Patents Examined by N. Bhat
  • Patent number: 7928273
    Abstract: Processes for producing hydrocarbons in the gasoline and jet fuel range. The processes involve the thermal decarboxylation of fatty acids, which can be derived from the hydrolysis of triglycerides, which triglycerides can be vegetable oils, animal fats, or combinations thereof. The resulting hydrocarbons can be hydrocracked, and, optionally, isomerized and/or hydrotreated, to yield hydrocarbons in the jet fuel or gasoline range. Where the resulting hydrocarbons include olefinic double bonds, they can alternatively be combined with low molecular weight olefins, and subjected to olefin metathesis to yield hydrocarbons in the jet fuel or gasoline range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventor: David Bradin
  • Patent number: 7922871
    Abstract: A method of recycling composite material comprising carbon fibers and a resin, the method comprising: providing a furnace comprising at least a heating portion; providing a transporter for transporting the composite material through the furnace; loading the composite material on the transporter and transporting the composite material through the furnace; detecting a percentage of oxygen in an atmosphere in the heating portion when the composite material has entered this portion; and removing resin from the composite material, as it travels through the heating portion of the furnace on the transporter, by means of chemical decomposition at a first temperature, with the resultant generation of fumes; wherein the generated fumes are removed from the heating portion in a controlled manner, such that the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere in the heating portion is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Recycled Carbon Fibre Limited
    Inventors: Roy Price, John Davidson
  • Patent number: 7922870
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for waste tyres pyrolysis wherein whole tyres are directly heated in a tunnel type furnace with flue gases from the combustion of pyrolysis gases. The process produces thermal energy, carbon black and mineral oil. The cooled flue gases are purified from sulfur oxides before released into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventors: Dimitar Nikolaev Kolev, Radka Borisova Ljutzkanova, Stefan Todorov Abadjiev
  • Patent number: 7918973
    Abstract: A process for treating solid organic materials, especially for recycling treated wood, uses energy provided by hot gases at the bottom of a reactor column to perform a distillation operation which ensures splitting of organic bonds in the material and uses, as the distillation operation progresses, constant control between a first temperature of the hot gases before they are introduced into the lower part of the reactor column and a second temperature of a layer of the material located in an area immediately above the grid of the reactor column. When the first temperature and the second temperature are identical or virtually identical, corresponding to removal of all the organic bonds of the material by evaporation and transport by the hot gases from the bottom to the top of the column, the layer of material at the second temperature is removed in order to collect a material that largely consists of carbon and constitutes a secondary raw material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Thermya
    Inventor: Jean-Sebastien Hery
  • Patent number: 7919050
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus is provided for efficiently purifying particulate matter discharged from an internal combustion engine at a lower exhaust gas temperature by adequately disposing of the absorbent material for absorbing hydrocarbon, the combustion catalyst for hydrocarbon, and the combustion catalyst for particulate matter. The exhaust gas purifying apparatus disposed in an exhaust gas path of the internal combustion engine for purifying particulate matter in exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine, includes a particulate filter, wherein the particulate filter has a porous wall; a first layer formed on a surface of the porous wall, including an absorbent material for absorbing hydrocarbon contained in exhaust gas; and a second layer formed on a surface of the first layer, containing a combustion catalyst for the particulate matter and a combustion catalyst for the hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Matsuo, Takeshi Mori, Atsushi Furukawa, Norihiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7915460
    Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel or fuel blending component from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils and greases. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating i.e. decarboxylating and/or hydrodeoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel fuel. The hydrocarbon fraction is isomerized to improve cold flow properties. At least one interstage stream of the hydrogenating and deoxygenating reaction zone is heat exchanged with the feed to the isomerization reaction zone, and/or the effluent of the hydrogenating and deoxygenating reaction zone is heat exchanged with the feed to the isomerization reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: UOP LLC, ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, John P. Brady, Marco Di Stanislao
  • Patent number: 7914670
    Abstract: An inline bitumen froth steam heater system including steam injection and static mixing devices is provided. The system heats and de-aerates input bitumen froth without creating downstream processing problems with the bitumen froth such as emulsification or live steam entrainment. The system is a multistage unit that injects and thoroughly mixes steam with bitumen resulting in output bitumen material having temperature of about 190° F. The system conditions a superheated steam supply to obtain saturated steam at about 300° F. The saturated steam is contacted with bitumen froth flow and mixed in a static mixer stage. The static mixers provide surface area and rotating action that allows the injected steam to condense and transfer its heat to the bitumen froth. The mixing action and increase in temperature of the bitumen froth results in reduction in bitumen viscosity and allows the release of entrapped air from the bitumen froth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Les Gaston, Donald Norman Madge, William Lester Strand, Ian Noble, William Nicholas Garner, Mike Lam
  • Patent number: 7906079
    Abstract: A reactor including a monolith having a plurality of fins in an annular arrangement for receiving fluid flow through the reactor. The monolith is disposed within a generally cylindrical outer tube, and around a corrugated inner tube. The reactor includes a device for urging the monolith radially outward, so as to maintain contact between the monolith and the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Catacel Corp.
