Abstract: A process for the plasma-assisted treatment of coal in which coal is directly converted to heavy hydrocarbons. The first step in the process is direct conversion of coal to aliphatic hydrocarbons under plasma conditions in the presence of light hydrocarbons, such as natural gas. In the second process step, the aliphatic hydrocarbons are upgraded to a liquid fuel. The energy for the process can be provided by radio frequency energy, such as microwave energy, that is powered by a renewable energy source. The process has flexibility to adjust aromatic content in the fuel to match fuel specification requirements.

Abstract: Bio-electro reactors with real-time adjustable electric parameters and sequencing programmable power supplies are disclosed. According to an aspect, a bio-electro reactor for control of electrolysis gases bubbles within a biologically-active substance includes a vessel defining an interior for holding a biologically-active substance. The bio-electro reactor also includes electrodes positioned to be electrically coupled with at least a portion of the biologically-active substance. Further, the bio-electro reactor includes an electric source configured to apply voltage across the electrodes. The bio-electro reactor also includes an electrical controller configured to determine an electrical impedance at one or more of the electrodes for use in controlling electrolysis gases bubbles within the biologically active substance.

Abstract: A system comprises a mixed reforming zone configured to receive a first fuel steam mixture and an oxidant to produce a first reformate stream comprising hydrogen. The system further comprises at least one steam-reforming zone configured to receive the first reformate stream, a first portion of steam and a second fuel to produce a second reformate stream comprising hydrogen. The first reformate stream is mixed with the first portion of steam and second fuel before entering the steam reforming zone.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a catalyst composition comprises from about 5 weight percent to about 70 weight percent of silica-alumina; from about 30 weight percent to about 90 weight percent alumina; and from about 0.01 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent of a group VIII metal. In another embodiment, a method for processing hydrocarbons comprises hydro-treating the hydrocarbons in the presence of a catalyst composition, wherein the catalyst comprises from about 5 weight percent to about 70 weight percent silica-alumina; from about 30 weight percent to about 90 weight percent alumina; and from about 0.01 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent of a group VIII metal.

Abstract: A method of forming a catalyst is provided. The method comprises reacting a reactive solution comprising at least one alumina precursor, at least one silica precursor, a templating agent, a solvent, a catalytic metal precursor, and a modifier, to form a gel. The method can also include calcining the gel to form a catalyst composition comprising a pore-containing, homogeneous solid mixture which comprises at least one catalytic metal and an inorganic support comprising alumina and silica. The pores of the homogenous solid mixture have an average diameter in a range of about 1 nanometer to about 200 nanometers. A method of upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock to a liquid fuel in the presence of the catalyst composition is also provided.

Abstract: A method for preparing a fuel composition is described, and includes the step of preparing a bio-derived fuel component that contains a mixture of iso-saturated alkanes and normal-saturated alkanes. The method further includes the step of determining if the ratio of iso-saturated alkanes to normal-saturated alkanes is at least about 2.0. If that requirement is met, the bio-derived fuel component is usually combined with a petroleum-derived component, resulting in the fuel composition. Related compositions are also described, in which the weight ratio of iso-saturated alkanes to normal-saturated alkanes is at least about 2.0; and the composition has a freeze point less than about ?50° C.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a diesel engine with reduced emissions. The method comprises combusting a first biodiesel blend fuel in a diesel engine resulting in the production of diesel exhaust gases containing NOx. The diesel exhaust gases are admixed with a second biodiesel blend fuel, and the second biodiesel blend fuel is hydrolyzed to form reducing agents. The diesel exhaust gases containing NOx are passed through an NOx-reducing catalyst to reduce the NOx through a selective catalytic reduction reaction with the reducing agents. The invention further provides a method for operating a diesel engine with reduced emissions, comprising combusting a first biodiesel blend fuel in a diesel engine resulting in the production of diesel exhaust gases containing NOx. A second biodiesel blend fuel is converted in a fuel processor thereby forming reducing agents, and the diesel exhaust gases are admixed with the reducing agents.

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.

Abstract: A fuel preparation system includes a fractionation unit for treating fuel containing vanadium. A gas turbine is connected to the fractionation unit to receive treated fuel. The gas turbine may deliver exhaust from the gas turbine to the fractionation unit. The fuel preparation system may include a burner for burning a heavy fuel fraction from the faction unit and for delivering exhaust from the burner to the fractionation unit. The fuel preparation unit may include a boiler to receive the heavy fuel fraction for combustion and for delivering steam to the fractionation unit.

Abstract: A process for the plasma-assisted treatment of coal in which coal is directly converted to heavy hydrocarbons. The first step in the process is direct conversion of coal to aliphatic hydrocarbons under plasma conditions in the presence of light hydrocarbons, such as natural gas. In the second process step, the aliphatic hydrocarbons are upgraded to a liquid fuel. The energy for the process can be provided by radio frequency energy, such as microwave energy, that is powered by a renewable energy source. The process has flexibility to adjust aromatic content in the fuel to match fuel specification requirements.

