Abstract:
Systems and methods of generating power or producing gaseous products generate CO 2  as a waste product or as a greenhouse gas. Rather than being discharged into the atmosphere, the CO 2  is employed in a bioreactor to enhance the growth of algae. The algae then becomes a commercial product, or it can be consumed as fuel in the generation of power or the production of a gaseous product.

Description:
RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/270,035, filed Jul. 3, 2009, Confirmation No. 9380 (Foreign Filing License Granted); and is a continuation-in-part of copending International Patent Application Ser. No. PCT/US2009/003934, filed Jul. 1, 2009, which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/133,596, filed Jul. 1, 2008; and is a continuation-in-part, and claims the benefit of the filing dates of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 61/199,837, filed Nov. 19, 2008; 61/199,761 filed Nov. 19, 2008; 61/201,464, filed Dec. 10, 2008; 61/199,760, filed Nov. 19, 2008; 61/199,828 filed Nov. 19, 2008, and 61/208,483, filed Feb. 24, 2009; the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to systems for generating power and systems for producing gas products, and more particularly, to a system and method of employing exhaust and waste CO 2  to enhance the growth of algae as a commercial product and as a feedstock. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Prior to the 1980&#39;s it was normal and considered good practice to design, build, and operate dedicated manufacturing plants for most every product that was produced on a large scale in the world. Shortly after that period many industries became enlightened to the merit of flexible machining, and flexible manufacturing. Much of this paradigm shift was accomplished on the back of the modern microprocessors. This device allowed more enlightened design, and more importantly complex control, and precise control of involved processes. Many new inventions were required in the wake of this manufacturing revolution. Instead of an assembly line in the past making only one dedicated product, current best in class assembly lines make up hundreds of different products and models, in batch sizes of one, with no perceived loss of productivity or additional set up time. This clever thought process, and design, has netted many benefits to industries like the automotive world, heavy duty engines, and other hard goods manufacturers. 
         [0006]    The energy world has not yet embraced this concept. There is a need to produce energy products in a more efficient and cleaner process than any carbon based process presently in use. One implementation of this concept does not use fossil fuels. In another implementation, the use of fossil fuels (such as coal) is minimized where possible. This is essential in developed countries, such as the United States, that have an elevated need for a “clean coal” electricity generation system, and for the manufacture of other fossil fuel energy dependent products, such as plastics, gaseous fuels, and fertilizers. In the United States and other developed countries, there is an ongoing effort to reduce the dependence on imported oil. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to achieve these goals in an environmentally friendly way. 
         [0007]    Current power generation plants have only one primary process; i.e., to produce electricity by burning fuel and consequently emitting pollutants, such as green house gasses. One of the significant disadvantages of conventional power plants is that when they are brought off-line, and then restarted, they are unacceptably inefficient and produce exceeding amounts of harmful emissions. Modern power plants do not efficiently enable the throttling back of production of electrical power, and therefore they are operated continuously near the designed load limit. Since electrical power cannot be stored, power plants are frequently shut down and restarted in response to the varying demand for electrical power by consumers on a day-to-day basis, and as a result of differences in demand between day and night conditions. 
         [0008]    With few exceptions (e.g., hydroelectric, wind, and nuclear power generation systems) power plants burn huge amounts of fossil fuel at relatively low efficiencies. The average efficiency of coal power plants in the United States is approximately 34%. Natural gas plants are slightly more efficient. 
         [0009]    The predominant green house gas produced by power plants is CO 2 . In the present state of the art, coal plants in the United States produce on average approximately 2.01 Lbs of CO 2  per KWH of power. Natural gas and petroleum plants produce about 1.6 Lbs of CO 2  per KWH. These are “carbon positive” green house gasses, in that they were removed from the ground and released to the atmosphere. In a carbon neutral process no new emissions are released into the atmosphere. In other words, nothing that has been removed from the ground is released into the atmosphere. Only existing carbon and green house gasses that are already in circulation are processed and released. 
         [0010]    In a carbon negative process green house gasses are removed on a net basis from the atmosphere into a captured state. An example would be to extract CO 2  from the atmosphere and capture it into a hard substance, such as a plastic. A better product would be fertilizer since it could then be used to grow plants and food that continue to capture CO 2 . 
