SOLUTION TO AIR POLLUTION

Abstract

Air pollution includes emissions from two sources: fixed sources and moving sources. A fixed source could be an electric power generation facility or a lime kiln. A moving source can be a tail pipe such as one on an automobile. The fixed source's emissions are redirected downward into a depleted hydrocarbon reserve through an injection well. The moving source is attached to a Carbonator which takes calcium oxide from the lime kiln and carbon dioxide from the moving source to produce calcium carbonate. This removes two sources of air pollution, first the use of the Carbonator system to remove Carbon Dioxide Emissions into the Atmosphere as described in the Application and secondly the total injection of all smokestack effluents into depleted reservoirs, removing the smokestack and in an electrical generating station HVDC transmission lines are run to the displaced smokestack, and is thus a solution to air pollution.

Claims

1. A sequestering system for preventing carbon dioxide from being released into ambient air; the sequestering system, comprising: an injection well, located over a depleted hydrocarbon reservoir further comprising a void; a fixed emission source, attached to a pipeline, wherein the pipeline pumps emissions from the fixed emission source into the injection well; wherein the injection well pumps the emissions into the void.

2. The sequestering system of claim 1, further comprising: a lime kiln, attached to a calcium carbonate source, an air source and a coal, oil or natural gas source; wherein the lime kiln produces a carbon dioxide discharge, a lime discharge and a water discharge, the carbon dioxide which is discharged is trapped by the injection into the void wherein the lime discharge becomes a sorbent, to further regain the CO2 to become calcium carbonate again.

3. The sequestering system of claim 2, further comprising: a distillery, attached to the carbon dioxide discharge and the natural gas source; wherein the distillery produces a second carbon dioxide discharge, a nitrogen feedstock discharge and an oxygen discharge; and a second injection well, connected to the second carbon dioxide discharge, and is configured to pump the second carbon dioxide discharge into the non depleted reservoir for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR).

4. The sequestering system of claim 3, further comprising: a Carbonator, configured to receive lime solely from the lime discharge, to remove the carbon dioxide from the fixed emission source.

5. The sequestering system of claim 4, wherein the Carbonator further comprises: a reaction chamber, configured to receive the lime, that enters the Carbonator through a calcium oxide input shoot.

6. The sequestering system of claim 5, wherein the Carbonator further comprises: a paddle wheel inside the calcium oxide input shoot connected to an electric motor; an acidity sensor attached to the reaction chamber and communicatively coupled to the electric motor; wherein the acidity sensor is adapted to control the calcium oxide released through the calcium oxide input shoot into the reaction chamber.

7. The sequestering system of claim 6, wherein the Carbonator further comprises: a pressurized storage container, connected to the reaction chamber; a tail pipe emission source, connected to the pressurized storage container with an air pump; wherein the emissions are pumped from the fixed emission source into the pressurized storage container and are then released into the reaction chamber.

8. The sequestering system of claim 7, wherein the Carbonator further comprises: a gas recycling tube connected to the reaction chamber and an automatic valve configured to permit and restrict access to the gas recycling tube.

9. The sequestering system of claim 8, wherein the Carbonator further comprises a settlement chamber surrounding the reaction chamber, where a calcium carbonate slurry settles and drains into a calcium carbonate slurry tank.

10. The sequestering system of claim 9, further comprising a water pipe attached to the calcium carbonate slurry tank and configured to direct water through the calcium carbonate slurry tank driving the calcium carbonate slurry into a calcium carbonate slurry output pipe.

11. The sequestering system of claim 10, further comprising a water holding tank connected to the water pipe; the water holding tank is further connected to the settlement chamber with a water discharge tube connected to the reaction chamber by a water intake tube; wherein a flow of water in and out of the water holding tank affects a level of water in the reaction chamber.

12. The sequestering system of claim 11, further comprising a water input attached to the water holding tank and a water drain attached to the water holding tank.

13. The sequestering system of claim 1 wherein the fixed emission source is a power generating station.

14. The sequestering system of claim 13 further comprising at least one high voltage direct current transmission line connected to the power generating station.

15. The sequestering system of claim 14 wherein the void is a depleted reservoir of one of the set consisting of a Permian basin and an Anadarko basins; wherein the at least one high voltage direct current transmission line is located in one of the set consisting of a right of way of a Texas Eastern natural gas pipeline and a Tennessee natural gas pipelines; wherein the at least one high voltage direct current transmission line is further located in one of the set consisting of a Transco natural gas pipeline and a Colonial pipeline.

