Patents by Inventor Esa Kurkela

Esa Kurkela 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).

  • Patent number: 11980848
    Abstract: An apparatus for purifying gas where gas is treated in a multistage treatment having at least two ejector stages, a motive medium including liquid, steam or gaseous agent at high pressure injected by an ejector of the ejector stage, and the gas is sucked into the same ejector and mixed with the motive medium for forming a mixture, at least a part of gas and/or liquid phase of the mixture is supplied to a second ejector stage having so that a second motive medium which includes liquid, steam or gaseous agent is injected to the ejector and the gas and/or the liquid phase is sucked into the same ejector in which the gas and/or liquid phase is mixed with the second motive medium for forming a second mixture, at least one of the mixtures includes an additive for removing impurities of the gas, and a purified gas is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Kristian Melin, Pekka Simell, Esa Kurkela, Marjut Suomalainen
  • Publication number: 20230256387
    Abstract: An apparatus for purifying gas where gas is treated in a multistage treatment having at least two ejector stages, a motive medium including liquid, steam or gaseous agent at high pressure injected by an ejector of the ejector stage, and the gas is sucked into the same ejector and mixed with the motive medium for forming a mixture, at least a part of gas and/or liquid phase of the mixture is supplied to a second ejector stage having so that a second motive medium which includes liquid, steam or gaseous agent is injected to the ejector and the gas and/or the liquid phase is sucked into the same ejector in which the gas and/or liquid phase is mixed with the second motive medium for forming a second mixture, at least one of the mixtures includes an additive for removing impurities of the gas, and a purified gas is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Kristian MELIN, Pekka SIMELL, Esa KURKELA, Marjut SUOMALAINEN
  • Patent number: 11660569
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying gas where gas is treated in a multistage treatment having at least two ejector stages, a motive medium including liquid, steam or gaseous agent at high pressure injected by an ejector of the ejector stage, and the gas is sucked into the same ejector and mixed with the motive medium for forming a mixture, at least a part of gas and/or liquid phase of the mixture is supplied to a second ejector stage having so that a second motive medium which includes liquid, steam or gaseous agent is injected to the ejector and the gas and/or the liquid phase is sucked into the same ejector in which the gas and/or liquid phase is mixed with the second motive medium for forming a second mixture, at least one of the mixtures includes an additive for removing impurities of the gas, and a purified gas is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Kristian Melin, Pekka Simell, Esa Kurkela, Marjut Suomalainen
  • Publication number: 20230124435
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a process arrangement for producing a solid product, e.g. biochar, by means of a gasification. Bio-based raw material (1) is gasified for forming a product gas (4) and a solid co-product (5) in a gasifier (2), and a gasification temperature is arranged to temperature of 750 - 850° C. for increasing a yield of the solid co-product. Further, the invention relates to the use of the solid co-product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Ilkka Hannula, Esa Kurkela
  • Publication number: 20220403266
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for removing impurities from a gasification gas, wherein the gasification gas which includes at least tars and/or undesired hydrocarbons is supplied to a catalytic reformer which has at least one catalyst bed, oxygen containing gas is injected onto the surface of the catalyst bed, the gasification gas is arranged to flow through the catalyst bed and arranged to contact with the oxygen containing gas in the catalyst bed, and a purified gas is discharged from the catalytic reformer. Further, the invention relates to the use of the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Ilkka HILTUNEN, Esa KURKELA
  • Publication number: 20220364003
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for purifying gas, wherein the gas which includes at least tars and/or undesired hydrocarbons is supplied to a catalytic treatment reactor which has at least one catalyst zone including at least one catalyst element with a catalyst, oxygen gas is fed into the catalyst element of the catalyst zone in the catalytic treatment reactor and is supplied through the catalyst element, the gas is arranged to flow to the catalyst zone and arranged to contact with the oxygen gas and the catalyst, and a purified gas is discharged from the catalytic treatment reactor. Further, the invention relates to the use of the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Esa KURKELA, Ilkka HILTUNEN
  • Publication number: 20220049170
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for treating waste material including organic components and radioactive agents. In the apparatus the waste material including organic components and radioactive agents are gasified at temperature between 600-950° C. in a fluidized bed reactor to form a gaseous material. The gaseous material is than cooled in a water quenching device so that temperature is between 300-500° C. after the cooling. The solid fraction including radioactive agents is removed from the gaseous material in a in at least one filtration device. A gas scrubbing device then removes sulphur by scrubbing the treated gaseous material after the filtration in order to form a treated gaseous material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Esa KURKELA, Matti NIEMINEN
  • Patent number: 10822560