         [0011]    It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a power generation system that reclaims heat energy that otherwise would be exhausted into the atmosphere. 
         [0012]    It is another object of this invention to provide a power generation system that operates at higher efficiency than conventional power generation systems. 
         [0013]    It is also an object of this invention to provide a power generation system that eliminates the need for load cycling in response to consumer demand for power. 
         [0014]    It is yet another object of this invention to provide a power generation system that greatly reduces emissions of CO 2 . 
         [0015]    In addition to the foregoing, the current method of producing ammonia typically begins with fossil fuels such as coal, oil, natural gas, propane, butane, naphtha, etc. that are processed to liberate hydrogen. This known approach disadvantageously strains limited resources. The known processes liberate significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other green house gasses that are believed by some to contribute to global warming. In addition to environmental effects, the known processes have resulted in political unrest, such as in China where the population battled over the rationing of fertilizer containing ammonia. The political unrest resulted from the fact that the fossil fuels needed to produce the ammonia were preferentially redirected to other fuel starved areas. 
         [0016]    In 2006 the worldwide production of ammonia was approximately 146.5 million tons. It is believed that political problems will worsen in the future. For example, it was estimated that in 2003 83% of all ammonia produced was used to produce fertilizer. Moreover, it has been published that over 33% of the worlds food supply is generated through the use of fertilizer, and some have argued that the percentage is higher. It is therefore evident that with reasonably population growth and increasing competition for arid land, the reliance on fertilizer will only increase. 
         [0017]    In 2004 China was the largest producer of fertilizer for the world at 28.4%, followed by India at 8.6%, Russia at 8.4%, and the United States at 8.2%. None of the operations in these countries use large scale renewable resources. Europe, up until the end of WWII, used a 60 MW hydroelectric power plant at Vermork, Norway to produce ammonia. The plant produced the required key ingredient, hydrogen, using an electrolysis process. Electrolysis is generally not economically feasible for producers who are not blessed with hydroelectric power. At that time, much of the ammonia was used to produce munitions for the war, and the economics of such application of resources was not questioned. The foregoing notwithstanding, the Vermork site was a prominent example of ammonia production using a non-carbon-liberating base of production to date. 
         [0018]    Plasma melters are now becoming a reliable technology that is used to destroy waste. At this time there are few operational plasma melter installations but the technology is gaining acceptance. It is a characteristic of plasma melters that they produce a low BTU syngas consisting of several different elements. If the plasma melters are operated in a pyrolysis mode of operation, they will generate large amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The syngas byproduct typically is used to run stationary power generators, and the resulting electric power is sold to the power grid. 
         [0019]    It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a system for liberating hydrogen. 
         [0020]    It is another object of this invention to provide a system for liberating hydrogen on a large scale and that does not require large electrical generation resources. 
         [0021]    It is also an object of this invention to provide a system for liberating hydrogen that does not require consumption of natural resources. 
         [0022]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a method and system of producing ammonia inexpensively. 
         [0023]    It is additionally an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive method of using hydrogen to produce ammonia. 
         [0024]    It is yet a further object of this invention to provide an inexpensive method of using a plasma melter to generate large amounts of hydrogen. 
         [0025]    It is also another object of this invention to provide a method of generating hydrogen wherein waste carbon dioxide is obtained from a renewable energy source and therefore does not constitute an addition to the green house gas carbon base. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    The foregoing and other objects are achieved by this invention which provides a method of manufacturing ammonia on a large scale. In accordance with an ammonia-producing aspect of the invention, the method includes the steps of: 
         [0027]    supplying a fuel material to a plasma melter; 
         [0028]    supplying electrical energy to the plasma melter; 
         [0029]    supplying steam to the plasma melter; 
         [0030]    extracting a syngas from the plasma melter; 
         [0031]    extracting H 2  and CO 2  from the syngas; 
         [0032]    supplying at least a portion of the CO 2  extracted from the syngas to a bioreactor for enhancing the growth of algae; and 
         [0033]    forming ammonia from the hydrogen produced in said step of extracting hydrogen; 
         [0034]    wherein the algae forms at least a portion of the fuel material in said step of supplying the fuel material to the plasma melter. 
