CO2 GAS to LIQUIDS

Oil Hits New Record - Over $118 per Barrel - Methanol $2.10+ Per Gallon

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:49:32 -0500

Oil went over $118 per barrel - a new record high. In addition, over the past few months, methanol has increased $1.20 per gallon to a new multi-year high of $2.10 per gallon. Currently the methanol market is controlled by Methanex.

Global Energy and Ocean Ethanol announce that the process they're developing that converts CO2 into fuel - specifically methanol and butanol. This process can take the waste CO2 from natural gas processing as well as industrial byproduct - like corn based ethanol plants. This process can potentially double the output of fermentation based ethanol plants.

Based on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that is produced during the fermentation process in producing grain based ethanol, it is estimated that an equal amount of methanol could be produced.

The amount of CO2 that is produced during grain based ethanol production is quite large. Currently that CO2 is a byproduct and may be used in the food and beverage industry, compressed into a liquid, or vented to the atmosphere.

Captured and used in the gas-to-liquids technology, it is estimated that for about $.40-.80 a gallon, methanol can be produced, thereby increasing the profit margin of the ethanol plant. This does not include any alcohol credits, or carbon credits.

Methanol is a industrial feedstock as well as a fuel.

It can be used to produce biodiesel (as a catalyst along with sodium hydroxide).

It can also be used directly in any FlexFuel vehicle.

Methanol is an alcohol, and has a variety of state and federal tax credits associated with it's production and blending with conventional fuel.

This process also gives access for the producer to carbon credits.

Title and Process Development Sponsorship:

If anyone is interested in sponsoring this development, please contact Global Energy.

Did CO2 Deep Well Drilling and Sequestration Cause the the Midwest Earthquake ?

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:26:16 -0500

When I first heard of the midwest earthquake today, I didn't think too much about it. Yes, I awoke to the swaying of the condo building where I live, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Then, I found out where the quake epicenter was:

West Salem, Illinois.

(Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gxPvXBa_kwldln7jw_kNT0EsoE1QD904FG7O0 )

This triggered a series of possibly related stories that I've recently researched.

1. Deep well drilling can cause earthquakes:

The USGS admits, "Earthquakes induced by human activity have been documented in a few locations in the United States... The cause was injection of fluids into deep wells for waste disposal and secondary recovery of oil..." They go on to explain that,

"The largest and most widely known resulted from fluid injection at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal near Denver, Colorado. In 1967, an earthquake of magnitude 5.5 followed a series of smaller earthquakes. Injection had been discontinued at the site in the previous year once the link between the fluid injection and the earlier series of earthquakes was established."

(Source: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/faq.php?categoryID=1&faqID=1 )

There is a deep well and Carbon sequestration project near Decatur, Illinois:

On December 18th, 2007: (from the DOE press release)

" Following closely on the heels of three recent awards through the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership Program, DOE today awarded $66.7 million to the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) for the Department’s fourth large-scale carbon sequestration project. "

"The partnership will inject one million tons of CO2 into one of the thickest portions of the Mount Simon Formation testing how the heterogeneity of the formation can increase the effectiveness of storage and demonstrate that the massive seals can contain the CO2 for millennia. "

"The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium will work with the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Company to demonstrate the entire CO2 injection process—pre-injection characterization, injection process monitoring, and post-injection monitoring—at large volumes to determine the ability of different geologic settings to permanently store CO2.

ADM’s ethanol plant in Decatur, IL, will serve as the source of CO2 for the project. "

Does deep well drilling really cause earthquakes ? In January 2007 a deep geothermal drilling project in Basel triggered a 3.1 magnitude quake,

"Basel has been rocked by another earth tremor, this time measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale, centered on the site of a planned geothermal power plant."

(Source: http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/detail/swissinfo.html?siteSect=105&sid=7407138 )

What does all this mean ? While it might have been just a Earth seismic event, it should have us all questioning the sheer stupidity of trying to sequester (bury) CO2 into deep Earth wells, when we can develop technologies to turn this valuable resource into transportation fuel.

Would you rather have your $68 million taxpayer dollars used for potentially causing earthquakes, or providing real alternative and renewable energy solutions ?

Greg Giese
Madison, Wisconsin
April 18, 2008

DOE Funds $66.7 Million for Carbon Disposal - Uses ADM CO2 from Ethanol Plant

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:46:00 -0500

Your taxes at work - burying CO2 instead of making fuel which can be used in the transportation network.
-----------------------------------------------------

Energy Department Awards $66.7 Million for Large-Scale Carbon Sequestration Project
Regional Partner to Demonstrate Safe and Permanent Storage of One Million Tons of CO2 at Illinois Site

WASHINGTON, DC — Following closely on the heels of three recent awards through the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership Program, DOE today awarded $66.7 million to the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) for the Department’s fourth large-scale carbon sequestration project.

Source: http://www.energy.gov/news/5781.htm

News Media Contact(s):
Megan Barnett, (202) 586-4940
For Immediate Release
December 18, 2007

The Partnership led by the Illinois State Geological Survey will conduct large volume tests in the Illinois Basin to demonstrate the ability of a geologic formation to safely, permanently, and economically store more than one million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). Subject to annual appropriations from Congress, this project including the partnership’s cost share is estimated to cost $84.3 million. Advancing carbon sequestration is a key component of the Bush Administration’s comprehensive efforts to pursue clean coal technology to meet current and future energy needs and meet President Bush’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions intensity 18 percent by 2012.

