Patents by Inventor Raymond Francis Drnevich
Raymond Francis Drnevich 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: 8273152Abstract: A separation method and apparatus that separates a component from a feed stream by use of a membrane in which separation is driven, at least in part, by a sweep stream. The sweep stream may be pumped to a supercritical pressure and then heated to at least near supercritical temperature, at least in part, through heat exchange with a component laden sweep stream being discharged from the membrane. A multi-component mixture can also be used that will produce the sweep stream as a vapor as a result of the heat exchange. The component laden sweep stream, due to cooling through the indirect heat exchange, will form a two-phase fluid that can be phase separated into a vapor phase enriched in the component that can be taken as a product and a residual liquid that can be recirculated in the formation of the sweep stream in the liquid state.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Michael Schwartz, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Jerome Thomas Jankowiak, Dante Patrick Bonaquist
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Patent number: 8262772Abstract: A process and system for recovering valuable by-products (e.g., hydrogen) from refinery gas streams. For hydrogen-only recovery, the invention comprises a partial condensation step to upgrade the refinery fuel gas to a minimum of 60% hydrogen, which is further purified in a pressure swing adsorption process. When configured to recover hydrogen, methane-rich gas and raw LPG (methane depleted gas containing C2 hydrocarbons and heavier), the invention comprises two partial condensation steps where the feed is cooled in the first step to allow separation of ethane and heavier hydrocarbons, and the resulting vapor is cooled to a lower temperature in a second step for hydrogen recovery.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2007Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Ramona Manuela Dragomir, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Dante Patrick Bonaquist
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Patent number: 8142542Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Raymond Francis Drnevich, Joseph Michael Schwartz, Minish Mahendra Shah, Dante Patrick Bonaquist
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Publication number: 20120041242Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a substitute natural gas stream to be added to a natural gas stream in which at least part of a refinery gas stream is reacted in a catalytic reactor to hydrogenate olefins into saturated hydrocarbons. The extent to which hydrogen and olefins are reacted in the catalytic reactor is controlled to reduce the concentration of olefins in the resulting substitute natural gas stream and to increase the interchangeability of the substitute natural gas stream with the natural gas. This control can be effectuated by by-passing part of the refinery off gas to an intermediate product stream produced by the catalytic reactor and thereby forming the substitute natural gas stream from the by-passed refinery gas stream and the intermediate product stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Gregory Joseph Panuccio, Vasilis Papavassiliou, Raymond Francis Drnevich
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Publication number: 20120006158Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventors: Raymond Francis Drnevich, Joseph Michael Schwartz, Minish Mahendra Shah, Dante Patrick Bonaquist
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Publication number: 20110305515Abstract: A method and system for storing and supplying hydrogen to a hydrogen pipeline in which a compressed hydrogen feed stream is introduced into a salt cavern for storage and a stored hydrogen stream is retrieved from the salt cavern and reintroduced into the hydrogen pipeline. A minimum quantity of stored hydrogen is maintained in the salt cavern to produce a stagnant layer having a carbon dioxide content along the cavern wall and the top of a residual brine layer located within the salt cavern. The compressed hydrogen feed stream is introduced into the salt cavern and the stored hydrogen stream is withdrawn without disturbing the stagnant layer to prevent carbon dioxide contamination from being drawn into the stored hydrogen stream being reintroduced into the hydrogen pipeline. This allows the stored hydrogen stream to be reintroduced into the hydrogen pipeline without carbon dioxide removal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2010Publication date: December 15, 2011Inventor: Raymond Francis Drnevich
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Patent number: 8057734Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 23, 2010Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Raymond Francis Drnevich, Joseph Michael Schwartz, Minish Mahendra Shah, Dante Patrick Bonaquist
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Patent number: 8042357Abstract: The present invention provides a method of liquefying a hydrogen feed stream and a liquefier for carrying out such a method in which ortho-species of hydrogen contained in a hydrogen feed stream is converted to the para-species in higher and lower temperature catalytic converters. An adsorption unit, located between the higher and lower temperature catalytic converters, adsorbs a portion of the ortho content of the feed stream. The adsorbed portion is desorbed during regeneration of an adsorbent bed of the adsorption unit and is recirculated back for treatment in the higher temperature catalytic converter to reduce the degree to which the ortho-species are converted to the para-species in the lower temperature catalytic converter and at lower temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Michael Schwartz, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Philip Alexander Barrett, Bernard Thomas Neu
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Publication number: 20110218254Abstract: In the production of fuel such as ethanol from carbonaceous feed material such as biomass, a stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide is added to the raw gas stream derived from the feed material, and the resulting combined stream is converted into fuel and a gaseous byproduct such as by a Fischer-Tropsch reaction. The gaseous byproduct may be utilized in the formation of the aforementioned stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Inventors: Shrikar Chakravarti, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Dante Patrick Bonaquist, Gregory Panuccio
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Patent number: 8007761Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 24, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Raymond Francis Drnevich, Minish Mahendra Shah, Vasilis Papavassiliou
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Patent number: 7931888Abstract: A method of producing a hydrogen product stream in which a steam stream is reacted with a hydrocarbon containing stream within a steam methane reformer. The resulting product stream is subjected to a water gas shift reaction and then to pressure swing adsorption to produce the hydrogen product stream. The hydrocarbon stream is alternatively formed from a first type of feed stream made up of natural gas, refinery off-gas, naphtha or synthetic natural gas or combinations thereof and a second type that is additionally made up of a hydrogen and carbon monoxide containing gas. During use of both of the types of feed streams, the flow rate of the steam stream is not substantially changed and reformer exit temperatures of both the reactant and the flue gas side are held essentially constant.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2008Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Raymond Francis Drnevich, Ramchandra M. Watwe
