Patents Represented by Attorney Albert Brent
  • Patent number: 6773743
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a Low Carbohydrate, Low Glycemic Index, cane sugar-free sweetener comprising a synergistic mixture of Lo Han Quo, also referred to as Lo Han Kuo Extract and Sucralose Liquid for use in an improved tasting ice-cream or for sweetening baked goods and candy. The ice cream embodiment has less total carbohydrates per serving and 30% less fat and calories than conventional ice cream. The unflavored ice composition comprises the following in wt. %.: Ingredients Range Best Mode Lo Han Kuo Extract 0.014-0.018 0.016 Sucralose Liquid 0.072-0.080 0.076 CC305 0.200-0.270 0.235 Glycerin 0.900-1.100 1.000 Polydextrose  9.000-10.050 9.525 Whey Protein Concentrate 1.550-1.620 1.585 Egg Yolk Solids 2.000-3.500 2.750 Non fat Dry milk Solids 2.800-3.200 3.000 Cream and Skim Milk 83.454-80.162 81.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Andrew Singer
  • Patent number: 5295350
    Abstract: Mechanical and electrical power are produced along with synthesis or fuel gas by the partial oxidation process with integrated combustion and steam turbines. By-product vaporized liquefied natural gas for feed to a pipeline for gas consumers is obtained by heat exchange with heat containing streams from the partial oxidation gasification and gas cleaning and purification zone; and optionally from heat containing streams from combustion and/or steam turbine zones which are integrated with said partial oxidation process. Heat from the combustion turbine exhaust gas is used as follows: (1) superheat steam for use in a steam turbine; (2) preheat water saturated clean sulfur-free synthesis or fuel gas with or without supplemental methane enrichment; (3) preheat oxygen gas for said partial oxidation zone; and (4) vaporize LNG. Pre, inter, and after stages of an air compressor are cooled by indirect heat exchange with LNG which is thereby warmed or vaporized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Edward T. Child, William L. Lafferty, Jr., Robert M. Suggitt, Frederick C. Jahnke
  • Patent number: 5292442
    Abstract: A process for disposing of sanitary sewage sludge by producing a pumpable slurry of sewage sludge with or without solid carbonaceous fuel and burning said slurry as fuel in a partial oxidation gas generator, furnace, or boiler. The aqueous slurry of sewage sludge is concentrated by removing water by means of a conventional belt filter press, centrifuge, or hydroclone. The dewatered slurry of sewage sludge is heated by direct contact with steam while air and organic vapors are simultaneously removed, to reduce the pressure in the system; hydrothermally treated in two steps with indirect and direct heat exchange with steam; dewatered by flash evaporation and centrifuging; and burned with or without admixture with solid carbonaceous fuel in a partial oxidation gasifier, furnace, boiler, or incinerator to produce synthesis gas or a hot raw effluent gas stream. In a preferred embodiment, the effluent gas stream is cleaned and purified and non-contaminating ash and slag are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Motasimur R. Khan, Harvey D. Schindler, Christine C. Albert, Stephan J. DeCanio
  • Patent number: 5273556
    Abstract: A process for disposing of sewage sludge by heating and shearing an aqueous mixture of sewage sludge in a tubular-shaped processing means containing a plurality of rotating agitators to produce a pumpable aqueous slurry of sewage sludge. The aqueous slurry of sewage sludge is mixed with solid carbonaceous fuel or an aqueous slurry of solid carbonaceous fuel to produce a pumpable aqueous slurry of sewage sludge and solid carbonaceous fuel. The aqueous slurry of sewage sludge and solid carbonaceous fuel is heated in a first steam jacketed rotary disc mixing-heating means. Alternately, first and second hoppers are filled with said heated aqueous slurry of sewage sludge and solid carbonaceous fuel and cycled between a second steam jacketed rotary disc mixing-heating means; wherein while one hopper is being filled the contents in the other hopper are being dewatered. The thickened pumpable slurry is burned in a partial oxidation gasifier, furnace, boiler, or incinerator to produce a hot effluent gas steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. McMahon, Ronald J. McKeon, Robert F. Heyl, Motasimur R. Khan, Kenneth W. McKenzie, Enrique F. Depaz
