METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING HYDROGEN AND NON-GASEOUS PRODUCTS FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS, ENERGY PRODUCTION, AND ASSOCIATED ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION

Abstract

The present invention relates to the processing of carbonaceous materials for, inter alia, hydrogen production. In particular, the invention relates to the production of hydrogen, for example, as input for industrial manufacturing applications or as a fuel source for the associated generation of electric power. In one form, the invention provides a method of producing hydrogen comprising the step of reacting a combination of solid carbonaceous material and a catalyst comprising alpha phase iron-based material adapted to produce an exothermic reaction with the solid carbonaceous material.

Claims

1. A method of producing hydrogen comprising the step of: reacting a combination of solid carbonaceous material and a catalyst comprising alpha phase iron-based material adapted to produce an exothermic reaction with the solid carbonaceous material.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of: combining a mixture of the solid carbonaceous material and the catalyst; reacting the mixture by heating said mixture to a temperature of at least about 110 C., and wherein the catalyst comprises one or a combination of: a ferrimagnetic oxide of iron; a ferrite, wherein the ferrite comprises FeO; magnetite, wherein the magnetite comprises Fe.sub.3O.sub.4; alpha ferrite.

3.-5. (canceled)

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the mixture of the solid carbonaceous material and the catalyst comprises: about 90% by weight solid carbonaceous material; about 10% by weight catalyst; and wherein the step of reacting the mixture includes heating said mixture to a temperature of up to about 1,000 C.

7. (canceled)

8. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of: reacting the mixture of the solid carbonaceous material and the catalyst to produce a supply of alpha ferrite for further catalysing the reaction.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of reacting is performed within a furnace in a reaction chamber or a retort and comprises one or a combination of the steps of: operating the furnace to a temperature of no more than about 1,000 C. to sustain an exothermic reaction of the mixture of solid carbonaceous material and the catalyst; drying the mixture before the step of reacting said mixture to produce an anhydrous combination comprising the carbonaceous material and the catalyst, wherein the step of drying is carried out at about 35 C.

10.-12. (canceled)

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising one or more of the steps of: extruding the mixture before the step of drying to form the mixture into pellets moulding the mixture before the step of drying to form the mixture into moulded shapes for optimizing heat transfer.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid carbonaceous material comprises one or a combination of: a coal, wherein the coal comprises one or a combination of peat, ignite, and sub-bituminous coal; sugar and/or sugar-cane; corn; plastic, wherein the plastic comprises one or a combination of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), poly ethylene terephthalate (PET), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and high density polyethylene (HDPE); tyres and rubber products; waste pit sludge; and, waste materials, wherein the waste materials comprise one or a combination of tyres and rubber products, food and organic waste, and plastic waste.

15.-17. (canceled)

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the lignite has a compositional analysis of: TABLE-US-00004 Compositional Analysis PROXIMATE ANALYSIS (% db) Volatile Fixed ULTIMATE ANALYSIS (% db) Calorific Value (MJ/kg) M % ar Ash Matter Carbon C H N S O Gross Dry Gross Wet Net Wet 51.40 5.40 51.00 43.70 67.30 5.00 0.65 1.95 19.80 26.60 12.90 11.30.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein the mixture further comprises about 2% by weight of a binder and wherein the binder comprises one or a combination of: cement; flour; sodium silicate; corn powder.

20. (canceled)

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the binder is formed from an aqueous solution of sodium silicate comprising Na.sub.2SiO.sub.4 mixed in a typical ratio of about 100 g to 1 litre of water at about 60 C.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein by-products of the step of reacting comprises hydrogen (H.sub.2) and at least one or a combination of: carbon monoxide (CO); carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) methane (CH.sub.4); ethane (C.sub.2H.sub.6); and, carburizing coke; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of: extracting the by-products of the step of reacting said mixture as syngas and a solids by-product, respectively; cooling the syngas; separating hydrogen from the syngas.

23. (canceled)

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of separating hydrogen from the syngas comprises one or a combination of: a liquification technique; and, a membrane and filtering technique; a vapour and gas phase recovery technique; enrichment and separation techniques including chemicals to catalyze reactions.

25. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of combining comprises; mixing the combination comprising the solid carbonaceous material, catalyst and binder until the combination has a thick paste-like consistency; extruding the combination with paste-like consistency into pellets, and/or, moulding the combination with paste-like consistency in to moulded shapes for optimizing heat transfer.

26. An apparatus for producing hydrogen, comprising: a reactor having a furnace and a reaction chamber adapted for reacting an anhydrous mixture of solid carbonaceous material and a catalyst comprising alpha phase iron based material adapted to produce an exothermic reaction with the solid carbonaceous material by heating the mixture to a temperature of at least about 110 C. and up to about 1,000 C. to produce a syngas and solids by-product; a cooling system for cooling the syngas; a collection system for separating hydrogen from the syngas and collecting the separated hydrogen, wherein the catalyst comprises one or a combination of: a ferrimagnetic oxide of iron; a ferrite, wherein the ferrite comprises FeO; magnetite, wherein the catalyst comprises Fe.sub.3O.sub.4; alpha ferrite.

27.-30. (canceled)

31. The apparatus of claim 26, comprising a conveyor for processing the solids by-product wherein the conveyor includes a magnetized roller for separating magnetic particles from non-magnetic particles for one or a combination of: use as industrial components, and; their re-use as catalyst.

32. (canceled)

33. An adaptation of a coal-fired electric power station where the coal-fired electric power station comprises an input coal fuel processing apparatus, an electric generator adapted for a first connection to a turbine to drive the electric generator and a second connection to an electricity distribution grid for distributing electricity generated by the electric generator, characterised in that: the adaptation comprises the apparatus of claim 26, in a first operative connection with the input coal fuel processing apparatus as a supply of the carbonaceous material and a second operative connection with the turbine for supplying the separated hydrogen.

34. A control apparatus adapted to control the production of hydrogen, said apparatus including: processor means adapted to operate in accordance with a predetermined instruction set, said apparatus, in conjunction with said instruction set, being adapted to perform and control the method steps as claimed in claim 1.

35. The control apparatus of claim 34, wherein the control apparatus is adapted to control one or a combination of the following: temperature of at least one of: the reacting mixture and; the furnace; the flow of gas products of the step of reacting; analysis of gas products of the step of reacting; pressure, and; mechanical speeds of plant equipment utilised to perform the steps of claim 1.

36.-39. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0252] Further disclosure, objects, advantages and aspects of preferred and other embodiments of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the disclosure herein, and in which:

[0253] FIG. 1 is a process workflow chart illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0254] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of apparatus utilised in performing a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0255] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus of FIG. 2 which includes control and monitoring equipment in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0256] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of equipment utilised to recover catalyst and solid by-product materials in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0257] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of heat exchange equipment utilised to recover syngas products in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0258] FIG. 6A is an illustration of existing electricity infrastructure in accordance with the prior art;

[0259] FIG. 6B is an illustration of an adaptation of existing electricity infrastructure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0260] Embodiments of the present invention exploit the release of hydrogen from hydrocarbon compounds involving a chemical reaction enhanced by a catalyst at comparatively low temperatures in the order of about 110 C. The catalytic reaction produces solids including pure carbon and synthesis gases, which may be disassociated into, inter alia, hydrogen. As such, minor amounts of other gases are easily collected, such as methane CH.sub.4, carbon monoxide CO, carbon dioxide CO.sub.2 and ethane C.sub.2H.sub.4. As would be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, this separation of gases can be performed efficiently by one or a combination of: a liquification technique; a membrane and filtering technique; a vapour and gas phase recovery technique; and enrichment & separation techniques including additive elements such as for example, platinum, palladium, cobalt and nickel to catalyse reactions. The by-products of the process comprise ultra-pure water for some carbonaceous materials and coke. In the context of this description, the term ultra-pure water is used with reference to a preferred embodiment utilising lignite as the feedstock carbonaceous material and refers to the water that is removed from the ancient lignite when drying and preparing for the catalytic process. The Ultra-pure water removed from the lignite has the highest levels of purity for all contaminant types, including organic and inorganic compounds; dissolved and particulate matter; volatile and non-volatile; reactive, and inert; hydrophilic and hydrophobic; and dissolved gases.

