In embodiments, the steam reforming module further comprises a separation module in fluid communication with, and downstream of, the reactor module. In embodiments, the separation module is configured to separate the syngas into a carbon-based gas stream and a hydrogen gas stream. In embodiments, the hydrogen gas stream is output from the steam reforming module via a hydrogen gas output. In embodiments, the separation module is configured to input the carbon-based gas stream to the oxygen combustion chamber. There is thus a symbiotic relationship between the steam reforming module and the oxygen combustion chamber where the oxygen combustion chamber provides the thermal energy to heat the steam reforming module, and the steam reforming module provides further carbon-based fuel which in turn, generates further energy. As such, In embodiments, the method further comprises separating the syngas into a carbon-based gas stream and a hydrogen gas stream; and passing the carbon-based gas stream into the oxygen combustion module.

The oxygen combustion chamber is in energy communication with the turbine. In embodiments, the turbine forms part of a power module comprising the turbine and a fluid input line. In embodiments, the fluid input line is in thermal communication with the oxygen combustion chamber such that the thermal energy generated in the oxygen combustion chamber is configured to heat a working fluid (e.g. water) contained within the fluid input line (e.g. to generate steam). In embodiments, the turbine is in fluid communication with, and downstream of, the fluid input line such that working fluid (e.g. water/steam) heated by the oxygen combustion chamber is passed to the turbine. The turbine may then convert the energy from the flow of the working fluid to work. In embodiments, the method comprises heating a working fluid in a fluid input line before passing the working fluid to the turbine to convert the energy from the flow of the working fluid to work.

In embodiments, the oxygen combustion chamber is configured to heat a working fluid held within a closed loop system. In embodiments, the closed loop system comprises the turbine and a pump configured to move the working fluid around the closed loop system. For example, the fluid input line may be configured to extend between the pump and the turbine. For example, the working fluid that has passed through the turbine may be passed back to the pump for recirculation. In embodiments, the method comprises heating a working fluid within a closed loop system comprising the turbine, wherein the energy of the flow of the working fluid through the turbine is converted to work.

In embodiments, the closed loop system further comprises a condenser unit configured to convert gaseous-phase working fluid, output from the turbine, into liquid-phase working fluid. Thus, in embodiments, the method comprises condensing the working fluid (e.g. steam) output from the turbine (e.g. to liquid water), and may comprise passing the condensed working fluid (e.g. water) back to the pump for recirculation in the closed loop system.

In embodiments, the turbine is in direct communication with a shaft of the compressor, wherein the turbine is configured to move the shaft of the compressor. Thus, movement of the turbine by the flow of the working fluid passing therethrough results in movement of the shaft of the compressor, which in turn causes the compressor to compress a fluid (e.g. gas, e.g. carbon dioxide gas) contained therein. In embodiments, the turbine is coupled to a generator, wherein the generator is configured to generate electricity to power the compressor. Thus, movement of the turbine by the flow of the working fluid passing therethrough results in generation of electricity in the generator which is, in turn, provided to the compressor.

The generator may be any suitable and/or desirable generator known in the art. In embodiments, the generator comprises (e.g. is) a permanent magnet (PM) motor.

Detailed Description of Example Embodiments The following description presents particular examples and, together with the drawings, serves to explain principles of the disclosure. However, the scope of the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the precise details of the examples, since variations will be apparent to a skilled person and areas deemed to be covered by the description. Terms for components used herein should be given a broad interpretation that also encompasses equivalent functions and features. In some cases, alternative terms for structural features may be provided but such terms are not intended to be exhaustive.

Descriptive terms should also be given the broadest possible interpretation; e.g. the term “comprising” as used in this specification means “consisting at least in part of” such that interpreting each statement in this specification that includes the term “comprising”, features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprises” are to be interpreted in the same manner.

The description herein refers to examples with particular combinations of features, however, it is envisaged that further combinations and cross-combinations of compatible features between embodiments will be possible. Indeed, isolated features may function independently as an disclosure from other features and not necessarily require implementation as a complete combination.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show different embodiments of a carbon dioxide injection line compression system 100, 200, 300 that differ in the arrangement of the communication between the oxygen combustion chamber output 112, 212, 312 and the storage site 150, 250, 350.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a carbon dioxide injection line compression system 100 comprising a compressor 140 for compressing carbon dioxide gas from a source of carbon dioxide gas 130 such as a process plant prior to storing the carbon dioxide gas at a storage site 150. The carbon dioxide is transported from the carbon dioxide source 130 to the storage site 150 via the main carbon dioxide storage line 145a, 145b. The main carbon dioxide storage line comprises the compressor 140 such that the carbon dioxide input (via the main line 145a) is compressed upstream of the storage site 150. A turbine 120 is in communication 125 with the compressor 140 and is configured to drive the compressor 140.

The oxygen combustion chamber 110 is configured to combust or burn a fuel, input from line 104, in an oxygen-rich atmosphere, with the oxygen input from line 102. As a result, a gaseous mixture comprising carbon dioxide and water is produced within the oxygen combustion chamber 110. The carbon dioxide can then then transferred, via output line 112, to the main carbon dioxide line 145b output from the compressor 140, upstream of the storage site 150.

The combustion process also generates heat energy which can be used in downstream processes with a view to providing a more energy efficient system. As such, the turbine 120 is in energy communication 114 with an oxygen combustion chamber 110 such that the “waste” heat energy is transferred from the oxygen combustion chamber to the turbine 120, the movement of which then results in the compressor 125 being driven. The compression of the carbon dioxide upstream of the storage site 150 may therefore be performed without any external energy sources, improving energy efficiency, which in turn reduces the costs of running the carbon dioxide injection line compression system 100. Alternatively, the energy required by to compress the carbon dioxide may be supplemented with a further energy source.