“These projects demonstrate the potential of carbon sequestration technology, which will play a crucial role in achieving President Bush’s goal to harness advanced clean energy technologies to meet growing demand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Under Secretary of Energy Bud Albright said. “We continue to make robust investments aimed at moving carbon sequestration technology from the laboratory to actual large-scale field demonstrations and ultimately to the marketplace to with the help of our regional partners.”

This partnership, led by Illinois State Geological Survey, will demonstrate CO2 storage in the Mount Simon Sandstone Formation, a prolific geologic formation throughout Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and portions of Ohio. This formation offers great potential to store more than 100 years of carbon dioxide emissions from major point sources in the region. The partnership will inject one million tons of CO2 into one of the thickest portions of the Mount Simon Formation testing how the heterogeneity of the formation can increase the effectiveness of storage and demonstrate that the massive seals can contain the CO2 for millennia. The results of this project will provide the foundation for the future development of CO2 capture and storage opportunities in the region.

Researchers and industry partners will characterize the injection sites and complete modeling, monitoring, and infrastructure assessments needed before CO2 can be injected. MGSC plans to drill a CO2 injection well and then inject about 1,000 tons per day of carbon dioxide into the Mt. Simon sandstone, which is approximately 5,500 feet below the surface. The project will inject CO2 for three years before closing the injection site and monitoring and modeling the injected carbon dioxide to determine the effectiveness of the storage reservoir.

The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium will work with the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Company to demonstrate the entire CO2 injection process—pre-injection characterization, injection process monitoring, and post-injection monitoring—at large volumes to determine the ability of different geologic settings to permanently store CO2.

ADM’s ethanol plant in Decatur, IL, will serve as the source of CO2 for the project. ADM will cost share the expense of the CO2, which will come from the company’s ethanol production operation. DOE will fund the dehydration, compression, short pipeline, and related facility costs to deliver the CO2 to the wellhead.

Today’s award to MGSC is the fourth of seven awards in the third phase of the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships program. In October, Deputy Secretary of Energy Clay Sell announced the first three large volume carbon sequestration projects that total $318 million for Plains Carbon Dioxide Reduction Partnership, Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership, and Southwest Regional Partnership for Carbon Sequestration.

Carbon Sequestration Regional Partnerships

If it is determined that carbon sequestration must be implemented in the United States on a broad scale and in a relatively short timeframe (meaning over several years), it will take a concerted effort of federal and state agencies, working in cooperation with technology developers, regulators, and others, to put into place both the concepts and the necessary infrastructure to achieve meaningful carbon reductions.

MORE INFO
• Read Secretary's Nov. 21, 2002, Remarks Announcing Partnership Initiative
To ensure that America is fully prepared to implement this climate change mitigation option, a national network of public-private sector partnerships as been established. This network will determine the most suitable technologies, regulations, and infrastructure needs for carbon capture, storage and sequestration in different areas of the country.
The Regional Partnerships' initiative is being implemented in three phases:
•
• Characterization Phase (2003-2005): Characterized opportunities for carbon sequestration
• Validation Phase (2005-2009): Small scale field tests are currently under way
• Deployment Phase (2007-2017): Conduct large volume carbon storage tests
The seven partnerships that currently form this network include 350+ state agencies, universities, and private companies, spanning 41 states, two Indian nations, and four Canadian provinces. In addition, agencies from six member countries of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum are participating in the Validation Phase field tests.
The seven partnerships include: [Click on each link for more details]
• West Coast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership led by the California Energy Commission, Sacramento, CA, and made up of representative organizations from Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and the Canadian Province of British Columbia;
• Southwest Regional Partnership for Carbon Sequestration which will involve the efforts of 21 partners in eight states coordinated by the Western Governors' Association and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM;
• Big Sky Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership which will be headed by Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, and cover Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota;
• Plains CO2 Reduction Partnership which will extend across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Montana, Wyoming and three Canadian provinces. It will led by the Energy & Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND;
• Midwest (Illinois Basin) Geologic Sequestration Consortium which will evaluate sequestration options in the Illinois Basin of Illinois, western Indiana, and western Kentucky. It will be led by the University of Illinois, Illinois State Geological Survey;
• Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership, headed by Southern States Energy Board, Norcross, GA, and involving Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, and South Carolina;
• Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership covering Indiana, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia and coordinated by the Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH.
Characterization Phase The Characterization Phase began in September of 2003 with seven partnerships working to develop the necessary framework to validate and potentially deploy carbon sequestration technologies. In announcing the Characterization Phase initiative in November 2002, then Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said the partnerships would become "the centerpiece" of expanded federal efforts to investigate the potential for sequestration to be an important carbon management strategy.

