Infinium Technology, LLC

The present invention is generally directed to a reactor for the production of low-carbon syngas from captured carbon dioxide and renewable hydrogen. The hydrogen is generated from water using an electrolyzer powered by renewable electricity or from any other method of low-carbon hydrogen production. The improved catalytic reactor is energy efficient and robust when operating at temperatures up to 1800° F. Carbon dioxide conversion efficiencies are greater than 75% with carbon monoxide selectivity of greater than 98%. The catalytic reactor is constructed of materials that are physically and chemically robust up to 1800° F. As a result, these materials are not reactive with the mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide or the carbon monoxide and steam products. The reactor materials do not have catalytic activity or modify the physical and chemical composition of the conversion catalyst. Electrical resistive heating elements are integrated into the catalytic bed of the reactor so that the internal temperature decreases by no more than 100° F. from the entrance at any point within the reactor. The catalytic process exhibits a reduction in performance of less than 0.5% per 1000 operational hours.

Provided herein are systems and methods for controlling production of low-carbon liquid fuels and chemicals. In an aspect, provided herein is a method controlling a process that produces e-fuels. In another aspect, provided herein is a system for producing an e-fuel.

Embodiments of the present invention relates to two improved catalysts and associated processes that directly converts carbon dioxide and hydrogen to liquid fuels. The catalytic converter is comprised of two catalysts in series that are operated at the same pressures to directly produce synthetic liquid fuels or synthetic natural gas. The carbon conversion efficiency for CO 2 to liquid fuels is greater than 45%. The fuel is distilled into a premium diesel fuels (approximately 70 volume %) and naphtha (approximately 30 volume %) which are used directly as “drop-in” fuels without requiring any further processing. Any light hydrocarbons that are present with the carbon dioxide are also converted directly to fuels. This process is directly, applicable to the conversion of CO 2 collected from ethanol plants, cement plants, power plants, biogas, carbon dioxide/hydrocarbon mixtures from secondary oil recovery, and other carbon dioxide/hydrocarbon streams. The catalyst system is durable, efficient and maintains a relatively constant level of fuel productivity over long periods of time without requiring re-activation or replacement.

A process for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with low carbon intensity. The jet fuel is produced from the reaction of hydrogen from the electrolysis of water with captured carbon dioxide. The hydrogen and carbon dioxide are reacted to product a stream comprising carbon monoxide. Hydrogen and carbon monoxide are reacted to produce n-alkanes. Alkanes are hydroisomerized to produce sustainable aviation fuel with low carbon intensity.

The invention relates to a process, catalysts, materials for conversion of renewable electricity, air, and water to low or zero carbon fuels and chemicals by the direct capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the conversion of the carbon dioxide to fuels and chemicals using hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water.

The present invention describes an improved catalytic reactor system with an improved catalyst that transforms CO 2 and low carbon H 2 into low-carbon syngas with greater than an 80% CO 2 conversion efficiency, resulting in the reduction of plant capital and operating costs compared to processes described in the current art. The inside surface of the adiabatic catalytic reactors is lined with an insulating, non-reactive surface which does not react with the syngas and effect catalyst performance. The improved catalyst is robust, has a high CO 2 conversion efficiency, and exhibits little or no degradation in performance over long periods of operation. The low-carbon syngas is used to produce low-carbon fuels (e.g., diesel fuel, jet fuel, gasoline, kerosene, others), chemicals, and other products resulting in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuel derived products.

Provided herein are systems and methods for controlling production of low-carbon liquid fuels and chemicals. In an aspect, provided herein is a method controlling a process that produces e-fuels. In another aspect, provided herein is a system for producing an e-fuel.

The present invention is generally directed to a reactor for the production of low-carbon syngas from captured carbon dioxide and renewable hydrogen. The hydrogen is generated from water using an electrolyzer powered by renewable electricity or from any other method of low-carbon hydrogen production. The improved catalytic reactor is energy efficient and robust when operating at temperatures up to 1800° F. Carbon dioxide conversion efficiencies are greater than 75% with carbon monoxide selectivity of greater than 98%. The catalytic reactor is constructed of materials that are physically and chemically robust up to 1800° F. As a result, these materials are not reactive with the mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide or the carbon monoxide and steam products.

Embodiments of the present invention relates to two improved catalysts and associated processes that directly converts carbon dioxide and hydrogen to liquid fuels. The catalytic converter is comprised of two catalysts in series that are operated at the same pressures to directly produce synthetic liquid fuels or synthetic natural gas. The carbon conversion efficiency for CO 2 to liquid fuels is greater than 45%. The fuel is distilled into a premium diesel fuels (approximately 70 volume %) and naphtha (approximately 30 volume %) which are used directly as “drop-in” fuels without requiring any further processing. Any light hydrocarbons that are present with the carbon dioxide are also converted directly to fuels. This process is directly applicable to the conversion of CO 2 collected from ethanol plants, cement plants, power plants, biogas, carbon dioxide/hydrocarbon mixtures from secondary oil recovery, and other carbon dioxide/hydrocarbon streams. The catalyst system is durable, efficient and maintains a relatively constant level of fuel productivity over long periods of time without requiring re-activation or replacement.

The present invention is generally related to the thermal optimization of a catalytic reactor to improve its energy and conversion efficiency for the production of CO from various mixtures of CO 2 and H 2 . This process involves feeding heated CO 2 and H 2 mixtures into a reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) catalytic reactor that has been designed to maintain the temperature changes of the gas mixture to within about 150° F. (preferably 100 F; most preferably 50 F) from the inlet to the outlet of the reactor. This is made possible by improved RWGS catalytic reactor designs—both to provide heat input into the reactor, and modified reaction concepts that reduce the projected temperature drop. Three major categories of temperature drop mitigation are identified; examples and subordinate approaches of each are taught. Taken singly or in any combination, these approaches make it possible to operate the reactor nearly isothermally.