[0261] In one aspect, preferred embodiments of the invention involve a thermo-chemical catalytic reaction of lignite as a preferred coal-derived carbonaceous material reactant for the production of hydrogen. In another aspect, preferred embodiments of the invention involve an helio-chemical catalytic reaction of plastics, rubber, freshly grown food stock like com and sugar cane, and/or other organic waste as a preferred waste-derived carbonaceous material reactant for the production of hydrogen.

[0262] In preferred embodiments, a method of producing hydrogen gas is provided using coal, in particular lignite, where the method makes use of the chemical reactivity of the lignite. By using certain catalytic compounds at low temperatures, the release of hydrogen gas is facilitated. The process is preferably carried out at low temperatures using the chemical process which in turn uses an alpha phase iron-based catalyst, where the preferred catalysts may comprise one or a combination of alpha ferrite and at least a ferromagnetic oxide of iron or, a combination of a ferromagnetic oxide of iron and a ferrite to induce an exothermic reaction. This reaction produces hydrogen in large quantities. An increase of applied heat intensifies the catalytic process. Once the temperature of the carbonaceous material and catalyst is raised beyond about 110 C., the evolution of H.sub.2 may reach optimum levels of production as heat increases, depending on the feedstock materials being used.

[0263] By way of comparison with known techniques for hydrogen production, preferred embodiments of the present invention make use of carbon-based precursors, catalysts other organic raw materials and recycled sources which are heated to start a reaction at temperatures in the range of about 110 C. to about 115 C. and then as the temperature of reacting material rises the process becomes exothermic generating H.sub.2 continuously without the need for further energy input. This is in contrast to known methods of hydrogen production including Green, Grey/Brown and Blues methods of hydrogen production. Furthermore, in the above-described process of preferred embodiments, CO.sub.2 is produced at levels of between about 1% to about 10% and is able to be captured (e.g., bottled) for use as an industrial product.

[0264] A preferred embodiment involves the reaction of lignite or other carbonaceous material with a catalyst in the production of hydrogen fuel gas where the catalyst comprises a combination of one or more of magnetite as a source of Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 and a ferrite comprising FeO, or preferably alpha ferrite.

[0265] Resultant by-products of the reaction in preferred embodiments of the invention include a residual of materials including carburised coke coke in various densities and weights dependent on the feedstock carbonaceous materials used. In the context of the present description, the residue of materials is a coke material which is pure carbon and includes the remnants of the catalyst materials and some ash. This residual coke material can be used for carburising in a green steelmaking process, filtration media, motor vehicle catalytic converters and the like. For example, the alpha ferrite component of this residual coke material can be isolated and used to replace platinum in catalytic converters. In this context, an improved catalytic converter utilising the alpha ferrite materials of the residual coke material will begin to react at a starting temperature of about 110 C. rather than the current 300 C. in the current incarnation of conventional catalytic converters. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the alpha ferrite coke produced as a by-product is a much cheaper and viable alternative to the way motor vehicle catalytic converters are currently made and produced. Another component of the by-product residue is pure carbon, which can be used in steelmaking and filtration media as a cheaper alternative to present manufacturing processes. Furthermore, the manufacture of these carbon-based materials is performed without the CO.sub.2 emissions of current methods of their manufacture. Typical NATA laboratory spectrometer analysis results on residue solids are inserted below in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 1 SPECTROMETER SERVICES PTY. LTD. SPECTROGRAPHIC AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS BXB TECHNOLOGIES Report Number: Report Date: Thursday, 28 Oct. 2021 Job Number: Certificate Of Analysis SiO.sub.2 Al O.sub.3 Fe O CaO MgO Na.sub.2O K.sub.2O MnO TiO.sub.2 ZnO CaO Cr O M O C S Samples % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % 1.63 1.12 10.3 Methods Notes: Used indicates data missing or illegible when filed

[0266] With reference to FIG. 1, which shows one embodiment of the invention, raw input material in an exemplary composition of typically about 90% lignite together with an alpha phase iron-based catalyst of alpha ferrite making up typically about 10% of the ingredients are mixed with water and a binder. Other embodiments may involve an alpha phase iron-based catalyst that comprises a combination of magnetite and ferrite, namely, alpha ferrite. A preferred binder for this reaction is a compound of sodium silicate mixed with water in a composition that makes up about 2% of the total weight of the produced batch. Several compositions for binders have been trialed with compositions comprising, cement, flour, sodium silicates and corn powder. In another embodiment utilising organic wastes instead of lignite as a reactant source of hydrogen, the preferred binder comprises a solution of hot water at about 60 C. and a Sodium Silicate Na.sub.2SiO.sub.4 mix, in a ratio of 100 grams of Na2SiO4 to 1 litre of water. This water is used for adding to the mixing process, but not always used totally, only until the mix is homogeneous and firm giving an appropriate consistency for preparing the reactants.

