With Heat Exchange Means Affecting Reaction Chamber Or Reactants Located Therein Patents (Class 422/146)
  • Patent number: 7517500
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed contacting hydrocarbon feed with catalyst in a reactor vessel under conditions more vigorous than bubbling bed conditions and preferably fast fluidized flow conditions. The vigorous conditions assure thorough mixing of catalyst and feed to suppress formation of dry gas and the promotion of hydrogen transfer reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: David A. Lomas
  • Patent number: 7507380
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method for chemical synthesis and/or analysis are disclosed. One embodiment of a disclosed apparatus comprises a laminated, microfluidic structure defining a reactor and a separator. Such apparatuses, or portions thereof, generally have dimensions ranging from about 1 micrometer to about 100 micrometers. To implement synthetic processes, disclosed embodiments of the apparatus generally include at least one valve, and often plural, selectively actuatable valves. Detectors, including optical detectors, also can be used to detect product and other materials as they flow by, or are otherwise presented to, the detector. Individual apparatuses may be coupled both in series and in parallel to form a system for making chemical compounds. The apparatus is particularly useful for making compounds requiring iterative reaction schemes, and further can be used to make compounds having morphological structures that resemble the morphology of the apparatus itself, such as dendrimers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: State of Oregon Acting By and Through the State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Oregon State University
    Inventors: Chih-Hung Chang, Brian Kevin Paul, Vincent Thomas Remcho
  • Publication number: 20090020405
    Abstract: A method of and a plant for combusting carbonaceous fuel, the method including the steps of introducing particulate oxygen selective sorbent, such as a perovskite type material, into an adsorption reactor of the combustion plant to form a first particle bed in the adsorption reactor, fluidizing the first particle bed by an oxygen-containing first fluidizing gas to adsorb oxygen from the fluidizing gas to the sorbent, conveying oxygen-rich sorbent from the adsorption reactor to a combustion reactor of the combustion plant to form a second particle bed in the combustion reactor, fluidizing the second particle bed by an oxygen-deficient second fluidizing gas to desorb oxygen from the sorbent, so as to produce free oxygen gas, and introducing carbonaceous fuel into the combustion reactor to oxidize the fuel with the free oxygen gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Zhen FAN, Horst Hack, Andrew SELTZER, Archibald Robertson
  • Patent number: 7473286
    Abstract: A generator including a double-chamber lock comprising two tapered or vertical chambers lined with ceramics or plastics, as a charging device, at least one tubular shaft furnace comprising a water-cooled double jacket of steel, a double-walled, water-cooled inlet nozzle of copper for a gasification mixture, arranged centrally in the tubular shaft furnace above the base, a dry dust-removing device, and optionally a desulfurising device. The double-chamber lock has a mechanism which causes one of the chambers to open when the lower chamber of the double-chamber lock is flushed with inert gas after charging/opening operations, and the inlet nozzle constitutes the mixing member for the constituents of the gasification mixture, the inlet nozzle has a radius of curvature of the surface of the cylindrical portion of the nozzle which continuously becomes smaller to the outlet opening, and the direction of flow of the gases leaving the inlet nozzle is directed upwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Bayer MaterialScience AG
    Inventors: Herbert Blaschke, Werner Breuer, Karl-Heinz Köhler, Herbert Ungerechts
  • Patent number: 7449037
    Abstract: A method for carrying out endothermic or exothermic gas phase reactions by using a tube bundle reactor with a tube bundle of catalyst-filled reaction tubes comprises the following steps: a) Introducing a reaction gas mixture into the reaction tubes; b) Dividing-up of the reaction gas mixture flow flowing through each of the reaction tubes into at least two partial flows, each partial flow having the same composition; c) Feeding-in of each partial flow at a different point along the catalyst filling with an existing flow resistance; d) Determining the desired partial flow volume for each partial flow (V1, V2, V3, V4); e) Calculating the pressure at the point of the first division of the reaction gas mixture (9); f) Calculating the pressure in the catalyst filling (12) at the point of feeding-in of each partial flow (V1, V2, V3, V4); and g) Setting of flow resistance for each point of feeding-in in such a way that the flow resistance at the desired partial flow volume corresponds to the pressure difference bet
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: MAN DWE GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Lehr, Franz Egner, Michael Claussen, Markus Maly
  • Publication number: 20080267858
