Gas turbine power plant with solid organic reduction equivalent energy storage based on citric acid for hydrogen-free use of electrical energy and industrial carbon emissions

Abstract

System for storing and using electrical energy with power generation by a gas turbine, comprising: • a solid organic energy carrier for storing reduction equivalents, • a device for energetically charging the energy carrier by means of electrical energy, • a thermochemical activation reactor for releasing the stored reduction equivalents, • a reactor for the material conversion of industrial exhaust gases and / or carbon dioxide, and • a gas turbine with a generator for power generation.

Description

1 Technical area The invention relates to energy storage and energy conversion systems, in particular power plants for storing and using electrical energy using a solid organic energy carrier. The invention further relates to a power plant system that stores electrical energy in chemical form and converts it back into electrical energy when needed, with electricity generation taking place by means of gas turbines. Furthermore, the invention relates to systems for the material use of industrial exhaust gases, in particular carbon-containing exhaust gases, and for the provision of reduction equivalents without the use of hydrogen as a storage or transport medium. The invention thus lies at the intersection of the technical fields of: • Energy storage technology • Power plant technology • Thermochemical energy systems • CO2 utilization technologies • Gas turbine technology. 2 State of the art Storing electrical energy is a key challenge for modern energy systems, especially in connection with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. Well-known energy storage technologies include, for example: electrochemical battery systems, pumped storage power plants, compressed air storage, and power-to-gas systems. In particular, so-called power-to-gas systems are being increasingly studied. In these systems, electrical energy is first converted into hydrogen through the electrolysis of water. The hydrogen produced can then be stored or reacted with carbon dioxide to produce methane. However, these systems have several disadvantages. First, hydrogen requires extensive infrastructure for storage, transport, and use. Hydrogen often needs to be stored under high pressure or at very low temperatures, which entails significant technical and economic challenges. Secondly, there are increased safety requirements when handling hydrogen. Thirdly, additional energy losses occur due to multi-stage conversion processes as well as transport and storage losses. Furthermore, so-called LOHC (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier) systems are known, in which hydrogen is chemically bound to organic molecules. However, these systems also still require hydrogen as the primary energy carrier. In parallel, industrial exhaust gases, especially those containing carbon dioxide, are predominantly viewed as emissions and not used as material resources. Gas turbine power plants represent an established technology for electricity generation. These are typically operated with fossil fuels such as natural gas. Although synthetic methane is being discussed as a possible replacement for fossil natural gas, corresponding systems are also mostly based on hydrogen as an intermediate product. Therefore, there remains a need for energy systems that can store electrical energy and operate without hydrogen infrastructure. 3. Object of the invention The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing an energy storage and power plant system that: • safely stores electrical energy, • does not require hydrogen as a storage or transport medium, • utilizes industrial carbon exhaust gases as a material, • is compatible with existing gas turbine technologies, • enables high energy efficiency, • and can be operated modularly and decentrally. In particular, a system should be provided that stores electrical energy in chemical form and, when needed, provides fuel for a gas turbine without the need to store or transport hydrogen. 4. Solution to the task The task is solved by a system for storing and using electrical energy, comprising the following components: • a solid organic energy carrier for storing reduction equivalents, • a device for energetically charging the energy carrier using electrical energy, • a thermochemical activation reactor, • a reactor for the material conversion of industrial exhaust gases or carbon dioxide, • a gas turbine with generator for electricity generation. The organic energy carrier is preferably based on citric acid or citric acid derivatives. The energy carrier stores chemical reduction equivalents, which are bound in the molecule of the carrier material by supplying electrical energy during a charging process. When the carrier material is activated, these reduction equivalents are released and can be used to reduce carbon-containing compounds. • In particular, carbon dioxide from industrial exhaust gas streams can be reacted with the released reduction equivalents. This process produces synthetic methane or a methane-containing fuel gas. • This fuel gas is then burned in a combustion chamber of a gas turbine. The resulting hot combustion gases drive the turbine, which in turn drives a generator to produce electricity. The system is designed in such a way that hydrogen is not used as either a storage or transport medium. 5 Technical Effect The invention offers several technical advantages. Firstly, the system enables the storage of electrical energy in a solid organic material that can be stored stably under ambient temperature and pressure. Secondly, the need for a hydrogen infrastructure is eliminated. Thirdly, industrial exhaust gas streams can be used as materials. Fourthly, the integration of a gas turbine enables efficient power generation. Fifthly, exhaust gases from the gas turbine can be partially recycled back into the chemical process, creating a partial carbon cycle.

Claims

System for storing and using electrical energy with power generation by a gas turbine, comprising: • a solid organic energy carrier for storing reduction equivalents, • a device for energetically charging the energy carrier by means of electrical energy, • a thermochemical activation reactor for releasing the stored reduction equivalents, • a reactor for the material conversion of industrial exhaust gases and / or carbon dioxide, and • a gas turbine with a generator for power generation. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the organic energy carrier comprises citric acid and / or citric acid derivatives. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy carrier is storable at ambient temperature and ambient pressure. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that chemical reduction equivalents are released upon activation of the energy carrier. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the released reduction equivalents are reacted with carbon dioxide to form synthetic methane. System according to claim 5, characterized in that the synthetic methane is fed directly to a combustion chamber of the gas turbine. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that exhaust heat from the gas turbine is used to provide process heat. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas stream of the gas turbine is partially recycled into the chemical process. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system is modular in design. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that hydrogen is used neither as a storage nor as a transport medium.

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