Patent Publication Number: US-2015086904-A1

Title: Delivery systems with in-line selective extraction devices and associated methods of operation

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/027,235, filed on Feb. 14, 2011, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 61/304,403, filed on Feb. 13, 2010 and titled FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY AND RESOURCE INDEPENDENCE; U.S. Patent Application No. 61/345,053 filed on May 14, 2010 and titled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RENEWABLE RESOURCE PRODUCTION; and U.S. Patent Application No. 61/401,699, filed on Aug. 16, 2010 and titled COMPREHENSIVE COST MODELING OF AUTOGENOUS SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ENERGY, MATERIAL RESOURCES AND NUTRIENT REGIMES. The present application is a continuation in part of: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/857,553, filed on Aug. 16, 2010 and titled SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, MATERIALS RESOURCES, AND NUTRIENT REGIMES, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/345,053 filed on May 14, 2010 and titled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RENEWABLE RESOURCE PRODUCTION and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/304,403, filed Feb. 13, 2010 and titled FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY AND RESOURCE INDEPENDENCE. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/857,553 is also a continuation-in-part of each of the following applications: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,651, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF; PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24497, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,653, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24498, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,656, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GAS CAPTURE DURING ELECTROLYSIS; and PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24499, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; each of which claims priority to and the benefit of the following applications: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/153,253, filed Feb. 17, 2009 and titled FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/237,476, filed Aug. 27, 2009 and titled ELECTROLYZER AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE TECHNOLOGIES; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/304,403, filed Feb. 13, 2010 and titled FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY AND RESOURCE INDEPENDENCE. The present application is also a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/857,541, filed on Aug. 16, 2010 and titled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED FULL SPECTRUM PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/857,554, filed on Aug. 16, 2010 and titled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED FULL SPECTRUM PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE MATERIAL RESOURCES USING SOLAR THERMAL; U.S. Patent Application No. 12/857,502, filed on August 16, 2010 and titled ENERGY SYSTEM FOR DWELLING SUPPORT; and U.S. Patent Application No. 12/857,433, filed on August 16, 2010 and titled ENERGY CONVERSION ASSEMBLIES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE, each of which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/304,403, filed Feb. 13, 2010 and titled FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY AND RESOURCE INDEPENDENCE. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/857,541, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/857,554. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/857,502, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/857,433 are also each a continuation-in-part of each of the following applications: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,651, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF; PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24497, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,653, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24498, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,656, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GAS CAPTURE DURING ELECTROLYSIS; and PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24499, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; each of which claims priority to and the benefit of the following applications: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/153,253, filed Feb. 17, 2009 and titled FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/237,476, filed Aug. 27, 2009 and titled ELECTROLYZER AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE TECHNOLOGIES; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/304,403, filed Feb. 13, 2010 and titled FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY AND RESOURCE INDEPENDENCE. Each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. To the extent the foregoing application and/or any other materials incorporated herein by reference conflict with the disclosure presented herein, the disclosure herein controls. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is related generally to chemical and/or energy delivery systems with in-line selective extraction devices and associated methods of operation. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently, industrial gases (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, etc.) and/or other chemical feedstocks are typically separated in distillation and/or other processing facilities and supplied to various users via separate pipelines or cylinders carried by trucks. For example, a methane reforming facility typically receives methane (CH 4 ) through a natural gas pipeline and receives other reactants (e.g., hydrogen (H 2 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), etc.) in separate cylinders by trucks. 