[0267] The lignite and catalyst components are weighed to achieve the respective percentages of the net weight of each process batch. This mixture is combined to form a homogeneous consistency using a paddle mixer or the like, by way of example, producing a consistency of about 60% moisture content for 1 hour per 5-ton load. Essentially, the mixture will form a dry-mix such that, the mixture is ready when it can be formed into a homogeneous clay-like material that can be extruded through dies. At that consistency, the mixture is ready for further processing.

[0268] To assist in the efficient processing of the following steps, the combined mixture is then extruded in an extruder to produce a pelletized material ready for drying and thermal processing. When the mixture is homogeneous and has the right moisture content, the product is extruded to provide pellets of the desired size. By way of example, the mixture may be processed in an extruder at a rate of 1 ton/hour through a die that produces 8 mm pellets. For example, in a laboratory-scale plant, 25 mm round pellets are produced. The combined mixture is then dried in an air recirculating drying cabinet or equivalent oven to an extent that it contains less than about 5% moisture. In an example of drying, the palletized mixture is placed on a tray(s) with recirculating air at about 35 C. until it contains less than about 5% moisture. Preferably, the tray(s) are placed on shelves and designed to allow free-flowing warm air (about 35 C.) to pass across the surface of the, or each tray. Prior to heating, the dried mixture may be weighed again.

[0269] With reference to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the dried combined mixture is then thermally processed and may be placed in a furnace retort where the furnace is fired to a setpoint [*Pini Comment: for this setpoint!*] to control the temperature for evolving the H.sub.2 efficiently. In this respect, the hydrogen-producing reaction will commence at a temperature of reactants of around 100 C. In the heating process, the retort is placed in the furnace and then the dried pellets are placed in the retort. A lid seal is then placed on a retort flange. The lid of the retort is then closed and bolted down firmly for a gas-tight finish. A syngas outlet pipe is then connected to a cooling inlet and finally, one or more thermocouples are connected to the retort lid. Control and monitoring of the process is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. FIG. 2 illustrates a suitable furnace as shown. The furnace may be a steel structure insulated with a suitable form of refractory insulation. An exemplary insulation may be alumina-based ceramic fiber. A suitable form of such insulation is commercially available as Fibrefrax insulation.

[0270] The raw materials are placed in the retort. The gas-tight sealed retort is placed into the furnace. A gas burner then fires flame into the bottom of the furnace chamber.

[0271] The process works to break down the chemical composition of hydrocarbons to release the hydrogen and deposit carbon.

[0272] As may be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, relative volumes of the resultant gases are subject to optimization in pressure, residence time and temperature of the system. The system is to be optimized to produce the most H.sub.2 and the minimum CO.sub.2 and CO.

[0273] In a preferred embodiment, the catalyst comprises magnetite substantially consisting of Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 and this may also be recoverable after the thermal process is complete. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary configuration of a conveyor that can be used to recover the catalyst utilising the properties of its constituent ferrimagnetic oxides of iron, where a preferred embodiment involves a magnetite catalyst. The magnetic particles are separated in and by the conveyor. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary configuration of a conveyor that can be used to recover the catalyst derived from the reaction. As shown, a magnetic roller is utilised to separate magnetic particles from non-magnetic particles for their re-use. The recovered iron mix is comprised of the ferrite-based catalyst.

[0274] In general, products of the heated chemical reaction that takes place are as follows: [0275] High-value solids as a by-product including; [0276] carburising coke-pure carbon. [0277] synthesized gaseous products, namely, Syngas or fuel gas mixture comprising; [0278] carbon monoxide CO; [0279] carbon dioxide CO.sub.2; [0280] methane CH.sub.4; [0281] ethane C.sub.2H.sub.6, and; [0282] hydrogen H.sub.2.

