Electrochemical process for co2 reduction to fuel and simultaneous oxygen generation

Abstract

Disclosed is an electrochemical process to simultaneously produce a syngas suitable for the Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process and oxygen. In an example embodiment, the process includes feeding steam and CO 2 to an intermediate temperature (e.g., <700° C.) electrochemical reactor to produce separate CO-rich and O 2 -rich streams. An additional electrochemical reactor can be used to produce H 2 . The H 2 is combined with CO from the first reactor to produce a syngas mixture ideal for a downstream F-T process. Alternatively, the electrochemical reactor can produce methane directly or a methanol stream for conversion to a hydrocarbon fuel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrochemical system comprising:
 a first electrochemical reactor configured to accept a feed comprising steam and CO 2  and to produce a CO-rich stream, a methane or methanol-rich stream and a first O 2 -rich stream;   a second electrochemical reactor configured to produce a second O 2 -rich stream and a H 2  stream; and   a Fischer-Tropsch process configured to accept a feed comprising the CO-rich stream from the first electrochemical reactor mixed with the H 2  stream from the second electrochemical reactor and to produce a liquid hydrocarbon fuel stream.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbon fuel stream comprises sustainable aviation fuel. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CO 2  in the feed comprises CO 2  captured from power plant exhaust. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CO 2  in the feed comprises CO 2  captured directly from air. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemical reactor is an intermediate temperature electrochemical reactor configured to operate at <700° C. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CO 2  that is fed to the first electrochemical reactor first passes through a CO 2  capture assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CO-rich stream and the first O 2 -rich stream produced are separated from each another. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the methanol or methanol-rich stream is configured to be utilized in a conversion process to produce fuel. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second electrochemical reactor is a solid oxide fuel electrolyzer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemical reactor includes a catalyst, the catalyst comprising at least one of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ru or alloys thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method for operating electrochemical reactors comprising:
 feeding a stream comprising steam and CO 2  to a first electrochemical reactor to produce a CO-rich stream, a methane or methanol stream and a first O 2 -rich stream;   operating a second electrochemical reactor to produce a second O 2 -rich stream and a H 2  stream; and   feeding the CO-rich stream from the first electrochemical reactor mixed with the H 2  stream from the second electrochemical reactor to a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a liquid hydrocarbon fuel stream.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbon fuel stream comprises sustainable aviation fuel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the CO 2  in the feed comprises CO 2  captured from power plant exhaust. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the CO 2  in the feed comprises CO 2  captured directly from air. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first electrochemical reactor is an intermediate temperature electrochemical reactor configured to operate at <700° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the CO 2  that is fed to the first electrochemical reactor first passes through a CO 2  capture assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the CO-rich stream and the first O 2 -rich stream produced are separated from each another. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the methanol or methanol stream is configured to be utilized in a conversion process to produce fuel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second electrochemical reactor is a solid oxide fuel electrolyzer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first electrochemical reactor includes a catalyst, the catalyst comprising at least one of Cr, Mn, Pe, Co, Ni, Ru or alloys thereof.