         [0035]    In accordance with an ethylene-producing aspect of the invention, the method includes the steps of: 
         [0036]    supplying a fuel material to a plasma melter; 
         [0037]    supplying electrical energy to the plasma melter; 
         [0038]    supplying steam to the plasma melter; 
         [0039]    extracting a syngas from the plasma melter; 
         [0040]    extracting H 2  and CO 2  from the syngas; 
         [0041]    supplying at least a portion of the CO 2  extracted from the syngas to a bioreactor for enhancing the growth of algae; and 
         [0042]    forming ethylene from the hydrogen produced in said step of extracting hydrogen; 
         [0043]    wherein the algae forms at least a portion of the fuel material in said step of supplying the fuel material to the plasma melter. 
         [0044]    In accordance with a methane-producing aspect of the invention, there are provided the steps of: 
         [0045]    supplying a fuel material to a plasma melter; 
         [0046]    supplying electrical energy to the plasma melter; 
         [0047]    supplying steam to the plasma melter; 
         [0048]    extracting a syngas from the plasma melter; 
         [0049]    extracting H 2  and CO 2  from the syngas; 
         [0050]    supplying at least a portion of the CO 2  extracted from the syngas to a bioreactor for enhancing the growth of algae; and 
         [0051]    forming methane from the hydrogen produced in said step of extracting hydrogen; 
         [0052]    wherein the algae forms at least a portion of the fuel material in said step of supplying the fuel material to the plasma melter. 
         [0053]    In accordance with a method of reclaiming carbon dioxide in an industrial process, there are provided the steps of: 
         [0054]    obtaining an output gas from the industrial process; 
         [0055]    delivering the output gas to a plasma melter; 
         [0056]    delivering a fuel material to the plasma melter; 
         [0057]    extracting CO and H 2  from the plasma melter; 
         [0058]    converting the CO and H 2  into CO 2  and H 2 ; 
         [0059]    delivering at least a portion of the CO 2  and H 2  to a reactor wherein the CO 2  and H 2  are converted to CH 4  and steam; 
         [0060]    returning the CH 4  to the industrial process; and 
         [0061]    delivering at least a portion of the CO 2  obtained in said step of converting the CO and H 2  into CO 2  and H 2  to a bioreactor for enhancing the growth of algae. 
         [0062]    In one embodiment of the inventive method of reclaiming carbon dioxide in an industrial process, the output gas from the industrial process is CO 2 . Prior to performing the step of delivering the output gas to a plasma melter there is provided, in one embodiment, the step of collecting the CO 2  from the industrial process. In a further embodiment, the output gas from the industrial process is an exhaust gas. 
         [0063]    In accordance with a system aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for generating electrical power, the system including a reactor for producing a product gas in response to the consumption of a feedstock. A heat reclamation arrangement extracts heat from the product gas and forms heated steam. There is additionally provided a turbine having an input for receiving the heated steam, an outlet for exhausting spent steam, and a rotatory output. An electrical generator is coupled to the rotatory output of the turbine for producing electrical energy. Additionally, a bioreactor is in some embodiments of the invention arranged to receive CO 2  for enhancing the growth of algae. 
         [0064]    In one embodiment of the invention, there is further provided the delivery of at least a portion of the algae as a fuel material to the plasma melter. 
