The methods and systems described herein relate to a recuperative
combustion system that recuperates energy from fuel
combustion that would otherwise be lost. The recuperative
combustion system minimizes or eliminates the need for an air separator unit through the use of a
clean water splitter section, consisting of a
thermochemical cycle or high-temperature
electrolysis. Water is split into its component
hydrogen and
oxygen, primarily with process heat from the
combustion process. The
oxygen produced by the water splitter provides
oxygen necessary for oxy-fuel combustion, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for the power intensive air separator unit and / or external oxygen source, significantly increasing the efficiency of the oxy-fuel combustion cycle.
Hydrogen produced by the water splitter may be used for a variety of industrial uses, or combined with
carbon dioxide (captured from the
flue gases produced by said
combustion process) to produce
methanol.
Methanol can further be refined in a
methanol to
gasoline reactor to produce
dimethyl ether, olefins or high grade
gasoline. Described herein are methods and systems that 1) increase oxy-fuel combustion efficiency, 2) produce
hydrogen for a suite of industrial / energy uses, and 3) capture
carbon dioxide and convert it to high value hydrocarbons.