Patents by Inventor Harold A. Wright
Harold A. Wright 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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Publication number: 20160003480Abstract: A gasification system including a gasifier operable to produce, from a carbonaceous feedstock, a gasification product gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor configured to produce Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products and a Fischer-Tropsch tailgas from a first portion of the gasification product gas, and power production apparatus configured to generate power from a second portion of the gasification product gas, at least a portion of the Fischer-Tropsch tailgas, or both. A method for operating the system is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Bruce E. McComish, Benjamin H. Carryer, Bryan C. Borum, Weibin Jiang, Mark D. Ibsen, Mark K. Robertson, Eric R. Elrod, Sim Weeks, Harold A. Wright
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Publication number: 20160002547Abstract: A system for the production of synthesis gas, including a gasification apparatus configured to convert at least a portion of a gasifier feed material introduced thereto into a gasification product gas comprising synthesis gas having a molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide; at least one additional apparatus selected from the group consisting of feed preparation apparatus located upstream of the gasification apparatus, synthesis gas conditioning apparatus, and synthesis gas utilization apparatus; and at least one line fluidly connecting the at least one additional apparatus or an outlet of the gasification apparatus with the at least one vessel of the gasification apparatus, whereby a gas from the at least one additional apparatus or exiting the gasification apparatus may provide at least one non-steam component of a fluidization gas. A method of utilizing the system is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Weibin Jiang, Bruce E. McComish, Bryan C. Borum, Benjamin H. Carryer, Mark K. Robertson, Eric R. Elrod, Sim Weeks, Harold A. Wright
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Publication number: 20160001267Abstract: A method for controllably producing a hematite-containing Fischer-Tropsch catalyst by combining an iron nitrate solution with a precipitating agent solution at a precipitating temperature and over a precipitation time to form a precipitate comprising iron phases; holding the precipitate from at a hold temperature for a hold time to provide a hematite containing precipitate; and washing the hematite containing precipitate via contact with a wash solution and filtering, to provide a washed hematite containing catalyst. The method may further comprise promoting the washed hematite containing catalyst with a chemical promoter; spray drying the promoted hematite containing catalyst; and calcining the spray dried hematite containing catalyst to provide a calcined hematite-containing Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2014Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Dawid J. Duvenhage, Christine Schmidt, Mark Still, Khalid Azzam, Karl C. Kharas, Sara Hunegnaw, Olga Ionkina, Ray J. Huang, Harold A. Wright
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Publication number: 20160002541Abstract: A method for converting synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons by introducing a synthesis gas feed into a Fischer-Tropsch system that includes a catalytic reactor fluidly connected with at least two slurry loops, the reactor comprising at least as many reactor product outlets and slurry return inlets as slurry loops; each slurry loop comprising a separation system comprising at least one separator, an inlet of each separator fluidly connected to a reactor product outlet via a slurry offtake, and an outlet of each separator fluidly connected to a slurry return inlet via a slurry return; separating concentrated catalyst slurry from the reaction product via the slurry loops; removing liquid hydrocarbon product from each separator; and returning concentrated catalyst slurry to the catalytic reactor via the slurry returns and slurry return inlets. A system for converting synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons via the method is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Mark Ibsen, Sergio Mohedas, Frank Hogsett, Mark Bohn, Harold A. Wright
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Patent number: 9188331Abstract: A method of gasification by introducing a feed material to be subjected to gasification into a dual fluidized bed gasifier comprising a pyrolyzer fluidly connected with a combustor such that a circulation stream comprising a heat transfer material can be continuously circulated between the pyrolyzer, in which the temperature of the circulation stream is reduced, and the combustor, in which the temperature of the circulation stream is increased, wherein the pyrolyzer is operable to convert at least a portion of the feed material into a gasifier product gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and wherein the combustor is operable to increase the temperature of the circulation stream via combustion of char introduced thereto with the circulation stream and at least one supplemental fuel. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2013Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: RES USA, LLCInventors: Weibin Jiang, Bruce E. McComish, Bryan C. Borum, Benjamin H. Carryer, Mark D. Ibsen, Mark K. Robertson, Eric R. Elrod, Sim Weeks, Harold A. Wright