[0283] The ratios of the various products may change with differing input reactants and conditions. Carbon monoxide, CO, typically up to 10% of the products, and may be bottled and sold to industry. Carbon dioxide CO.sub.2; typically, about 15%-24%, and also may be bottled and sold to industry. Methane CH.sub.4; typically, up to about 40%, and is produced pure to industrial standards and may be harvested and sold to industry. Ethane C.sub.2H.sub.6; typically, up to about 8%, is also pure to industrial standards and may be harvested and sold to industry. Carburising coke. typically, up to about 45% of the original mass, is also pure to industrial standards and may also be harvested and sold commercially.

[0284] The solids by-product may have a number of industrial uses by virtue of its composition from the catalytic reaction. For example, this ferrite material component may be a useful replacement for platinum in catalytic converters in automobiles. Advantageously, the solid by-product used in a catalytic converter will start reacting at 110 C. to break down hydrocarbons in exhaust gases, compared to platinum, which starts to react at 300 C., allowing hydrocarbons to exhaust into the atmosphere until the engine of a vehicle warms up. The solids by-product can also be used as a carburiser in foundry and steelmaking operations, replacing existing carburisers. One of the benefits being that the by-product can be loaded safely into the furnace charge with electro-magnets. It can be used as a filtration compound in the water treatment and chemical manufacturing industry. It is also envisaged that the solids by-product may be useful as a source material for the manufacture of graphene.

[0285] With reference to FIG. 2 or 3, a gas burner or heat source of any known configuration, as would be appreciated by the person skilled in the art may be utilised in the H.sub.2 production process, according to preferred embodiments. By way of example, a heat source utilising induction or electric elements could be suitable as alternatives to gas burners. The retort with reactant materials is then placed into the furnace. The lid of the furnace is bolted to a retort flange and sealed with a gasket. As set up, the burner combustion exhaust gases will exit at a flue as shown in FIG. 2. Operationally, the following steps are performed in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

[0286] On ignition of the gas burner, its flames transfer the heat produced to the outer skin of the retort heating the contents inside the retort. A furnace controller regulates the gas input to maintain the set temperature of the contents.

[0287] A thermocouple measures the temperature of the contents inside the retort as shown in FIG. 3. The thermocouple is in approximately the top centre of the seal plate, placed 100 mm above the base of the retort. As the heat increases, the evolved gases are expelled from the retort and piped to a cooling system as shown in FIG. 2. An exemplary cooling system is shown in FIG. 5 in which syngas enters the cooling system at a gas inlet port and passes through a gas cooling chamber. Whilst in transit through the gas cooling chamber the syngas is cooled by cooling water passing through an outer cooling medium chamber where the cooling water enters the outer cooling medium chamber at a cooling water inlet port and exits the outer cooling medium chamber via a cooling water outlet port.

[0288] After being cooled the gases are passed through a hydroseal. The hydroseal acts as a backflow seal and a scrubber. A sampling of the gases produced may be carried out using aluminium foil gas collection bags, as would be appreciated by the person skilled in the art. Sampling has taken place during experimentation as per the following design sheet.

[0289] During trial production, the gases have been collected as needed for analysis at a NATA accredited laboratory.

Experimental Results

[0290] The following is a typical report from a NATA accredited laboratory that provided testing in experimentation to show the veracity of the present invention.

[0291] Analysis of samples J/N 21920 Test 1 and J/N 21920 Test 2, sampled on 20/09/2021, was undertaken on 20/09/21.sup.7. .sup.7Method Reference: WI-UC-086: All results reported on a dry gas and sulfur-free basis. Expanded uncertainties are estimated to be 3% (relative) for values above 1 mol % and 10% (relative) or 0.002 mol % (whichever is larger) below 1 mol % and were estimated using a coverage factor of 2 and define an interval estimated to have a level of confidence of 95%. Samples analysed: 20/09/2021 Lab request number: 211215 HRL Sample ID: J/N 21920 BXB Test 1 211215-1, J/N 21920 BXB Test 2 211215-2 [0292] Concentration (mol %) Composition J/N 21920 [0293] Test 1 [0294] Hydrogen 37.02 [0295] Methane 7.71 [0296] Ethane 0.14 C6+ 0.248 [0297] Carbon Dioxide 18.67 [0298] Oxygen plus Argon* 1.43 [0299] Nitrogen 26.92

[0300] As a precursor step, ferrite-based catalysts may be produced by reacting a magnetite source of Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 with a coal form of carbonaceous material, namely lignite. This reaction produces the conditions for producing alpha iron ferrite as illustrated in the iron-carbon phase diagram of Diagram 1, below.