    Inventors: William A. Whittenberger, David A. Becker, Randall J. Bartos
  • Patent number: 7901635
    Abstract: When fluids A and B are caused to flow together from a fluid introduction portion into a microreactionchannel, they are divided into a plurality of fluid segments A and B in a diametral section of the microreactionchannel at the entrance side, and are mixed with each other by molecular diffusion to perform multiple reaction while being caused to flow as laminar flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Mae
  • Patent number: 7896935
    Abstract: A process of conducting a catalyst reaction or fluid separation in comprising: at least one process microchannel having a height, width and length, the height being up to about 10 mm, the process microchannel having a base wall extending in one direction along the width of the process microchannel and in another direction along the length of the process microchannel; at least one fin projecting into the process microchannel from the base wall and extending along at least part of the length of the process microchannel; and a catalyst or sorption medium supported by the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Dongming Qiu, Richard Q. Long, Barry L. Yang, Thomas Yuschak, Steven T. Perry
  • Patent number: 7893307
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for producing hydrocarbon materials from a feed composition, the apparatus including a feed port; a viscous shear apparatus; a thermal decomposition assembly including a ribbonchannel reactor which includes an inner heated hollow cylinder; an outer heated hollow cylinder, one of which is rotatable with respect to the other, both heated hollow cylinders providing heat to the feed composition to convert it to a vapor fraction and a solid residue fraction; low height flighting mounted with respect to the inner and outer heated hollow cylinders to move the feed composition through the thermal decomposition assembly; at least one vapor port for removing the vapor fraction; and at least one solids port for removing the solid fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: David G. Smith
  • Patent number: 7892303
    Abstract: A first process step comprises creating a hot gas, containing some molecular oxygen, by burning gas fuel with air and subsequently adding air to the burned gases. A second process step passes these hot oxygen containing gases through a bed of coal chunks, to remove volatile matter from the coal, and partially oxidize some of the volatile matter, as well as to transform the coal chunks into coke chunks. These hot coke chunks are transferred into a coke reaction chamber, where air is passed upward through the coke bed and oxidizes the coke largely to carbon monoxide, a fuel gas. This carbon monoxide fuel gas is combined with the volatile matter gases, and this fuel gas combination can be cleanly burned with addition thereto of overfire air. These process steps create a clean hot gas suitable for use in various apparatus, such as, steam boilers, gas turbines, and cement kilns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph Carl Firey
  • Patent number: 7887764
    Abstract: A mixer and mixer assembly for turbulent mixing and enhancing a chemical reaction is provided. A method for using a mixer and mixer assembly for treatment of fluids is also provided. The mixer generally includes a first and second end, a surface configured for turbulent mixing, a catalyst supported thereon, and surface structure configured to increase interaction of catalyst and reactant. The mixer assembly generally includes a mixer inserted inside a fluid container or a tube and may also include a catalytic sleeve for enhancing interaction between catalyst and reactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Gary R. Jernberg
  • Patent number: 7888540
    Abstract: A method of producing a fuel composition from a bio-oil feedstock is provided, wherein the bio-oil feedstock is subjected to a step of oil extraction to produce a bio-oil and deoiled residue. At least a portion of the deoiled residue is gasified to produce a hydrogen-containing gas. The bio-oil is subjected to an upgrading process to ultimately produce a fuel composition. At least a part of the hydrogen-containing gas produced in the gasification of deoiled residue is used in the upgrading process of producing a fuel composition. The upgrading process, which can involve hydro-treating, hydroisomerization and at least one separation step, produces light hydrocarbons in addition to the product fuel composition. The light hydrocarbons can be used in the gasification operation, e.g., to reduce tar formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregg Anthony Deluga, Vladimir Zamansky, Ke Liu, Tiffany Elizabeth Pinard Westendorf
