Patents by Inventor Barbara Franco

Barbara Franco has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230243004
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reduction system and method that can be operated with any proportion of gaseous hydrogen-containing gases and gaseous hydrocarbon-containing gases having the possibility of continuing its operation, ensuring an high process availability and negligible loss of production, when the gaseous hydrogen-containing gas for any reason is not available and allow the substitution of the gaseous hydrogen-containing gas with a gaseous hydrocarbon-containing gas with minor adjustments in the plant operation. The reduction system of the invention is designed to be implemented in new and already built direct reduction plants to operate efficiently and has lower capital and operation costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Barbara Franco, Alessandro Martinis, Jorge Eugenio Martinez Miramontes
  • Publication number: 20220396843
    Abstract: A method for producing direct reduced iron is provided. The method includes circulating a first stream of spent reducing gas exiting a reactor in a reducing gas circuit through at least one carbon dioxide removal unit and a reducing gas heater and the reactor. The method also includes mixing the first stream with reducing gas containing heavier hydrocarbons than methane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Barbara FRANCO, Paolo ROMAN DI CATTERINA, Jorge Eugenio MARTINEZ MIRAMONTES
  • Patent number: 7854786
    Abstract: Reduction process and relative plant for the production of metallic iron by means of the direct reduction of iron ore, in which a reduction shaft is connected to a source of reducing gas obtained from the gasification of coal. The process advantageously comprises a step in which a portion or all of the synthesis gas entering the plant circuit is processed to separate the methane from the rest of the components of said synthesis gas. The advantageous management of the extracted methane enables the entire reduction process to be optimized, making the efficiency of the process independent of the methane content in the original synthesis gas and making it possible to control the carbon content of the product more accurately and more easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Martinis, Andrea Tavano, Barbara Franco
  • Publication number: 20090013828
    Abstract: Reduction process and relative plant for the production of metallic iron by means of the direct reduction of iron ore, in which a reduction shaft is connected to a source of reducing gas obtained from the gasification of coal. The process advantageously comprises a step in which a portion or all of the synthesis gas entering the plant circuit is processed to separate the methane from the rest of the components of said synthesis gas. The advantageous management of the extracted methane enables the entire reduction process to be optimized, making the efficiency of the process independent of the methane content in the original synthesis gas and making it possible to control the carbon content of the product more accurately and more easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: DANIELI & C. OFFICINE MECCANICHE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Martinis, Andrea Tavano, Barbara Franco