    Abstract: A method of continuously producing reduced compounds, which comprises continuously feeding our oxidised compound into a reaction chamber and contracting the oxidised compound with a reductant gas. The oxidised compound may be titanium dioxide. the reaction chamber may be a rotating kiln.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: ATRAVERDA LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Hill, John Hill
  • Publication number: 20080267836
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite internal in a circulating fluidized bed reactor, comprising guide plates, disturbing plates and 2 to 30 round tubes, wherein the guide plate (3) is secured with its one side to the round tube (1), and the disturbing plate (4) is secured with its one side to the round tube (1) and with its another side to another side of said guide plate (3), with an angle of 50 to 90° included between the guide plate (3) and disturbing plate (4). The round tubes (1) each provided with respective guide plate and disturbing plate are fixed together at one end, and said 2 to 30 round tubes (1) are arranged in one and the same plane. The other end of each round tube (1) is arranged in a radiate manner with respect to the fixed point as a center, and an angle included between each round tube (1) is different from or equal to each other, in a range of 100 to 180°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Institute of Processing Engineering, Chinese Academy of Science
    Inventors: Tingyu Zhu, Jingdong He, Pengfei Jing
  • Patent number: 7442345
    Abstract: A new reactor apparatus that can be used to carry out chemical reactions in a fluidized catalyst bed at high temperatures with reduced afterburning or other undesirable downstream side reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Ineos USA LLC
    Inventors: Louis R. Trott, David R. Wagner, Steven J. Rowe, Robert A. Gustaferro, Gregory A. Norenberg, Kenneth P. Keckler, Robert P. Hepfer
  • Publication number: 20080241046
    Abstract: A fluidized bed process for the production of polycrystalline silicon granules supplies, in addition to reaction gas, a gas containing 99.5 to 95 mol. percent hydrogen and 0.5 to 5 mol. percent gaseous silicon compounds, and the reactor wall is maintained at the same or a higher temperature than the reaction zone, such that the deposition of silicon on reactor internals is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: WACKER CHEMIE AG
    Inventors: Harald Hertlein, Rainer Hauswirth
  • Publication number: 20080213138
    Abstract: A material gas and a catalyst are introduced through a material supplying tube path and a catalyst supplying tube path together with a carrier gas into a reactor equipped on its outer periphery with a heat applicator for thermally decomposing the material gas. The reactor has a convention regulator fitted to the discharge end of the catalyst supplying tube path. The convection regulator covers an edge side of the reactor to regulate gas flow in the reactor so that the flow does not reach the edge side. Due to this, a convection state can be efficiently produced in a reaction region. Consequently, it becomes possible to prevent contamination defect caused by accumulation/adherence of concretion of catalyst, which was generated by aggregation of cooled catalyst in the low-temperature region of the reactor and a decomposition product of the material gas. Thus the efficiency of carbon nanostructure production can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Nakayama, Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, Yugo Higashi, Toshiki Goto, Keisuke Shiono, Takeshi Nagasaka, Nobuharu Okazaki
  • Patent number: 7419637
    Abstract: Methods and systems for regenerating and pretreating oxides of manganese and precipitation of oxides of manganese from manganese salt solutions. Oxides of manganese, a slurry containing oxides of manganese or manganese salt solutions are mixed with heated aqueous oxidizing solutions and processed in a continuous process reactor. Temperature, pressure, Eh value, and pH value of the mixed solution are monitored and adjusted so as to maintain solution conditions within the MnO2 stability area during processing. This results in regenerated, pretreated and precipitated oxides of manganese having high or increased pollutant loading capacities and/or oxidation states. Oxides of manganese thus produced are, amongst other uses; suitable for use as a sorbent for capturing or removing target pollutants from industrial gas streams. Filtrate process streams containing useful and recoverable value present as spectator ions may be further processed to produce useful and marketable by-products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Enviroscrub Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Boren, Charles F. Hammel
  • Patent number: 7414166
    Abstract: This invention provides feed introduction devices, and processes for using same, which minimize catalyst clogging. In particular, the invention is to a feed introduction device having a first end in fluid communication with a feed source, a second end in fluid communication with a reactor and a deviation zone between the first end and the second end to deviate the flow of feed about a deviation angle from the first end toward the second end. According to the invention, the deviation angle is greater than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Beech, Jr., Brian A. Cunningham, Christopher G. Smalley, Rathna P. Davuluri