     The foregoing delivery system can be inefficient and expensive to operate. For example, separation of the chemical reactants typically involves absorption, adsorption, cryogenic distillation, and/or other techniques that have high capital costs and are energy-intensive. Also, construction and maintenance of pipelines as well as separate delivery of chemicals in cylinders can be expensive and time-consuming. Accordingly, several improvements in efficient and cost-effective chemical delivery systems and devices may be desirable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a delivery system in accordance with aspects of the technology. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an in-line extraction device suitable for use in the delivery system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with aspects of the technology. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a portion of the in-line extraction device in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an in-line extraction assembly suitable for use in the delivery system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with aspects of the technology. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are flowcharts of a method of supplying a chemical in accordance with aspects of the technology. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram of an energy generation/delivery system in accordance with aspects of the technology. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an in-line extraction device in accordance with aspects of the technology. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments of chemical and/or energy delivery systems with in-line selective extraction devices and associated methods of operation are described below. Many of the details, dimensions, angles, shapes, and other features shown in the Figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the technology. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other details, dimensions, angles, and features without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that further embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced without several of the details described below. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the occurrences of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a delivery system  100  in accordance with aspects of the technology. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the delivery system  100  includes a source  102 , a delivery conduit  104  (e.g., a section of pipe) coupled to the source  102 , at least one in-line extraction device  106  (three are shown for illustration purposes and identified individually as  106   a - 106   c ), and a plurality of downstream facilities  108 ,  110 , and  114  (three downstream facilities are shown for illustration purposes and identified individually as  114   a - 114   c ) coupled to the in-line extraction devices  106 . Although the delivery system  100  is shown in  FIG. 1  with the foregoing particular components, in other embodiments, the delivery system  100  can also include valves, compressors, fans, composition analyzers, and/or other suitable components. 
     The source  102  can be configured to produce and supply a mixture of chemicals to the delivery conduit  104 . In one embodiment, the source  102  can include a natural gas facility that provides methane (CH 4 ), ethane (C 2 H 6 ), propane (C 3 H 8 ), and/or other suitable alkanes, alkenes, or alkynes to the delivery conduit  104 . In another embodiment, the source  102  can include a pyrolysis facility configured to convert a biomass (e.g., wood) into a synthetic natural gas containing hydrogen (H 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). In further embodiments, the source  102  can also include other suitable facilities that produce and supply hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), water (H 2 O), and/or other suitable compositions. 
     The in-line extraction devices  106  can be configured to selectively extract, separate, and/or otherwise obtain a chemical composition from the mixture of chemicals supplied by the source  102 . The extracted chemical composition can then be supplied to the corresponding downstream facilities  108 ,  110 , and  114  for further processing. In certain embodiments, the extracted chemical composition can include at least one of methane (CH 4 ), ethane (C 2 H 6 ), propane (C 3 H 8 ), hydrogen (H 2 ), water (H 2 O), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), nitrogen (N 2 ), oxygen (O 2 ), argon (Ar), hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), and/or other suitable gaseous compositions. In other embodiments, the extracted chemical composition can also include gasoline, diesel, and/or other suitable liquid phase compositions. In further embodiments, the extracted chemical composition can include a combination of gas and liquid phase compositions. 
     In one embodiment, the in-line extraction devices  106  can be configured to extract hydrogen (H 2 ) from the mixture in the delivery conduit  104  that contains methane (CH 4 ), ethane (C 2 H 6 ), propane (C 3 H 8 ), and hydrogen (H 2 ). For example, the first in-line extraction device  106   a  can include a filter that extracts hydrogen (H 2 ). The extracted hydrogen (H 2 ) can then be supplied to the downstream facility  108  and used, for example, for atomic absorption spectral photography, used as a carrier gas in chromatography, reacted with carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) to form methanol (CH 3 OH), reacted with nitrogen (N 2 ) to form ammonia (NH 3 ), used to power a fuel cell or an internal combustion engine, and/or used for other suitable purposes. In another embodiment, the first in-line extraction device  106   a  can be configured to extract water (H 2 O) as steam, liquid water, or ice. One example of the in-line extraction devices  106  is described below in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     In another embodiment, the in-line extraction devices  106  can be configured to extract energy from the mixture in the delivery conduit  104  as electricity, heat, and/or other forms of energy. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the second in-line extraction device  106   b  can include a fuel cell (not shown) that can convert hydrogen (H 2 ) in the mixture into electricity and water with external oxygen and/or with oxygen contained in the mixture. The electricity can be supplied to the downstream facility  110  (e.g., a power grid) and the water collected in a drain  112 . The collected water may be used for steam generation and/or other suitable purposes. 