         [0065]    In accordance with a further method aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating an electrical power plant. In accordance with the invention, the method includes the steps of: 
         [0066]    delivering a feedstock to a plasma melter to produce a product gas; 
         [0067]    reclaiming heat from the product gas in a heat reclamation arrangement to form a super heated steam; 
         [0068]    reclaiming CO 2  and H 2  from the product gas; and 
         [0069]    delivering the CO 2  to a bioreactor for enhancing the growth of algae. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0070]    Comprehension of the invention is facilitated by reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which: 
           [0071]      FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention wherein ammonia product is produced along with algae that is used as a fuel; 
           [0072]      FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention wherein ethylene product and other carbon-based products are produced along with algae that is used as a fuel; 
           [0073]      FIG. 3  is a simplified schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention wherein methane product is produced along with algae that is used as a fuel; 
           [0074]      FIG. 4  is a simplified schematic representation of a still further specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, utilizing a Europlasma plasma melter and wherein methane product is produced along with algae that is used as a fuel; and 
           [0075]      FIG. 5  is a simplified schematic representation of yet another embodiment of the invention showing a primary plant system, and wherein algae is produced that is used as a fuel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0076]      FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention wherein ammonia product is produced along with algae for use as a fuel. As shown in this figure, an ammonia producing system  100  receives municipal waste, or specifically grown biomass  110  that is deposited into a plasma melter  112 . In the practice of some embodiments of the invention, the process is operated in a pyrolysis mode (i.e., lacking oxygen). Steam  115  is delivered to plasma melter  112  to facilitate production of hydrogen and plasma. Also, electrical power  116  is delivered to plasma melter  112 . A hydrogen rich syngas  118  is produced at an output (not specifically designated) of plasma melter  112 , as is a slag  114  that is subsequently removed. 
         [0077]    In some applications of the invention, slag  114  is sold as building materials, and may take the form of mineral wool, reclaimed metals, and silicates, such as building materials. In some embodiments of the invention, the BTU content, plasma production, and slag production can also be “sweetened” by the addition of small amounts of coke or other additives (not shown), which in some embodiments of the invention includes fossil fuels. In other embodiments, the fossil fuels are combined to form a fossil fuel cocktail that includes, for example, a biomass material, municipal solid, waste and coal. In still other embodiments, the fossil fuels may be of a low quality, such as brown coal, tar sand, and shale oil. 
         [0078]    The syngas is cooled, cleaned, and separated in a pretreatment step  120 . The carbon monoxide is processed out of the cleaned syngas at the output of a Water Gas Shift reaction  122 . The waste carbon dioxide  126  that is later stripped out is not considered an addition to the green house gas carbon base. This is due to the fact it is obtained in its entirety from a reclaimed and renewable source energy. In this embodiment of the invention, the energy source is predominantly municipal waste  110 . 
         [0079]    In some embodiments, the carbon dioxide is recycled into the plasma melter  112  and reprocessed into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, or carbon and O 2 . A Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) process, molecular sieve, aqueous ethanolamine solutions, or other processes are used in process step  124  to separate out carbon dioxide  126 . Hydrogen from process step  124  is delivered to a conventional Haber Bosch process  128 , which is a well-known large scale high pressure process for producing ammonia, or other similar process, to produce ammonia  134 . The required nitrogen is extracted from air  132  through a PSA  130  or any other conventional method. As previously noted, the hydrogen is, in some embodiments of the invention, extracted from the plasma melter. Pretreatment step  120  and Water Gas Shift reaction  122  generate heat that in some embodiments of the invention is used to supply steam to the plasma melter, or to a turbine generator (not shown), or any other process (not shown) that utilizes heat. 
         [0080]    In accordance with a highly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the waste CO 2    126  that is issued at process step  124  is delivered to a bioreactor  140  that produces algae at an output  142 . The algae is produced using the waste CO 2  and is delivered as biomass  110  to plasma melter  112 . In addition to the foregoing, bioreactor  140  generates O 2  at an output  144 . 
         [0081]      FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention wherein ethylene product is produced along with algae that is used as a fuel. Elements of structure that have previously been discussed are similarly designated. 
         [0082]    In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, a portion of the CO and hydrogen obtained from pretreatment step  120  is diverted by a flow control valve  150  and supplied to a Fischer Tropsch Catalyst process  155 . In some embodiments of the invention, the Fischer Tropsch Catalyst process is an iron-based Fischer Tropsch Catalyst process. This diverted flow is applied to achieve an appropriate molar ratio of CO and hydrogen, and thereby optimize the production of ethylene  157  or other carbon-based products. 
         [0083]    Pretreatment step  120 , Water Gas Shift reaction  122 , and Fischer Tropsch Catalyst process  155  generate heat that in some embodiments of the invention is used to supply steam to the plasma melter  112 , or to a turbine generator (not shown), or any other process (not shown) that utilizes heat. 