  • Patent number: 7402288
    Abstract: A reactor for testing catalyst systems which has a plurality of catalyst tubes (2) which are arranged parallel to one another in the interior space of the reactor and whose ends are welded into tube plates and also has caps (3) at each end of the reactor which each bound a cap space (4), with a fluid reaction medium (5) being fed via one cap space (4) into the catalyst tubes (2), flowing through the catalyst tubes (2) and being discharged via the other cap space (4), and is also provided with a heat exchange medium circuit in which the heat exchange medium (6) is fed in at one end of the reactor, flows through the intermediate space between the catalyst tubes (2) and flows out at the other end of the reactor, wherein the catalyst tubes (2) are arranged in two or more catalyst tube regions (7) which are thermally separate from one another, is proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Olbert, Torsten Mattke, Matthias Kummer, Thomas Ruehl, Frank Rosowski
  • Patent number: 7399450
    Abstract: A fluidized-bed reactor is disclosed. The fluidized-bed reactor steadies the gas flow through the fluidized bed chamber of the reactor. The swirl chamber of the reactor consists of a conical housing in which a conical insert is also situated. This creates an annular gap between the housing and the insert, which acts as the swirl chamber and which, according to the geometry of the two components, causes a velocity of the gas flow which remains the same along the height, which increases or which decreases. Such a reactor can also be called a constant annular-gap reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Sebastian Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20080163621
    Abstract: A synchronous reaction cell, rotating as a unit, disassociates hydrogen from water, traps and filters hydrogen, mixes and pressurizes hydrogen and ingested carbon, hydrogenates carbon by surface catalysis, isolates and exhausts liquid hydrocarbon products above a desired density, recirculates gaseous products for further reaction, and expands steam through a turbine to produce rotation and turn an electrical generator. Solar energy focused by heliostats is one means of supplying process heat. Burning natural gas or another fossil fuel in oxygen freed by the disassociation of water provides alternative sources of heat. The reaction cell has a vertical axis-of-rotation making it conducive to mounting on a tower disposed at the center of an array of heliostats. The rotating reaction cell has a large, cylindrical heat-absorbing surface. Electrical output might be used to aim heliostats. Excess electrical generation might be added to the local electrical grid and sold for its value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Paul Johnson
  • Publication number: 20080149011
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the thermochemical conversion of a fuel, comprising the following steps: a) provision of a fluidised-bed reactor with a central first combustion zone (1) and a second combustion zone (7) that is separated from the first by flow conduction means (2, 15), the first combustion zone (1) being provided with a supply opening (16) for supplying fuel and a unit (3), which lies opposite the supply opening (16) on the floor (B) of the fluidised bed reactor, for deviating a stream of fuel into the second combustion zone (7); b) feeding of fuel through the supply opening (16), so that a stream of fuel forms that is directed towards the floor (B); c) deviation of the stream of fuel on the floor (B) into the second combustion zone (7), so that the stream of fuel is guided in an essentially opposite direction; and d) additional deviation of the stream of fuel in the vicinity of the supply opening (16), causing the stream of fuel to be returned to the first combustion zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Applikations- Und Technikzentrum
    Inventors: Peter Quicker, Gerold Dimaczek, Frank Fojtik
  • Publication number: 20080146682
    Abstract: A process for producing liquid and, optionally, gaseous products from gaseous reactants includes feeding at a low level gaseous reactants into a vertically extending slurry bed of solid particles suspended in a suspension liquid, the slurry bed being located around a plurality of vertically extending jacketed conduits each comprising an inner conduit and an outer or jacket conduit defining between them a jacket space and the slurry bed also being located inside the inner conduits. The gaseous reactants are allowed to react exothermically as they pass upwardly through the slurry bed, thereby to form liquid and, optionally, gaseous products, and with the liquid product forming together with the suspension liquid, a liquid phase of the slurry bed, the reactions thus taking place outside the jacketed conduits and inside the inner conduits. A cooling medium is passed through the jacket spaces thereby to remove reaction heat from the slurry bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Andre Peter Steynberg
  • Publication number: 20080124253