16. The sequestering system of claim 15 further comprising at least one rectifier/inverter thyristor gate station, connected to the at least one high voltage direct current transmission line wherein the at least one rectifier/inverter thyristor gate station is configured to balance frequency and voltage of electricity over various power pools.

17. The sequestering system of claim 16 wherein the power generating station is a coal fired power generation station.

18. The sequestering system of claim 17 wherein the coal fired power generation station receives coal from Tulsa at a terminus of a navigable waterway system.

19. A carbonator, configured to combine lime and carbon dioxide to produce calcium carbonate; the carbonator comprising: a reaction chamber, configured to receive the lime through a lime input shoot.

20. The carbonator of claim 19, further comprising: a paddle wheel inside the lime input shoot connected to an electric motor; an acidity sensor attached to the reaction chamber and communicatively coupled to the electric motor; wherein the acidity sensor is adapted to control the lime released through the lime input shoot into the reaction chamber.

21. The carbonator of claim 20, further comprising: a pressurized storage container, connected to the reaction chamber; a tail pipe emission source, connected to the pressurized storage container with an air pump; wherein emissions are pumped from the tail pipe emission source into the pressurized storage container and are then released into the reaction chamber.

22. The carbonator of claim 21, further comprising: a gas recycling tube connected to the reaction chamber and an automatic valve configured to permit and restrict access to the gas recycling tube.

23. The carbonator of claim 22, further comprising: a settlement chamber surrounding the reaction chamber, where a calcium carbonate slurry settles and drains into a calcium carbonate slurry tank.

24. The carbonator of claim 23, further comprising: a water pipe attached to the calcium carbonate slurry tank and configured to direct water through the calcium carbonate slurry tank driving the calcium carbonate slurry into a calcium carbonate slurry output pipe.

25. The carbonator of claim 24 further comprising: a water holding tank connected to the water pipe; the water holding tank is further connected to the settlement chamber with a water discharge tube and the reaction chamber with a water intake tube; wherein a flow of water in and out of the water holding tank affects a level of water in the reaction chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 6 shows the Panhandle, Tenn. and Transco pipelines.

[0036] FIG. 7 shows the Panhandle, Tenn. and Transco pipelines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

[0037] By way of example, and referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a sequestering system comprises injection well 10 which is configured to receive emissions from fixed emission source with no smoke stack 110 and pump those emissions into depleted hydrocarbon reserve 18. Alternately, the injection well 10 can be configured to receive sequestered combustion waste along with an optional injection of dilution radioactive and biomedical fluidized wastes. Either way, material is injected into depleted hydrocarbon reserve 18 filling void 20. In some cases injection well 10 is connected to pipeline 16 in order to obtain effluents that are not in the same location as the injection well.

[0038] Turning to FIG. 2, limestone quarry 14 is connected to initial injection well 52. Limestone quarry 14 provides limestone 32 for lime kiln 12. Lime kiln 12 receives natural gas 28 through a natural gas source, air 30 through an air source and limestone 32 (calcium carbonate CaCO.sub.3) through a calcium carbonate source. This compound is heated to produce effluents 34, including carbon dioxide CO.sub.2 and nitrogen N.sub.2 which are transferred into distillery 38. The heated compound further produces calcium oxide 46 (CaO) through a calcium oxide discharge, which is sequestered and is the sole feed stock for the Carbonator since it's CO.sub.2 by-product has been trapped into depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, any calcium oxide or hydroxide not made this way will emit CO2 into the Atmosphere. The heated compound further produces water (H.sub.2O) through a water discharge.

[0039] Distillery 38 receives the effluents 34 and natural gas 28 to produce oxygen (O.sub.2) 42 through an oxygen discharge and carbon dioxide 44 through a carbon dioxide discharge. In some embodiments, optional products 40 can additionally be sequestered such as nitrogen feedstock from a nitrogen feedstock discharge, ammonia, fertilizer and explosives. The second carbon dioxide discharge is converted to a supercritical fluid and then injected into depleted hydrocarbon reserve 18.

[0040] The oxygen 42 is pumped into a second lime kiln 12 along with limestone 32 and natural gas 28. In some embodiments the oxygen 42 can be used in compression turbines 48 and furnaces 50. Second lime kiln 12 produces calcium oxide 46 which includes calcium oxide with sequestered carbon dioxide. The process further produces water 46 and super critical carbon dioxide which is injected into the depleted hydrocarbon reserve 18.

[0041] In a local formation, lime quarry 14 can be directly attached to gas compression turbines 48 and furnaces 50. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, lime kiln 12 can produce calcium oxide 46 from heating limestone 32, natural gas 28 and air 30. The lime kiln effluents 22 are injected into depleted hydrocarbon reserve 18 using lime kiln effluent ejection wells 22 connected to wellbores 26.

