Patent of the month of October
Climate-neutral petrol
Corona crisis has currently displaced the much more threatening climate crisis from general attention. While climate activists and scientists warn against missing the climate targets from the Paris Agreement, we are experiencing its effects in Germany, too, with the third summer of drought in a row. Electric cars could contribute to climate protection in the mobility sector. However, it is uncertain whether the replacement of combustion engines can be done in sufficient speed and quantity. How about climate-neutral production of fuel without using additional farmland? The idea was taken up by Chemieanlagenbau Chemnitz GmbH. The company has developed a "method and installation for producing a synthetic gasoline" and applied for patent in Germany in 2018 (DE102018103522 A1) - our patent of the month October!
With the power-to-fuel process, synthetic fuel can be produced from CO2-containing industrial exhaust gases, as well as electricity and water. The technical solution is an example of consistent recycling management and means feeding two birds with one scone: as well as using - and eliminating - CO2-containing industrial waste gases as a source for fuel production, the electricity is generated by wind- and waterpower. As a result, petrol can be produced almost CO2-neutral without fossil fuels!
The technology has already been successfully developed from bench to market. The company has been specialising on the construction of large-scale industrial plants for chemical engineering from the early 1960’s. In cooperation with the Institute of Energy Process Engineering and Chemical Engineering (IEC) at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg it developed an industrial gasoline synthesis pilot plant which has been in operation since 2019.
The new product is currently being tested by car manufacturers in the market. In the future, a yield of up to 1MIO litres per year could be achieved. Comparable to bioethanol, the fuel could also be mixed with conventional gasoline and thus promote the climate factor.
In combination with electro mobility and hydrogen technology, synthetic fuel could immediately bridge the gap to climate neutrality. Furthermore, it is suitable for conventional combustion engines in a resource-saving way. As yet, the production of synthetic fuel is not profitable due to high electricity prices. Now it is up to politics to realize this solution for reducing CO2 emissions. The company believes in the potential of its invention and has applied for a worldwide patent in 2019/20.
PNZ Aachen wishes these and similar ideas a long lasting success!
“From idea to product" - the Patent and Standards Information Centre (PNZ), RWTH Aachen University, offers services close to practice for researchers, entrepreneurs, craftsmen, founders and inventors!
Quellen:
https://www.tuvsud.com/de-de/indust-re/klima-und-energie-info/power-to-x
https://www.cac-synfuel.com/de/
https://www.cac-chem.de/de/cac/Unternehmen/Portrait.aspx
https://tu-freiberg.de/presse/tu-bergakademie-freiberg-und-cac-produzieren-klimafreundliches-benzin