MORE INFO
• Characterization Phase Work Reports
The main goals of the Characterization Phase were to collect data on CO2 sources and sinks and develop the human capital to support and enable future carbon sequestration field tests and deployments. The partnerships also sought to evaluate and determine which of the numerous sequestration approaches that have emerged in the last few years are best suited for specific regions of the country. In addition, the partners began studying possible regulations and infrastructure requirements that would be needed should climate science indicate that sequestration be deployed on a wide scale in the future.
June 2005 marked the end of the Characterization Phase. The partnerships succeeded in establishing a national network of companies and professionals working to support sequestration deployments; created a network of regional carbon sequestration atlases for the United States (NATCARB), which were used to identify the most promising sequestration opportunities; and raised awareness and support for carbon sequestration as a greenhouse gas mitigation option, both within industry and the general public.
Back to top
Validation Phase The Validation Phase of the regional partnerships initiative focuses on validating the most promising regional opportunities to deploy sequestration technologies. In announcing the Validation Phase in June of 2005, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman stated, "By moving carbon sequestration technology from the laboratory to the field, we are another step closer to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining the important role coal plays in America's energy mix." The Validation Phase builds upon Characterization Phase accomplishments and begins field testing sequestration technologies in areas designated as favorable for carbon storage.

Two different types of sequestration options will be pursued by the partnerships:
•
• Geological field tests will explore several options for storing CO2 and other greenhouse  gases in geological formations, such as depleted oil and natural gas fields, saline formations, and unminable coal seams.  
• Terrestrial field tests will investigate ways of using forest and agricultural practices to uptake additional carbon in plants, soils, and other vegetation. Appropriate measurement technologies will be employed to monitor the fate of the stored CO2 and satisfy emerging registries and markets.

MORE INFO
• Validation Phase Field Tests
• Validation Phase Fact Sheets
Other activities will include refining regional characterizations, public outreach and education, and regulatory compliance issues for the respective field projects. Knowledge gained from these validation procedures and tests can be used to develop commercially viable technologies that will be integral to a carbon management strategy. The results of the field tests will prove that the regional capacity and injectivity exists for commercialization.
June 2009 will mark the end of the Validation Phase with the completion of the geologic and terrestrial sequestration field tests. These Validation Phase field tests are designed to demonstrate that regional sinks have the capability to store thousands of years of the nation's potential CO2 emissions and will form the basis for large volume tests in the Deployment Phase.
Back to top
Deployment Phase The Deployment Phase, scheduled to begin in FY 2008 and run through FY 2017, will demonstrate at large scale that CO2 capture, transportation, injection, and storage can be achieved safely, permanently, and economically.
These large-volume deployment tests will provide concurrent input to the FutureGen Initiative, which will produce both hydrogen and electricity from a highly efficient and technologically sophisticated power plant while capturing and sequestering the CO2 emissions. The geologic structures to be tested during these large-volume sequestration tests could become candidate sites for future near zero emissions power plants.
The primary goal of the Deployment Phase is the development of large-scale CCS projects across North America, where large volumes of CO2 will be injected into a geologic formation representative of a relatively large storage capacity for each Region. The injection will continue over several years. Recognizing that CO2 sources vary widely from Region to Region and that some Regions will have limited access to large volumes of CO2, injection volumes may vary. The RCSPs, however, will be expected to maximize CO2 injection volumes that fully utilize the infrastructure of the Region. Projects that procure CO2 from natural gas processing plants or natural vents may inject one million tons or more of CO2 per year, depending upon cost and availability.
The Deployment Phase tests will be implemented in three stages which will test key technologies during the demonstration and deployment:
1.
2. Site selection, characterization, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, permitting, and infrastructure development;  
3. CO2 injection and monitoring operations; and  
4. Site closure, post injection monitoring, and analysis.
While projects in the Validation Phase are designed to demonstrate that regional sequestration sites have the potential to store thousands of years' worth of CO2 emissions in the U.S., the large-volume sequestration tests in the Deployment Phase will also address practical issues such as sustainable injectivity, well design for both integrity and increased capacity, and reservoir behavior with respect to prolonged injection. Such issues can only be addressed by scaling up the size and duration of sequestration projects. Key operational issues and lessons learned will vary since each Region will have different geologic formations, overlying seals, and structural issues that can affect the safe and effective storage of CO2 for millennia.

CO2: Enhanced Oil Recovery vs. Direct to Fuels

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:50:30 -0500

It is estimated that 8,000 cubic feet of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) is needed to bring up one barrel of oil using Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR).

This CO2 is typically a byproduct (considered waste) of natural gas processing plants, or it is actually extracted from certain gas formations high in CO2 gas.

The CO2 is pressurized and sent down a CO2 pipeline to a EOR oil field. It is then pressurized again and sent down the well into the formation to extract oil.

With our CO2 to fuels process, that same 8,000 cubic feet of CO2 could be converted directly to alcohol fuel.

While a barrel of oil can be converted into 48 gallons of usable product (after heavy refining). About 51 percent is converted to transportation gasoline, or around 21-24 gallons.

Our process can convert that same amount of CO2 used for Enhanced Oil Recovery to produce about 40 gallons of methanol. This methanol can be blended with gasoline, or used directly in FlexFuel vehicles. It can also be used to produce biodiesel, or used directly in industry.

The process we use takes CO2, water and electricity. Where does the electricity come from ? Using our Organic Rankine Cycle Geothermal Turbine, we can use deep well geothermal to produce the electricity in a very clean, renewable and environmentally friendly manner.

More Gasoline Facts:

Where does the cost of a gallon of gasoline come from ?