Abstract: A method for treating fuel containing vanadium including extracting vanadium from the fuel with an adsorption material and fractionating the fuel into a light oil fraction and a heavy fuel fraction. The light fuel fraction has a reduced amount of vanadium. Systems for fuel preparation are also provided.

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.

Abstract: A method for facilitating reducing mercury in a fluid stream using a catalytic bed assembly including at least a first catalytic bed. The method includes receiving a flow of fluid including mercury at the catalytic bed assembly; injecting a flow of a compound including ammonia and a first mercury oxidizer upstream of the first catalytic bed; and oxidizing the mercury using the mercury oxidizer and the catalytic bed assembly.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a catalyst composition comprises from about 5 weight percent to about 70 weight percent of silica-alumina; from about 30 weight percent to about 90 weight percent alumina; and from about 0.01 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent of a group VIII metal. In another embodiment, a method for processing hydrocarbons comprises hydro-treating the hydrocarbons in the presence of a catalyst composition, wherein the catalyst comprises from about 5 weight percent to about 70 weight percent silica-alumina; from about 30 weight percent to about 90 weight percent alumina; and from about 0.01 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent of a group VIII metal.

Abstract: A system comprising a fuel converter comprising a catalyst composition capable of converting a fuel into a selected one or both of a syngas reductant and a short chain hydrocarbon reductant, wherein the catalyst composition comprises: cracking sites that perform a cracking function when a temperature of an exhaust fluid is greater than a predetermined threshold temperature, wherein the cracking function converts long chain hydrocarbon molecules to short chain hydrocarbon molecules; and partial oxidation sites that perform a catalytic partial oxidation function when the temperature of the exhaust fluid is less than the predetermined threshold temperature, wherein the catalytic partial oxidation function oxidizes the fuel to produce the syngas reductant; and a selective catalytic reduction catalyst reactor in fluid communication with the fuel converter and the exhaust fluid.

Abstract: A system includes an exhaust conduit configured to conduct a stream of exhaust gas, wherein the exhaust conduit comprises a selective catalytic reduction catalyst reactor comprising a first catalyst composition; an fuel source configured to introduce a fuel into the exhaust gas stream within the exhaust conduit upstream of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst reactor; a catalytic partial oxidation reformer in fluid communication with the exhaust gas stream and upstream from the selective catalytic reduction catalyst reactor, wherein the catalytic partial oxidation reformer can introduce a hydrogen-rich syngas co-reductant into the exhaust gas stream, when a temperature of the exhaust fluid is less than a determined threshold temperature.

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.

Abstract: A system is provided for the on-board production of reductants. The system comprises a fuel tank adapted to directly or indirectly supply a first fuel stream and a second fuel stream. An engine is in fluid communication with the fuel tank, and is configured to receive the first fuel stream and create an exhaust stream. The system further includes an emission treatment unit to treat the exhaust stream. A fuel conversion unit is configured to receive the second fuel stream, and also receive a stream comprising oxygen to partially oxidize at least a portion of the second fuel stream thereby forming reductants. In addition, the fuel conversion unit is configured to supply a reductant stream comprising the reductants to the exhaust stream. The invention further provides a method for the on-board production of reductants including supplying a first fuel stream to an engine, wherein the engine is configured to create an exhaust stream.

Abstract: A method for the gasification of biomass, wherein the biomass feedstock is combined with a light hydrocarbon composition to form a slurry; followed by feeding the slurry to a gasifier to produce a fuel gas. In another embodiment, a method for the gasification of biomass is described. The method includes the steps of combining a biomass feedstock with water to form a slurry; feeding the slurry to a gasifier to produce a fuel gas; and injecting a light hydrocarbon into the gasifier, to generate gasification temperatures greater than about 900° C., by partial or complete combustion of the light hydrocarbon. In some other embodiments, the biomass gasifier product gas is coupled to a reformer, wherein a light hydrocarbon is injected to generate high temperatures.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a diesel engine with reduced emissions. The method comprises combusting a first biodiesel blend fuel in a diesel engine resulting in the production of diesel exhaust gases containing NOx. The diesel exhaust gases are admixed with a second biodiesel blend fuel, and the second biodiesel blend fuel is hydrolyzed to form reducing agents. The diesel exhaust gases containing NOx are passed through an NOx-reducing catalyst to reduce the NOx through a selective catalytic reduction reaction with the reducing agents. The invention further provides a method for operating a diesel engine with reduced emissions, comprising combusting a first biodiesel blend fuel in a diesel engine resulting in the production of diesel exhaust gases containing NOx. A second biodiesel blend fuel is converted in a fuel processor thereby forming reducing agents, and the diesel exhaust gases are admixed with the reducing agents.