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluidized-bed reactor for the thermal treatment of fluidizable substances, comprising at least one means for feeding microwave radiation into the fluidized-bed reactor and a metallic reactor wall defining the reactor and having a thermal insulation coating. To increase the energy utilization of such reactors, it is proposed in accordance with the invention that the thermal insulation coating is provided on the inside of the reactor wall and has an outer layer as seen from the reactor wall, which comprises refractory brick and/or refractory concrete as well as an inner layer comprising light-weight refractory brick and/or insulating concrete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Achim Schmidt, Marcus Runkel
  • Publication number: 20080118407
    Abstract: A reactor configuration for fluidized bed reactors in which large exposed fixed surface area per unit reactor volume is required. The configuration uses a serpentine or hairpin bend arrangement of continuously connected and communicating thin channels, with the containing surfaces of these channels being vertical. This configuration enables uniform fluidization of particles throughout the cross-sectional area of the reactor and facilitates dispersal of membrane surfaces, heat transfer surface and baffles in gas-solid fluidized bed reactors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: MEMBRANE REACTOR TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: John R. Grace, Choon Jim Lim, Alaa-Eldin M. Adris, Heping Cui, David Anthony Boyd
  • Publication number: 20080107571
    Abstract: A gas generating system comprises a catalytic reactor in fluid communication with a sulfur separator. The catalytic reactor oxidizes a fuel to provide a supply of carbon dioxide. The sulfur separator removes sulfur components from the stream before or after the fuel is oxidized. A portion of the hot exhaust gas from the catalytic reactor can be used to regenerate an adsorption bed of the sulfur separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: RUSSELL JOHNSON, STEPHEN F. YATES, REHAN ZAKI
  • Patent number: 7285694
    Abstract: Systems and methods for converting organic material into commercially viable products, such as burnable low sulfur engine fuels. The system of the present invention includes an anaerobic stripping reactor for processing organic materials into a bio-softened slurry, a thermobaric cracking chamber and expansion/separation tank for converting the bio-softened slurry into products, and a hydrocarbon separation system for separating the various products. An interfusion system can be provided that selectively combines various of the products to create fuels, such as diesel or gasoline. In one embodiment, the thermobaric cracking chamber operates approximately in the ranges of 350 to 600° F. and 400 to 1,200 psig. In a specific embodiment, the anaerobic stripping reactor is segregated into three areas to create buffer zones both into and out of the anaerobic stripping reactor, thus isolating a main portion of the organic material from reactive shocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventor: John W. Countz
  • Patent number: 7244400
    Abstract: An arrangement for directing exhaust gases from at least one particle separator of a circulating fluidized bed reactor system to a heat recovery section includes a gas plenum located above a reaction chamber, the gas plenum being defined by a ceiling, a bottom, and walls and being integrated with the reaction chamber. The walls of the gas plenum are provided with at least one inlet opening for cleaned exhaust gases, each of which is coupled with a discharge duct connected to one of the particle separators, for directing the cleaned exhaust gases from the particle separators to the gas plenum, from where the cleaned exhaust gases are directed to the heat recovery section downstream of the gas plenum. The reaction chamber is at least partially formed by water tube panels, and the enclosure of the gas plenum is also formed by water tube panels as extensions of water tube panels of the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Darling
  • Patent number: 7226565
    Abstract: Ethylenically unsaturated monomers are polymerized in a gas-phase fluidized-bed reactor comprising a reactor space (1) in the form of a vertical tube, a calming zone (2) adjoining the upper part of the reactor space, a circulated gas line (3), a circulated gas compressor (4), a cooling apparatus (5), a gas distributor plate (6) which forms the lower boundary of the reactor space and, if desired, a flow divider (7), wherein the gas distributor plate (6) has a plurality of gas flow orifices (8) whose outlet sides are widened conically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH
    Inventors: Benno Knauer, Peter Hennenberger, Klaus Hilligardt, Eckard Schauss, Horst Bullack
  • Patent number: 7214252
    Abstract: An apparatus for pyrolysis and gasification of organic substances and mixtures thereof is provided with a pyrolysis reactor (1), a fluidized-bed firing (3) for pyrolysis residue, a reaction zone (2) for the pyrolysis gases (13) and circulating fluidized-bed material (35). The pyrolysis reactor (1) has a sluice for introducing application material (10) thereinto. An inlet for the fluidized-bed material (35) is disposed next to the combustion fluidized bed (3). Transport apparatus (14) for mixture of solid pyrolysis residue and circulating fluidized bed material (35) is disposed at or near a bottom of the fluidized bed (3) and lower end of the pyrolysis reactor (1). An overflow is situated at or near the top of the fluidized bed (3) while a heat transfer member is positioned within the reaction zone (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Herhof Umwelttechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Krumm, Günter Funk, Stefan Hamel