53 percent - crude oil
19 percentt - taxes
19 percent - refining costs and profits
9 percent - distribution and marketing

Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/gasolinepricesprimer/eia1_2005primerM.html

Cost of a Gallon of Gasoline:

$3.04 Gallon of Gas at pump

$2.07 Crude Oil

$.24 Refining
$.33 Ship and sell
$.40 Taxes

"EIA estimates it costs U.S. oil companies an average of about $24 a barrel to find, develop and produce oil worldwide, but that doesn't include costs like transportation, administration, or income taxes - which can be substantial."

Source:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/13/news/economy/gas_gallon/index.htm?cnn=yes

Here are some examples of EOR - Enhanced Oil Recovery Projects

Weyburn-Midale CO2 Project - How CO2 increases oil recovery

1. CO2 is injected, along with water, deep underground (approx. 1,500 metres) into a depleted oil field. The CO2 used by EnCana and Apache comes from the Dakota Gasification Plant near Beulah, North Dakota. There, the gas is captured after coal gasification (rather than vented to the atmosphere), liquefied by compression and pipelined 320 km north to the oil fields. It is the first man-made source of CO2 being used for enhanced oil recovery.

2. In an operating strategy that alternates gas and water injection, CO2 injection increases reservoir pressure and oil fluidity, enabling oil to escape from rock pores and flow more readily toward production wells. As a general rule, it takes about 8,000 cubic feet of CO2 to get an extra barrel of oil.

3. Much of the injected CO2 is pumped to the surface together with oil and water, then separated and re-injected. At the end of the enhanced oil recovery period, virtually all injected and recycled CO2 is permanently stored.
Research from the Weyburn-Midale CO2 Project ensures that CO2 used for enhanced oil recovery remains safely stored underground.

Here is a recent post from the Denver Post (source):

Blue Source Project - EOR

"The Blue Source project will capture 20 million cubic feet of carbon dioxide per day from a natural-gas plant in Huerfano County - the equivalent of removing more than 70,000 cars from the road.

"This project prevents a significant amount of CO2 from venting into the atmosphere and will further help produce a considerable amount of domestic oil in underused oil fields," said Russell Martin, executive vice president of Blue Source.

The carbon dioxide is pumped into declining oil wells to help push remaining petroleum up to the surface. Martin said it takes about 6,000 cubic feet of carbon dioxide to produce one barrel of oil.

The project highlights the potential of turning waste into a commodity, but industry observers caution that such efforts are often capital-intensive and are difficult to justify financially.

Martin said the company's project makes economic sense because of the revenue it can generate from selling the carbon dioxide.

He said carbon dioxide sells for about 85 cents to $1.20 per thousand cubic feet in the region. The company spent $8 million to connect the carbon- dioxide source to a transportation pipeline. The carbon dioxide will travel 16 miles to Kinder Morgan's Sheep Mountain pipeline, where it will be shipped for enhanced oil recovery in the Permian Basin in West Texas.

The recovery of naturally occurring carbon dioxide from underground wells has long been a staple of the economy in Huerfano County.

The capturing of the greenhouse gas from a natural-gas- processing plant, however, is new for Colorado, Martin said.

"From a Colorado standpoint, it is the first gas plant that's been captured, to my knowledge," Martin said.

Other projects could be forthcoming in the region.
The Wyoming state legislature put together the Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute "to look specifically at CO2 for enhanced-oil-recovery purposes," said Lon Whitman, head of corporate outreach and strategic alliances for the group.

In addition to using carbon dioxide for oil recovery, research groups are looking at long-term sequestration, such as the storage of the greenhouse gas in underground geologic formations, Whitman said."

Production Power - Via Waste Heat Organic Rankine Cycle

Sun, 9 Mar 2008 11:09:58 -0500

With the New Infinity Turbine from Global Energy, we can produce all of the power needed to convert the CO2 gas via the reverse fuel cell. This is accomplished by using waste industrial heat via a ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) turbine. It's clean and renewable power from the industrial source which is making the CO2. Since it's a closed loop system, there are no emissions. Just the powerplant alone is about $3 million, but allows a endless source of renewable power from 1-5 megawatts of electricity for production.

http://www.infinityturbine.com

Using the Infinity Turbine to make electricity, at a minimum, we can produce 333 gallons per hour of methanol or butanol, or about 2,880,000 gallons per year.

This system would need to be sited on or near a CO2 pipeline, or source, such as an fermentation based ethanol plant, natural gas processor, or other waste CO2 stream. These are also sites of large amounts of waste heat. This waste heat can be used to power the renewable CO2 to fuel production.

Of course there are a large number of incentives to do this from Federal/State tax credits, to possible access to international CO2 credits.

More information on the Infinity Turbine:

Global Energy is pleased to announce its new Infinity Turbine Series of microturbines. Any fuel source. Any power output. Any CHP. Available anywhere. Any tech. Clean and green. Based on the ORC system, we are now offering pre-packaged 225 kw skid-mounted modular units. A new revolution is about to sweep the power production industry allowing the customers to customize a standardized power production module.

Skid Mounted Waste Heat Turbine Generator Sets

The Infinity Turbine is your solution and ready to supply your needs by providing turnkey modular systems.

