Methane Energy Transport Loop Using Recycled CO2 From Remote Renewables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Renewable energy power generation facilities, such as wind and solar, are often located in remote areas like polar regions and deserts, making it challenging to efficiently transport energy to densely populated urban areas while minimizing carbon dioxide emissions and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A green energy transportation system that includes a power generator, hydrogen generator, methane synthesizer, methane transportation system, power generation and carbon capture unit, and CO2 transportation system, which uses electrolysis to produce hydrogen, combines it with recycled CO2 for methane synthesis, transports methane, and recovers CO2 for reuse, all while minimizing atmospheric emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If renewable energy facilities are installed in remote areas (polar regions, deserts), then energy generation capacity is improved, but transportation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces liquid methane as an intermediary carrier substance that converts electrical energy from remote renewable facilities into a transportable fuel form. This mediator enables efficient energy transportation without requiring direct high-voltage power transmission infrastructure, thus reducing transportation system complexity while maintaining high energy generation capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and form of energy from electrical energy to chemical energy stored in liquid methane. This parameter transformation allows the energy to be easily stored and transported using existing fuel infrastructure, reducing the complexity of transportation systems compared to direct electrical transmission
2Productivity
If conventional energy transportation is used, then energy transport efficiency is improved, but CO2 emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures CO2 that would otherwise be emitted as waste and converts it into a useful component for methane synthesis. By combining captured CO2 with hydrogen produced from renewable electricity, the system creates liquid methane fuel, thus converting the harmful CO2 emission into a beneficial energy carrier that can be transported efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own output (electrical energy from renewable facilities) to power the CO2 capture and methane synthesis processes. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external energy inputs and ensures the entire process runs on clean renewable energy, maintaining high transport efficiency while producing zero net CO2 emissions
3Productivity
If new transportation infrastructure is built, then energy transport capability is improved, but construction cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses liquid methane as a multi-functional substance that can be transported using existing fuel tanker infrastructure. This universal approach allows the same transportation infrastructure to handle both traditional fossil fuel methane and the newly produced green methane, eliminating the need for dedicated new construction while maintaining high energy transport capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages the existing fossil fuel methane distribution infrastructure by producing chemically identical liquid methane through renewable energy. This copying approach allows the system to utilize established transportation networks, storage facilities, and delivery mechanisms, significantly reducing construction costs compared to building entirely new infrastructure
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 system efficiently transports renewable energy from remote locations to consumption areas with low environmental impact, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and leveraging existing infrastructure for cost-effective implementation.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrogen generator that generates hydrogen by electrolysis of water using the electricity obtained from the power generator
Implementation Method 2
a methane synthesizer that generates methane by a Sabatier reaction using the hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generator and a recycled CO2 as raw materials
Implementation Method 3
a power generation and carbon capture unit that generates electricity by reacting the methane transported by the methane transportation system with oxygen
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a transportation system that can transport renewable energy from a power generation facility to an energy consumption location. The system consists of a power generator that generates and stores electricity from a renewable energy, a hydrogen generator that generates hydrogen by electrolysis of water using electricity obtained from the power generator, a methane synthesizer that generates methane by the Sabatier reaction using the hydrogen and a recycled CO2 as raw materials, and a methane transportation system that transports the methane without emitting CO2 to the atmosphere, a methane transportation system that transports the methane without emitting CO2 into the atmosphere, a power generation and carbon capture unit that generates electricity by reacting the transported methane with oxygen and captures CO2 discharged during the power generation as recycled CO2, a CO2 transportation system that transports the recycled CO2 to the methane synthesis site without emitting CO2 to the atmosphere.