  • Patent number: 7195741
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydrocarbon conversion apparatus. The apparatus comprises the following: a plurality of riser reactors, each of the riser reactors having a first end into which a catalyst can be fed and a second end through which the catalyst can exit the riser reactor, a separation zone into which the second ends of the riser reactors extend, the separation zone being provided to separate the catalyst from products of a reaction conducted in the hydrocarbon conversion apparatus; and at least one catalyst return in fluid communication with the separation zone and the first ends of the riser reactors, the catalyst return being provided to transfer the catalyst from the separation zone to the first ends of the riser reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Lattner, Jeffrey S. Smith, Nicolas P. Coute, Keith H. Kuechler
  • Patent number: 7153478
    Abstract: A downflow catalytic cracking reactor, comprising the following components: catalyst delivery pipe (1), reactor top cover (2), feed nozzle (3), reactor vessel (6), downflow reaction pipe (9), the upper end of the outer body is close connected to top cover (2) along the direction of circumference; the bottom of the outer wall body is close connected to the outer wall of the downflow reaction pipe; the upper section of the downflow reaction pipe is located inside the reaction vessel, while the lower section extends from the bottom of the outer body; feed nozzle (3) is located on the top cover (2) and/or side wall of the reactor vessel (6) with the outlet of the feed nozzle being above the inlet of the downflow reaction pipe; catalyst delivery pipe (1) is fixedly joined to the reactor vessel and in communication with catalyst lifting zone (7) formed by the reaction vessel and the downflow reaction pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignees: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, Research Institute of Petroleum Processing Sinopec
    Inventors: Kejia Xu, Shuandi Hou, Jun Long, Xiaoxiang Zhong, Jiushun Zhang, Zhanzhu Zhang, Songnian Li, Xuefeng Wu, Jun He
  • Patent number: 7115233
    Abstract: A reformer that includes a housing including a tubular member and an end plate member hermetically joined to the tubular member. The housing defines within it a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path in a heat exchanging relationship with each other. A reforming catalyst is disposed within the first fluid flow path. The tubular member has a tubular end, and the end plate member has an abutting rim that contacts with and extends along the tubular end of the tubular member and that is folded together over an entire circumference thereof to define a folded hermetic seam between the tubular member and the end plate member. The reformer can be low-priced and its manufacture is easy and efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsunori Okada, Kenji Kawaguchi, Hideo Ichimura
  • Patent number: 7112307
    Abstract: A riser reactor system for conversion of hydrocarbon feedstock to ethylene and propylene is described. The riser reactor system prevents riser reactors with a plurality of inlet ports for feeding gases having different compositions and for controlling the residence time of a gas catalyst within the riser reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Hayim Abrevaya, Joel T. Walenga, Michael A. Schultz, Anil R. Oroskar
  • Patent number: 7108835
    Abstract: An arrangement of cooling tubes within a Fischer-Tropsch slurry reactor simplifies removal and reinstallation of cooling tubes for reactor maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Rentech, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Hawthorne, Mark D. Ibsen, Peter S. Pedersen, Mark S. Bohn
  • Patent number: 7096931
    Abstract: Ribbed heat exchange tubes in which the aspect ratio of the ribs is less than 5, provide greater indirect heat exchange than conventional heat exchange tubes with or without fins, when used in a slurry comprising a liquid phase, in which is dispersed flowing gas bubbles or particulate solids and flowing gas bubbles. The ribs, and typically also the longitudinal axis of the heat exchange tubes, are aligned in a direction parallel to, or spirally along the gas bubble flow direction. This is useful to increase either (i) the productivity of a slurry Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis reactor without an increase in the temperature in the reactor or (ii) increasing the production of higher molecular weight hydrocarbons by reducing the reaction temperature at a given feed conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Min Chang, Richard Frank Bauman
  • Patent number: 7070742
    Abstract: A reactor with integrated heat for carrying out a chemical conversion process in the presence of a gaseous diluent supplied through one or more ports at the upper and/or lower ends of a catalytic bed through which a feed moves substantially horizontally, and a process for converting a feed, such as a hydrocarbon feed in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Eric Lenglet, Nicolas Boudet, Frédéric Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7067561
