Patents by Inventor Minish Mahendra Shah

Minish Mahendra Shah 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: 7871457
    Abstract: A method of producing a carbon dioxide product stream from a synthesis gas stream formed within a hydrogen plant having a synthesis gas reactor, a water-gas shift reactor, located downstream of the synthesis gas reactor to form the synthesis gas stream and a hydrogen pressure swing adsorption unit to produce a hydrogen product recovered from the synthesis gas stream. In accordance with the method the carbon dioxide from the synthesis gas stream by separating the carbon dioxide from the synthesis gas stream in a vacuum pressure swing adsorption system, thereby to produce a hydrogen-rich synthesis gas stream and a crude carbon dioxide stream and then purifying the crude carbon dioxide stream by a sub-ambient temperature distillation process thereby to produce the carbon dioxide product. A hydrogen synthesis gas feed stream to the hydrogen pressure swing adsorption unit is formed at least in part from the hydrogen rich stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Minish Mahendra Shah, Ravi Kumar, Henry Edward Howard, Bernard Thomas Neu, Dante Patrick Bonaquist, John Fredric Billingham
  • Patent number: 7856829
    Abstract: A method of generating electrical power in which a synthesis gas stream generated in a gasifier is combusted in an oxygen transport membrane system of a boiler. The combustion generates heat to raise steam to in turn generate electricity by a generator coupled to a steam turbine. The resultant flue gas can be purified to produce a carbon dioxide product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Minish Mahendra Shah, Aqil Jamal, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Bart Antonie van Hassel, Gervase Maxwell Christie, Hisashi Kobayashi, Lawrence E. Bool, III
  • Publication number: 20100212457
    Abstract: Offgas containing carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide that is produced in the reduction of ores and other metal oxides in a reactor is treated to reduce its carbon dioxide content and is then contacted with metal oxide to reduce the oxidation state of the metal and oxidize carbon monoxide therein to carbon dioxide, following which the reduced metal is oxidized with steam to produce hydrogen that can be fed to the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Raymond Francis Drnevich, Joseph Michael Schwartz, Minish Mahendra Shah, Dante Patrick Bonaquist
  • Publication number: 20100158776
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide emissions within a refinery are reduced by reforming a hydrocarbon containing feed at low pressure to enhance the conversion of methane to hydrogen and carbon monoxide and thereby reduce methane slip. The hydrocarbon containing feed is composed entirely or at least in part of a refinery off gas. The resulting reformed stream is then subjected to water-gas shift conversion to form a shifted stream from which carbon dioxide is separated. As a result of the separation and the low pressure reforming, hydrogen containing fuel gas streams, that are thereby necessary lean in carbon dioxide and methane, are used in firing the steam methane reformer and other fuel uses within the refinery to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The carbon dioxide that is separated can be sequestered or used in other processes such as enhanced oil recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Raymond Francis Drnevich, Minish Mahendra Shah, Vasilis Papavassiliou
  • Publication number: 20100083697
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide-containing feed stream such as flue gas is treated to produce a high-purity carbon dioxide stream by a series of steps including removing SOx and NOx with activated carbon, carrying out subambient-temperature processing to produce a product stream and a vent stream, and treating the vent stream by pressure swing adsorption or by physical or chemical absorption to produce a product stream which is recycled to the feed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Nick Joseph Degenstein, Minish Mahendra Shah, Bernard Thomas Neu
  • Publication number: 20100077795
    Abstract: An Apparatus for purifying a feed stream containing carbon dioxide in which the feed stream, after having been compressed and dried, is partly cooled and then used to reboil a stripping column. Thereafter, the feed stream is further cooled and expanded to a lower operational temperature of the stripping column. A carbon dioxide product stream composed of the liquid column bottoms of the stripping column is expanded at one or more pressures to generate refrigeration, then fully vaporized within the main heat exchanger and compressed by a compressor to produce a compressed carbon dioxide product. Refrigeration is recovered in the main heat exchanger from a column overhead stream extracted from the stripping column within the main heat exchanger either directly or indirectly by auxiliary processing in which carbon dioxide is further separated and optionally recycled back to the main compressor used in compressing the feed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Minish Mahendra Shah, Henry Edward Howard