[0301] Another preferred embodiment of the invention involves substituting lignite with the raw input of waste materials comprising one or a combination of food matter, tyres or plastic processing. By way of example, it is envisaged that this embodiment may also provide for extracting H.sub.2 from plastic and tyres. In this embodiment, hydrogen may be produced from food matter, tyres and plastic waste using a similar chemical reaction. This hydrogen production process also involves the input materials of one or a combination of waste food matter, tyres and plastic combined with a magnetite catalyst with an appropriate and different binder, which is better for the binding of the catalyst to food, tyres and plastic instead of coal. In this respect, as noted above, utilising organic wastes instead of lignite as a reactant source of hydrogen, the preferred binder comprises a solution of hot water at about 60 C. and a Sodium Silicate Na.sub.2SiO.sub.4 mix, in a ratio of 100 grams of Na.sub.2SiO.sub.4 to 1 litre of water. This water is used for adding to the mixing process, but not always used totally, only until the mix is homogeneous and firm giving an appropriate consistency for preparing the reactants.

[0302] It will also be appreciated that embodiments of the invention may be dovetailed straight into an existing coal-fired electric power station creating zero CO.sub.2 in comparison to existing green energy solutions. With reference to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, an envisaged adaptation of a coal-fired electric power station and its infrastructure may take the form of the coal-fired electric power station comprising an input coal fuel processing apparatus, a steam generating boiler adapted for a first connection to a steam turbine to drive the electric generator and a second connection to an electricity distribution grid for distributing electricity generated by the electric generator, where the adaptation is characterised in that the adaptation comprises the apparatus of FIGS. 2 and/or 3 in a first operative connection with the input coal fuel processing apparatus as a supply of the carbonaceous material and a second operative connection with the turbine for supplying the separated hydrogen.

[0303] The adaptation of a coal-fired electric power station and its infrastructure exemplified in FIGS. 6A and 6B may comprise the apparatus described herein for like industries which require to remain operational on a 24/7 basis to help reduce the need for conventional modes of high carbon emitting fuels. An example of this includes but is not limited to industries such as galvanising plants, cement manufacturers, aluminium smelters, steel mills (glass furnaces). The process of converting carbonaceous materials to syngas or its by-products helps reduce the carbon footprint due to the hydrogen content of the syngas. The syngas can be either blended into the existing fuel supply or used exclusively with other plant and equipment as an alternative.

[0304] The adaptive technology can be extended to include the installation of a hydrogen injection system into stationary and mobile Diesel engines. With direct injection of syngas produced in accordance with embodiments of the invention to augment the diesel injection, the emitted carbon will be reduced significantly (for example, by around 25%) compared to the straight diesel emissions.

[0305] Certain embodiments of the present invention may enable existing coal mining infrastructure to be maintained as operational into the future where instead of burning coal in coal-fired boilers to make steam for a steam turbine, the boilers may be substituted for apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment to convert the input coal to its equivalent mass of hydrogen to be used in a hydrogen fired turbine to produce electricity. With this, existing electrical power distribution infrastructure that currently extends from traditional coal-fired power stations may also be maintained as operational into the future.

[0306] While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). This application is intended to cover any variations uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth.

[0307] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive.

[0308] Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and appended claims. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practised. In the following claims, any means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. For example, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface to secure wooden parts together, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw are equivalent structures. Furthermore, and by way of example to specific embodiments of the present invention, variation and modification to specific ratios of component input reactant materials of the present invention are envisaged to provide for optimum production of resultant products of the inventive processes in correspondence with varying conditions such as in relation to temperature and pressure, for example.

[0309] The following sections I-VII provide a guide to interpreting the present specification.

I. Terms

[0310] The term product means any machine, manufacture and/or composition of matter, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0311] The term process means any industrial process, algorithm, method or the like, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0312] The term anhydrous means with reference to any combination or mixture of materials disclosed herein an absence of water or moisture at least to a percentage weight of water of at least 5% or less.