    Abstract: Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is performed on a CO/H*2 feed gas using a plurality of compact catalytic reactor modules (12) each defining catalytic reaction channels and coolant channels, in two successive stages, with the same number of reactor modules for each stage. The gas flow velocity in the first stage is sufficiently high that no more than 75% of the CO undergoes conversion. The gases are cooled (16) between successive stages so as to remove water vapour, and the pressure is reduced (20) before they are subjected to the second stage. In addition the reaction temperature for the second stage is lower than for the first stage, such that no more than 75% of the remaining carbon monoxide undergoes conversion during the second stage too. The deleterious effect of water vapour on the catalyst is hence suppressed, while the overall capacity of the plant (10) can be adjusted by closing off modules in each stage while keeping the numbers equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: GTL Microsystems AG
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Bowe
  • Patent number: 7063982
    Abstract: A process for evaporating a liquid feed and reacting said feed in the presence of catalyst to make product within a reactor having both an evaporation zone and a reaction zone comprises the steps of providing packing in the evaporation zone, providing catalyst in the reaction zone, introducing the liquid feed to the evaporation zone through an injector having an orifice, where the orifice and the packing define a gap that is sufficiently small to interfere with the formation of a liquid drop at the orifice, vaporizing the liquid feed within the evaporation zone to form a vapor, flowing the vapor to the reaction zone and contacting, at reaction conditions, the vapor with a catalyst to form product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Arne Karlsson, Ivar M. Dahl, Jonny Engedahl, Mark A. Krawczyk, Ara J. Alexianin
  • Patent number: 7029632
    Abstract: A radiation-heated fluidized-bed reactor and a process for producing high-purity polycrystalline silicon by using this reactor are provided. In this reactor, a heater device (14) is a radiation source for thermal radiation which is arranged outside the inner reactor tube and as a cylinder around the heater zone, without being in direct contact with the inner reactor tube. The inner reactor tube is designed in such a manner that it uses thermal radiation to heat the silicon particles in the heating zone to a temperature which is such that the reaction temperature is established in the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Wacker-Chemie GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Weidhaus, Alexander Hayduk
  • Patent number: 7029633
    Abstract: Uranium trioxide is reduced to uranium dioxide using microwave radiation or radiofrequency radiation directed in such a way that the radiation encounters an interface between uranium trioxide and the uranium-containing reduction product without first having passed through that product. By this method, and also using a reducing gas, it is possible to obtain UO2 with an O:U ratio less than 2.04:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Cameco Corporation
    Inventor: Mikhail Simonovich Ioffe
  • Patent number: 7011740
    Abstract: A method and system for recovering fines from a light FCC-type effluent gas. Cracked gases from the reactor are cooled by direct contact with circulating oil in an oil quench tower. The circulating oil also washes out the catalyst fines carried with the reactor effluent gas. A flow of the oil from the quench tower bottoms is sent through one of a pair of filters to remove fines and recycled to the tower. The other filter is in backwash operation using a compressed gas to remove the fines therefrom and into a surge drum. Fuel oil or quench oil is added to the drum to form a slurry, which carries the catalyst fines to the regenerator where the oil is combusted to supply the FCC system heat requirements. Since a minimum amount of fuel oil is generated in the FCC, fuel oil is imported to inventory the quench tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Tallman, Robert B. Peterson, Maureen F. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 7008460
    Abstract: Process for the production of thermally converted light products from residual feedstock and electricity from syngas obtained from thermal conversion residue as feedstock, in which process flue gas exiting from the electricity producing unit is fed through a heat recovery unit providing at least part of the heat required in the thermal conversion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Jacobus Henricus Gerardus Beurskens, Johannes Didericus De Graaf, Anthony Malcolm Rigby
  • Patent number: 6991767
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the debonding and sand core removal of sand cores from cast parts, the heat treating of metal parts and the removal of organic contamination from metal parts, which is utilizing a fluid bed furnace having an improved fluidizing gas distributor which discharges fluidized gas in a downward direction away from the parts in the fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Procedyne Corp.