     In another embodiment, an appropriate inline filter such as a low temperature semipermeable membrane or a high temperature oxygen ion transport membrane such as a zirconia solid solution transports oxygen ions in a fuel cell system to react with a fuel  1000  from pipeline  1002  such as hydrogen, ammonia, or a hydrocarbon to produce electricity and/or water and/or carbon dioxide. A fuel cell system  1001  such as shown in  FIG. 7  provides an oxygen ionization electrode  1010 , an oxygen ion transport membrane  1008  and a fuel electrode. Electricity is provided to an external circuit between electrode  1006  and  1010 . In instances that the fuel selection produces water it may be collected for various useful applications by fluid passageways  1004 ,  1012  and/or accumulator  1014  and dispensed by valve  1016  as shown. In instances that the fuel selection produces more moles of product than the moles of reactants it may be utilized to pressurize a portion of the fuel cell and has applications as disclosed in U.S. Application entitled “METHODS, DEVICES, AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING PROPERTIES OF TARGET SAMPLES,” attorney docket no. 69545-8801.US01, filed Feb. 14, 2011, concurrently herewith, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     In further embodiments, the in-line extraction devices  106  can also include a controller configured to (1) select an extraction target material; (2) adjust a rate of extraction of the extraction target material; and/or (3) control a characteristic (e.g., pressure, temperature, etc.) of the extraction target material, e.g., by using a metering system. For example, the third in-line extraction device  106   c  is operatively coupled to a controller  107  (e.g., a computer with a non-transitory computer-readable medium) and the plurality of downstream facilities  114 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of the controller  107  can contain instructions that accept an input of an extraction target material from at least one of the downstream facilities  114 , adjust an operation characteristic of the third in-line extraction device  106   c , and provide the extraction target material to a corresponding downstream facility  114  by switching appropriate valves  116   a - 116   c . In other embodiments, the non-transitory computer-readable medium can also include other suitable instructions for controlling the operation of the third in-line extraction device  106   c.    
     One characteristic of the delivery system  100  is that the mixture produced by the source  102  is not separated before being supplied to the delivery conduit  104 . Instead, various compositions are extracted in-line from the mixture before being supplied to the downstream facilities  108 ,  110 , and  114 . As a result, a central separation facility is eliminated, and the various compositions of the mixture can share one delivery conduit  104 , thus reducing capital investment and operating costs compared to conventional techniques. 
     Embodiments of the delivery system  100  can also be more flexible than conventional techniques for supplying different compositions to a particular downstream facility. For example, in accordance with conventional techniques, if a downstream facility requires a new composition, then a new pipeline may need to be constructed, requiring substantial capital investment and production delay. In contrast, embodiments of the delivery system  100  can readily extract different compositions because the delivery conduit  104  can deliver a wide spectrum of compositions. 
     Further, existing natural gas storage and distribution systems can be improved by addition of hydrogen produced from surplus electricity and/or other forms of surplus energy and selective separation systems for removal of hydrogen from other ingredients typically conveyed by the natural gas systems. Hydrogen can be supplied at increased pressure compared to the pressure of delivery to the separation systems by application of selective ion filtration technology, pressure swing adsorption coupled with a compressor, temperature swing adsorption coupled with a compressor, and diffusion coupled with a compressor. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an in-line extraction device  106  suitable for use in the delivery system  100  of  FIG. 1  in accordance with aspects of the technology.  FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a portion of the in-line extraction device  106  in  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  together, in the illustrated embodiment, the in-line extraction device  106  includes a coaxial filter  254  concentrically positioned in the delivery conduit  104 . Insulator seals  274  support and isolate the filter  254 . The coaxial filter  254  includes conductive reinforcement materials  255  on the outside diameter as shown in  FIG. 3  as a magnified section. 
     The filter  254  is configured to selectively extract a target material from the mixture in the delivery conduit  104 . In the following description, hydrogen extraction is used as an example to illustrate the selective extraction technique, though other compositions may also be extracted with generally similar or different techniques. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter  254  can allow hydrogen to pass through the filter  254  from a first or interior surface  252  to a second or exterior surface  256 . In certain embodiments, the filter  254  can be an electrolyzer that is positioned inline with a conduit  262  and that includes corresponding electrodes at the first and second surfaces  252  and  256 . In other embodiments, if the extraction target material (e.g., hydrogen) is reacted (e.g., via oxidation with oxygen), the filter  254  may also include a catalyst coated on and/or embedded in the filter  254 . For example, in the example of oxidizing hydrogen to produce electricity and water, palladium and alloys of palladium such as silver-palladium and/or other suitable catalysts may be provided in the filter  254 . 
