more CO 2  than said liquid outlet; and 
 wherein said gaseous outlet routes said CO 2  into the same subterranean space from which a portion of said first lithium brine originated. 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein said CO 2  passage into the subterranean space reduces power required to extract said first lithium brine from the subterranean space. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein a hydrocarbon separator is interposed between an outlet of said subterranean space and said source of said first lithium brine, said hydrocarbon separator including an inlet for at least water, hydrocarbon materials and lithium, and at least one hydrocarbon outlet, and at least one lithium brine outlet upstream of said source of said first lithium brine. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said at least one hydrocarbon outlet routes at least a portion of hydrocarbon materials extracted from the subterranean space into said gas generator through said fuel inlet. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein said hydrocarbon separator includes a three phase oil separator with a gaseous hydrocarbon outlet separate from a liquid hydrocarbon outlet.