    Inventors: H. Kenneth Staffin, Edward P. Traina, Giovanni Rubino
  • Patent number: 6977064
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing continuous flow chemical reactions such as oxidation, oxidative dehydrogenation and partial oxidation processes involving a reactor design characterized by controlled/optimized addition of a reactant with the objective of: (i) avoiding the explosion regime of the reactant mixture (e.g., hydrocarbon/oxidant mixture); (ii) maximizing the selectivity of the reaction to the desired product; (iii) limiting the reactor temperature gradient and therefore the threat of reaction runaway; and (iv) controlling the operating temperature of the reaction zone so that desirable temperature range is maintained over the entire zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Alaa Eldin M. Adris, Fahad A. Al-Sherehy, Mustafa A. Soliman, Tarique Hakeem, Shickh Kareemuddin, Abdullah A. Al-Nutaifi, Munawwar Saudagar, Shahid M. Azam
  • Patent number: 6962676
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus in a fluidized bed heat exchanger including a heat exchange chamber having a fluidized bed of solid particles, heat transfer surfaces, an inlet, and an outlet. Particles are fed through the inlet onto the upper surface of the bed of solid particles by a guiding channel. The guiding channel, which extends from above the upper surface of the bed of solid particles to the surface thereof, or to below the surface, passes the solid particles to the restricted area of the surface. The outlet is formed in the area of the guiding channel to remove particles from the area delimited by the guiding channel. Uncooled particles can thus be removed from the heat exchange chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energia Oy
    Inventor: Timo Hyppänen
  • Patent number: 6955793
    Abstract: A reaction vessel which includes internally placed temperature controlling mixing baffles in which liquid is boiled, resulting in an isothermal heat sink. The energy of vaporization is supplied by the reaction vessel contents. The vapor produced by the boiling is directed to channel coils which surround the outside of the reaction vessel wall. The channel coils contact the outside wall of the reaction vessel perpendicularly, and provide mechanical support for the reaction vessel. The mechanical support from the channel coils allows for a decrease in the thickness of the reaction vessel wall and corresponding increased heat transfer efficiency between the channel coil contents and the reaction vessel contents. The entire above described apparatus is enclosed within an evacuated shell to provide additional insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Inventor: José P. Arencibia, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6946105
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of metal oxides from a solution containing metallic salts by spray roasting of these solutions. The process is particularly suitable for spray roasting spent pickling acids. The process feeds the solution to a reactor for spray roasting of the droplets in at least two stages, where at least one evaporation stage follows at least one conversion stage to convert the metal salts to metal oxides. The device for implementing the process includes a spray roasting reactor having a first heating zone to evaporate the water and a second heating zone to convert the metal salts to oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Andritz AG
    Inventor: Albert Lebl
  • Patent number: 6919048
    Abstract: An elongate reaction vessel and process includes at least two stages in the vertical direction in which an endothermic or exothermic catalytic reaction is carried out and comprises: a catalytic reaction zone (12a, 12b) per stage (6, 7); introducing (2) a reaction fluid to a stage adapted for transverse motion of the fluid across the whole vertical extent of the reaction zone; introducing and extracting the catalyst; a heat exchanger (5a) for reaction fluids located inside the vessel between two successive reaction zones; means (6) for transporting reaction fluids from one stage to another preferably connected to the exchanger of the stage under consideration and to the inlet for reaction fluids of the subsequent stage; and means for recovering reaction fluids downstream of the last stage. The temperature variation in each zone and the temperature level are respectively adjusted by the thickness of each zone and by heat exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Frédéric Hoffmann, Eric Lenglet, Philippe Mege
  • Patent number: 6911185
    Abstract: A fluidized-bed reactor for the oxychlorination of ethylene, oxygen and HCL, comprises a heat exchanger, having tube packets in the fluidized-bed for releasing the heat evolved from exothermic reaction to a heat-transfer medium in the tube packets, in particular to water/steam. The tube packets come into contact with water via a ring pipe and the steam being removed via a ring pipe to provide an economical solution with which expensive drilled passages are avoided, the calculation for ring pipes is facilitated and a large number of wall passages is dispensed with. This is achieved by the ring pipe being mounted as a collector or chamber directly on the reactor wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Krupp Unde GmbH