         [0084]      FIG. 3  is a simplified schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention  300  wherein methane product is produced along with algae that is used as a fuel. Elements of structure that have previously been discussed are similarly designated. 
         [0085]    In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, a portion of the carbon monoxide and hydrogen obtained from pretreatment step  120  is diverted by a flow control valve  150  and supplied to Sabatier Reactor  165 . This diverted flow is applied to achieve an appropriate molar ratio of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and thereby optimize the production of methane. In addition, in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, a flow valve  160  diverts a portion of the hydrogen and carbon dioxide that is produced at the output of Water Gas Shift reaction  122  to Sabatier Reactor  165 . 
         [0086]    Pretreatment step  120 , Water Gas Shift reaction  122 , and Sabatier Reactor  165  generate heat that in some embodiments of the invention is used to supply steam to the plasma melter  112 , or to a turbine generator (not shown), or any other process (not shown) that utilizes heat. 
         [0087]      FIG. 4  is a simplified schematic representation of a still further specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, utilizing a Europlasma plasma melter and wherein methane product is produced along with algae that is used as a fuel. Elements of structure that have previously been discussed are similarly designated. In addition, other embodiments can, in light of this teaching, be produced by persons of skill in the art using other forms of plasma melters, such as an InEnTec plasma enhanced melter, or a Westinghouse plasma melter. 
         [0088]    As shown in this figure, a carbon dioxide recycling system  400  includes a power plant  201 , which in this embodiment of the invention is a conventional coal power plant having a base load, in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, of 1830 MW per day. In some embodiments of the invention, however, power plant  201  is powered by natural gas. In embodiments where power plant  201  is a modern coal plant, it will emit on average about 3,458,700 Lbs of carbon dioxide per hour, or about 13 to 18% of its exhaust stream by volume. 
         [0089]    Carbon dioxide recycling system  400  additionally is provided with an oxygen enriched coal power plant  202 . Oxygen enriched coal power plant  202  issues a higher concentration of carbon dioxide in its exhaust stream, i.e., about 65% by volume. Other industrial plants  203  and  204  are also included in carbon dioxide recycling system  200 . Industrial plant  203 , for example, includes in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention an ammonia plant, an H 2  plant, an ethylene oxide plant, and a natural gas plant. These plants issue a carbon dioxide output concentration of approximately 97% by volume. Ethanol plant  204  is, in some embodiments, a modern plant that issues approximately 99% carbon dioxide by volume. 
         [0090]    Carbon dioxide collectors  210  and  211  (or flue gas reactors) are carbon dioxide sequestering systems. Such systems are commercially available from suppliers such as Alstrom. In this embodiment, carbon dioxide collector  210  receives the carbon dioxide output of power plant  201 , and carbon dioxide collector  211  receives the carbon dioxide output of oxygen enriched coal power plant  202 . The carbon dioxide outputs of carbon dioxide collector  210 , carbon dioxide collector  211 , plants  203 , and ethanol plant  204 , are combined, in this embodiment of the invention, as carbon dioxide  219  and delivered to a Sabatier reactor  218 . 
         [0091]    A water gas shift reactor  242  is included in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention for applications that require maximum hydrogen yield to optimize the methane conversion in Sabatier reactor  218 . This will further reduce the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by increasing the processing capability of the Sabatier reactor. Carbon dioxide waste stack  244  emits “carbon neutral” carbon dioxide since the carbon dioxide will, in some embodiments, be reclaimed from waste. 
         [0092]    In a highly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, a plasma enhanced melter  240 , which may be of the type known as a Europlasma Plasma Melter, is used generate, inter alia, syngas comprised of CO and H 2 . Conventional electrolysis can be used in some embodiments to generate hydrogen, but the feed stock of municipal waste  205  with its paid tipping fee and its liberation of significant energy and reclaimed useful materials make the use of a plasma enhanced melter the preferred choice. 