  • Patent number: 5266085
    Abstract: A process for disposing of sewage sludge comprising the steps of, (1) dewatering the sewage sludge to produce an aqueous slurry of sewage sludge having a solids content of about 10 to 30 wt. %; (2) simultaneously heating and shearing said dewatered sewage sludge at about 150.degree. F. to 210.degree. F. in the absence of air for 0.5 seconds to 60 minutes while being continuously passed through a tubular-shaped processing means containing a plurality of rotating agitators, thereby producing a pumpable slurry having a viscosity of less than about 2000 centipoise; (3) dewatering the sewage sludge if necessary; (4) mixing at a temperature in the range of about ambient to 180.degree. F. in a ribbon or in-line static mixer the slurry of sewage sludge from (2) and/or (3) with a supplemental solid carbonaceous fuel e.g. coal and/or petroleum-coke to produce a pumpable aqueous slurry of sewage sludge and supplemental fuel having a solids content in the range of about 50 to 60 wt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. McMahon, Motasimur R. Khan, Robert F. Heyl, Ronald J. McKeon, Kenneth W. McKenzie
  • Patent number: 5264009
    Abstract: A process for disposing of sanitary sewage sludge by producing a pumpable slurry of sewage sludge with or without solid carbonaceous fuel and burning said slurry as fuel in a partial oxidation gas generator, furnace, or boiler. The aqueous slurry of sewage sludge is concentrated by removing water by means of a conventional belt filter press, centrifuge, or hydroclone. The dewatered slurry of sewage sludge is preheated and sheared; hydrothermally treated; and its solids content increased. A chelating agent, for example an aminopolycarboxylic acid or a hydrocarboxylic acid is mixed with the aqueous slurry of sewage sludge during the preheating and shearing step and/or the step for increasing its solids content. By means of the subject process, the viscosity of the slurry of sewage sludge with or without solid carbonaceous fuel is reduced and coagulation is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Motasimur R. Khan
  • Patent number: 5261602
    Abstract: A partial oxidation process and a novel burner are provided for simultaneously introducing two or three separate feedstreams into a free-flow partial oxidation gas generator for the production of synthesis gas and fuel gas, or reducing gas. The reactant feedstreams include a liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel or a pumpable slurry of solid carbonaceous fuel, and a free-oxygen containing gas e.g. air or oxygen. The burner comprises a central conduit and a plurality of spaced concentric coaxial conduits with down-flowing annular passages. A flat annular-shaped disc or cup-shaped porous ceramic or porous metal cooling means of uniform composition, wall thickness and porosity with the various pores interconnecting is attached to the downstream tip of the burner. A controlled amount of liquid coolant under pressure is passed successively through the porous inside surface, porous core and porous outside surface of the cooling means is vaporized. The tip of the burner is thereby cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Brent, Robert J. Stellaccio, Mitri S. Najjar, Jerrold S. Kassman
  • Patent number: 5251433
