Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Methane Conversion for Livestock Emissions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Livestock farming, particularly cattle farming, is a significant contributor to greenhouse gases, primarily through methane emissions from enteric fermentation, which poses a major climate change issue.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a solid oxide fuel cell stack that converts methane from livestock housing into carbon dioxide by using a fuel gas comprising hydrocarbons and air from the livestock enclosure, generating electricity and heat, which is then used to combust the methane in a combustor, reducing greenhouse gas impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If methane from livestock farming is directly emitted to the atmosphere, then the livestock operation is simple and low-cost, but the greenhouse gas impact and atmospheric warming potential are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful methane emissions from livestock into a beneficial resource by feeding it to a solid oxide fuel cell stack, where it generates electricity and heat. The methane that would otherwise be a greenhouse gas pollutant is transformed into a valuable energy source, simultaneously reducing environmental harm and providing operational benefits to the livestock facility.
Solution Approach 2:
The solid oxide fuel cell stack serves as an intermediary device between the methane emissions and the atmosphere. Instead of directly releasing methane, the system uses the fuel cell as a mediator to convert methane into electricity and carbon dioxide, with the fuel cell acting as the transformation interface that enables this conversion process.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If methane is converted to carbon dioxide using a solid oxide fuel cell stack and combustor, then the atmospheric warming potential is reduced, but the system complexity and capital cost are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be self-sufficient by using the methane from livestock emissions to generate its own electricity and heat requirements. The solid oxide fuel cell stack generates power that can operate the system's components, and the heat from combustion can be used for warming the livestock housing, making the system economically viable despite the capital investment.
Solution Approach 2:
The solid oxide fuel cell stack performs multiple functions: it generates electricity from methane, produces heat as a byproduct, and converts greenhouse gas emissions into a useful energy source. This multi-functionality justifies the capital cost by providing several benefits from a single system investment.
3Use of energy by moving object
If methane is combusted in a solid oxide fuel cell stack, then electricity and heat are generated for livestock operations, but the system requires significant operational temperature maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous operation at high temperatures by continuously feeding methane to the solid oxide fuel cell stack. The constant supply of fuel sustains the thermal regime required for efficient electrochemical conversion, ensuring uninterrupted electricity and heat generation for livestock operations without periodic heating cycles.
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 method effectively converts methane into carbon dioxide, significantly reducing its atmospheric warming potential and provides a sustainable energy source for livestock farming operations.
Implementation Method 1
a solid oxide fuel cell system comprising a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells for the electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen, carbon monoxide or other organic intermediates
Implementation Method 2
allowing oxygen in the air exothermically to react with the one or more hydrocarbons in the fuel gas, with the CO and H2 fed as part of the fuel gas
Implementation Method 3
feeding at least the heated second exhaust stream to a combustor and combusting the heated second exhaust stream in the combustor
Data Source
AI summary
A method of reducing the greenhouse gas impact of livestock farming includes feeding a fuel gas comprising one or more hydrocarbons to an anode of a solid oxide fuel cell stack, withdrawing air, that includes methane originating from livestock, from a livestock housing or enclosure and feeding the withdrawn air to a cathode of the solid oxide fuel cell stack. The oxygen in the air is allowed exothermically to react with the one or more hydrocarbons in the fuel gas to form at the anode a heated first exhaust stream comprising water and carbon dioxide and at the cathode a heated second exhaust stream comprising methane, thereby generating an electrical current from the solid oxide fuel cell stack through an external electrical circuit. At least the heated second exhaust stream is fed to a combustor and combusted, producing a heated tail gas stream.