         [0093]    Europlasma Plasma Melter  240  generates a net positive outflow of usable energy (ignoring the stored energy in municipal waste) and produces no additional pollution, or carbon footprint. The primary desired output of plasma enhanced melter  240  is hydrogen rich synthesis gas (syngas) that is piped to Sabatier reactor  218 . As shown in this figure, the hydrogen rich synthesis gas is delivered in parallel with carbon dioxide  219  to Sabatier reactor  218 . 
         [0094]    In one implementation of the invention, Sabatier reactor  218  is a ceramic foam Sabatier reactor. However, other forms of fuel producing endothermic reactors can be used in the practice of the invention. The close coupling of a sympathetic endothermic reaction is not required, but renders the process more energy efficient. The Sabatier reactor operates to effect the following reaction: 
         [0000]      CO 2 +4H 2 ═CH 4 +2H 2 O
 
         [0095]    The primary desired output of carbon dioxide recycling system  400  is methane (CH 4 ) at the output of Sabatier reactor  218 , which is reburned, in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, in power plant  201  and oxygen enriched coal power plant  202 . Reclaimed metals  214  and silica based construction materials  215  are additional benefits of plasma enhanced melter  220 . 
         [0096]    In essence, the carbon dioxide that is emitted by power plant  201  and oxygen enriched coal power plant  202  is continuously recycled, bringing its carbon foot print closer to zero and vastly increasing the efficiency of such plants, thereby reducing the amount of coal required per kilowatt-hour of power produced. However, the use of bioreactor  140  in this embodiment can reduce the carbon foot print to less than zero 
         [0097]    In some embodiments of the invention, Sabatier reactor  218  is jacketed (not shown) in a steam generating heat transfer system (not specifically designated). Such jacketing is particularly advantageous when combined with the alumina ceramic design of the Sabatier reactor in this embodiment of the invention. The combination of the superior heat transfer of the alumina ceramic material with a steam generator increases the heat recovery efficiency of the system. Steam  217 , as well as stored energy recovered from Sabatier reactor  218  is in this embodiment of the invention, returned to power plant  201  and oxygen enriched coal power plant  202 , or it can be sold locally to surrounding industries (not shown), or as municipal steam for heating. 
         [0098]    In this embodiment of the invention, there are provided pressure swing absorbers  232  and  234  (PSAs) that serve to separate the hydrogen from the CO 2 . A number of other methods such as molecular sieves, and the like can be used in the practice of the invention. 
         [0099]      FIG. 5  is a simplified schematic representation of yet another embodiment of the invention showing a primary plant system  500  wherein algae is produced that is used as a fuel. As shown in this figure, a plasma reactor  310  will process a feedstock  312  that in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention can consist of 100% coal, 100% municipal solid waste (MSW), 100% biomass, or any combination thereof. Other heat sources other than plasma could be used in the practice of the invention. In this embodiment, feedstock coke  315  may optionally be used. Feedstock air, or oxygen enriched air  117  also optionally may be delivered to plasma reactor  110 . 
         [0100]    Direct or indirect acting plasma torches  320  are used in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention to excite plasma reactor  310 . In a preferred mode of operation plasma reactor  310  is operated in a pyrolysis mode with compressed MSW as the feedstock. However, plasma reactor  310  can be operated in a non pyrolysis mode in the practice of the invention. Additives  322  are optionally delivered to plasma reactor  310  to neutralize the acid or base content (not specifically designated) of a product gas  325  that is conducted along an outlet duct  330 . Product gas  325  exits the plasma reactor at approximately 1250° C., and approximately 27% of the total energy that is present in product gas  325  from the plasma reactor  310  primarily is in the form of sensible heat. Due to the extreme temperature and composition of product gas  325 , most of the heat energy has heretofore usually been wasted. The present invention includes within its scope several methods of utilizing this energy more effectively. In this embodiment, the heat contained in product gas  325  is recovered in a high temperature heat reclamation system  335   
         [0101]    It is shown in  FIG. 5  that heated/super critical steam  350  is piped to a steam turbine  300 . Steam turbine  300  is coupled to rotate a generator  302  to produce electrical energy at an electrical output  305  that is used to operate plasma torches  320 . A further electrical output  307  issues electrical energy that is used to operate miscellaneous process systems (not specifically designated), and a net carbon free electrical output  310  from generator  302  constitutes net power to the distribution grid (not shown). 
