A distributed Biogas Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generator can provide automatically hot water and electricity for local applications. Since biogas is produced by an anaerobic digester from human, animal, kitchen and agriculture's wastes, it is a short term recycled product from the photosynthesis of CO.sub.2, and has a net zero carbon emission. The sulfur compounds in the biogas can be removed by the following steps: (1), converting all sulfur compounds into H.sub.2S by the hydrogen produced from the biogas over Pt group metal catalysts; (2). adsorbing the H.sub.2S at high temperature by the regenerable Pt group metal catalyst and adsorbents. The desulfurized biogas is further converted by an ATR/CPO reformer or a steam generating reformer to produce various reformates, which can be connected to a downstream 1C engine/gas turbine, and/or a steam turbine to drive electric generators for generating electricity. The hot reformate and the exhaust gases can be cooled in heat exchangers to produce hot water/hot air.

A distributed Biogas Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generator can provide automatically hot water and electricity for local applications. Since biogas is produced by an anaerobic digester from human, animal, kitchen and agriculture's wastes, it is a short term recycled product from the photosynthesis of CO.sub.2, and has a net zero carbon emission. The sulfur compounds in the biogas can be removed by the following steps: (1), converting all sulfur compounds into H.sub.2S by the hydrogen produced from the biogas over Pt group metal catalysts; (2). adsorbing the H.sub.2S at high temperature by the regenerable Pt group metal catalyst and adsorbents. The desulfurized biogas is further converted by an ATR/CPO reformer or a steam generating reformer to produce various reformates, which can be connected to a downstream 1C engine/gas turbine, and/or a steam turbine to drive electric generators for generating electricity. The hot reformate and the exhaust gases can be cooled in heat exchangers to produce hot water/hot air.

Apparatus, systems, and methods store energy by liquefying a gas such as air, for example, and then recover the energy by regasifying the liquid and combusting or otherwise reacting the gas with a fuel to drive a heat engine. The process of liquefying the gas may be powered with electric power from the grid, for example, and the heat engine may be used to generate electricity. Hence, in effect these apparatus, systems, and methods may provide for storing electric power from the grid and then subsequently delivering it back to the grid.

A chemical looping combustion (CLC) based power generation, particularly using liquid fuel, ensures substantially complete fuel combustion and provides electrical efficiency without exposing metal oxide based oxygen carrier to high temperature redox process. An integrated fuel gasification (reforming)-CLC-followed by power generation model is provided involving (i) a gasification island, (ii) CLC island, (iii) heat recovery unit, and (iv) power generation system. To improve electrical efficiency, a fraction of the gasified fuel may be directly fed, or bypass the CLC, to a combustor upstream of one or more gas turbines. This splitting approach ensures higher temperature (efficiency) in the gas turbine inlet. The inert mass ratio, air flow rate to the oxidation reactor, and pressure of the system may be tailored to affect the performance of the integrated CLC system and process.

An apparatus and method to desulfurize a biogas containing sulfur. Since biogas is produced by an anaerobic digester from human, animal, kitchen and agriculture's wastes, it is a short term recycled product from the photosynthesis of CO.sub.2, and has a net zero carbon emission. The sulfur compounds in the biogas can be removed by the following steps: (1) converting all sulfur compounds into H.sub.2S by the hydrogen produced from the biogas over Pt group metal catalysts; (2) adsorbing the H.sub.2S at high temperature by the regenerable Pt group metal catalyst and adsorbents. The desulfurized biogas is further converted by an ATR/CPO reformer or a steam generating reformer to produce various reformates.

An apparatus and method to desulfurize a biogas containing sulfur. Since biogas is produced by an anaerobic digester from human, animal, kitchen and agriculture's wastes, it is a short term recycled product from the photosynthesis of CO.sub.2, and has a net zero carbon emission. The sulfur compounds in the biogas can be removed by the following steps: (1) converting all sulfur compounds into H.sub.2S by the hydrogen produced from the biogas over Pt group metal catalysts; (2) adsorbing the H.sub.2S at high temperature by the regenerable Pt group metal catalyst and adsorbents. The desulfurized biogas is further converted by an ATR/CPO reformer or a steam generating reformer to produce various reformates.

Apparatus, systems, and methods store energy by liquefying a gas such as air, for example, and then recover the energy by regasifying the liquid and combusting or otherwise reacting the gas with a fuel to drive a heat engine. The process of liquefying the gas may be powered with electric power from the grid, for example, and the heat engine may be used to generate electricity. Hence, in effect these apparatus, systems, and methods may provide for storing electric power from the grid and then subsequently delivering it back to the grid.

The invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for operation of hydrogen fueled electric power plants integrated with thermal energy storage. It is an object of this invention to reduce the cost of providing reliable electricity from variable renewable energy sources by storing excess renewable energy and using the stored renewable energy to reduce the quantity of fuel required, to reduce the cost of producing hydrogen fuel by electrolysis, and to produce and store hydrogen at the power plant to eliminate the cost of transporting hydrogen and the need to upgrade natural gas pipelines and pipeline compressors.

A combined cycle power plant comprises a combustion turbine generator, another heat source in addition to the combustion turbine generator, a steam power system, and an energy storage system. Heat from the heat source, from the energy storage system, or from the heat source and the energy storage system is used to generate steam in the steam power system. Heat from the combustion turbine generator exhaust gas may be used primarily for single phase heating of water or steam in the steam power system. Alternatively, heat from the combustion turbine generator exhaust gas may be used in parallel with the energy storage system and/or the other heat source to generate steam, and additionally to super heat steam. Both the combustion turbine generator and the steam power system may generate electricity.

A combined cycle power plant comprises a combustion turbine generator, another heat source in addition to the combustion turbine generator, a steam power system, and an energy storage system. Heat from the heat source, from the energy storage system, or from the heat source and the energy storage system is used to generate steam in the steam power system. Heat from the combustion turbine generator exhaust gas may be used primarily for single phase heating of water or steam in the steam power system. Alternatively, heat from the combustion turbine generator exhaust gas may be used in parallel with the energy storage system and/or the other heat source to generate steam, and additionally to super heat steam. Both the combustion turbine generator and the steam power system may generate electricity.