Patents by Inventor William Terence Woodfin
William Terence Woodfin 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: 7914933Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing hydrogen for a fuel cell by (a) reacting a fuel comprising a hydrocarbon and/or an oxygenate with steam, under steam reforming conditions in a reforming reactor to produce a product stream comprising hydrogen, (b) feeding at least part of the hydrogen produced in step a) to a fuel cell, to produce electric power and a waste stream comprising hydrogen, (c) reacting at least part of the waste stream from step b) with an oxygen-containing gas in a combustion reactor, and (d) using the heat energy produced in step c) to supply energy to the steam reforming reaction in step a) in which the combustion reactor is positioned within the reforming reactor to facilitate heat transfer between the stages.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2002Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Leslie William Bolton, William Terence Woodfin
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Patent number: 7807860Abstract: The present invention provides a reactor design that enables an auto-thermal cracking process to be conducted at any suitable pressure wherein the gaseous reactants are preheated separately before mixing and then presented to the reaction zone in a uniformly distributed manner.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2004Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Ineos Europe LimitedInventors: Derek Alan Colman, Michael John Alexander Matthewman, Ian Allan Beattie Reid, Vaughan Clifford Williams, William Terence Woodfin
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Patent number: 7518027Abstract: A process for the production of a mono-olefin from a feedstock comprising a paraffinic hydrocabon which process comprises a) partially combusting at a pressure of at least (15) barg a mixture of the hydrocarbon feed and a molecular oxygen-containing gas in contact with a catalyst capable of supporting combustion beyond the normal fuel rich limit of flammability where they are reacted to form a product comprising one or more mono-olefin(s), carbon monoxide and hydrogen and b) recovering the one or more olefin(s).Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2003Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Innovene Europe LimitedInventors: Andrew Lindsay Burns, David Charles Griffiths, William Terence Woodfin
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Patent number: 7244872Abstract: Process for producing mono-olefins from a paraffin-containing hydrocarbon feed, comprising partially combusting a mixture of the hydrocarbon feed and a molecular oxygen-containing gas in contact with a catalyst capable of supporting combustion beyond the normal fuel rich limit of flammability and subsequently separating the products of the combustion. Energy for the separation is provided by a cogeneration process which simultaneously produces thermal energy and mechanical energy by combustion of fuel. The mechanical energy is converted to electricity, and the thermal energy is used to create steam for use in a steam turbine.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2003Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Ineos Europe LimitedInventor: William Terence Woodfin
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Patent number: 7074838Abstract: Process for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon comprising partially oxidizing in a reaction zone, a mixture comprising a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting oxidation of the hydrocarbon. Prior to the partial oxidation, the mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and the oxygen-containing gas is passed through a heat exchanger which provides a pressure drop which acts to even the velocity profile and ensure that the reactants flow uniformly over the catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2005Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Innovene Europe LimitedInventors: Derek Alan Colman, Trevor John Hesketh, Ian Allan Beattie Reid, William Terence Woodfin
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Patent number: 6881874Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin comprising partially combusting in a reaction zone a mixture of a hydrocabon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting combustion beyond the fuel rich limit of flammability to produce the olefin. Prior the partial combustion, the mixture of the hydrocabon and the oxygen-containg gas is passed through a heat excahanger, and the heat exchanger provides a pressure drop.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2001Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: BP Chemicals LimitedInventors: Derek Alan Colman, Trevor John Hesketh, Ian Allan Beattie Reid, William Terence Woodfin
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Publication number: 20040209131Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing hydrogen for a fuel cell by (a) reacting a fuel comprising a hydrocarbon and/or an oxygenate with steam, under steam reforming conditions in a reforming reactor to produce a product stream comprising hydrogen, (b) feeding at least part of the hydrogen produced in step a) to a fuel cell, to produce electric power and a waste stream comprising hydrogen, (c) reacting at least part of the waste stream from step b) with an oxygen-containing gas in a combustion reactor, and (d) using the heat energy produced in step c) to supply energy to the steam reforming reaction in step a) in which the combustion reactor is positioned within the reforming reactor to facilitate heat transfer between the stages.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventors: Leslie William Bolton, William Terence Woodfin
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Patent number: 6609562Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a plurality of first heat exchange tubes extending through the exchanger, and through a plurality of laterally extending heat exchanger chambers, each chamber having at least one entry from a first chamber and at least one exit to a second axially adjacent chamber, and each chamber having a plurality of transverse interconnecting zones, each of which is defined by at least two of said tubes, and at least one first zone has an entry to said first chamber and at least one second zone, different from said first zone, has an exit to said second chamber. Also included is a vessel for mixing or distributing streams of a first fluid passing axially from an upstream to a downstream location, which comprises transverse baffles across said vessel in at least two successive rows, which rows of baffles define an open transverse chamber, the baffles in successive rows having a different spatial distribution across the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignees: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, Kvaerner Process Technology LimitedInventors: Josephus Johannes Helena Maria Font-Freide, John Wilson Kippax, Geoffrey Gerald Weedon, William Terence Woodfin
