Patents Examined by N. Bhat
  • Patent number: 7803333
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for thermal processing of slurry, slurry is combined with a bio-mass to produce a mixture. The mixture is subjected in a heated mixer pump to a cracking temperature, thereby allowing the mixture to catalytically undergo a cracking reaction to produce a reaction mixture which is directly outgased in the mixer pump to produce an outgased portion and a solid portion. The outgased portion and the solid portion are separately discharged from the mixer pump; with the low boiling fraction of the outgased portion allowed to cool down for further processing, and the solid portion collected in a residual matter container for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventor: Jürgen Buchert
  • Patent number: 7802420
    Abstract: A power generation system and method of operating a power generation system which comprises a diesel engine which produces lean exhaust which passed to an exhaust after treatment system comprising an exhaust line which is in communication with a controller, reformer, lean NOx trap and SCR has been taught wherein the reformer comprises oxidation and reforming catalyst is a composition which comprises a catalyst wash coat comprising a ZrO2 refractory metal oxide support, a LnxOy distributed on the surface of the refractory metal oxide in an amount to form a monolayer over the refractory metal oxide support wherein Ln is selected from the group consisting of La, Nd and mixtures thereof and Rh distributed over the catalyst surface in an effective amount to catalyze steam reforming at 650° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Damodara M. Poojary, Ralph Albert Dalla Betta, Jon Gilbert McCarty
  • Patent number: 7802423
    Abstract: A system and method for the reduction of NOx emissions from combustion sources are provided. The system includes a fuel tank, fuel converter unit, condensor unit, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) unit and an engine. The condenser unit includes a generally cylindrical inner wall defining a cavity having a first lower end and a second upper end, the first lower end is configured to include a gas inlet for receiving a gas mixture from the fuel converter and the second upper end is configured to include a gas outlet in fluid communication with the SCR unit. A heat exchanger is disposed within the cavity of the condensor unit to contact the gas mixture and separate heavy hydrocarbons from light hydrocarbons, wherein the light hydrocarbons are fed to the SCR unit and the heavy hydrocarbons are condensed and either send back to the fuel tank or directly to the engine for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arnaldo Frydman, Ke Liu, Gregg Anthony Deluga, David Eric Ladd
  • Patent number: 7803332
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a reactor system comprising at least one reactor wherein makeup water for said system is preheated by water/steam exiting said reactor. In a preferred embodiment the system comprises plural reactors and the invention provides for each reactor to independently achieve isothermal operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Harold Brown, Paul Hamilton, Keith Holroyd Kuechler
  • Patent number: 7799960
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for thermal processing of slurry, the slurry is combined with a bio-mass to produce a mixture which is then subjected to a cracking temperature in a receiving tank, thereby liquefying and allowing the mixture to catalytically undergo a cracking reaction. The cracking reaction which the liquefied mixture undergoes is continued in a mixer pump to thereby produce a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is outgased in an intermediate tank to separate an outgased fraction from a non-outgased fraction. Subsequently, the outgased fraction is allowed to cool down, thereby producing fuel, while the non-outgased fraction is returned to the receiving tank and subjected again to the cracking temperature. Residual matter of the non-outgased fraction settles in the intermediate tank and is periodically removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: Jürgen Buchert
  • Patent number: 7799288
    Abstract: An apparatus for recovery power from an FCC product is described. Gaseous hydrocarbon product from an FCC reactor is heat exchanged with a heat exchange media which is delivered to an expander to generate power. Cycle oil from product fractionation may be added to the gaseous FCC product to wash away coke precursors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: John A. Petri
  • Patent number: 7799177
    Abstract: A deheader valve is fitted onto an existing or new coke drum by initially positioning the body and valve, and then raising the valve to mate with the flange using a lifting device other than a chain fall. The vertical positioning of the deheader valve is preferably accomplished with a hydraulic or pneumatic piston, winch, scissor jack, ratchet jack, screw jack, and so forth. The distance traveled by the valve using these devices is more than 2 cm, commonly at least 20 cm, and in some installations up to 40 cm or more. In retrofit situations an oil inlet is provided in a side wall of the drum above the bottom drum flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Oder, Leslie P. Antalffy, Samuel A. Martin, Kenneth D. Kirkpatrick, Michael B. Knowles, George T. West