     Filters or membranes suitable for such filtering can include molecular sieves, semi-permeable polymer membranes, hybrid sieve/membranes, capillary structures, and/or a combination thereof. For example, in one embodiment, the filter  254  can include an architectural construct, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “ARCHITECTURAL CONSTRUCT HAVING FOR EXAMPLE A PLURALITY OF ARCHITECTURAL CRYSTALS,” attorney docket No. 69545-8701.US00, filed concurrently herewith, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In another embodiment, the filter  254  can include zeolite, clays (e.g., calcines), and/or other natural minerals. In further embodiments, the filter  254  can include mica, ceramics, patterned metallurgy (e.g., diffusion-bonded metallic particles), and/or other man-made materials. In yet further embodiments, the filter  254  can also include natural materials (e.g., diatomaceous earth) that are milled and/or packaged. 
     Semi-permeable membranes suitable for the filter  254  can include proton exchange membranes of the types used for electrolysis and/or fuel cell applications. Utilizing such a membrane, a process called “selective ion filtration technology” can be performed. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , hydrogen is ionized on the first or interior surface  252  for entry and transport in the filter  254  as an ion by application of a bias voltage to the filter  254 . Optionally, a catalyst may be coated on the filter  254  for increasing the reaction rates. Suitable catalysts include platinum or alloys, such as platinum-iridium, platinum palladium, platinum-tin-rhodium alloys and catalysts developed for fuel cell applications in which hydrocarbon fuels are used. 
     The exterior surface  256  may include conductive tin oxide (not shown) or a screen of stainless steel can be attached to the bare end of an insulated lead from a controller  270  to facilitate electron removal from the ionized hydrogen. Electrons circuited by another insulated lead as shown to the outside surface of the filter  254  by the controller  270  can be returned to hydrogen ions reaching the outside of the filter  254  by the coated tin oxide or the stainless steel screen that also serves as a pressure arrestment reinforcement and electron distributor. 
     Electrons taken from the hydrogen during ionization are conducted to the exterior surface  256  of the filter  254 . On the “filtered hydrogen” side  256  of the filter  254 , electrons recombine with hydrogen ions and form hydrogen atoms that in turn form diatomic hydrogen that pressurizes an annular region  264 . The energy required for such selective-ion filtration and hydrogen pressurization can be much less than the pumping energy required by other separation and pressurization processes. The controller  270  maintains the bias voltage as needed to provide hydrogen delivery at a desired pressure at a port  266 . Bias voltage generally in the range of 0.2 to 6 volts is needed depending upon the polarization and ohmic losses in developing and transporting hydrogen ions along with pressurization of the hydrogen delivered to the annular region  264 . 
     In other embodiments, the filter  254  can also include a hybrid sieve/membrane. For example, in one embodiment, the filter  254  can include a sieve followed by an ionic membrane. In such an embodiment, the sieve can first extract a particular diatomic and/or other types of molecule (e.g., hydrogen) from the mixture, and then the ionic membrane may extract a particular output (e.g., hydrogen or water and electricity). In other embodiments, the filter  254  can include additional sieves and/or membranes. 
     In yet other embodiments, the filter  254  can include capillary structures. For example, the filter  254  can include cellulosic and/or other types of organic/inorganic fibers and materials. In another example, architectural construct, described above may be formed to have capillary functions. In yet another example, such capillary structures may be combined with the sieves and/or membranes discussed above. 
     In further embodiments, the filter  254  can include features that are generally similar in structure and function to the corresponding features of electrolyzer assemblies disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,651, filed Feb. 17, 2010, entitled “ELECTROLYZER AND ENERGY INDEPENDENT TECHNOLOGIES”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,653, filed Feb. 17, 2010, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,656, filed Feb. 17, 2010, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GAS CAPTURE DURING ELECTROLYSIS,” each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     The filter  254  may have a selectivity determined at least in part based on the type of structure of the filter  254  (e.g., arrangement, distribution, alignment of components of the filter  254 ), environmental factors (e.g., electrical input, ultrasonic drivers, optical drivers, centrifugal drivers, and thermal conditions), additional reactants (e.g., oxygen) to the extraction target material, concentration of the extraction target material in the mixture, and/or a target rate of extraction. In other embodiments, the selectivity may also be determined by other suitable factors. 
     Various examples of the mixtures, additional reactants, filter types, catalysts, downstream reactions, and tuning parameters are listed in the table below. These examples are listed for the purpose of illustration, and the current technology can also include embodiments with additional and/or different combinations of the foregoing components and/or parameters. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Additional 
                   
