Abstract: Modular, portable processes and apparatus for the production of tight gas (including shale gas) and tight oil (including shale oil) and for the conversion of tight oil into a plurality of marketable fuels are described which enable easy deployment and start-up and are specifically useful in remote areas. Furthermore, these modular processes and apparatus are configured to use co-produced tight gas as a source of processing energy. Another feature of the modular processes is to substantially reduce the use of fracking water and process water.

Abstract: Modular, portable processes and apparatus for the production of tight gas (including shale gas) and tight oil (including shale oil) and for the conversion of tight oil into a plurality of marketable fuels are described which enable easy deployment and start-up and are specifically useful in remote areas. Furthermore, these modular processes and apparatus are configured to use co-produced tight gas as a source of processing energy. Another feature of the modular processes is to substantially reduce the use of fracking water and process water.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for monetization of natural gas by producing fuel grade dimethyl ether (DME). The process includes three reactive stages with the first reactive stage being the conversion of natural gas into syngas, the second reactive stage being the conversion of syngas into crude methanol and the third reactive stage being the production of fuel grade dimethyl ether. The management and optimization of the water and steam circuits is important to maintain net overall system efficiency and mitigation of any liquid effluents.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for making a dimethylether (DME) product from a synthesis gas (syngas) in the presence of a catalyst in a fluid pluralized bed reactor operating in the gas phase. The reactions generate a significant amount of heat and the heat management is balanced between supplying quench recycle syngas to the pluralized sections along the reactor and also by controlling the preheat temperature of the reactant streams. Gas phase fluidization of the catalyst is controlled so that the pluralized reactive zones are maintained in a backmix configuration.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for making ammonia from biomass. The biomass may be first reacted with oxygen and steam to generate a biosyngas comprising hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) as the active components. The gasification step may be regulated to reduce the amount of methane in the biosyngas that may leave the gasifier.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for the production of fuel grade DME from carbonaceous fuels, including a pressurized multi-stage progressively expanding fluidized bed gasifier and an oxyblown autothermal reformer to produce a synthesis gas (syngas) with desirable hydrogen to carbon monoxide molar ratio, which then undergoes gas-phase DME one-step direct synthesis in a fluid pluralized bed reactor over an attrition resistant bifunctional catalyst. The crude DME thus obtained is purified in a two column distillation unit to produce a fuel grade DME having a purity greater than 99.98 mole %.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for making a dimethylether (DME) product from a synthesis gas (syngas) in the presence of a catalyst in a fluid pluralized bed reactor operating in the gas phase. The reactions generate a significant amount of heat and the heat management is balanced between supplying quench recycle syngas to the pluralized sections along the reactor and also by controlling the preheat temperature of the reactant streams. Gas phase fluidization of the catalyst is controlled so that the pluralized reactive zones are maintained in a backmix configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for the production of fuel grade DME from carbonaceous fuels, including a pressurized multi-stage progressively expanding fluidized bed gasifier and an oxyblown autothermal reformer to produce a synthesis gas (syngas) with desirable hydrogen to carbon monoxide molar ratio, which then undergoes gas-phase DME one-step direct synthesis in a fluid pluralized bed reactor over an attrition resistant bifunctional catalyst. The crude DME thus obtained is purified in a two column distillation unit to produce a fuel grade DME having a purity greater than 99.98 mole %.

Abstract: The present application discloses an apparatus for gasification of solid, liquid and gaseous organic feed materials having a fuel value into synthesis gas. The apparatus comprises: a gasification reactor vessel having a tapered interior with a minimum of four zones for introducing reaction gas mixtures, a central perforated diffuser pipe, a solid and liquid material inlet at the upper end of the uppermost zone, a solid and gas discharge outlet at the lower end of the bottom zone, wherein the reactor vessel defining a sequence of reaction zones from the material inlet to the material outlet including drying, pyrolysis, combustion and gasification zones, and confining downwardly moving the column of the feed materials within the zones, gas feed inlet pipes for introducing reaction gas into the zones, a synthesis gas discharge pipe below the zones, and a heat exchanger below the zones.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for converting biomass into syngas using a pressurized multi-stage progressively expanding fluidized bed gasifier to eliminate or reduce the formation of methane, volatiles such as BTX, and tars. The gasifier may include a reactive stage that may receive a biomass feed through a feed line and oxygen through an oxygen feed line. The gasifier may also include a fluidized bed section that may be configured to receive the reaction products from the first stage, mix them and perform fluidized bed activity. A gasifier may also have a disengagement section that may be configured to separate fluidized media and particulate matter from syngas product. A gasification system may also include oxyblown catalytic autothermal reactor and a cryogenic air separation unit.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for making ammonia from biomass. The biomass may be first reacted with oxygen and steam to generate a biosyngas comprising hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) as the active components. The gasification step may be regulated to reduce the amount of methane in the biosyngas that may leave the gasifier.