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Patent number: 6555721Abstract: Process for producing a mono-olefin from a feedstock containing a paraffinic hydrocarbon comprising feeding a gaseous paraffinic hydrocarbon-containing feedstock and a molecular oxygen-containing gas to an autothermal cracker wherein they are reacted in the presence of a catalyst capable of supporting combustion beyond the normal fuel rich limit of flammability to produce a product comprising one or more mono-olefin(s) and synthesis gas, and wherein the autothermal cracker is operated at a temperature greater than 650° C. and at a pressure of greater than 5 bar absolute. The product is separated into a high pressure fuel gas stream comprising methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen and a stream comprising one or more olefins and recovering the one or more olefin(s).Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2002Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: BP Chemicals LimitedInventors: David Charles Griffiths, Barry Martin Maunders, William Terence Woodfin
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Patent number: 6536513Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a plurality of first heat exchange tubes extending through the exchanger, and through a plurality of laterally extending heat exchanger chambers, each chamber having at least one entry from a first chamber and at least one exit to a second axially adjacent chamber, and each chamber having a plurality of transverse interconnecting zones, each of which is defined by at least two of said tubes, and at least one first zone has an entry to said first chamber and at least one second zone, different from said first zone, has an exit to said second chamber. Also included is a vessel for mixing or distributing streams of a first fluid passing axially from an upstream to a downstream location, which comprises transverse baffles across said vessel in at least two successive rows, which rows of baffles define an open transverse chamber, the baffles in successive rows having a different spatial distribution across the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2000Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignees: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, Kvaerner Process Technology LimitedInventors: Josephus Johannes Helena Maria Font-Freide, John Wilson Kippax, Geoffrey Gerald Weedon, William Terence Woodfin
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Publication number: 20020143220Abstract: A process for the production of a mono-olefin from a feedstock comprising a paraffinic hydrocarbon which process comprises the steps of: (a) feeding the feedstock and a molecular oxygen-containing gas to an autothermal cracker wherein they are reacted by oxidative dehydrogenation to form a product comprising one, or more, mono-olefin(s) and synthesis gas, (b) separating the product from step (a) into a synthesis gas-containing stream and one, or more, olefins and recovering the one, or more, olefin(s), (c) contacting synthesis gas-containing stream separated in step (b) with either, (i) a catalyst for the conversion of synthesis gas to methanol under conditions whereby synthesis gas is converted to methanol; or (ii) a catalyst for the water gas shift reaction under conditions whereby carbon monoxide in the synthesis gas is converted by reaction with water to hydrogen and carbon dioxide and thereafter recovering hydrogen; or (iii) a catalyst for the conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons under conditionsType: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2002Publication date: October 3, 2002Applicant: BP Chemicals LimitedInventors: David Charles Griffiths, Barry Martin Maunders, William Terence Woodfin
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Patent number: 6395944Abstract: Process for the production of a mono-olefin and a hydrocarbon fraction boiling in the diesel range in which (I) a gaseous paraffinic hydrocarbon-containing feedstock and a molecular oxygen-containing gas are fed to an autothermal cracker wherein they are reacted in the presence or absence of a catalyst capable of supporting combustion beyond the normal fuel rich limit of flammability under conditions whereby the feedstock is oxidatively dehydrogenated to a product comprising one or more mono-olefin(s) and synthesis gas. The product from step (I) is separated into synthesis gas and one or more mono-olefin(s) and the one or more mono-olefin(s) are recovered. Synthesis gas separated in step (II), optionally together with additional synthesis gas, is fed to a Fischer Tropsch (FT) reactor containing an FT catalyst wherein the synthesis gas is reacted under FT conditions to produce an FT product containing naphtha and hydrocarbons boiling in the diesel range.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2000Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: BP Chemicals LimitedInventors: David Charles Griffiths, Barry Martin Maunders, William Terence Woodfin
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Publication number: 20020038702Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a plurality of first heat exchange tubes extending through the exchanger, and through a plurality of laterally extending heat exchanger chambers, each chamber having at least one entry from a first chamber and at least one exit to a second axially adjacent chamber, and each chamber having a plurality of transverse interconnecting zones, each of which is defined by at least two of said tubes, and at least one first zone has an entry to said first chamber and at least one second zone, different from said first zone, has an exit to said second chamber. Also included is a vessel for mixing or distributing streams of a first fluid passing axially from an upstream to a downstream location, which comprises transverse baffles across said vessel in at least two successive rows, which rows of baffles define an open transverse chamber, the baffles in successive rows having a different spatial distribution across the vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2001Publication date: April 4, 2002Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited.Inventors: Josephus Johannes Helena Maria Font-Freide, John Wilson Kippax, Geoffrey Gerald Weedon, William Terence Woodfin