    Abstract: Hot raw fuel gas is produced by the partial oxidation of liquid or gaseous hydrocarbonaceous fuel or an aqueous slurry of solid carbonaceous fuel with substantially pure oxygen. The raw fuel gas is cleaned, cooled in a plurality of indirect heat exchangers, and purified to produce clean sulfur-free fuel gas. Water is the coolant in one of said indirect heat exchangers and is thereby heated. Dry nitrogen gas is humidified with the warm water and the humidified nitrogen gas is separately introduced into the combustor of a combustion turbine. The clean sulfur-free fuel gas is passed in indirect heat exchange with the raw fuel gas, expanded to reduce its temperature and pressure, and separately introduced into the combustor where it is burned with air while in the presence of the water humidified nitrogen gas. Flue gas containing water humidified nitrogen gas and a substantially reduced amount of NO.sub.x gases is produced and passed through a power-producing expansion turbine as the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Paul S. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5250083
    Abstract: A process for the partial oxidation of a sulfur- and silicate-containing carbonaceous fuel to produce a synthesis gas with reduced sulfur content which comprises partially oxidizing said fuel at a temperature in the range of 1900.degree.-2600.degree. F. in the presence of a temperature moderator, an oxygen-containing gas and a sulfur capture additive which comprises a calcium-containing compound portion, a sodium-containing compound portion, and a fluoride-containing compound portion to produce a synthesis gas comprising H.sub.2 and CO with a reduced sulfur content and a molten slag which comprises (1) a sulfur-containing sodium-calcium-fluoride silicate phase; and (2) a sodium-calcium sulfide phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: James K. Wolfenbarger, Mitri S. Najjar
  • Patent number: 5234468
    Abstract: A process for disposing of sewage sludge comprising the steps of, (1) dewatering the sewage sludge to produce amorphous sewage sludge having a solids content of about 28 to 50 wt. %; (2) heating said amorphous sewage sludge at about 150.degree. F. to 510.degree. F. in the absence of air for 3 seconds to 60 minutes and mildly shearing the sewage sludge, thereby producing a pumpable feed slurry of sewage sludge having a viscosity in the range of about 400 to 1500 centipoise and a higher heating value in the range of about 5000 to 9500 BTU/LB; and (3) burning said pumpable slurry from (2) in a partial oxidation gasifier, furnace, boiler, or incinerator to produce an effluent gas stream. In one embodiment, the effluent gas stream is cleaned and purified and non-contaminating fly-ash and slag are separated. The fly-ash may be mixed with the sewage sludge in the process to facilitate separation of water during pressing and to encapsulate the non-combustible materials in the sewage sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Motasimur R. Khan
  • Patent number: 5234469
    Abstract: A process for disposing of sewage sludge comprising the steps of, (1) dewatering the sewage sludge to produce an aqueous slurry of sewage sludge having a solids content of about 10 to 50 wt. %; (2) heating and mildly shearing said dewatered sewage sludge at about 150.degree. F. to 210.degree. F. in the absence of air for 3 seconds to 60 minutes by a rotor/mixer at a speed of about 15 to 1000 r.p.m., thereby producing a pumpable slurry having a viscosity of less than about 2500 centipoise; (3) mixing at a temperature in the range of about ambient to 200.degree. F. the slurry of sewage sludge from (2) with a supplemental fuel to produce a pumpable slurry of sewage sludge and supplemental fuel having a solids content in the range of about 50 to 65 wt. % and a higher heating value in the range of about 6,000 to 18,000 BTU/LB; and (4) burning said pumpable slurry from (3) in a partial oxidation gasifier, furnace, boiler, or incinerator to produce an effluent gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Motasimur R. Khan, Matthew A. McMahon, Christine C. Albert, Ronald J. McKeon, Stephen J. DeCanio
  • Patent number: 5232467