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Publication number: 20110085967Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a hydrogen containing product in which hydrocarbon containing feed gas streams are reacted in a steam methane reformer of an existing hydrogen plant and a catalytic reactor that reacts hydrocarbons, oxygen and steam. The catalytic reactor is a retrofit to the existing hydrogen plant to increase hydrogen production. The resulting synthesis gas streams are combined, cooled, subjected to water-gas shift and then introduced into a production apparatus that can be a pressure swing adsorption unit. The amount of synthesis gas contained in a shifted stream made available to the production apparatus is increased by virtue of the combination of the synthesis gas streams to increase production of the hydrogen containing product. The catalytic reactor is operated such that the synthesis gas stream produced by such reactor is similar to that produced by the steam methane reformer and at a temperature that will reduce oxygen consumption within the catalytic reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2009Publication date: April 14, 2011Inventors: Troy Michael Raybold, Gregory Joseph Panuccio, Jerome Thomas Jankowiak, Vasilis Papavassiliou, Raymond Francis Drnevich
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Publication number: 20110077437Abstract: Organic sulfur compounds contained in refinery off gas streams having either high ort low concentrations of olefins are converted to hydrogen sulfides which can be then be removed using conventional amine treating systems. The process uses a catalytic reactor with or without a hydrotreater depending on the olefin concentration of the off gas stream. The catalytic reactor operates in a hydrogenation mode or an oxidation mode to convert a majority of organic sulfur compounds into hydrogen sulfides.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventors: Minish Mahendra Shah, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Vasilis Papavassiliou
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Publication number: 20110034745Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for producing a treated hydrocarbon containing stream for use as a feed to a steam methane reformer of a hydrogen plant. In accordance with such method, amounts of olefins and organic sulfur species within an untreated feed are decreased in a reactor that is operated in either a hydrogenation mode to hydrogenate the olefins into saturated hydrocarbons or a pre-reforming mode in which hydrocarbon containing two or more carbon atoms including the olefins are reacted with oxygen and steam to form saturated hydrocarbons, methane, additional hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The reactor is configured and operates at a sufficiently high space velocity that olefin and organic species slip occurs that is further treated in a hydrotreater. The reactor contains a catalyst capable of promoting both hydrogenation and oxidation reactions and the hydrotreater contains a catalyst that is capable of only promoting hydrogenation reactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2009Publication date: February 10, 2011Inventors: Troy M. Raybold, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Vasilis Papavassiliou
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Publication number: 20110031162Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a treated hydrocarbon containing stream for use as a feed to a hydrogen plant having a steam methane reformer in which an untreated hydrocarbon containing stream is introduced into two reaction stages connected in series to hydrogenate olefins and to convert organic sulfur species to hydrogen sulfide. The second of the two stages can also be operated in a pre-reforming mode to generate additional hydrogen through introduction of the oxygen and steam into such stage. A sulfur tolerant catalyst is used in both stages to promote hydrogenation and oxidation reactions. Sulfur is removed between stages by adsorption of the hydrogen sulfide to prevent deactivation of the catalyst in the second of the stages that would otherwise occur during operation of the second reaction stage in a pre-reforming mode of operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2009Publication date: February 10, 2011Inventors: Raymond Francis Drnevich, Vasilis Papavassiliou, Troy M. Raybold, Perry Raymond Pacouloute
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Patent number: 7856829Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20100272634Abstract: The present invention provides a method of liquefying a hydrogen feed stream and a liquefier for carrying out such a method in which ortho-species of hydrogen contained in a hydrogen feed stream is converted to the para-species in higher and lower temperature catalytic converters. An adsorption unit, located between the higher and lower temperature catalytic converters, adsorbs a portion of the ortho content of the feed stream. The adsorbed portion is desorbed during regeneration of an adsorbent bed of the adsorption unit and is recirculated back for treatment in the higher temperature catalytic converter to reduce the degree to which the ortho-species are converted to the para-species in the lower temperature catalytic converter and at lower temperatures.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2009Publication date: October 28, 2010Inventors: Joseph Michael Schwartz, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Philip Alexander Barrett, Bernard Thomas Neu
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Publication number: 20100212457Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Inventors: Raymond Francis Drnevich, Joseph Michael Schwartz, Minish Mahendra Shah, Dante Patrick Bonaquist
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Publication number: 20100158776Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2008Publication date: June 24, 2010Inventors: Raymond Francis Drnevich, Minish Mahendra Shah, Vasilis Papavassiliou
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Publication number: 20100158792Abstract: This invention is a process and system for providing hydrogen at a high level of reliability from a gasification system by integrating it with SMR. Carbonaceous feedstock such as petroleum coke or coal or biomass is gasified to co-produce SNG, fuel gas, hydrogen, power and steam in conjunction with hydrogen production through steam methane reforming. Carbon dioxide may also be recovered in this process. The integrated schemes are designed in a way that maximizes the reliability of production of high value products such as hydrogen through gasification and minimizes the impact of high natural gas prices on hydrogen production by SMR.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2007Publication date: June 24, 2010Inventors: Raymond Francis Drnevich, Aqil Jamal