                   
                 Downstream 
                 Tuning 
               
               
                 Mixture 
                 reactants 
                 Filter 
                 Catalyst 
                 Reaction 
                 Parameter 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 H 2  + CH 4   
                 O 2  (or one 
                 Architectural 
                 Rare earth 
                 H 2  + O 2 -&gt;H 2 0 + 
                 Ultrasonic 
               
               
                   
                 of Cl 2 , Br 2 , 
                 construct 
                 metals 
                 heat 
                 and/or 
               
               
                   
                 F 2 , S) 
                 (neat or 
                 Nickel 
                   
                 optical 
               
               
                   
                   
                 suspended) 
                 Platinum 
                   
                 inputs may 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (electrically 
                   
                   
                 be used to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tunable) 
                   
                   
                 improve filter 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Ionic 
                   
                   
                 transport; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 membrane 
                   
                   
                 membranes 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (e.g., 
                   
                   
                 may be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polyamines) 
                   
                   
                 turned with 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Pattern 
                   
                   
                 electrical 
               
               
                   
                   
                 metallurgy 
                   
                   
                 bias 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sieve 
               
               
                 H 2  + CH 4  + 
                   
                 Hydrophobic 
               
               
                 H 2 O 
                   
                 sieve, followed 
               
               
                   
                   
                 by one of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 options above 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to select 
               
               
                   
                   
                 hydrogen 
               
               
                 H 2  + H 2 S 
                   
                 Sieve pre- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 processing 
               
               
                   
                   
                 followed by one 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of the options 
               
               
                   
                   
                 above to select 
               
               
                   