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for gasifying raw material. The method includes feeding the raw material into an upper part of a fixed-bed gasifier, introducing the raw material from the upper part of the gasifier to a pyrolysis zone of the gasifier to form the fixed-bed and pyrolyzing the raw material in the presence of pyrolysis air to form a pyrolysis product. Introducing the pyrolysis product from the pyrolysis zone to a lower part of the gasifier, introducing primary air countercurrently to the lower part, carrying out a final gasification in a lower part of the gasifier in order to form a gasified gas. Introducing the gasified gas to a catalytic oxidation part and through a catalyst layer of the catalytic oxidation part, and reforming the gasified gas by way of the catalytic oxidation in the presence of reforming air in the catalytic oxidation part, forming a gaseous product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Esa Kurkela, Ilkka Hiltunen
  • Publication number: 20200078730
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying gas where gas is treated in a multistage treatment having at least two ejector stages, a motive medium including liquid, steam or gaseous agent at high pressure injected by an ejector of the ejector stage, and the gas is sucked into the same ejector and mixed with the motive medium for forming a mixture, at least a part of gas and/or liquid phase of the mixture is supplied to a second ejector stage having so that a second motive medium which includes liquid, steam or gaseous agent is injected to the ejector and the gas and/or the liquid phase is sucked into the same ejector in which the gas and/or liquid phase is mixed with the second motive medium for forming a second mixture, at least one of the mixtures includes an additive for removing impurities of the gas, and a purified gas is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Kristian MELIN, Pekka SIMELL, Esa KURKELA, Marjut SUOMALAINEN
  • Publication number: 20170313951
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for gasifying raw material. The method includes feeding the raw material into an upper part of a fixed-bed gasifier, introducing the raw material from the upper part of the gasifier to a pyrolysis zone of the gasifier to form the fixed-bed and pyrolyzing the raw material in the presence of pyrolysis air to form a pyrolysis product. Introducing the pyrolysis product from the pyrolysis zone to a lower part of the gasifier, introducing primary air countercurrently to the lower part, carrying out a final gasification in a lower part of the gasifier in order to form a gasified gas. Introducing the gasified gas to a catalytic oxidation part and through a catalyst layer of the catalytic oxidation part, and reforming the gasified gas by way of the catalytic oxidation in the presence of reforming air in the catalytic oxidation part, forming a gaseous product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Esa KURKELA, Ilkka HILTUNEN
  • Publication number: 20150240170
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating waste material having organic components and radioactive agents. The method including the steps of gasifying the waste material at temperature between 600-950° C. in a reactor to form a gaseous material. The gaseous material is cooled to a temperature between 300-500° C., after the cooling the solid fraction including the radioactive agents are removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Esa Kurkela, Matti Nieminen
  • Patent number: 9096802
    Abstract: Method of producing a hydrocarbon composition in which a biomass raw-material is gasified to produce a raw syngas containing carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, the hydrogen-to-carbon monoxide ratio being about 0.5 to 1.7. A part of the impurities is removed to produce a clean syngas which is fed into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor where a significant part of the carbon monoxide and hydrogen is converted to a hydrocarbon composition containing C4-C90 hydrocarbons. A hydrocarbon composition is recovered which mainly contains hydrocarbons which are solid or semisolid at ambient temperature and pressure and an off-gas of the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, including hydrocarbons which are gaseous at ambient temperature and pressure, is used for producing hydrogen gas. By introducing hydrogen into the clean syngas, the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio can be increased and by using off-gas-produced hydrogen, the capacity of the process is significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: NESTE OIL OYJ
    Inventors: Isto Eilos, Ilkka Hiltunen, Sebastian Johansson, Esa Kurkela, Pekka Simell, Sami Toppinen
  • Patent number: 8936658
    Abstract: A method of reforming a gasification gas, in order to decompose the impurities contained therein, and a use of a noble metal catalyst in the pre-reforming of gasification gas. The gas is brought into contact with a metal catalyst in the presence of an oxidizing agent. The reformation is carried out in several stages, wherein in at least one of the first stages a noble metal catalyst is used, and in a second stage which follows the first stage the catalyst used is a metal catalyst. The use of a noble metal catalyst can reduce the risk of deactivation of the metal catalysts and can increase the operating life of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Neste Oil Oyj
    Inventors: Pekka Simell, Esa Kurkela, Ilkka Hiltunen
  • Publication number: 20130058855
    Abstract: A method of reforming a gasification gas, in order to decompose the impurities comprised in the gas, and a use of a precious metal catalyst in the pre-reforming of gasification gas. The gas can be brought into contact with a metal catalyst in the presence of an oxidizing agent. The reformation can be carried out in several stages, in which case at least in one of the first catalytic zones a noble metal catalyst can be used, and in a secondary reforming stage which follows the first, preliminary reforming zone, the catalyst that can be used is a metal catalyst. Oxygen can be fed separately into each of the catalyst zones. The use of a noble metal catalyst can reduce the risk of deactivation of the metal catalysts and can increase the operating life of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: NESTE OIL OYJ
