Integrated Biological System for Carbon Neutral Product Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for converting greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into valuable products are economically unviable for large-scale commercial operations, hindering efforts to reduce global methane emissions and mitigate global warming.
Innovation Solution
An integrated system utilizing biological processes with methane and carbon dioxide metabolizing microorganisms, combined with renewable energy systems, to convert gaseous carbon compounds into single cell proteins and high-value chemicals, with by-products being recycled and processed to enhance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional methods are used to convert greenhouse gases into valuable products, then product value is achieved, but economic viability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: greenhouse gas capture, microbial cultivation, and product production. The system merges carbon dioxide capture with single-cell protein production, and integrates waste stream utilization with energy generation, creating a unified process that achieves economic viability through multiple revenue streams and reduced operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts harmful greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane) into valuable products. Carbon dioxide is transformed into single-cell protein and other biochemical products, while methane is converted into energy and carbon dioxide for further processing. This principle transforms environmental hazards into economic assets, addressing both climate change and profitability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If large-scale operations are implemented to reduce global methane emissions, then environmental impact is improved, but operational costs worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be self-sufficient by utilizing waste streams as inputs. Greenhouse gases captured from the environment serve as feedstock for microbial cultivation, eliminating the need for external carbon sources. The system generates its own energy through methane conversion and uses waste heat from processing to maintain microbial cultures, significantly reducing operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers value from waste streams that would otherwise be discarded. Carbon dioxide and methane, typically considered waste gases, are recovered and converted into valuable products. The system also recovers heat from exothermic reactions and uses it for process heating, and recovers nutrients from microbial biomass for fertilizer production, minimizing waste and reducing operational expenses.
3Productivity
If multiple processing systems are integrated to enhance efficiency, then productivity is improved, but system complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs processing systems that perform multiple functions simultaneously. The microbial cultivation system既 produces single-cell protein for animal feed,又 generates biomass for energy production and carbon sequestration. The gas processing system既 captures greenhouse gases for product synthesis,又 purifies emissions for environmental compliance. This multi-functionality increases productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.
4Reliability
If renewable energy systems are incorporated to minimize environmental impact, then sustainability is improved, but initial investment worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates its own renewable energy through methane conversion and biomass combustion, making it self-sufficient and reducing reliance on external energy infrastructure. The energy produced is used to power processing operations, heating microbial cultures, and generating electricity, thereby minimizing the need for additional renewable energy investments while achieving sustainability goals.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves a carbon-negative process by consuming greenhouse gases, producing valuable products like single cell proteins and chemicals, while minimizing environmental impact and operational costs through the use of renewable energy.
Implementation Method 1
a biological methane processing system containing methane metabolising microorganisms and fed with methane from the source, the biological methane processing system arranged to: propagate methane metabolising microorganisms; and, produce carbon dioxide as a by-product
Implementation Method 2
Research has shown that algae, bacteria, and other microorganisms have huge potential to consume gaseous carbon through photosynthetic or metabolic processes
Implementation Method 3
a biological carbon dioxide processing system containing carbon dioxide metabolising microorganisms and fed with carbon dioxide from the source of mixed of gaseous carbon feedstock and the carbon dioxide by-product, the biological carbon dioxide processing system arranged to: propagate carbon dioxide metabolising microorganisms
Implementation Method 4
a microorganism harvesting and processing system arranged to harvest the propagated microorganisms and produce a single cell protein
Data Source
AI summary
Gaseous carbon compounds can be converted to carbon neutral or negative products using biological processes to metabolise the gaseous carbon compounds or use thermochemical processes to convert gaseous carbon compounds to syngas followed by thermochemical or biological processes to produce products. The gaseous carbon compounds include a mixture of CO2 and CH4 from either a single source, or two or more different sources. Separate biological processes are incorporated to process different gaseous carbon compounds. A gaseous carbon compound produced as a by-product of one biological process can be used as at least part of the feedstock for another process. A renewable energy system can be provided to power equipment. A control system can be used to control flow of gaseous carbon compounds and reactants entering the entire carbon processing systems to provide mass balanced quantities of gaseous carbon compounds and reactants in each processing system and/or between processing systems.