Inorganic Hydrator Patents (Class 422/162)
  • Patent number: 11944934
    Abstract: A liquid desiccant regenerator configured to produce a first output stream with a higher concentration of a liquid desiccant than a first input stream. The regenerator also produces a second output stream with a lower concentration of the liquid desiccant than a second input stream. Regeneration of the liquid desiccant in the liquid desiccant regenerator decreases a temperature of the liquid desiccant regenerator. The system includes an air contactor coupled to the first output stream and exposing an input air stream to the first output stream. The first output stream absorbs water from the input air stream to form at least one diluted output desiccant stream. A heat pump of the system is thermally coupled to move the heat from the first output stream to the liquid desiccant regenerator. The heat moved to the liquid desiccant regenerator increases an efficiency of the liquid desiccant regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Mojave Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Benedict, Aaron Meles, Eugene S. Beh, Francisco E Torres, Benjamin A Zhang
  • Patent number: 11912573
    Abstract: A method for producing hydrogen by thermochemical splitting of water includes injecting one or more feed streams of water into a reaction chamber. The method further includes using a molten salt heated by a subterranean heat source to carry out the thermochemical splitting of water to form hydrogen and oxygen in the reaction chamber. The formed products are subsequently removed from the reaction chamber. Hydrogen formed in the reaction chamber may be used in a downstream process to generate hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: EnhancedGEO Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Patent number: 11897828
    Abstract: A reaction system includes a wellbore extending from a surface into a subterranean heat source. The reaction system further includes a reaction chamber configured to be maintained at a reaction temperature using heat from the subterranean heat source. The reaction system further includes one or more inlet conduits. The inlet conduits are configured to provide one or more feed streams to the reaction chamber. The reaction system also includes outlet conduits configured to allow flow of one or more product streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: EnhancedGEO, Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Patent number: 11879179
    Abstract: Herein discussed is a hydrogen production system comprising: a catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) reactor; a steam generator; and an electrochemical (EC) reactor; wherein the CPOX reactor product stream is introduced into the EC reactor and the steam generator provides steam to the EC reactor; and wherein the product stream and the steam do not come in contact with each other in the EC reactor. In an embodiment, the EC reactor generates a first product stream comprising CO and CO2 and a second product stream comprising H2 and H2O, wherein the two product streams do not come in contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Utility Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Dawson, Nicholas Farandos, Jason Dana, Jin Dawson
  • Patent number: 11873219
    Abstract: A method of operating a mass spectrometer vacuum interface, the vacuum interface comprising an evacuated expansion chamber downstream of a plasma ion source at atmospheric or relatively high pressure, the expansion chamber having a first aperture that interfaces with the plasma ion source to form an expanding plasma downstream of the first aperture and a second aperture downstream of the first aperture from the plasma for skimming the expanding plasma to form a skimmed expanding plasma; wherein the expansion chamber is pumped by an interface vacuum pump to provide an interface pressure in the chamber; the method comprising using a controller to automatically, or according to user input, control the throughput of the interface vacuum pump to control the interface pressure dependent on one or more operating modes of the spectrometer. A pressure gauge can be located in the expansion chamber and a feedback loop provided between the pressure gauge and controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SHELL USA, INC.