    Abstract: Cryogenic liquefied natural gas (LNG) is used as a source of refrigeration and methane in the production of dry sulfur-free, methane-enriched synthesis gas or fuel gas. Raw syngas is indirectly and directly contacted with cryogenic liquefied natural gas (LNG) and cooled thereby below the dew point. Water is thereby condensed out and separated from the process gas stream. Further, the liquid LNG vaporizes and increases the methane content of the dewatered synthesis gas. Cold liquid absorbent solvent contacts the dry CH.sub.4 -enriched synthesis gas in an absorption column and absorbs the acid gases e.g. H.sub.2 S and COS and optionally H.sub.2 S+COS+CO.sub.2. In a preferred embodiment, the rich solvent absorbent is regenerated in a stripping column and the released acid gases are sent to a Claus unit for the production of elemental sulfur. In a second embodiment, the regenerated lean liquid absorbent solvent may be mixed with the dry, purified synthesis gas leaving from the top of the absorption tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Edward T. Child, William L. Lafferty, Jr., Robert M. Suggitt, Frederick C. Jahnke
  • Patent number: 5230211
    Abstract: An improved process for the low-cost disposal of noxious municipal sewage sludge in a safe way without polluting the environment. In the process, a portion of a stream of dewatered sewage sludge having a solids content in the range of about 17 to 40 wt.% is dried to produce dried sewage sludge having a solids content in the range of about 75 to 99 wt.%. The dried sewage sludge is ground to a small particle size. A pumpable aqueous feed slurry having a solids content in the range of about 45 to 70 wt.% is produced comprising (a) solid carbonaceous fuel, (b) ground dried sewage sludge, and (c) sheared and/or unsheared dewatered sewage sludge. The parts by weight of (a):(b):(c) are respectively in the range of about 3 to 8:0.5 to 2:0.5 to 2, and preferably 6:1:1. The aqueous feed slurry is gasified in a free-flow partial oxidation gas generator. Synthesis gas, reducing gas or fuel gas is produced, Ash and slag are separated from the gas stream and safely disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. McMahon, Michael C. Martin, Kenneth W. McKenzie
  • Patent number: 5217625
    Abstract: A process for disposing of sanitary sewage sludge by producing a pumpable slurry of sewage sludge with or without solid carbonaceous fuel and burning said slurry as fuel in a partial oxidation gas generator, furnace, or boiler. First, an aqueous slurry of sewage sludge is concentrated to produce sewage sludge cake. The sewage sludge cake is preheated and sheared while in contact with sulfuric or sulfurous acid to produce a pumpable acidified aqueous slurry of sewage sludge having a pH of about 1 to 5. After two-stage hydrothermal treatment with neutralization of the sewage sludge after the second hydrothermal stage, the solids content of the pumpable aqueous slurry of sewage sludge is increased. By means of the subject process, the viscosity of the slurry of sewage sludge with or without solid carbonaceous fuel is reduced and coagulation is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Motasimur R. Khan, Matthew A. McMahon, Ronald J. McKeon
  • Patent number: 5211724
    Abstract: An improved process for the low-cost disposal of noxious sewage sludge in a safe way without polluting the environment. In the process, sewage sludge having a solids content of about 0.5 to 20 wt.% is concentrated by pressing in a belt filter press, optionally followed by pressing in a high intensity press. It was unexpectedly found that the morphology of the resulting dewatered sewage sludge is changed by such mechanical treatment so that slurries with higher concentrations of solids are achieved. The dewatered sewage sludge is heated, flash evaporated and/or centrifuged, and mixed with a supplemental fuel e.g., liquid hydrocarbonaceous and/or solid carbonaceous fuel to produce a pumpable fuel slurry having a total solids content in the range of about 50 to 70 wt.% and comprising about 10 to 40 wt.% dewatered sewage sludge and having a higher heating value in the range of about 5,000 to 14,000 BTU/Lb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco, Inc.