[0313] Each process (whether called a method, algorithm or otherwise) inherently includes one or more steps, and therefore all references to a step or steps of a process have an inherent antecedent basis in the mere recitation of the term process or a like term. Accordingly, any reference in a claim to a step or steps of a process has a sufficient antecedent basis.

[0314] The term invention and the like mean the one or more inventions disclosed in this specification unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0315] The terms an embodiment, embodiment, embodiments, the embodiment, the embodiments, one or more embodiments, some embodiments, certain embodiments, one embodiment, another embodiment and the like mean one or more (but not all) embodiments of the disclosed invention(s), unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0316] The term variation of an invention means an embodiment of the invention unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0317] A reference to another embodiment in describing an embodiment does not imply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with another embodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referenced embodiment) unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0318] The terms including, comprising and variations thereof mean including but not limited to unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0319] The terms a, an and the mean one or more unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0320] The term plurality means two or more unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0321] The term herein means in the present specification, including anything which may be incorporated by reference, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0322] The phrase at least one of, when such phrase modifies a plurality of things (such as an enumerated list of things), means any combination of one or more of those things unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the phrase at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel means either (I) a widget, (il) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car, (v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, a car and a wheel. The phrase at least one of, when such phrase modifies a plurality of things, does not mean one of each of the plurality of things.

[0323] Numerical terms such as one, two, etc. when used as cardinal numbers to indicate the quantity of something (e.g., one widget, two widgets), mean the quantity indicated by that numerical term, but do not mean at least the quantity indicated by that numerical term. For example, the phrase one widget does not mean at least one widget, and therefore the phrase one widget does not cover, e.g., two widgets.

[0324] The phrase based on does not mean based only on, unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase based on describes both based only on and based at least on. The phrase based at least on is equivalent to the phrase based at least in part on.

[0325] The term represent and like terms are not exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the term represents do not mean represents only, unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase the data represents a credit card number describes both the data represents only a credit card number and the data represents a credit card number and the data also represents something else.

[0326] The term whereby is used herein only to precede a clause or other set of words that express only the intended result, objective or consequence of something that is previously and explicitly recited. Thus, when the term whereby is used in a claim, the clause or other words that the term whereby modifies do not establish specific further limitations of the claim or otherwise restricts the meaning or scope of the claim.

[0327] The term e.g. and like terms mean for example, and thus does not limit the term or phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence the computer sends data (e.g., instructions, a data structure) over the Internet, the term e.g. explains that instructions are an example of data that the computer may send over the Internet, and also explains that a data structure is an example of data that the computer may send over the Internet. However, both instructions and a data structure are merely examples of data, and other things besides instructions and a data structure can be data.

[0328] The term i.e. and like terms mean that is, and thus limits the term or phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence the computer sends data (i.e., instructions) over the Internet, the term i.e. explains that instructions are the data that the computer sends over the Internet.

[0329] Any given numerical range shall include whole and fractions of numbers within the range. For example, the range 1 to 10 shall be interpreted to specifically include whole numbers between 1 and 10 (e.g., 2, 3, 4, . . . 9) and non-whole numbers (e.g., 1.1, 1.2, . . . 1.9).

II. Determining

[0330] The term determining and grammatical variants thereof (e.g., to determine a price, determining a value, determine an object which meets a certain criterion) is used in an extremely broad sense. The term determining encompasses a wide variety of actions and therefore determining can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, determining can include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, determining can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like.

[0331] The term determining does not imply certainty or absolute precision, and therefore determining can include estimating, extrapolating, predicting, guessing and the like.

[0332] The term determining does not imply that mathematical processing must be performed, and does not imply that numerical methods must be used, and does not imply that an algorithm or process is used.

[0333] The term determining does not imply that any particular device must be used. For example, a computer need not necessarily perform the determining.

III. Indication

[0334] The term indication is used in an extremely broad sense. The term indication may, among other things, encompass a sign, symptom, or token of something else.

[0335] The term indication may be used to refer to any indicia and/or other information indicative of or associated with a subject, item, entity, and/or other object and/or idea.

[0336] As used herein, the phrases information indicative of and indicia may be used to refer to any information that represents, describes, and/or is otherwise associated with a related entity, subject, or object.

