Gas Fermentation Integration with Natural Climate Infrastructure

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Solution Overview

Problem

The widespread adoption of gas fermentation processes is limited by high costs associated with constructing and maintaining infrastructure to transport carbon sources to gas fermentation processes or transporting products generated by these processes, which hinders the integration of gas fermentation into existing chemical production facilities.

Innovation Solution

Integrating gas fermentation systems with existing infrastructure, such as natural climate solution or nature-based solution processes, to convert waste gases and biomass into valuable products like ethylene, ethanol, and syngas, utilizing C1-fixing microorganisms in bioreactors and leveraging existing pipelines for product transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If gas fermentation systems are integrated with existing infrastructure to convert waste gases into valuable products, then production yield and carbon utilization are improved, but capital and operating costs for infrastructure construction and maintenance increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction yieldVSAvoidcapital and operating costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges gas fermentation systems with existing natural gas processing infrastructure, combining waste gas conversion functionality with established transportation and processing networks. This integration allows the system to leverage existing pipelines, processing facilities, and distribution networks, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated infrastructure and lowering overall capital and operating costs while maintaining high production yield

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gas fermentation system is designed to handle multiple types of waste gases (CO, CO2, CH4) and produce various valuable products (ethylene, ethanol, syngas), making it a multi-functional system. This universality allows the same infrastructure to serve multiple purposes and process different feedstocks, improving productivity while avoiding the need for separate specialized facilities for each gas type or product

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If gas fermentation processes are implemented to convert carbon sources into products, then carbon emissions are reduced, but infrastructure costs for transporting carbon sources and products increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon emissionsVSAvoidinfrastructure costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses existing natural gas processing infrastructure as an intermediary between waste gas sources and final products. The system captures waste gases, converts them via gas fermentation, and utilizes established natural gas pipelines and processing facilities to transport and refine the products. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for building entirely new transportation infrastructure, reducing costs while effectively capturing and converting carbon emissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If gas fermentation systems are deployed in dispersed locations near infrastructure, then transportation costs are minimized, but site selection and integration complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransportation costsVSAvoidsite selection and integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary gas fermentation conversion at or near the source of waste gases, transforming them into products that can be easily transported via existing infrastructure. By conducting the conversion process beforehand, the system eliminates the need to transport large volumes of waste gases over long distances, minimizing transportation costs and energy losses while leveraging established distribution networks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach reduces carbon emissions, minimizes capital and operating costs, and increases production yield by converting waste carbon into marketable products, aligning with tightening environmental regulations while utilizing existing infrastructure.

Implementation Method 1

fermenting at least a portion of the carbon source in a bioreactor of the gas fermentation system using at least one C1 fixing microorganism to product a gas fermentation product

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrobial fermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS20230357801A1Integration of renewable fuel and chemical production into nature based solution and natural climate change solution infrastructure

Publication Date: 2023.11.09 LANZATECH INC

AI summary

Improving overall carbon capture and improving overall production yield in chemical manufacturing facilities by integrating microbial fermentation into nature based solutions and natural climate solutions. Converting carbon sources, such as biomass, that would otherwise be discarded as waste to one or more products. In certain aspects, also disclosed are to processes for producing desirable products, such as ethylene, from industrial waste streams.