  • Publication number: 20100080745
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide is purified by processes employing NOx-rich sulfuric acid that can be formed by removal of SO2 from the carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Nick Joseph Degenstein, Minish Mahendra Shah, Ravi Kumar
  • Publication number: 20100080747
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide is purified by processes employing NOx-rich sulfuric acid that can be formed by removal of SO2 from the carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Nick Joseph Degenstein, Minish Mahendra Shah
  • Patent number: 7666251
    Abstract: Method of purifying a feed stream containing carbon dioxide wherein the feed stream after having been compressed and dried is partly cooled and then used to reboil a stripping column. Thereafter, the feed stream is further cooled and expanded to a lower operational temperature of the stripping column. A carbon dioxide product stream composed of the liquid column bottoms of the stripping column is expanded at one or more pressures to generate refrigeration, then fully vaporized within the main heat exchanger and compressed by a compressor to produce a compressed carbon dioxide product. Refrigeration is recovered in the main heat exchanger from a column overhead stream extracted from the stripping column within the main heat exchanger either directly or indirectly by auxiliary processing in which carbon dioxide is further separated and optionally recycled back to the main compressor used in compressing the feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Minish Mahendra Shah, Henry Edward Howard
  • Publication number: 20100024476
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide-containing gas such as flue gas and a carbon dioxide-rich stream are compressed and the combined streams are then treated to desorb moisture onto adsorbent beds and then subjected to subambient-temperature processing to produce a carbon dioxide product stream and a vent stream. The vent stream is treated to produce a carbon dioxide-depleted stream which can be used to desorb moisture from the beds, and a carbon dioxide-rich stream which is combined with the carbon dioxide-containing gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Minish Mahendra Shah
  • Publication number: 20090308073
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for carrying out oxygen-enhanced combustion in an industrial process wherein the industrial process, an oxygen supply system or a source of oxygen, a heat recovery network, and an alternative Rankine cycle system based on a working fluid other than steam are integrated to achieve improved throughput and efficiency, and a method for oxygen-enhanced combustion in an industrial process using said system. Examples of industrial processes include cement production, steel reheat applications, glass production, aluminum and copper melting, as well as any industrial process that uses process heater, furnaces where combustion is carried out using an oxidant stream with oxygen content higher’ than that in ambient air and up to 100%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Dante Patrick Bonaquist, Minish Mahendra Shah, Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan Chakravarthy, Monica Zanfir, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Stefan Laux
  • Patent number: 7632476
    Abstract: A method of recovering carbon dioxide from a synthesis gas stream generated within a synthesis gas facility. After the synthesis gas stream is passed through at least one process heat exchanger of the steam generation system located downstream of the water-gas shift reactor, the temperature of the synthesis gas stream is increased while simultaneously adding steam to the synthesis gas stream. Thereafter, the synthesis gas stream is added to an absorption system having an absorption zone utilizing a solvent to absorb the carbon dioxide and a regeneration zone to disengage the carbon dioxide from the solvent and thereby regenerate the solvent. Heat is transferred from the synthesis gas stream to the regeneration zone to promote disengagement of the carbon dioxide from the steam and such that between about 40 percent and about 90 percent of the carbon dioxide originally present in the synthesis gas stream is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Minish Mahendra Shah, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Aqil Jamal
  • Publication number: 20090120127
    Abstract: A method for liquefying natural gas using the pressure energy of the natural gas is provided, wherein flash vapor from natural gas depressurization is employed in a refrigeration cycle for subcooling high pressure natural gas prior to flashing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: RAMONA MANUELA DRAGOMIR, Minish Mahendra Shah, Henry Edward Howard
  • Publication number: 20090084132