Any Fuel Source: The beautiful of this system is the simplicity. Since this is a ORC system, you can use any fuel source, from flare gas, solar, to geothermal, even waste heat from industrial sources. Best of all, you can combine any fuel or heat sources you wish to optimize the system efficiency - including combining traditional fuel sources with renewables. We call this optimal heat utilization. Why get pegged into only using expensive natural gas, propane or diesel to run a turbine ? Instead of letting the manufacturers tell you what you can't do, how about telling the manufacturers what you want to do.

Any Power Output: Our PTO makes available power to any off-the-shelf generator (50/60 HZ, grid or stand-alone, any voltage), compressor, pump or any device that needs 1,800 RPM.

Any CHP: Because this system is based on heat differential, the condenser output can be used as a source for hot water, chiller, or even ground based geothermal heatpumps.

Available Anywhere: Container mounted, the Infinity Turbine can be used in remote locations, businesses, at the oil rig, or even on container ships. No fancy packaging, just a time-tested, durable and standardized shipping container. Best of all, no crating needed.

Any Tech: Instead of developing a high-tech turbine, why not use equipment that is off-the-shelf and can be serviced by any refrigerant technician ? Sure, you can buy exotic turbines with expensive air bearings, but why when you simplify your power generation with a low tech option.

Clean and Green: Since this system is based on heat differential, you can use renewables like geothermal, or waste heat from industrial processes. If you must use traditional combustible fuels, you're emissions are as clean as your burner. However in many cases, gas burners may already be certified off-the-shelf for CARB 2008 and beyond. This system even works with fuel cells.

System Description:

. 1. Heat Source: Your heat source can be anything from flare gas, to solar or geothermal heated water. From heated waste water, to turbine gas exhaust. 

. 2. Infinity Turbine Module: Based on the ORC concept, the closed loop environmentally friendly gas (working fluid) is compressed by heat, then expanded through a turbine. The turbine outputs to a power-take-off pad to which a generator or pump can be attached. The working fluid is then condensed back into a liquid through the condenser. Container mounted for plug-and-play installation and ready for worldwide shipment in a standardized ISO shipping container. Using the building block concept, these modules can be stacked in series for low footprint (limited space) and numbered up to any size power output. 

3. Condenser: The condenser cools the closed-loop gas into a liquid and can be any cooler medium such as a cooling tower, ground based geothermal (55 deg F). The condenser loop can also be used for the production of hot water, such as in pool heat, domestic hot water, radiant heating, or even through a chiller.

Applications

Geothermal: Using 212-300 deg F hot water on the input and cooling water or a cooling tower on the condenser end, you can generate power. Typically this is done by drilling down until your reach suitable hot water depending on the temperature gradients in your area. In the European model, a large diameter well/pipe is installed and then power modules are installed as the investment returns. Depending on location and nationality of ownership, you may be able to capture a CO2 greenhouse credit which may amount to 1/3 to 1/4 in addition to the electrical power generation sales. This only enhances the return on investment since credits can be traded or sold. Based on preferred USA buyback rates, you may be able to generate $1.3 million in revenue per year based on a 1,000 kw system. With a 7 percent interest loan on 10 years, you could have a nice profit and have the entire system paid for by the end of that loan term.

Waste Heat: From industrial turbines, powerplants, and hot water from enhanced oil recovery. If you can get a liquid temperature differential of at least 125 deg F, then you may be able to produce power with the Infinity Turbine system.

Microturbine: With the heat output of 6 x Capstone C60 or C65 microturbines (or multiple Elliot or IR70 units), you can power one 225 kw unit with the addition of a cooling tower. The cooling tower can be geothermal cooled (ground loop) to save even more power.

Landfill and Water Treatment Flare Gas:

The technology developed using a ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) can operate off any heat source, with a minimum of 125 deg F temperature differential between the heat source and sink. Geothermal energy is only one potential application. Similar systems are already in operation off heat generated from landfill flares and gas turbine exhaust. Other applications may include using biomass as a fuel.

Oil and Gas Waste Water and Flare Gas:

The oil and gas also provides another possible application for the ORC power plant. Because most oil and gas wells are quite deep, they are warmed by the natural thermal gradient of the earth. In 2005 the U.S. produced over 2 billion barrels of “waste” water along with the oil and gas production, primarily from the Gulf States with temperatures high enough to produce electricity. This hot water could be used to generate power directly, without impacting oil and gas production.

Prepackaged Modular ORC Unit
Turbine Size: 225 kw
Flow Rate: 300 gpm
Temp Diff:125 deg F
Type: ORC - Organic Rankine Cycle
Skid Mounted: Modular
Price: $600,000 (with options)
Delivery: 16-20 weeks
Efficiency: Depends on temp differential, but average is 27 percent

CONTACT
Thank you for your interest in Global Energy and Global Microturbine. If you have a question, comment, suggestion, or would like to contact sales, please contact us below.
Global Energy  P.O. Box 5617 Madison, WI 53705 USA TEL: (608) 238-6001 FAX (240) 525-2445  greg@globalmicroturbine.com

Geothermal Power Allows Completely Renewable Production

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:58:24 -0600

With the New Infinity Turbine from Global Energy, we can produce all of the power needed to convert the CO2 gas via the reverse fuel cell.This is accomplished by using deep well geothermal heat via a ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) turbine. It's clean and renewable power from the Earth. Since it's a closed loop system, there are no emissions. Just the powerplant alone is about $10 million, but allows a endless source of renewable power from 1-5 megawatts of electricity for production.

http://www.infinityturbine.com

At a minimum, we can produce 333 gallons per hour of methanol or butanol, or about 2,880,000 gallons per year.

