Multi-process method of combined heat and power generation, biodiesel production, ethanol production, town gas production, methane production, and syngas production

Abstract

The present invention relates to an energy efficient method of combined heat and power/combined-cycle electricity generation method and gasification method utilizing a multi-process method of producing, methane, biodiesel, and ethanol production. The waste heat from the combined heat and power generation/combined-cycle method and gasification method is utilized by these multiple methods in such a manner that the waste heat of each successive method serves directly as the heat reservoir for the succeeding method before it is reclaimed at the back-end of the combined-cycle method.

1 . A combined heat and power production system comprising:
 a. a methane reactor, wherein the methane reactor produces methane;   b. a gasifier, wherein carbon-containing feed material is exposed to heat and pressure to produce syngas;   c. a combined heat and power unit, wherein the combined heat and power unit combusts methane from the methane reactor and syngas from the gasifier to produce electricity and heat;   d. a boiler including water, wherein the heat from the combined heat and power unit boils the water in the boiler to produce steam;   e. means for producing biodiesel, wherein steam from the boiler heats biodiesel feedstock to produce biodiesel, glycerol, and organic waste;   f. means for producing ethanol, wherein steam from the boiler heats mash, water, and a liquefaction enzyme to produce wet distiller's grain and ethanol;   g. a steam turbine generator, wherein steam from the boiler and waste steam from the means for producing biodiesel and means for producing ethanol are used to produce electricity.   
     
     
         2 . The combined heat and power production system of  claim 1 , wherein the combined heat and power unit comprises a gas turbine generator and a thermal transfer device. 
     
     
         3 . The combined heat and power production system of  claim 1 , wherein the methane reactor produces methane from the decomposition of the organic waste and the glycerol produced by the means for producing biodiesel. 
     
     
         4 . The combined heat and power production system of  claim 1 , wherein the biodiesel feedstock comprises alcohol, a catalyst, and a selection from a group consisting of vegetable oils, animal fats, waste greases, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The combined heat and power production system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for extracting oil from wet distiller's grain to produce oil and substantially oil-free residue, wherein the oil is incorporated into the biodiesel feedstock used by the means for producing biodiesel and wherein the substantially oil-free residue is incorporated into the organic waste used by the means for producing ethanol. 
     
     
         6 . The combined heat and power production system of  claim 1 , wherein the syngas comprises hydrogen gas, carbon monoxide, methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and water vapor. 
     
     
         7 . A method of combined heat and power production comprising the steps of:
 a. producing methane using a methane reactor;   b. exposing carbon-containing feed material to heat and pressure in a gasifier to produce syngas;   c. combusting the methane produced by the methane reactor and the syngas produced by the gasifier using a combined heat and power unit to produce electricity and heat;   d. using heat from the combined heat and power unit to boil water in a boiler to produce steam;   e. providing means for producing biodiesel, wherein steam from the boiler heats biodiesel feedstock to produce biodiesel, glycerol, and organic waste;   f. providing means for producing ethanol, wherein steam from the boiler heats mash, water, and a liquefaction enzyme to produce wet distiller's grain and ethanol;   g. providing a steam turbine generator, wherein the steam from the boiler and excess steam from the means for producing biodiesel and means for producing ethanol are used to produce electricity.   
     
     
         8 . The method of combined heat and power production of  claim 7 , wherein the combined heat and power unit comprises a gas turbine generator and a thermal transfer device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of combined heat and power production of  claim 7 , wherein the step of producing methane using a methane reactor is producing methane by the decomposition of the organic waste and the glycerol produced by the means for producing biodiesel. 
     
     
         10 . The method of combined heat and power production of  claim 7 , wherein the biodiesel feedstock comprises alcohol, a catalyst, and a selection from a group consisting of vegetable oils, animal fats, waste greases, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of combined heat and power production of  claim 7 , comprising the further step of extracting oil from wet distiller's grain to produce oil and substantially oil-free residue, wherein the oil is incorporated into the biodiesel feedstock used by the means for producing biodiesel and wherein the substantially oil-free residue is incorporated into the organic waste used by the means for producing ethanol. 
     
     
         12 . The method of combined heat and power production of  claim 7 , wherein the syngas comprises hydrogen gas, carbon monoxide, methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and water vapor.