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Patent number: 9168500Abstract: A method of producing synthesis gas by introducing a feed material to be gasified into a gasification apparatus comprising at least one fluidized component operable as a fluidized bed, wherein the gasification apparatus is configured to convert at least a portion of the feed material into a gasifier product gas comprising synthesis gas; and maintaining fluidization of the at least one fluidized component by introducing a fluidization gas thereto, wherein the fluidization gas comprises at least one component other than steam. A system for producing synthesis gas is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: RES USA, LLCInventors: Weibin Jiang, Bruce E. McComish, Bryan C. Borum, Benjamin H. Carryer, Mark D. Ibsen, Mark K. Robertson, Eric R. Elrod, Sim Weeks, Harold A. Wright
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Patent number: 9168501Abstract: A catalytic reaction system comprising: a catalytic reactor fluidly connected with at least two slurry loops, wherein the reactor comprises at least as many reactor product outlets and at least as many slurry return inlets as slurry loops; wherein each slurry loop comprises a separation system comprising a separation system inlet, a separation system product outlet, and a concentrated catalyst slurry outlet; a slurry offtake fluidly connecting the separation system inlet with one of the reactor product outlets; and a slurry return fluidly connecting the separation system outlet with one of the slurry return inlets. The system may comprise at least three slurry loops. The system may comprise at least four slurry loops. A method for converting synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons via the catalytic reaction system in also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2008Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: RES USA, LLCInventors: Mark Ibsen, Sergio Mohedas, Frank Hogsett, Mark Bohn, Harold A. Wright
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Patent number: 9163179Abstract: A method for generation of power and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products by producing synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, producing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products and Fischer-Tropsch tailgas from a first portion of the synthesis gas, and generating power from a second portion of the synthesis gas, from at least a portion of the Fischer-Tropsch tailgas, or from both. The method may also comprise conditioning at least a portion of the synthesis gas and/or upgrading at least a portion of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2012Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: RES USA, LLCInventors: Bruce E. McComish, Benjamin H. Carryer, Bryan C. Borum, Weibin Jiang, Mark D. Ibsen, Mark K. Robertson, Eric R. Elrod, Sim Weeks, Harold A. Wright
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Publication number: 20150291897Abstract: A system for the production of synthesis gas, the system including a mixing apparatus configured for combining steam with at least one carbonaceous material to produce a reformer feedstock; and a reformer comprising a cylindrical vessel containing a plurality of coiled tubes, each of the plurality of coiled tubes having a vertical height in the range of from about 40 feet 12.2 m) to about 100 feet (30.5 m) and a coil length that is at least four times the vertical height; at least one burner configured to combust a fuel and provide heat to maintain the reformer at a reformer temperature; at least one outlet for reformer product comprising synthesis gas; and at least one outlet for flue gas produced via combustion of fuel in the burners. A suitable mixing apparatus is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventors: Randy BLEVINS, Joshua B. Pearson, Harold A. Wright
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Patent number: 9127220Abstract: A system for the production of synthesis gas, the system including a mixing apparatus configured for combining steam with at least one carbonaceous material to produce a reformer feedstock; and a reformer comprising a cylindrical vessel containing a plurality of coiled tubes, wherein each of the plurality of coiled tubes has a vertical height in the range of from about 40 feet 12.2 m) to about 100 feet (30.5 m) and a coil length that is at least four times the vertical height; at least one burner configured to combust a fuel and provide heat to maintain the reformer at a reformer temperature; at least one outlet for reformer product comprising synthesis gas; and at least one outlet for flue gas produced via combustion of fuel in the burners. A suitable mixing apparatus is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: RES USA, LLCInventors: Randy Blevins, Joshua B. Pearson, Harold A. Wright
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Publication number: 20150232769Abstract: A method including introducing a carbonaceous feedstock and a heated heat transfer material into a gasifier, whereby at least a portion of the carbonaceous material is pyrolyzed; removing a gasification product gas comprising, entrained therein, char, particulate heat transfer material, and optionally unreacted carbonaceous feedstock; separating a solids product comprising char, heat transfer material and optionally unreacted carbonaceous material from the gasification product gas; heating at least a portion of the solids product via a combustor, thus producing a heated portion of the solids product and a combustor flue gas, wherein a portion of the heat for heating is obtained via combustion of the char; separating the heated portion from the flue gas, and introducing the separated heated portion into the gasifier, providing heat for pyrolysis; and utilizing at least a portion of the gasification product gas for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and/or power production.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Weibin JIANG, Bruce E. MCCOMISH, Bryan C. BORUM, Benjamin H. CARRYER, Mark IBSEN, Mark K. ROBERTSON, Eric ELROD, Harold A. WRIGHT