This system would need to be sited on or near a CO2 pipeline, or source, such as an fermentation based ethanol plant, natural gas processor, or other waste CO2 stream.

Of course there are a large number of incentives to do this from Federal/State tax credits, to possible access to international CO2 credits.

More information on the Infinity Turbine:

Global Energy is pleased to announce its new Infinity Turbine Series of microturbines. Any fuel source. Any power output. Any CHP. Available anywhere. Any tech. Clean and green. Based on the ORC system, we are now offering pre-packaged 225 kw skid-mounted modular units. A new revolution is about to sweep the power production industry allowing the customers to customize a standardized power production module.

Skid Mounted Waste Heat Turbine Generator Sets

The Infinity Turbine is your solution and ready to supply your needs by providing turnkey modular systems.

Any Fuel Source: The beautiful of this system is the simplicity. Since this is a ORC system, you can use any fuel source, from flare gas, solar, to geothermal, even waste heat from industrial sources. Best of all, you can combine any fuel or heat sources you wish to optimize the system efficiency - including combining traditional fuel sources with renewables. We call this optimal heat utilization. Why get pegged into only using expensive natural gas, propane or diesel to run a turbine ? Instead of letting the manufacturers tell you what you can't do, how about telling the manufacturers what you want to do.

Any Power Output: Our PTO makes available power to any off-the-shelf generator (50/60 HZ, grid or stand-alone, any voltage), compressor, pump or any device that needs 1,800 RPM.

Any CHP: Because this system is based on heat differential, the condenser output can be used as a source for hot water, chiller, or even ground based geothermal heatpumps.

Available Anywhere: Container mounted, the Infinity Turbine can be used in remote locations, businesses, at the oil rig, or even on container ships. No fancy packaging, just a time-tested, durable and standardized shipping container. Best of all, no crating needed.

Any Tech: Instead of developing a high-tech turbine, why not use equipment that is off-the-shelf and can be serviced by any refrigerant technician ? Sure, you can buy exotic turbines with expensive air bearings, but why when you simplify your power generation with a low tech option.

Clean and Green: Since this system is based on heat differential, you can use renewables like geothermal, or waste heat from industrial processes. If you must use traditional combustible fuels, you're emissions are as clean as your burner. However in many cases, gas burners may already be certified off-the-shelf for CARB 2008 and beyond. This system even works with fuel cells.

System Description:

. 1. Heat Source: Your heat source can be anything from flare gas, to solar or geothermal heated water. From heated waste water, to turbine gas exhaust. 

. 2. Infinity Turbine Module: Based on the ORC concept, the closed loop environmentally friendly gas (working fluid) is compressed by heat, then expanded through a turbine. The turbine outputs to a power-take-off pad to which a generator or pump can be attached. The working fluid is then condensed back into a liquid through the condenser. Container mounted for plug-and-play installation and ready for worldwide shipment in a standardized ISO shipping container. Using the building block concept, these modules can be stacked in series for low footprint (limited space) and numbered up to any size power output. 

3. Condenser: The condenser cools the closed-loop gas into a liquid and can be any cooler medium such as a cooling tower, ground based geothermal (55 deg F). The condenser loop can also be used for the production of hot water, such as in pool heat, domestic hot water, radiant heating, or even through a chiller.

Applications

Geothermal: Using 212-300 deg F hot water on the input and cooling water or a cooling tower on the condenser end, you can generate power. Typically this is done by drilling down until your reach suitable hot water depending on the temperature gradients in your area. In the European model, a large diameter well/pipe is installed and then power modules are installed as the investment returns. Depending on location and nationality of ownership, you may be able to capture a CO2 greenhouse credit which may amount to 1/3 to 1/4 in addition to the electrical power generation sales. This only enhances the return on investment since credits can be traded or sold. Based on preferred USA buyback rates, you may be able to generate $1.3 million in revenue per year based on a 1,000 kw system. With a 7 percent interest loan on 10 years, you could have a nice profit and have the entire system paid for by the end of that loan term.

Waste Heat: From industrial turbines, powerplants, and hot water from enhanced oil recovery. If you can get a liquid temperature differential of at least 125 deg F, then you may be able to produce power with the Infinity Turbine system.

Microturbine: With the heat output of 6 x Capstone C60 or C65 microturbines (or multiple Elliot or IR70 units), you can power one 225 kw unit with the addition of a cooling tower. The cooling tower can be geothermal cooled (ground loop) to save even more power.

Landfill and Water Treatment Flare Gas:

The technology developed using a ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) can operate off any heat source, with a minimum of 125 deg F temperature differential between the heat source and sink. Geothermal energy is only one potential application. Similar systems are already in operation off heat generated from landfill flares and gas turbine exhaust. Other applications may include using biomass as a fuel.