    Inventors: Sami Toppinen, Isto Eilos, Pekka Simell, Esa Kurkela, Ilkka Hiltunen
  • Publication number: 20130047511
    Abstract: A method of reforming a gasification gas, in order to decompose the impurities contained therein, and a use of a noble metal catalyst in the pre-reforming of gasification gas. The gas is brought into contact with a metal catalyst in the presence of an oxidizing agent. The reformation is carried out in several stages, wherein in at least one of the first stages a noble metal catalyst is used, and in a second stage which follows the first stage the catalyst used is a metal catalyst. The use of a noble metal catalyst can reduce the risk of deactivation of the metal catalysts and can increase the operating life of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: NESTE OIL OYJ
    Inventors: Pekka SIMELL, Esa Kurkela, Ilkka Hiltunen
  • Publication number: 20120309856
    Abstract: Method of producing a hydrocarbon composition in which a biomass raw-material is gasified to produce a raw syngas containing carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, the hydrogen-to-carbon monoxide ratio being about 0.5 to 1.7. A part of the impurities is removed to produce a clean syngas which is fed into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor where a significant part of the carbon monoxide and hydrogen is converted to a hydrocarbon composition containing C4-C90 hydrocarbons. A hydrocarbon composition is recovered which mainly contains hydrocarbons which are solid or semisolid at ambient temperature and pressure and an off-gas of the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, including hydrocarbons which are gaseous at ambient temperature and pressure, is used for producing hydrogen gas. By introducing hydrogen into the clean syngas, the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio can be increased and by using off-gas-produced hydrogen, the capacity of the process is significantly improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Neste Oil Oyj
    Inventors: Isto EILOS, Ilkka Hiltunen, Sebastian Johansson, Esa Kurkela, Pekka Simell, Sami Toppinen
  • Patent number: 8100995
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reforming a gas containing tarry impurities, such as the gasification gas obtained by gasifying a fuel. In the method, oxygen or an oxygenous gas (10) is added to a gas flow (8), after which the gas is brought into contact with a solid catalyst (11, 12) at a high temperature. According to the invention, the reformation takes place in stages so that, in the first pre-reforming stage, the gas is brought into contact with a zirconium-based catalyst (11), such as zirconium oxide, for example, and, in the next stage, with a metal catalyst (12), such as metallic nickel. The two-stage reformation is used for preventing the deactivation of the metal catalyst and the formation of carbon deposits in the reforming reactor. The invention also includes the use of the zirconium compound in pre-reforming the tar-bearing gas to achieve the said goals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Pekka Simell, Esa Kurkela
  • Publication number: 20090324471
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reforming a gas containing tarry impurities, such as the gasification gas obtained by gasifying a fuel. In the method, oxygen or an oxygenous gas (10) is added to a gas flow (8), after which the gas is brought into contact with a solid catalyst (11, 12) at a high temperature. According to the invention, the reformation takes place in stages so that, in the first pre-reforming stage, the gas is brought into contact with a zirconium-based catalyst (11), such as zirconium oxide, for example, and, in the next stage, with a metal catalyst (12), such as metallic nickel. The two-stage reformation is used for preventing the deactivation of the metal catalyst and the formation of carbon deposits in the reforming reactor. The invention also includes the use of the zirconium compound in pre-reforming the tar-bearing gas to achieve the said goals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: VALTION TEKNILLINEN TUTKIMUSKESKUS
    Inventors: Pekka Simell, Esa Kurkela
  • Patent number: 7455705
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the purification of gasification gas obtained from a carbonaceous material. The purification is carried out by adding oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas to the gasification gas and by contacting the gas mixture with a solid catalyst. According to the invention the catalyst contains at least one zirconium compound, such as zirconium oxide, which is used in particulate form as such or, for example, combined with an inert, honeycomb-structured support. By the purification, ammonia and organic tarry impurities can be removed from the gas simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Pekka Simell, Esa Kurkela
  • Publication number: 20040208810
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the purification of gasification gas obtained from a carbonaceous material. The purification is carried out by adding oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas to the gasification gas and by contacting the gas mixture with a solid catalyst. According to the invention the catalyst contains at least one zirconium compound, such as zirconium oxide, which is used in particulate form as such or, for example, combined with an inert, honeycomb-structured support. By the purification, ammonia and organic tarry impurities can be removed from the gas simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Pekka Simell, Esa Kurkela