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Patent number: 9101900Abstract: A system configured for the production of at least one product selected from the group consisting of syngas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products, power, and chemicals, the system comprising a dual fluidized bed gasification apparatus and at least one apparatus selected from power production apparatus configured to produce power from the gasification product gas, partial oxidation reactors configured for oxidation of at least a portion of the product gas, tar removal apparatus configured to reduce the amount of tar in the product gas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis apparatus configured to produce Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products from at least a portion of the product gas, chemical production apparatus configured for the production of at least one non-Fischer-Tropsch product from at least a portion of the product gas, and dual fluidized bed gasification units configured to alter the composition of the product gas. Methods of operating the system are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: RES USA, LLCInventors: Weibin Jiang, Bruce E. McComish, Bryan C. Borum, Benjamin H. Carryer, Mark D. Ibsen, Mark Robertson, Eric Elrod, Sim Weeks, Harold A. Wright
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Patent number: 9089827Abstract: A system configured for the production of at least one product selected from the group consisting of syngas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products, power, and chemicals, the system comprising a dual fluidized bed gasification apparatus and at least one apparatus selected from power production apparatus configured to produce power from the gasification product gas, partial oxidation reactors configured for oxidation of at least a portion of the product gas, tar removal apparatus configured to reduce the amount of tar in the product gas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis apparatus configured to produce Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products from at least a portion of the product gas, chemical production apparatus configured for the production of at least one non-Fischer-Tropsch product from at least a portion of the product gas, and dual fluidized bed gasification units configured to alter the composition of the product gas. Methods of operating the system are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: RES USA LLCInventors: Weibin Jiang, Bruce E. McComish, Bryan C. Borum, Benjamin H. Carryer, Mark D. Ibsen, Mark Robertson, Eric Elrod, Sim Weeks, Harold A. Wright
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Patent number: 9050574Abstract: A system configured for the production of at least one product selected from the group consisting of syngas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products, power, and chemicals, the system comprising a dual fluidized bed gasification apparatus and at least one apparatus selected from power production apparatus configured to produce power from the gasification product gas, partial oxidation reactors configured for oxidation of at least a portion of the product gas, tar removal apparatus configured to reduce the amount of tar in the product gas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis apparatus configured to produce Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products from at least a portion of the product gas, chemical production apparatus configured for the production of at least one non-Fischer-Tropsch product from at least a portion of the product gas, and dual fluidized bed gasification units configured to alter the composition of the product gas. Methods of operating the system are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2012Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: RES USA LLCInventors: Weibin Jiang, Bruce E. McComish, Bryan C. Borum, Benjamin H. Carryer, Mark D. Ibsen, Mark Robertson, Eric Elrod, Sim Weeks, Harold A. Wright
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Publication number: 20150126627Abstract: A system for the production of synthetic fuel, the system including a catalytic dual fluidized bed (DFB) configured to produce, from a DFB feedgas, a DFB product containing synthesis gas; and a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis apparatus fluidly connected with the catalytic DFB, wherein the FT synthesis apparatus includes an FT synthesis reactor configured to produce, from an FT feedgas, an FT overhead and a liquid FT product containing FT wax, wherein the FT feedgas contains at least a portion of the DFB product; and a product separator downstream of and fluidly connected with the FT synthesis reactor, wherein the product separator is configured to separate, from the FT overhead, an FT tailgas and an LFTL product containing LFTL. A method of producing synthetic fuel is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2013Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: George Apanel, Weibin Jiang, Sergio Mohedas, Harold A. Wright