Oil and Gas Waste Water and Flare Gas:

The oil and gas also provides another possible application for the ORC power plant. Because most oil and gas wells are quite deep, they are warmed by the natural thermal gradient of the earth. In 2005 the U.S. produced over 2 billion barrels of “waste” water along with the oil and gas production, primarily from the Gulf States with temperatures high enough to produce electricity. This hot water could be used to generate power directly, without impacting oil and gas production.

Prepackaged Modular ORC Unit
Turbine Size: 225 kw
Flow Rate: 300 gpm
Temp Diff:125 deg F
Type: ORC - Organic Rankine Cycle
Skid Mounted: Modular
Price: $600,000 (with options)
Delivery: 16-20 weeks
Efficiency: Depends on temp differential, but average is 27 percent

CONTACT
Thank you for your interest in Global Energy and Global Microturbine. If you have a question, comment, suggestion, or would like to contact sales, please contact us below.
Global Energy  P.O. Box 5617 Madison, WI 53705 USA TEL: (608) 238-6001 FAX (240) 525-2445  greg@globalmicroturbine.com

Funding Needed for CO2 to Fuels Process

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:27:57 -0600

Ocean Ethanol has halted development until another investor comes forward to fund development of reliable, consistent and renewable fuel.

Seeking Funding to Complete Development

Mon, 4 Feb 2008 14:31:47 -0600

This process is geared towards distributed fuel production.

This is a green energy initiative. Our goal is to develop and license distributed fuel production so that anyone can harvest CO2 and make fuel. It takes CO2, water and electricity (from renewable or off-peak grid power) through a innovative process to make methanol and butanol (both of which can be used in cars and trucks). We're advocating recycling CO2 and making a useful fuel from it.

If you're interested in funding the entire project, then you may gain access to exclusive marketing rights.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Methanol to Gasoline

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:28:45 -0500

MTG or Methanol to Gasoline is a proven process that can convert methanol (alcohol) directly to gasoline.

Methanol is a industrial feedstock as well as a fuel.

Title and Process Development Sponsorship:

If anyone is interested in sponsoring this development, please contact Global Energy.

Zero Emissions Technology

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:41:23 -0500

Zero Emissions Technology Utilizing Fischer Tropsch and Fuel Cells:

CO2 to Ethanol ($2.00 per gallon production cost estimate) - can be used in any flexfuel vehicle.
CO2 to Methanol ($.50 per gallon production cost estimate) - can be used in any flexfuel vehicle.
CO2 to Methanol then to Gasoline ($1.00 per gallon cost estimate) - can be used in any gas vehicle.
CO2 to Ethylene
CO2 to Ethylene then to Plastics

Using our innovations, we can sequester CO2 from a variety of sources, including:

Ocean Surface
Rivers and Lakes with acid rain problems
Geothermal
Deep Ocean
Industrial Byproduct - including CO2 from grain based ethanol plants
Landfill Gas
Natural Gas Processing Plants
Operating or Abandoned Mines with Carbon Monoxide

What can you do with methanol ?

Any FFV (Flex Fuel Vehicle) can use up to M85, or 85 percent methanol and 15 percent gasoline.
Methanol is cheaper to produce than gasoline
Using Mobil’s MTG (methanol-to-gasoline) technology, we can make high octane gasoline directly from methanol
Methanol is the fuel of choice for Indy 500 Race Cars
Methanol will be used in methanol fuel cells - which will be powering our handheld devices such as cell phones, Palm, iPod, portable computers, or any device that needs power
Receive a $.51/gallon Federal credit for alcohol used as fuel
Potentially receive a international credit for CO2
Have your CO2 credits purchased by the World Bank Carbon Fund if you have an international project http://carbonfinance.org/

Process Doubles Ethanol Plant Fuel Output

Wed, 6 Jun 2007 22:50:45 -0500

Global Energy and Ocean Ethanol announce that the process they're developing could potentially double the output of fermentation based ethanol plants.

Based on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that is produced during the fermentation process in producing grain based ethanol, it is estimated that an equal amount of methanol could be produced.

The amount of CO2 that is produced during grain based ethanol production is quite large. Currently that CO2 is a byproduct and may be used in the food and beverage industry, compressed into a liquid, or vented to the atmosphere.

Captured and used in the gas-to-liquids technology, it is estimated that for about $.80 a gallon of methanol can be produced, thereby increasing the profit margin of the ethanol plant.

Methanol is a industrial feedstock as well as a fuel.

It can be used to produce biodiesel (as a catalyst along with sodium hydroxide).

It can also be used directly in any FlexFuel vehicle.

Methanol is an alcohol, and has a variety of state and federal tax credits associated with it's production and blending with conventional fuel.

This process also gives access for the producer to carbon credits.

Title and Process Development Sponsorship:

If anyone is interested in sponsoring this development, please contact Global Energy.

Carbon Credits

Mon, 4 Jun 2007 13:07:55 -0500

Our technology can help you access carbon credits. Currently, these amount to about $4 per ton in the USA, and about $25 international. The World Bank has a carbon credit buying program (outside of USA in qualified countries and projects).

What is a international carbon credit ?

Please refer to these resources:

http://carbonfinance.org/

http://www.icbe.com

Worldwide Exclusive Licensing $10 Million Per Year

Fri, 1 Jun 2007 08:53:18 -0500

We are currently offering worldwide licensing rights for this process (see download chart licensechart.pdf and download exhibits exhibits.pdf). We are offering commercial production (more than 10 liters per hour) for $10 million per year.