    Inventor: Harmut Schön
  • Patent number: 6903168
    Abstract: Ethylenically unsaturated monomers are polymerized in a gas-phase fluidized-bed reactor comprising a reactor space (1) in the form of a vertical tube, a calming zone (2) adjoining the upper part of the reactor space, a circulated gas line (3), a circulated gas compressor (4), a cooling apparatus (5), a gas distributor plate (6) which forms the lower boundary of the reactor space and, if desired, a flow divider (7), wherein the gas distributor plate (6) has a plurality of gas flow orifices (8) whose outlet sides are widened conically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefine
    Inventors: Benno Knauer, Peter Hennenberger, Klaus Hilligardt, Eckard Schauss, Horst Bullack
  • Patent number: 6827786
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor with one or more stages each stage having a heating section located below a reacting section and a mechanism that pulses granules back and forth between the heating and reacting sections, separate injectors for silicon containing gases non silicon containing gases, heaters to heat the non silicon containing gases above the reaction temperature and the silicon containing gases to a temperature just below their decomposition temperature. The heater for the silicon containing gases controls the condensing vapor of a heat transfer fluid to a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the silicon containing gases. An enclosed noncontaminating sieving device selectively removes product and recycles undersize material. A weigh cell with frequency analysis capability provides information on the weight of the reactor and the force exerted by the pulsing action of the granules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventor: Stephen M Lord
  • Patent number: 6818189
    Abstract: A continuous flow chemical reaction apparatus comprises a tubular reactor having a length and having a first fluid reactant inlet at a first end and a product outlet at a second end, said tubular reactor having a central tube/interior conduit extending lengthwise within said tubular reaction zone, said conduit having at least one injector within the length of said conduit, said injector capable of introducing a controlled amount of a second fluid reactant into said tubular reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Alaa Eldin Mostafa Adris, Friedrich Gutlhuber
  • Patent number: 6818187
    Abstract: An apparatus for gas-phase catalytic polymerization comprising a first vertical reactor (1), a second vertical reactor (2), the upper region of said reactor (1) being connected by a connecting part (3) to a solid as separator (4), which is in turn connected to the upper region of second reactor (2), the lower region of second reactor (2) being connected to the lower region of first reactor (1) by a connecting part (5), the solid/gas separator (4) being connected through a recycle line (6) to one or more points of reintroduction into connecting part (5) or into reactor (1), the apparatus having a line (12) for feeding catalyst into reactor (1), a polymer discharge system (11) from reactor (2), a line (13) for feeding monomers, the apparatus being further characterized in that it comprises a line (15) for feeding gas or liquid into reactor (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gabriele Govoni, Massimo Covezzi
  • Patent number: 6808543
    Abstract: An improved system and method is provided for operating a parallel entrainment fluidized bed gasifier system. A first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for reducing ash agglomeration in a parallel entrainment fluidized bed gasifier/combustor system by adding a quantity of MgO to the feedstock used in the gasifier/combustor system. A second aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for reducing erosion at piping bends in fluidized particulate piping systems which utilizes sand retention cavities positioned to receive and retain a portion of the fluidized particulate. A third aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for facilitating the flow of sand and char fragments from a first compartment to a second compartment while minimizing the flow of gases between the first and second compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Ferco Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Paisley
  • Patent number: 6802890
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator assembly, which is attached to a fluidized bed reactor for separating solid particles from gas exhausted from a reaction chamber of the fluidized bed reactor, includes a vortex chamber. The vortex chamber is in a horizontal direction defined by vertically-extending outer walls formed of planar water tube panels, the inside of the outer walls being at least partly provided with a refractory lining and defining a gas space in the vortex chamber, where at least one vertical gas vortex is established. The separator assembly also includes at least one inlet for introducing gas into the gas space from the reaction chamber, at least one outlet for discharging purified gas from the gas space, and at least one outlet for discharging separated solid particles from the gas space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energia Oy
    Inventor: Timo Hyppänen