  • Patent number: 7799291
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating ZnO nanostructures includes a heating element, a horizontal reaction tube having an inlet and an outlet. The reaction tube is positioned inside the interior cavity of the heating element with the inlet disposed to introduce a carrier gas into the reaction tube. The apparatus includes a source of a carrier gas in flow communication with the inlet, a container within the reaction tube that is disposed to receive and contain source materials comprising ZnO and graphite. An array of solid substrates is located on the container above the source materials. Adjacent substrates in the array are positioned with a space in between to allow the carrier gas to impinge on the source materials in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jae-Hwan Park, Heon-Jin Choi, Jae-Gwan Park
  • Patent number: 7789999
    Abstract: Described is a thermal decomposition treatment system and method of using the thermal decomposition treatment system wherein flammable waste is inputted into a trash burner which is shielded from air or gas and the waste is thermally decomposed and carbonized. The thermal decomposition treatment chamber includes a plurality of heating tubes wherein the flammable waste is inputted into the chambers while hot air is passed through the heating tubes which indirectly heats the flammable waste in an anaerobic environment the resulting gases are purified, recovered and reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Jong Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7785447
    Abstract: Closed apparatus and processes by which carbon feedstock is composed of a mixture of non-coking coal fines and another carbonaceous material, such as waste coke fines, are described. The coal and coke fines are mixed together and may be formed into solid pieces. The mixture alone or as solid pieces is fired through pyrolyzation into solid pieces of coke, with solid and gaseous by-products of pyrolyzation being recycled for use within the coke-producing closed system, thereby reducing or eliminating release of undesirable substances to the environment. A char-forming binder may or may not be added to the carbon mixture prior to pyrolyzation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Combustion Resources, LLC
    Inventors: Craig N. Eatough, Jon S. Heaton, Steven R. Eatough
  • Patent number: 7785540
    Abstract: For an exhaust emission control device of an internal combustion engine with a support which has a catalytically active coating for absorbing oxygen (O2) in the reduction of the exhaust gas and for releasing oxygen in the oxidation of the exhaust gas, it is proposed that the catalytically active coating comprises different materials (A, B, C) which can store oxygen and which each form a component storage unit (MA, MB, MC) for the oxygen (O2), the first material (A) at lambda ?<1 changing its oxidation stage and constituting a first component storage unit (MA) for oxygen (O2), the second material (B) at lambda ?=1 changing its oxidation stage and constituting a second component storage unit (MB) for oxygen (O2), and the third material (C) at lambda ?>1 changing its oxidation stage and constituting a third component storage unit (MC) for oxygen (O2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Bodo Odendall
  • Patent number: 7785380
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing sulfur from a hydrocarbon fuel. The apparatus includes a combustion reactor (3) and a sulfur trap (4) and the combustion reactor (3) is adapted to operate with an air-to-fuel ratio below 1 and in the presence of steam. The sulfur trap (4) is located downstream the combustion reactor (3) and is adapted to remove sulfur compounds formed in the combustion reactor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Powercell Sweden AB
    Inventors: Bård Lindström, Per Ekdunge
  • Patent number: 7785539
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in generating hydrogen are disclosed. The apparatus includes a fuel processor capable of producing a reformate from a fuel; a hydrogen purifier capable of generating a purified hydrogen gas stream from the reformate; a compressor capable of providing the reformate from the fuel processor to the pressure swing adsorption unit at a desired pressure; and a control system capable of integrating and controlling the operation of the fuel processor, the pressure swing adsorption unit, and the compressor. In another aspect, the invention includes a method for controlling the operation of a purified hydrogen generator, the method comprising: controlling the operation of a hydrogen generator; controlling the operation of a hydrogen purifier; and synchronizing the controlled operation of the hydrogen generator with the controlled operation of the hydrogen purifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Vesna R. Mirkovic, Hongqiao Sun, W. Spencer Wheat, Daniel G. Casey, Bhaskar Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 7781544