FIG. 1 thus shows an embodiment of a carbon dioxide injection line compression system 100 wherein the carbon dioxide generated in the oxygen combustion chamber 110 has a pressure that is sufficient to be directly input (e.g. injected) into a storage site 150 without itself needing to be compressed.

FIG. 2, in contrast, shows a carbon dioxide injection line compression system 200 which differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1 in that the carbon dioxide generated within the oxygen combustion chamber 210 is compressed by the compressor 240 before being transferred to the storage site 250. This may be used, for example, if the carbon dioxide generated in the oxygen combustion chamber 210 is generated at low pressures, i.e. the carbon dioxide generated has a pressure that would be unsuitable for storage without being first compressed.

As such, the carbon dioxide injection line compression system 200 comprises an oxygen combustion chamber 210 in energy communication 214 with a turbine 220 which is in turn configured to drive 225 a compressor 240. The compressor 240 may be configured to receive carbon dioxide from an upstream source of carbon dioxide 230, such as a process plant, via the main line 245a, as well as the carbon dioxide generated by the combustion process in the oxygen combustion chamber 210. The carbon dioxide output 212 from the oxygen combustion chamber may be added to the main carbon dioxide line 245a prior to the carbon dioxide being input to the compressor 240. The compressor 240 then compresses the carbon dioxide to the desired pressure before being transferred to the storage site, e.g. an underground well, via the main carbon dioxide line 245b.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a carbon dioxide injection line compression system 300 wherein the carbon dioxide generated by the combustion process in the oxygen combustion chamber 310 is greater than the input pressure of the compressor, but less than the output pressure of the compressor. In other words, the pressure of the carbon dioxide generated in the oxygen combustion chamber 310 is greater than the pressure of the carbon dioxide configured to be received by the compressor and less than the pressure required for storage at the storage site 350. As such, the carbon dioxide gas output from the oxygen combustion chamber 310 needs to be compressed to an extent.

In such an embodiment, the compressor 340 may have a plurality of compression stages, wherein each stage compresses the carbon dioxide gas to a greater extent than the previous stage. As such, the output line 112 may be configured to be in communication with a suitable compression stage such that the carbon dioxide gas is input to the main carbon dioxide storage line 345a, 345b at an intermediary (or subsequent) stage of the compressor 340 that will result in an increase of pressure of the carbon dioxide gas.

With the exception of the arrangement of the compressor 340, the system 300 is similar to the systems 100 and 200 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Namely, the. carbon dioxide injection line compression system 300 comprises an oxygen combustion chamber 310 in energy communication 314 with a turbine 320 which is in turn configured to drive 325 a compressor 340. The compressor 340 may be configured to receive carbon dioxide from an upstream source of carbon dioxide 330, such as a process plant, via the main carbon dioxide line 345a, as well as the carbon dioxide generated by the combustion process in the oxygen combustion chamber 310, via the output 312. (Although, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments the combustion process may be the source of carbon dioxide, i.e. the source of carbon dioxide 330 may be omitted.) The compressor 330 then compresses the carbon dioxide to the desired pressure before being transferred to the storage site 50, e.g. an underground well, via the main carbon dioxide storage line 345b.

FIG. 4 shows a carbon dioxide injection line compression system 400. Air is input into an air separation unit 405 to provide a source of oxygen for the oxygen combustion chamber 410 via input like 402. Natural gas is also input into the oxygen combustion chamber 410 via input line 404. Combustion of the carbon dioxide and the natural gas generates carbon dioxide and water (in the form of steam) is output via line 416 into a purification unit 470 which separates water from the carbon dioxide. A portion of the carbon dioxide is recirculated back into the oxygen combustion chamber 410 via line 475 to provide control of the combustion reaction (e.g. to influence temperature and/or pressure). This may be controlled by a valve, a flowmeter, or by another compressor in the line. The remainder of the (purified or separated) carbon dioxide is output from the purification unit 470, via line 412. In the embodiment shown, the carbon dioxide output from the purification unit 470 is input (e.g. injected) directly to the storage site. However, it will be appreciated that the embodiment may be modified such that the carbon dioxide output from the purification unit 470 is provided to the compressor 440 to be compressed upstream of the storage site, for example, if the carbon dioxide is output at a pressure that is too low for storage.

In this embodiment, the turbine 420 of the carbon dioxide injection line compression system 400 is included within a closed loop system 450, which, in addition to the turbine 420, includes a condenser 455, and a pump 460 that is configured to circulate a working fluid (in this case water) around the closed loop system 450. The closed loop system 450 is provided in energy communication 414 with the oxygen combustion chamber 410. In some embodiments, this energy communication 414 may result from a portion of the closed loop system pipelines being in physical contact with the oxygen combustion chamber 410 such that heat generated in the oxygen combustion chamber 410 is used to heat the working fluid contained within said pipeline (thus acting as a heat exchanger). When the working fluid is water, this may result in vaporisation of liquid water to steam which can then be passed to the turbine 420 such that the flow of the steam through the turbine 420 is converted to work. On output from the turbine 420, the steam/water working fluid may be passed to the condenser 455 to convert any remaining steam back to liquid water, before being redirected to the pump for further circulation.

The turbine 420 is in communication 425 with the compressor 440 such that the turbine drives the compressor 440 and causes compression of carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide source via the main carbon dioxide storage line 430 (and/or the carbon dioxide from the purification unit