[0042] All of the calcium oxide 46 produced above is utilized in the Carbonator illustrated in FIG. 5. Calcium oxide 46 is inserted through calcium oxide input shoot 111. Calcium oxide input shoot 111 further comprises electric motor 96 connected to paddle wheel 72. Electric motor turns paddle wheel 72 to permit calcium oxide 46 to be gravity fed into reaction chamber 80. Reaction chamber 80 is installed in settlement chamber 84 which further comprises screen 86.

[0043] Reaction chamber 80 is connected to pressurized storage container 58. Pressurized storage container 58 is attached to tail pipe emission source 56 with air pump 60. Emissions from an emission source are pumped into pressurized storage container 58 which are then released into reaction chamber 80.

[0044] Reaction chamber 80 is partially filled with liquid 82 such as a level of water. In some cases, liquid 82 can further comprise seed crystals with induced CO.sub.2 absorption and by other means upon seed crystal lattices. Reaction chamber 80 further comprises acidity sensor 104. Acidity sensor 104 is communicatively coupled to electric motor 96. Acidity sensor 104 allows more calcium oxide 46 into the reaction chamber depending on the acidity level of liquid 82 in reaction chamber 80.

[0045] When operating, reaction chamber 80 combines calcium oxide 46 with carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate slurry 64, water 92, and exhaust 98. Exhaust 98 is redirected back to tail pipe emission source 56 depending on the level of carbon dioxide on carbon dioxide sensor 100 attached to reaction chamber 80.

[0046] Water 92 is removed from reaction chamber 80 through water intake tube 102 into a water holding tank through a flow of water. The level of the water holding tank can be adjusted with fresh water input 108 and water drain 90. Water can be inserted into settlement chamber 84 through water discharge tube 88 and water jet 94. The water holding tank is connected to calcium carbonate slurry tank 64 with water pipe 70. Water pipe 70 is connected to calcium carbonate slurry tank 64 with fine screen 62 and filter 66. Calcium carbonate slurry can be discharged through Calcium carbonate slurry output pipe 68, which can then be dried and inserted back into lime kiln 12 as discussed above. In some embodiments, it is useful to have gas 78 in reaction chamber 80 be adjusted by maneuvering automatic valve 76 which permits gas 78 to move through gas recycling tube 74.

[0047] This application is not limited to calcium oxide since other metal oxides which can be precipitated to form a solid carbonate when it connects with gaseous carbon dioxide and they are Sodium to form Baking Soda, Magnesium oxide to precipitate out to form dolomite, and not limited to Ferrous Oxide to form Iron carbonate or Iron Ore so not just limited to Calcium carbonate in the process, but all carbonates formed by exposing any metal oxide in an aqueous environment to form a hydroxide so when in contact with CO.sub.2 will precipitate out to any type of carbonate.

[0048] In some embodiments, the void is a depleted reservoir of one of the set consisting of a Permian basin and an Anadarko basins. The at least one high voltage direct current transmission line can be located in one of the set consisting of a right of way of a Texas Eastern natural gas pipeline and a Tennessee natural gas pipelines. The at least one high voltage direct current transmission line can be further located in one of the set consisting of a Transco natural gas pipeline and a Colonial pipeline.

[0049] The sequestering system can utilize at least one rectifier/inverter thyristor gate station, connected to the at least one high voltage direct current transmission line. The at least one rectifier/inverter thyristor gate station is configured to balance frequency and voltage of electricity over various power pools. The power generating station can be a coal fired power generation station. The coal fired power generation station can receive coal from Tulsa at a terminus of a navigable waterway system.

[0050] As used in this application, the term a or an means at least one or one or more.

[0051] As used in this application, the term about or approximately refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number.

[0052] As used in this application, the term substantially means that the actual value is within about 10% of the actual desired value, particularly within about 5% of the actual desired value and especially within about 1% of the actual desired value of any variable, element or limit set forth herein.

[0053] All references throughout this application, for example patent documents including issued or granted patents or equivalents, patent application publications, and non-patent literature documents or other source material, are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties, as though individually incorporated by reference, to the extent each reference is at least partially not inconsistent with the disclosure in the present application (for example, a reference that is partially inconsistent is incorporated by reference except for the partially inconsistent portion of the reference).

[0054] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

[0055] Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state means for performing a specified function, or step for performing a specified function, is not to be interpreted as a means or step clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. 112, 6. In particular, any use of step of in the claims is not intended to invoke the provision of 35 U.S.C. 112, 6.

[0056] Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.