    Abstract: An apparatus for the polymerization of olefins, in particular ethylene, comprising a gas-phase fluidized-bed reactor (1), a recycle gas line (2) connected to the reactor for discharging and recirculating the recycle gas stream comprising the unpolymerized olefin and a cyclone (3) located in the recycle gas line for the reduction and precipitation of the solid particles entrained in the recycle gas from the reactor, with the cyclone comprising an upper section (3a) which has an essentially vertical central axis, whose wall extends along a rotationally symmetric body and which is provided with a cyclone inlet (4) arranged eccentrically relative to the central axis, a middle section (3b) which adjoins the upper section (3a) and whose wall extends along a rotationally symmetric body which tapers in a downward direction, a lower section (3c) for discharging the solid particles precipitated from the recycle gas which adjoins the middle section (3b) and whose wall extends along a rotationally symmetric body and a tu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH
    Inventors: Eberhard Herrmann, Axel Sperber, Manfred Hecker, Rainer Karer, Klaus Berhalter, Paulus De Lange, Jörg Halpap, Cyrus Ahmadzade-Youssefi
  • Patent number: 7781629
    Abstract: A hydrotreating method uses two catalyst beds with the introduction, on the last catalyst bed, of oils of animal or vegetable origin for co-treating a mixture made up of oils of vegetable or animal origin and of petroleum cuts (gas oil cuts (GO) and middle distillates) in order to produce gas oil effluents meeting specifications with an improved cetane number. The first catalyst bed is dedicated to only the deep desulfurization reactions (HDS1) of a petroleum type feed. The effluents of the first catalyst bed having an effluent sulfur content below or equal to 50 mg/kg are separated into two streams. The first stream, which is predominant, is sent to the gas oil pool. The second stream is mixed with oils of vegetable or animal origin. The resultant oil-petroleum cut mixture is then subjected to a milder hydrotreatment (HDT2). The effluents obtained at the outlet of the second catalyst bed can optionally be mixed with the predominant stream from the first bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Karin Marchand, Fabrice Bertoncini
  • Patent number: 7776284
    Abstract: To provide a decomposition apparatus and a decomposition system which can prolong the catalyst life and which can efficiently decompose a large amount of waste plastics and organics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Kusatsu Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Kitamura, Yoshihide Kitamura, Itsushi Kashimoto
  • Patent number: 7771663
    Abstract: Water in a fuel cell accumulator is kept above freezing by a hydrogen/oxygen catalytic combustor fed hydrogen through a mechanical thermostatic valve in thermal communication with the container and connected to a hydrogen supply. The system includes an ejector hydrogen/oxygen combustor and a diffusion hydrogen/oxygen combustor for warming a medium within a container such as water in the accumulator of a fuel cell in response to a mechanic hydrostatic valve which conducts hydrogen to a combustor responsive to the temperature of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: UTC Power Corporation
    Inventors: Carl A. Reiser, Kazuo Saito, James Cameron, Gennady Resnick
  • Patent number: 7767156
    Abstract: A system for the control of the contents of a reactor which employs a control element of variable area containing flowing heat transfer fluid. The area available for the for the control of the contents of the reactor is controlled is changed by opening and closing a bank of conduits in a cascade and the conduits are opened and closed according to a temperature measurement device in the medium whose temperature is to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Ashe Morris Ltd
    Inventors: Robert Ashe, David Charles Morris
  • Patent number: 7767159
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump adapted to excite a high-intensity sound wave in a fluid feedstock is disclosed. The impeller and stator of the pump are provided with multiple apertures sized and spaced to produce a sound wave of an intensity greater than one megawatt per square meter in the fluid. The sound wave forms cavitation bubbles in the fluid, and the static pressure in the pump combines with the compression cycle of the sound wave to collapse the bubbles at a rate sufficient to cause exothermic reactions in the fluid. The sonic reactor can be configured for use to produce thermal energy, oil refining, catalyst production, water desalination and other uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventor: Victor Nikolaevich Glotov
  • Patent number: 7763214
    Abstract: A reforming device includes a reforming part that subjects a hydrocarbon-based raw material to be reformed to a reforming reaction to form a reducing agent to be supplied to a reducing catalyst for reducing nitrogen oxide selectively. The reforming part has a reforming reaction region through which the raw material to be reformed passes and is reacted with supplied hydrogen atoms supplied so as to be reformed to the reducing agent. For example, a hydrogen permeable membrane having a first surface and a second surface may be provided in the reforming part to permeate hydrogen atoms from the first surface to the second surface and to produce the hydrogen atoms on the second surface. The reforming device can be suitably used for an exhaust gas control system for cleaning exhaust gas, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunori Iwase, Tetsuo Toyama, Shigeru Ooyanagi, Yoshiaki Nishijima, Masahiro Okajima