         [0102]    In a 2,500 Ton per Day (TPD) MSW plant the net continuous carbon free electrical output from this stage would be approximately 31 MW. Spent steam  315  is returned through a condenser  318  and a conduit  370 , and is recharged through high temperature heat reclamation system  335 , as previously described. In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the spent steam that is conducted through conduit  370  includes steam obtained from a Richardson reactor  340 . 
         [0103]    It is noteworthy that the generated electrical power is actually carbon negative in this application since the typical make up of MSW contains significant amounts of biomass that captures CO 2  from the atmosphere prior to being processed in the plasma reactor  310 . No additional greenhouse gas credits are produced due to the avoidance of escaping gaseous pollution from landfills. Pure biomass will produce greater power with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. 
         [0104]    At the other extreme of the feedstock  312  scale is coal with an illustrative BTU content of approximately 14,120 btu/lb. If coal is used as feedstock  312  in a 2,500 TPD plant, the net electrical output  310  of this stage will be approximately 90 MW. This power is carbon free since no exhaust gas is released to the atmosphere in the production of this power. A combination of biomass, MSW, and coal will produce a proportionate amount of net electrical energy  310 . 
         [0105]    Product gas  325   a  that has been passed through high temperature heat reclamation system  335  is routed, in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, through control valves  330 - 333  to produce various products. It is to be noted that plant system  500  can employ one or more, in any combination, of reactors  340 - 343 . In addition, some embodiments of the invention are provided with a secondary power generation system  360 , wherein the CO and H 2  that are passed thought control valve  361  is compressed and provided to a secondary gas turbine (not shown) that drives a secondary generator (not shown). In still further embodiments of the secondary power generation system, heat is extracted from the exhaust of the secondary gas turbine and is used to drive yet another turbine (not shown) and further generator (not shown). 
         [0106]    Product gas  325   a  that is issued by high temperature heat reclamation system  335  is routed, in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, through a Richardson reactor  340 , which in some embodiments is a Fischer Tropsch style reactor. During off-peak electrical generation hours (e.g., at night), a base amount of carbon free, or carbon negative electrical energy is sent to the grid through generator  302 . The product gas is directed to make selectively C 2 , C 3 , C 4 , and C 5  products  350  such as plastic feed stocks through Richardson reactor  340 . A small amount of CO product gas  351  is collected and sold for industrial use or product feed stock, such as detergents and polycarbonates. The CO product gas  351  is, in some embodiments of the invention, gas shifted, such as in a water gas shift process  342 , to produce more hydrogen and more products  350  with a slight release of carbon neutral CO 2  or carbon positive CO 2 , depending on which feed stock  312  is being used. 
         [0107]    Product gas  325   a  is additionally directed to water gas shift process  342 , and the shifted CO 2  and H 2  are delivered in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention to pressure swing adsorption processes (PSAs)  334   a  and  334   b.  The CO 2  separated by the PSAs is provided to bioreactor  140  for enhancing the growth of algae  142 , as noted above, as well as O 2  at outlet  144 . 
         [0108]    Each of reactors  340 - 343  reclaim any heat possible using steam loops, such as that designated as steam loop  353 . The additional steam loops to the balance of the reactors are not shown for sake of clarity of the figure. A Sabatier Reactor  341  produces CH 4  as its output product. An ammonia process  342  produces feed stock for fertilizer or munitions, and a methanol reactor  343  produces methanol as its output product, specifically CH 3 OH. In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, during peak electrical demand hours reactors  340 - 343  are bypassed by the closure of control valves  330 - 333 , and product gas  325   a  is directed to secondary power generation system  360  via a control valve  361 . Also, each of reactors  340 - 343  is shown to issue some CO, which in some embodiments of the invention, is delivered to water gas shift process  342  (conduits not shown). 
         [0109]    Although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments and applications, persons skilled in the art can, in light of this teaching, generate additional embodiments without exceeding the scope or departing from the spirit of the invention herein claimed. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawing and description in this disclosure are proffered to facilitate comprehension of the invention, and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.