[0337] Indicia of information may include, for example, a symbol, a code, a reference, a link, a signal, an identifier, and/or any combination thereof and/or any other informative representation associated with the information.

[0338] In some embodiments, indicia of information (or indicative of the information) may be or include the information itself and/or any portion or component of the information. In some embodiments, an indication may include a request, a solicitation, a broadcast, and/or any other form of information gathering and/or dissemination.

IV. Forms of Sentences

[0339] Where a limitation of a first claim would cover one of a feature as well as more than one of a feature (e.g., a limitation such as at least one widget covers one widget as well as more than one widget), and where in a second claim that depends on the first claim, the second claim uses a definite article the to refer to the limitation (e.g., the widget), this does not imply that the first claim covers only one of the feature, and this does not imply that the second claim covers only one of the feature (e.g., the widget can cover both one widget and more than one widget).

[0340] When an ordinal number (such as first, second, third and so on) is used as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unless expressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature, such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature that is described by the same term or by a similar term. For example, a first widget may be so named merely to distinguish it from, e.g., a second widget. Thus, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers first and second before the term widget does not indicate any other relationship between the two widgets, and likewise does not indicate any other characteristics of either or both widgets. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers first and second before the term widget (1) does not indicate that either widget comes before or after any other in order or location; (2) does not indicate that either widget occurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3) does not indicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as in importance or quality. In addition, the mere usage of ordinal numbers does not define a numerical limit to the features identified with the ordinal numbers. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers first and second before the term widget does not indicate that there must be no more than two widgets.

[0341] When a single device or article is described herein, more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may alternatively be used in place of the single device/article that is described. Accordingly, the functionality that is described as being possessed by a device may alternatively be possessed by more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate).

[0342] Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), a single device/article may alternatively be used in place of the more than one device or article that is described. For example, a plurality of computer-based devices may be substituted with a single computer-based device. Accordingly, the various functionality that is described as being possessed by more than one device or article may alternatively be possessed by a single device/article.

[0343] The functionality and/or the features of a single device that is described may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are described but are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments need not include the described device itself, but rather can include the one or more other devices which would, in those other embodiments, have such functionality/features.

V. Disclosed Examples and Terminology are not Limiting

[0344] Neither the Title nor the Abstract in this specification is intended to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the disclosed invention(s). The title and headings of sections provided in the specification are for convenience only and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

[0345] Numerous embodiments are described in the present application and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognise that the disclosed invention(s) may be practised with various modifications and alterations, such as structural, logical, software, and electrical modifications. Although particular features of the disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0346] The present disclosure is not a literal description of all embodiments of the invention(s). Also, the present disclosure is not a listing of features of the invention(s) that must be present in all embodiments.

[0347] Devices that are described as in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit to each other as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain from exchanging data or material most of the time. For example, a machine in communication with another machine via the Internet may not transmit data to the other machine for long period of time (e.g., weeks at a time). In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries. The same may apply for industrial machinery and equipment.

[0348] A description of an embodiment with several components or features does not imply that all or even any of such components/features are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention(s). Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no component/feature is essential or required.

[0349] Although process steps, operations, algorithms or the like may be described in a particular sequential order, such processes may be configured to work in different orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be explicitly described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to the invention(s), and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred.

[0350] Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps, that does not imply that all or any of the steps are preferred, essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other processes that omit some or all of the described steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step is essential or required.

[0351] Although a process may be described singly or without reference to other products or methods, in an embodiment the process may interact with other products or methods. For example, such interaction may include linking one business model to another business model. Such interaction may be provided to enhance the flexibility or desirability of the process.

[0352] Although a product may be described as including a plurality of components, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, that does not indicate that any or all of the plurality are preferred, essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other products that omit some or all of the described plurality.

[0353] An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive unless expressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are comprehensive of any category unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the enumerated list a computer, a laptop, a PDA does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list are mutually exclusive and does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list are comprehensive of any category.

[0354] An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are equivalent to each other or readily substituted for each other.

[0355] All embodiments are illustrative and do not imply that the invention or any embodiments were made or performed, as the case may be.

[0356] Comprises/comprising and includes/including when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words comprise, comprising, includes, including and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of including, but not limited to.