Abstract: A corn oil extraction process is disclosed. The process includes the recovery of corn oil and other co-products, including but not limited to steam, electric power and chemicals, from an ethanol production process and in particular, a process that involves dry corn milling methods. The process involves extraction of oil from milled corn and residues from the fermentation step, including thick stillage, distillers wet grain, distillers dry grain and distillers dry grains with solubles, by the application of an alkyl acetate, phase separation and recovery of the separated matter. A process of drying wet co-product using ethanol and carbon dioxide from the production facility is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sulfur tolerant, dynamic, compact, lightweight fuel process and system that is capable of converting sulfur bearing carbonaceous fuels to hydrogen rich gases suitable for fuel cells or chemical processing applications. The process and system is based on the AHR and WGS reactions, followed by cleanup of byproduct sulfur-containing gases and carbon oxides that would otherwise poison the fuel cell electrocatalyst. Advantageously, this is accomplished via an ASMS and a methanator or an AWMR. The process and system preferably uses a special sulfur tolerant catalysts and hardware designs that enable the conversion in an energy efficient manner while maintaining desirable performance characteristics such as rapid start-stop and fast response to load change capabilities.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sulfur tolerant, dynamic, compact, lightweight fuel process and system that is capable of converting sulfur bearing carbonaceous fuels to hydrogen rich gases suitable for fuel cells or chemical processing applications. The process and system is based on the AHR and WGS reactions, followed by cleanup of byproduct sulfur-containing gases and carbon oxides that would otherwise poison the fuel cell electrocatalyst. Advantageously, this is accomplished via an ASMS and a methanator or an AWMR. The process and system preferably uses a special sulfur tolerant catalysts and hardware designs that enable the conversion in an energy efficient manner while maintaining desirable performance characteristics such as rapid start-stop and fast response to load change capabilities.

Abstract: A dynamic, compact, lightweight fuel processor that is capable of converting carbonaceous fuels to hydrogen rich gases suitable for all types of fuel cells or chemical processing applications. The fuel processor and process are based on the autothermal hydrodesulfurizing reforming reaction, followed by clean up of byproduct sulfur-containing gases and carbon monoxide that poison the fuel cell electrocatalyst. The fuel processor uses proprietary catalysts and hardware designs that enable the conversion in an energy efficient manner while maintaining desirable performance characteristics such as rapid start-stop and fast response to load change capabilities.

Abstract: An auto-looper for a telecommunications network. The auto-looper detects the existence of continuity in a network path between at least two nodes of the network by activating at least one switch connecting the at least two nodes upon receipt of at least one addressable code to produce a loop-up state or a loop-down state.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermo-chemical remediation and decontamination of sediments and soils contaminated with organic contaminants as well as inorganic materials with subsequent beneficial reuse. Novel environmentally stable products of commercial value are produced when certain additives such as calcium and metal oxides are mixed with the contaminated materials. In the process, the mixture is heated to 1150.degree. C..about.1500.degree. C. to produce a molten reaction product with at least part of an excess amount of oxygen mixture or air is continuously bubbled through the melt in order to provide mixing and achieve high thermal destruction and removal efficiencies of the organic contaminants. The melt is then quickly quenched in moist air, steam, or water to avoid the transformation of the amorphous material into crystals. The inorganic contaminants such as chromium, nickel, zinc, etc. are incorporated and completely immobilized within the amorphous silicate network.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermo-chemical remediation and decontamination of sediments and soils contaminated with organic contaminants as well as inorganic materials with subsequent beneficial reuse. Novel environmentally stable products of commercial value are produced when certain additives such as calcium and metal oxides are mixed with the contaminated materials. In the process, the mixture is heated to 1150.degree. C..about.1500.degree. C. to produce a molten reaction product with at least part of an excess amount of oxygen mixture or air is continuously bubbled through the melt in order to provide mixing and achieve high thermal destruction and removal efficiencies of the organic contaminants. The melt is then quickly quenched in moist air, steam, or water to avoid the transformation of the amorphous material into crystals. The inorganic contaminants such as chromium, nickel, zinc, etc. are incorporated and completely immobilized within the amorphous silicate network.

Abstract: An improved double tube reactor having a plurality of inner and outer tube assemblies each of the assemblies having a reaction annular volume between the inner tube and outer tube and a closed center plug within the inner tube forming an annular thermal exchange volume between the center plug and the inner tube to obtain desired temperature control of exothermic and endothermic catalytic chemical reactions. In one embodiment of the invention, the improved double tube reactor is used in a process for production of high purity methanol from process gas produced by steam reforming hydrocarbon feedstocks in a tube type reformer followed by removing substantially all CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O from the process gas, adjusting the H.sub.2 /CO molar ratio to about 2 when necessary, and feeding the adjusted process gas to a methanol synthesis reactor contacting a methanol forming catalyst not requiring CO.sub.2 activation at about 200.degree. to about 300.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for production of methanol from process gas produced by steam reforming hydrocarbon feedstocks in a tube type reformer followed by removing substantially all CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O from the process gas, adjusting the H.sub.2 /CO molar ratio to about 2 when necessary, and feeding the adjusted process gas to a methanol synthesis reactor contacting a methanol forming catalyst not requiring CO.sub.2 activation at about 200.degree. to about 300.degree. C. to produce product gas comprising methanol, and recovering liquid methanol having purity greater than about 99.85% pure by cooling the product gas to a temperature below the boiling point of methanol and separating the liquid methanol from gaseous components of the product gas. In a preferred embodiment, process gas of H.sub.2 /CO molar ratio of about 2.0 to about 2.