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Publication number: 20150086432Abstract: A system including a mixing apparatus configured to produce a reformer feedstock and comprising one or more cylindrical vessel having a conical bottom section, an inlet for superheated steam within the conical bottom section and an inlet for at least one carbonaceous material at or near the top of the cylindrical vessel, wherein the one or more cylindrical vessel is a pressure vessel configured for operation at a pressure in the range of from about 5 psig (34.5 kPa) to about 50 psig (344.7 kPa); a reformer configured to produce, from the reformer feedstock, a reformer product comprising synthesis gas, and also producing a hot flue gas; a synthesis gas conversion apparatus configured to catalytically convert at least a portion of the synthesis gas in the reformer product into synthesis gas conversion product, and to separate, from the synthesis gas conversion product, a spent catalyst stream and a tailgas.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: RANDY BLEVINS, Joshua B. Pearson, Harold A. Wright
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Patent number: 8946114Abstract: A method of producing stable ferrous nitrate solution by dissolving iron in nitric acid to form a ferrous nitrate solution and maintaining the solution at a first temperature for a first time period, whereby the Fe(II) content of the ferrous nitrate solution changes by less than about 2% over a second time period. A method of producing stable Fe(II)/Fe(III) nitrate solution comprising ferrous nitrate and ferric nitrate and having a desired ratio of ferrous iron to ferric iron, including obtaining a stable ferrous nitrate solution; dissolving iron in nitric acid to form a ferric nitrate solution; maintaining the ferric nitrate solution at a second temperature for a third time period; and combining amounts of stable ferrous nitrate solution and ferric nitrate solution to produce the stable Fe(II)/Fe(III) nitrate solution. A method of preparing an iron catalyst is also described.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Res USA, LLC.Inventors: Pandurang V. Nikrad, Jesse W. Taylor, Richard A. Bley, Danny M. Dubuisson, Sara L. Rolfe, Belma Demirel, Dawid J. Duvenhage, Harold A. Wright
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Publication number: 20150023842Abstract: A method of preparing a spray dried catalyst by combining spray dried catalyst particles with wax so the spray dried catalyst particles are coated with wax, yielding wax coated catalyst particles, and shaping the wax coated catalyst to provide shaped wax coated catalyst. A method of activating Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles containing oxides by contacting the catalyst particles with a reducing gas in an activation vessel to produce an activated catalyst, wherein contacting is performed in the absence of a liquid medium under activation conditions. A system for activating a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst containing an activation reactor configured to introduce an activation gas to a fixed or fluidized bed of the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst in the absence of a liquid medium and at least one separation device configured to separate a gas stream comprising entrained catalyst fines having an average particle size below a desired cutoff size from the activation reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Harold A. WRIGHT, Belma Demirel, Sergio Mohedas, Bahman Rejai, Ray J. Huang, Deena Ferdous, Jesse W. Taylor, Dawid J. Duvenhage, Sara L. Rolfe
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Patent number: 8936769Abstract: A system for the production of conversion products from synthesis gas, the system including a mixing apparatus configured for mixing steam with at least one carbonaceous material to produce a reformer feedstock; a reformer configured to produce, from the reformer feedstock, a reformer product comprising synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the reformer feedstock; a synthesis gas conversion apparatus configured to catalytically convert at least a portion of the synthesis gas in the reformer product into synthesis gas conversion product and to separate from the synthesis gas conversion product a tailgas comprising at least one gas selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane; and one or more recycle lines fluidly connecting the synthesis gas conversion apparatus with the mixing apparatus, the reformer, or both.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2011Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: RES USA, LLC.Inventors: Randy Blevins, Joshua B. Pearson, Harold A. Wright
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Publication number: 20140314630Abstract: A system for production of high-quality syngas comprising a first dual fluidized bed loop having a fluid bed conditioner operable to produce high quality syngas comprising a first percentage of components other than carbon monoxide and hydrogen from a gas feed, wherein the conditioner comprises an outlet for a first catalytic heat transfer stream comprising a catalytic heat transfer material and having a first temperature, and an inlet for a second catalytic heat transfer stream comprising catalytic heat transfer material and having a second temperature greater than the first temperature; a fluid bed combustor operable to combust fuel and oxidant, wherein the fluid bed combustor comprises an inlet connected with the outlet for a first catalytic heat transfer stream of the conditioner, and an outlet connected with the inlet for a second catalytic heat transfer stream of the conditioner; and a catalytic heat transfer material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Inventors: George APANEL, Harold A. WRIGHT