    Inventors: Motasimur R. Khan, Ronald J. McKeon
  • Patent number: 5211723
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel pumpable sewage sludge fuel and process for burning it. An aqueous slurry of sewage sludge is dewatered and dried to a solids content in the range of about 50 to 99 wt. % in a drying zone in the absence of free-oxygen containing gas but while in contact with a gaseous material selected from the group consisting of N.sub.2, CO.sub.2, H.sub.2, CO, and mixtures thereof. The dried sewage sludge is mixed with a supplementary fuel from the group consisting of solid carbonaceous fuel, liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel, mixtures thereof, and optionally with water to produce a pumpable slurry fuel feedstream having a solids content in the range of about 50 to 65 wt. % and a higher heating value of at least about 6,000 Btu/lb. The slurry fuel feedstream may be burned in a partial oxidation gasifier, furnace, boiler, or incinerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Motasimur R. Khan
  • Patent number: 5188741
    Abstract: A process for treating sanitary sewage sludge to achieve increased solids, decreased viscosity, and a reduction of pathogens. The aqueous slurry of sewage sludge having a solids content in the range of about 3 to 35 wt. % is simultaneously conveyed and preheated, mascerated, heated in an heat exchanger, hydrothermally treated in a closed vessel under a blanket of nitrogen at about 500.degree. F. and a pressure of about 750 psig and above the vapor pressure of water at that temperature, dewatered and cooled in a first multi-step flash evaporation zone where the pressure is dropped in three steps from about 750 psig to about 50 psig and then in a second flash evaporation zone the pressure is dropped to about 25 psig, cooling and condensing the vapor from said first and second flash evaporation zones, and removing a dewatered pumpable slurry of sewage sludge product having a solids content in the range of about 5 to 50 wt. % and a reduced amount of pathogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Zang, Motasimur R. Khan
  • Patent number: 5188740
    Abstract: A process for disposing of sanitary sewage sludge by producing a pumpable slurry of sewage sludge and low grade solid carbonaceous fuel and burning said slurry as fuel in a partial oxidation gas generator, furnace, or boiler. The aqueous slurry of sewage sludge is concentrated by removing water by means of a conventional belt filter press or presses. Prior to and/or immediately after said concentrating step particles of low grade solid carbonaceous fuel e.g. lignitic coal, peat, wood and cellulose-containing materials are mixed with the slurry of sewage sludge. The dewatered slurry of sewage sludge and low grade solid carbonaceous fuel is hydrothermally treated in three stages and excess water is separated by flash evaporization and/or centrifuging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Motasimur R. Khan
  • Patent number: 5188739
    Abstract: A process for disposing of sanitary sewage sludge by producing a pumpable slurry of sewage sludge and solid carbonaceous fuel e.g. coal, petroleum coke, rubber. The slurry is burned as a fuel in a partial oxidation gas generator, furnace, or boiler. In the process, an aqueous slurry of sewage sludge is concentrated by removing water by means of a conventional belt filter press or presses. The dewatered slurry of sewage sludge is hydrothermally treated and cooled and depressurized. The viscosity of the slurry of sewage sludge is reduced to less than about 2000 centipoise by shearing. The sheared sewage sludge is then ground together with a solid carbonaceous fuel to produce a pumpable slurry which is burned with a free-oxygen containing gas in a partial oxidation gasifier, furnace, boiler, or incinerator to produce a hot raw effluent gas stream. In a preferred embodiment, the effluent gas stream is cleaned and purified and non-contaminating ash and slag are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Motasimur R. Khan, Richard B. Zang, Christine C. Albert
  • Patent number: 5162268
    Abstract: Vanadium garnet materials and a method for their preparation. The vanadium garnet material has a trivalent vanadium cation and a composition that falls within a specific prismatic-shaped volume in a quaternary composition diagram of MnO, CaO, V.sub.2 O.sub.3, and SiO.sub.2. In the process, specific amounts of separately pre-heated V.sub.2 O.sub.3, MnO, CaO and SiO.sub.2 powders are ground and mixed together, pelletized, heated at a temperature in the range of about 1100.degree. C. to 1400.degree. C. for 12 to 48 hours in an atmosphere of carefully selected oxygen pressure comprising a gas mixture of high purity CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 to produce a liquid melt, and cooling, crystallizing out and separating said vanadium garnet material. A typical vanadium garnet material has the formula Mn.sub.1.3 Ca.sub.1.7 V.sub.2 Si.sub.3 O.sub.12. The vanadium garnet materials may be used in laser applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Arnulf Muan, Mitri S. Najjar