                   
                 hydrogen 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of an in-line extraction assembly  450  configured in accordance with another embodiment of the technology. In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly  450  includes multiple electrolyzers or filters  454  (shown schematically and identified individually as first through fourth filters  454   a - 454   d ) positioned in line with a conduit  462 . In certain embodiments, the conduit  462  can be a natural gas conduit, such as natural gas conduit in a preexisting network of natural gas conduits, a water conduit, and/or other suitable types of conduit. Moreover, the filters  454  can be configured to remove hydrogen that has been added to the natural gas in the conduit  462  for different purposes or end results. For example, each of the filters  454  can include any of the features described above with reference to the filter  254  of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , including, for example, corresponding electrolyzer electrodes. Furthermore, although four filters  454  are shown in  FIG. 4 , the separation of these filters  454  as individual spaced-apart filters is for purposes of illustration. For example, although the filters  454  may provide different outcomes or functions as described in detail below, in other embodiments the filters  454  can be combined into a single filter assembly. 
     As noted above, the filters  454  are schematically illustrated as separate filters for selectively filtering hydrogen for one or more purposes. In one embodiment, for example, the first filter  454   a  can be a hydrogen filter that removes hydrogen from a gaseous fuel mixture in the conduit  462  that includes hydrogen and at least one other gas, such as natural gas. The first filter  454   a  can accordingly remove a portion of the hydrogen (e.g., by ion exchange and/or sorption including adsorption and absorption) from the fuel-mixture for the purpose of providing the hydrogen as a fuel to one or more fuel consuming devices. The second filter  454   b  can be configured to produce electricity when removing the hydrogen from the gaseous fuel mixture. For example, as the hydrogen ions pass through the second filter  454   b , electrons pass to the electron-deficient side of the second filter  454   b  (e.g., a side of the second filter  454   b  exposed to oxygen or another oxidant and opposite the side of the gaseous fuel mixture). The third filter  454   c  can be used to provide water as an outcome of filtering the hydrogen from the gaseous fuel mixture. Moreover, the fourth filter  454   d  can be used to filter hydrogen from the gaseous fuel mixture and to combine the filtered hydrogen with one or more other stored fuels to create an enriched or Hyboost fuel source. For example, the filtered hydrogen can be added to a reservoir of existing gas fuels. 
     Although the filters  454  of the illustrated embodiment are shown as separate filters, in other embodiments any of the functions of the first through fourth filters  454   a - 454   d  (e.g., providing hydrogen, providing electricity, providing water, and/or providing an enriched fuel source) can be accomplished by a single filter assembly  454 . The illustrated embodiment accordingly provides for the storage and transport of hydrogen mixed with at least natural gas using existing natural gas lines and networks. The filters  454  as described herein accordingly provide for filtering or otherwise removing at least a portion of the hydrogen for specific purposes. 
       FIG. 5A  is a process flow diagram of a method or process  500  configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the process  500  includes storing a gaseous fuel mixture including hydrogen and at least one other gas (block  502 ). In one embodiment, for example, the hydrogen can make up approximately 20% or less of the gaseous fuel mixture. In other embodiments, however, the natural gas can be greater than or less than approximately 20% of the gaseous fuel mixture. The process  500  further includes distributing the gaseous fuel mixture through a conduit (block  504 ). In certain embodiments, the conduit can be a natural gas conduit, such as a conventional or preexisting natural gas conduit as used to distribute natural gas for residential, commercial, and/or other purposes. In other embodiments, however, the conduit can be other types of conduit suitable for distributing the gaseous fuel mixture. 
     The process  500  further includes removing at least a portion of the hydrogen from the gaseous fuel mixture (block  506 ). Removing at least a portion of the hydrogen can include removing the hydrogen from the conduit through a filter positioned in line with the conduit. For example, the filter can be a filter generally similar in structure and function to any of the filters described above with reference to  FIGS. 2-4 . The process of removing the hydrogen can be used to provide the hydrogen as a fuel to a fuel-consuming device, produce electricity, produce water, and/or or produce hydrogen for combination with one or more other fuels to produce an enriched fuel mixture. Even though  FIG. 5A  shows the method  500  described with respect to a gaseous fuel, in other embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the method  500  can be applied to a liquid fuel as well. In further embodiments, the method  500  can be applied to a mixture of liquid and gas fuels. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram of an energy generation/delivery system  600  in accordance with aspects of the technology. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the energy generation/delivery system  600  can include an energy system  602 , a pipeline  604 , an electrical grid  605 , an input in-line extraction device  606   a,  an output in-line extraction device  606   b,  and an energy consumer  608  operatively coupled to one another. In one embodiment, the energy system  602  can include a waste water to energy system. In other embodiments, the energy system  602  can include other suitable energy generating systems. In the illustrated embodiment, the pipeline  604  includes a gas pipeline (e.g., a natural gas pipeline). In other embodiments, the pipeline  604  can also include a liquid pipeline and/or a two-phase pipeline. The input and output in-line extraction devices  606   a  and  606   b  can be generally similar to the in-line extraction device  106  ( FIG. 1 ) in structure and in function. The energy consumer  608  can include a caterpillar natural gas turbine and/or other suitable devices that can consume the energy delivered via the pipeline  604 . 
     In operation, the energy system  602  receives a feedstock  601  (e.g., a biomass, natural gas, etc.) and converts the feedstock  601  into a mixture of compositions. The energy generated during the conversion is consumed locally and/or fed to the electrical grid  605 . The input in-line extraction device  606   a  then selectively extracts a first target composition (e.g., a combination of methane and hydrogen and/or other suitable compositions) and supply the extracted first target composition to the pipeline  604 . 
     The output in-line extraction device  606   b  then selectively extracts a second target composition and supply the extracted second composition to the energy consumer  608 . The second target composition can be generally similar to or different from the first target composition. For example, in one embodiment, the second target composition can include methane and hydrogen. In another embodiment, the second target composition can include methane or hydrogen. In further embodiments, the second target composition can include other suitable materials. The energy consumer  608  can then convert the extracted second composition into useful energy (e.g., electricity), which may be consumed locally and/or supplied to the electrical grid  605 . 
     Even though only one input/output in-line extraction device  606   a / 606   b  is shown in  FIG. 6 , in other embodiments, multiple input/output in-line extraction devices  606   a / 606   b  can be located at various locations along the pipeline  604 . Optionally, in certain embodiments, the energy generation/delivery system  600  can also include a metering system (not shown) coupled to at least some of the input/output in-line extraction devices  606   a / 606   b  for measuring a quantity of materials produced, transferred, and withdrawn from the pipeline  604 . One suitable metering system is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “METHODS, DEVICES, AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING PROPERTIES OF TARGET SAMPLES”, attorney docket No. 69545-8801.US01, filed concurrently herewith, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. In other embodiments, the metering system can also be configured for monitoring and controlling a pressure, a composition, a temperature, and/or other suitable operating parameters of the material in the pipeline  604  at different points. By monitoring and/or controlling such operating parameters, the economics of the “wheeling” stations, pumping stations, hubs, market hubs, and market centers can be enhanced by quantity, pressure, and timing when compared to conventional techniques. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number al so include the plural or singular number, respectively. When the claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list. 
     The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the disclosure can be modified, if necessary, to employ fuel injectors and ignition devices with various configurations, and concepts of the various patents, applications, and publications can be modified to provide yet further embodiments of the disclosure. 
     These and other changes can be made to the disclosure in light of the above detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all systems and methods that operate in accordance with the claims. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is to be determined broadly by the following claims.