    Abstract: A method for liquefying natural gas using the pressure energy of the natural gas, wherein flash vapor from natural gas depressurization is employed in a refrigeration cycle for subcooling high pressure natural gas prior to flashing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Ramona Manuela Dragomir, Minish Mahendra Shah, Henry Edward Howard
  • Patent number: 7500999
    Abstract: A catalytic reactor is provided with one or more reaction zones each formed of set(s) of reaction tubes containing a catalyst to promote chemical reaction within a feed stream. The reaction tubes are of helical configuration and are arranged in a substantially coaxial relationship to form a coil-like structure. Heat exchangers and steam generators can be formed by similar tube arrangements. In such manner, the reaction zone(s) and hence, the reactor is compact and the pressure drop through components is minimized. The resultant compact form has improved heat transfer characteristics and is far easier to thermally insulate than prior art compact reactor designs. Various chemical reactions are contemplated within such coil-like structures such that as steam methane reforming followed by water-gas shift. The coil-like structures can be housed within annular chambers of a cylindrical housing that also provide flow paths for various heat exchange fluids to heat and cool components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Aaron, Minish Mahendra Shah, Richard John Jibb
  • Publication number: 20080141672
    Abstract: A method of generating electrical power in which a synthesis gas stream generated in a gasifier is combusted in an oxygen transport membrane system of a boiler. The combustion generates heat to raise steam to in turn generate electricity by a generator coupled to a steam turbine. The resultant flue gas can be purified to produce a carbon dioxide product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Minish Mahendra Shah, Aqil Jamal, Raymond Francis Dmevich, Bart Antonie van Hassel, Gervase Maxwell Christie, Hisashi Kobayashi, Lawrence E. Bool
  • Publication number: 20070295250
    Abstract: The unburned carbon content of ash is reduced by entraining a stream of the ash into a stream of oxidant and combusting the unburned carbon with oxygen in the oxidant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Bool, Minish Mahendra Shah, Stephen A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7255840
    Abstract: An autothermal reactor and method for producing synthesis gas in which a heated oxygen containing stream is expanded into a mixing chamber to entrain a hydrocarbon containing stream to form a reactant stream without reaction of the oxygen and hydrocarbon contents of the streams. The reactant stream is reacted in a series of sequential catalytic reaction zones to react the hydrocarbon and oxygen contained in the reactant stream to form the synthesis gas. The sequential catalytic reaction zones are configured such that an initial partial oxidation reaction occurs that is followed by endothermic reforming reactions having ever decreasing temperatures. The sequential catalytic reaction zones in which the endothermic reforming reactions occur contain a precious metal catalyst supported on ceramic supports that have successively greater surface areas to compensate for the temperature decrease while remaining stable and without a transform in state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vasilis Papavassiliou, Minish Mahendra Shah, Thomas John Bergman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7231784
    Abstract: A method for producing liquefied natural gas employing two separate adsorption steps for removing water and carbon dioxide from natural gas and employing a subambient expansion to produce regeneration gas for the regeneration of the dehydration adsorption step in addition to supplying refrigeration for the cooling or liquefaction of clean natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Edward Howard, Minish Mahendra Shah
  • Publication number: 20040265224
    Abstract: An autothermal reactor and method for producing synthesis gas in which a heated oxygen containing stream is expanded into a mixing chamber to entrain a hydrocarbon containing stream to form a reactant stream without reaction of the oxygen and hydrocarbon contents of the streams. The reactant stream is reacted in a series of sequential catalytic reaction zones to react the hydrocarbon and oxygen contained in the reactant stream to form the synthesis gas. The sequential catalytic reaction zones are configured such that an initial partial oxidation reaction occurs that is followed by endothermic reforming reactions having ever decreasing temperatures. The sequential catalytic reaction zones in which the endothermic reforming reactions occur contain a precious metal catalyst supported on ceramic supports that have successively greater surface areas to compensate for the temperature decrease while remaining stable and without a transform in state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Vasilis Papavassiliou, Minish Mahendra Shah, Thomas John Bergman