  • Patent number: 7883605
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a process for pyrolyzing hydrocarbonaceous material are provided. In one embodiment the process for pyrolyzing hydrocarbonaceous material includes charging a reactor with a feed material comprising hydrocarbonaceous material, heating the feed material, and collecting liquid product from the reactor which is anaerobic in operation. At least 5% of the organic carbon atoms which are not present in an aromatic ring of a compound of the feed material are present in an aromatic ring of a compound in a liquid portion of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Charlie Holding Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Charles W. Grispin
  • Patent number: 7880044
    Abstract: Biogas is converted to a liquid fuel by passing the biogas through a liquid reaction medium that contains a petroleum fraction in the presence of a transition metal catalyst, and doing so at an elevated but non-boiling temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventors: Rudolf W. Gunnerman, Peter W. Gunnerman
  • Patent number: 7880043
    Abstract: A hydrotreatment method of treating feedstocks coming from renewable sources, so as to produce gas-oil fuel bases of excellent quality feedstocks, for example, vegetable oils, whether unprocessed or having undergone beforehand a prerefining step, animal fats, or mixtures of such feedstocks. The feedstocks are subjected to a multistep treatment including hydrodehydrogenating and hydroisomerizing catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Thierry Chapus, Natnalie Dupassieux
  • Patent number: 7871499
    Abstract: A retort oven for decomposition of waste materials through pyrolysis employing a deck with a variable angle of inclination for adjusting the retention time and processing rate of waste material flowing unassisted through the oven interior. The oven includes an outer shell lined with a refractory material and houses an inner oven chamber. The deck is adjustably hinge mounted to the inner chamber supporting sidewalls extending in a decline from a waste material entrance to a charred material exit. The deck is operated in a preferred angle range of inclination between 28°-50° from the oven floor normal. A controlled heat source is positioned within the oven to heat a first outer volume whose heated gases are transferred into a second inner volume of the inner chamber using an array of heat gun tubes heating the deck and material as it descends along the declined deck. The deck can be adjusted for varying the retention time of material within the oven for varied exposure to heat and charring efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Simeken, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Gehring, William Sweet
  • Patent number: 7872165
    Abstract: A hydrotreating method (HDT) utilizes two plants working under different operating conditions with an intermediate stripping for co-treating a mixture made up of oils of vegetable or animal origin and petroleum cuts (gas oil cuts (GO) and middle distillates) in order to produce gas oil fuel bases meeting specifications. The first plant (HDT1) is more particularly dedicated to the reactions concerning oils of vegetable or animal origin in comixture while pretreating the hydrocarbon feed, whereas the second plant (HDS2) works under more severe conditions to obtain diesel fuel according to standards, in particular in terms of effluent sulfur content, density and cold properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Fabrice Bertoncini, Karin Marchand
  • Patent number: 7867321
    Abstract: An improved cyclone system for disengaging solid and gaseous particles in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processes with reduced coke formation in disengager vessels, without favoring release of the disengaged catalyst into cyclones in subsequent stages, said system comprising legless cyclones 42 fitted with external collector pipes 43, is described. The collector pipes 43 optimize the purge of gases coming from the disengager vessel 49, reducing the time the hydrocarbons remain inside the disengager vessel 49, thus preventing overcracking and subsequent coke formation. Positioning of the external collector pipes 43 prevents release of the disengaged catalyst into cyclones in subsequent stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras
    Inventors: Emanuel Freire Sandes, Paulo Sérgio Freire, José Geraldo Furtado Ramos, Aurélio Medina Dubois, José Mozart Fusco, Eduardo Cardoso de Melo Guerra, Wilson Kenzo Huziwara