Please Contact Us For Additional Information:

Greg Giese
Global Energy and Ocean Ethanol LLC
PO BOX 5617
Madison, WI 53705 USA
TEL(608) 238-6001

EMAIL: greg@globalmicroturbine.com

Butanol Jet Fuel From CO2

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:57:31 -0600

Butanol

"Butanol is largely compatible with and in some ways better than, gasoline. It's air/fuel mixture (Stoichometric A/F Ratio) is 11.2 (Standard Gasoline is 14.7, ethanol is 9.) which allows butanol to, just about, function in a standard gasoline engine. Its energy content is about 105,000 Btu per US gallon (Standard Gasoline has about 114,000 Btu per US gallon). In effect butanol has about 92% of the energy of gasoline. In actual driving conditions, as butanol has a strong power and torque content, drivers will use a lighter foot on the accelerator and hold a higher gear longer, fuel efficiency will approximately match that of gasoline. It can be mixed with gasoline in any ratio in unmodified engines. Additionally, as butanol has a very low vapour pressure point (RVP 0.3) and a high Flash Point (FP 37 degrees Celcius) it is a very safe fuel to use in high temperatures. Butanol can be produced at an estimated cost of 85 cents per gallon, and is a direct replacement for gasoline, which ethanol cannot be. Butanol also has a high cetane number (CN25, diesel averages CN45, ethanol CN9) which allows butanol to be blended with petrodiesel and with vegetable oils (where it also reduces the gel temperature point and the viscosity) to produce biodiesel, with some positive environmental effects. Consequently, butanol is a very versatile fuel and fuel extender in both gasoline and diesel engines. It can do things that ethanol will never be able to do. Its manufacture from biomass will enhance the progress towards a biofuel World. "

(Source: http://www.peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Butanol)

Tax Credits

As an alcohol, it can access the US Federal Tax credits, which amount anywhere from $.41-$.60 per gallon (more depending on state incentives). In addition, since it is made from CO2 in our process, you may be able to access internationally traded carbon credits.

See our new site: http://www.butanoljetfuel.com/

Jet Fuel

Butanol has been identified by the Sir Richard Branson group at Virgin Airlines as the jet fuel of the future. It is also being considered by some of the military to fuel its turbine fleet. Branson is currently in the process of funding his own biomass to butanol fuel production plants.

Capstone Microturbine

In addition, Global Energy is trying to implement its use in the Capstone Microturbine, as a green energy choice which does not produce any CO and has significantly lower emissions than petrochemical based gasoline or diesel.

Patent Granted - December 12th, 2006 - 7,146,999

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 16:28:19 -0600

The Modular Fluid Handling Device (Modular Block), invented by Greg Giese, was granted a Patent on December 12th, 2006.

Patent Number: 7,146,999 Modular Fluid Handling Device

Download Patent

The Modular Block (click for website) was invented to use as a rapid prototyping tool for gas to liquid fuels. The blocks can be screwed together to form complex gas and liquid systems. Because the units are modular, any size can be assembled from a test unit, to full production process unit. Reviewed by the National Scientific Foundation for some SBIR grants, the scientists gave termed the blocks, “Industrial Legos.”

When more development funds become available for Ocean Ethanol, the group intends to incorporate the gas-to-liquids (GTL) process along with a Capstone Microturbine.

The process, developed by Greg Giese, takes CO2 gas and makes a variety of fuels, including ethanol, methanol, gasoline and butanol. With additional processing and the addition of vegetable oil, you can use the methanol in concert with the process to make biodiesel.

The role of the Capstone will be to provide electricity for the process, along with waste heat used for various process needs. Alternative uses for the Capstone will be removing the alternator to be replaced with a shaft horsepower output pad to run a cavitation unit, for sonochemistry in the process of the gas to liquids as the catalyst mechanism.

Ocean Ethanol - Flex Fuel Vehicles Can Use Methanol (M85)

Tue, 11 Jul 2006 22:15:37 -0500

Flex-fuel vehicles (FFV) have a single fuel tank, fuel system, and engine. The vehicles are designed to run on regular unleaded gasoline and an alcohol fuel (either ethanol or methanol) in any mixture - for example, 100% gasoline, E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline), or M85 (85% methanol, 15% gasoline) or any combination of these fuels.

Source: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/current.shtml

Indy 500 race cars use methanol as their fuel.

Modular Block - Gas and Liquid Channel System

Sun, 28 Nov 2004 18:14:14 -0600

By connecting the modular blocks together and lining up channels, you have a multi-function infrastructure that can process both gases and liquids. The center element can be custom machined in any material to redirect flows, act as a heat exchanger, or provide space for a microreactor. The center element can even be made of multi-layered green ceramic tape to form a microreactor.

Modular Block Concept Formalized

Mon, 15 Nov 2004 17:56:49 -0600

Part of the problem of rapid prototyping catalyst systems is the infrastructure. This involves piecing together pipes and connectors, valves, filters and other mechanical items to form a system. I searched for some solutions that would make this task modular, and only found the SP 76 gas sampling blocks. There were too many limitations however, so I invented my own system. This developed into a multi-bore channel system in a hexagonal format that can be attached by bolts horizontally and vertically.