Patents by Inventor David Wails
David Wails 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).
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Patent number: 10435304Abstract: A process for production of ammonia includes: providing a reaction stream including carbon monoxide and hydrogen; passing the reaction stream and steam over a water gas shift catalyst in a catalytic shift reactor, forming a shifted gas mixture depleted in carbon monoxide and enriched in hydrogen; passing the shifted gas mixture with an oxygen-containing gas over a selective oxidation catalyst at ?175° C., forming a selectively oxidized gas stream with a portion of the carbon monoxide converted to carbon dioxide; removing some of the carbon dioxide from the selectively oxidized gas stream in a carbon dioxide removal unit; passing the carbon dioxide depleted stream over a methanation catalyst in a methanator to form a methanated gas stream, optionally adjusting its hydrogen:nitrogen molar ratio to form an ammonia synthesis gas; and passing the ammonia synthesis gas over an ammonia synthesis catalyst in an ammonia converter to form ammonia.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2016Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited CompanyInventors: John David Pach, Daniel Sheldon, David Wails
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Publication number: 20180002185Abstract: A process for production of ammonia includes: providing a reaction stream including carbon monoxide and hydrogen; passing the reaction stream and steam over a water gas shift catalyst in a catalytic shift reactor, forming a shifted gas mixture depleted in carbon monoxide and enriched in hydrogen; passing the shifted gas mixture with an oxygen-containing gas over a selective oxidation catalyst at ?175° C., forming a selectively oxidized gas stream with a portion of the carbon monoxide converted to carbon dioxide; removing some of the carbon dioxide from the selectively oxidized gas stream in a carbon dioxide removal unit; passing the carbon dioxide depleted stream over a methanation catalyst in a methanator to form a methanated gas stream, optionally adjusting its hydrogen:nitrogen molar ratio to form an ammonia synthesis gas; and passing the ammonia synthesis gas over an ammonia synthesis catalyst in an ammonia converter to form ammonia.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: John David PACH, Daniel SHELDON, David WAILS
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Patent number: 7867299Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen with reforming catalysts. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may be an oxidic support having a ceria and zirconia promoter, or may include a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also include at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones, where upstream catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone and downstream catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in their respective reforming reaction zone.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2005Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Michael Ian Petch, Jonathan Charles Frost, Suzanne Rose Ellis, Jessica Grace Reinkingh, Mark Robert Feaviour, Jillian Elaine Bailie, David Wails, Paul James Millington
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Patent number: 7459224Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen are provided. The methods and apparatus utilize reforming catalysts in order to produce hydrogen gas. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may an oxidic support having a ceria zirconia promoter. The support material may be an oxidic support and a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also be an oxidic support material and at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones. Upstream reforming catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the first reforming reaction zone. Downstream reforming catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the second reforming reaction zone.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Michael Ian Petch, Mark Robert Feaviour, Suzanne Rose Ellis, Jillian Elaine Bailie, David Wails, Paul James Millington
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Patent number: 7156887Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen are provided. The methods and apparatus utilize reforming catalysts in order to produce hydrogen gas. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may an oxidic support having a ceria zirconia promoter. The support material may be an oxidic support and a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also be an oxidic support material and at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones. Upstream reforming catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the first reforming reaction zone. Downstream reforming catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the second reforming reaction zone.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Michael Ian Petch, David Thompsett, Suzanne Rose Ellis, David Wails, Jillian Elaine Bailie, Mark Robert Feaviour, Paul James Millington
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Patent number: 7153334Abstract: Carbonaceous material is removed from a catalyst within an autothermal reformer by introducing an isolated oxidant stream into the autothermal reformer prior to introduction of hydrocarbon fuel into the reformer. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into the autothermal reformer following removal of the carbonaceous material. A concurrent supply of the hydrocarbon stream and the oxidant stream to the autothermal reformer is maintained such that an exothermic reaction driven by the oxidant stream provides heat to an endothermic reaction driven by water vapor in the hydrocarbon stream. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.72(b), the purpose of this abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract will not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2003Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Suzanne Rose Ellis, Jessica Grace Reinkingh, Jullian Elaine Bailie, David Wails, Michael Ian Petch
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Patent number: 7105148Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen are provided. The methods and apparatus utilize reforming catalysts in order to produce hydrogen gas. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may an oxidic support having a ceria zirconia promoter. The support material may be an oxidic support and a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also be an oxidic support material and at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones. Upstream reforming catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the first reforming reaction zone. Downstream reforming catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the second reforming reaction zone.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Michael Ian Petch, Jonathan Charles Frost, Suzanne Rose Ellis, Jessica Grace Reinkingh, Mark Robert Feaviour, Jillian Elaine Bailie, David Wails, Paul James Millington
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Publication number: 20050172555Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen are provided. The methods and apparatus utilize reforming catalysts in order to produce hydrogen gas. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may an oxidic support having a ceria zirconia promoter. The support material may be an oxidic support and a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also be an oxidic support material and at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones. Upstream reforming catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the first reforming reaction zone. Downstream reforming catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the second reforming reaction zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2005Publication date: August 11, 2005Inventors: Michael Petch, Jonathan Frost, Suzanne Ellis, Jessica Reinkingh, Mark Feaviour, Jillian Bailie, David Wails, Paul Millington
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Patent number: 6878471Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the regeneration of catalytic reactors. In particular it relates to methods for regenerating a fuel-processing catalyst while it is still being used to supply hydrogen to a fuel cell. The temperature of the catalyst may be adjusted, the air, steam or fuel feed rate may be adjusted. Alternatively, additives may be added to the feed.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2000Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited CompanyInventors: Robert Burch, Stanislaw Edmund Golunski, Barry William Luke Southward, David Wails
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Publication number: 20040231616Abstract: Carbonaceous material is removed from a catalyst within an autothermal reformer by introducing an isolated oxidant stream into the autothermal reformer prior to introduction of hydrocarbon fuel into the reformer. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into the autothermal reformer following removal of the carbonaceous material. A concurrent supply of the hydrocarbon stream and the oxidant stream to the autothermal reformer is maintained such that an exothermic reaction driven by the oxidant stream provides heat to an endothermic reaction driven by water vapor in the hydrocarbon stream. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.72(b), the purpose of this abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract will not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2003Publication date: November 25, 2004Inventors: Suzanne Rose Ellis, Jessica Grace Reinkingh, Jullian Elaine Bailie, David Wails, Michael Ian Petch
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Publication number: 20040102315Abstract: A reforming catalyst comprising precious metal particles dispersed on a support material, wherein the precious metal particles comprise rhodium or ruthenium, characterised in that the support material comprises silica, alumina and ceria is disclosed. The catalyst shows improved sulphur tolerance. Catalysed components and fuel processing systems comprising the catalysts, and reforming processes using the catalysts are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Jillian Elaine Bailie, David Wails, Mark Robert Feaviour, Suzanne Rose Ellis
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Publication number: 20040101471Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen are provided. The methods and apparatus utilize reforming catalysts in order to produce hydrogen gas. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may an oxidic support having a ceria zirconia promoter. The support material may be an oxidic support and a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also be an oxidic support material and at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones. Upstream reforming catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the first reforming reaction zone. Downstream reforming catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the second reforming reaction zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Michael lan Petch, Jonathan Charles Frost, Suzanne Rose Ellis, Jessica Grace Reinkingh, Mark Robert Feaviour, Jillian Elaine Bailie, David Wails, Paul James Millington