    Inventors: Leonardo Spanu, Carolus Matthias Anna Maria Mesters
  • Patent number: 11834523
    Abstract: Some variations provide a new nanolignocellulose composition comprising, on a bone-dry, ash-free, and acetyl-free basis, from 35 wt % to 80 wt % cellulose nanofibrils, cellulose microfibrils, or a combination thereof, from 15 wt % to 45 wt % lignin, and from 5 wt % to 20 wt % hemicelluloses. The hemicelluloses may contain xylan or mannan as the major component. Novel properties arise from the hemicellulose content that is intermediate between high hemicellulose content of raw biomass and low hemicellulose content of conventional nanocellulose. The nanolignocellulose composition is hydrophobic due to the presence of lignin. Processes for making and using the nanolignocellulose compositions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: GranBio Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Nelson, Theodora Retsina
  • Patent number: 11827849
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon-bearing formation treatment fluid compositions and systems. Methods of hydraulic fracturing a hydrocarbon-bearing formation and/or mitigating well-to-well communication between an infill well and an adjacent well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: XPand Oil & Gas Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Amr Radwan
  • Patent number: 11752467
    Abstract: A method for removing nitrogen oxides NOx from a gaseous current, comprising the steps of: passing the gaseous current through a de-NOx catalytic bed with iron exchanged zeolite as a catalyst with the addition of ammonia as a reducing agent, wherein the molar ratio of NH3 over NOx is greater than 1.33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: CASALE SA
    Inventor: Jean Francois Granger
  • Patent number: 11608473
    Abstract: A syngas generator is disclosed as an exothermic gas generator that can accommodate high combustion temperatures of a natural gas/oxygen flame. The generator consists of four sections: a heavily insulated combustion chamber, a catalyst chamber, a spray chamber, and a heat exchanger. These four sections may be arranged in series and tightly bolted together to form a gas-tight system. Natural gas, oxygen and steam are supplied to a burner at the inlet end of the combustion chamber. This mixture is ignited and the resulting hot process gas is then fed into a catalyst bed where it reacts with the steam and is converted to carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syngas). The syngas is fed to a Fischer-Tropsch unit to create liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Greenway Innovative Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Wright
  • Patent number: 11305249
    Abstract: A hydrogen mixed gas generation apparatus includes a superheated vapor heating part that heats a raw water to generate a superheated vapor and further heats the superheated vapor to produce a mixed gas that includes a hydrogen gas, and a communication part that is communicable with a predetermined terminal device and transmits information to the terminal device. The superheated vapor heating part houses a reduction acceleration member and includes a heating pipe where the raw water flows therein, and a coil heater that is wound around the heating pipe. The reduction acceleration member includes a first metal member that is formed of a stainless steel and includes a cylindrical part where rod bodies respectively extend from both ends thereof and a second metal member that is formed of an iron and steel material and is housed in the cylindrical part in a state where a plurality thereof are bundled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: FRIEND CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Isami Shigematsu, Naoki Hidaka
  • Patent number: 11273401
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide a plenum separator for removing excess oil from fried food items, and then separating the oil from an air/oil mixture. A system for feeding fried food items with excess oil thereon may extend across and above the width of the plenum. A sink may be disposed at a bottom of the plenum. A blower typically draws air from the second end of the pipe, causing the air/oil mixture to be drawn into the slot and through the inner channel, with at least a portion of the air in the air/oil mixture passing through the opening in the pipe, with at least a portion of the oil in the air/oil mixture falling to the sink, and with at least a portion of the air/oil mixture passing from the inner channel to the outer channel and through the elongated aperture to be recirculated through the inner channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: GEM EQUIPMENT OF OREGON, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Michael Imdieke
  • Patent number: 10975735
    Abstract: A method of recovering heat from a Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) fractionation plant for production of potable water. The method includes heating a buffer fluid via a heat exchanger in the NGL fractionation plant to transfer heat from the NGL fractionation plant to the buffer fluid. The method includes heating feed water with the buffer fluid discharged from the heat exchanger for production of potable water via a multi-effect-distillation (MED) system. The method may include producing potable water with heat from the buffer fluid in the MED system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mahmoud Bahy Mahmoud Noureldin, Akram Hamed Mohamed Kamel
  • Patent number: 10669199
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing highly porous slake lime comprising a feeding step of quicklime, a feeding step of water in a feeding zone of a hydrator, a slaking step of said quicklime in a slaking zone of said hydrator and a maturation step in a maturation zone of said hydrator to form slaked lime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: S. A. Lhoist Recherche et Developpement
    Inventors: Stephan Chini, Marion Lorgouilloux, Olivier Nyssen, Olivier Francoisse
  • Patent number: 10603649
    Abstract: A reactor includes: a main reactor core including main reaction flow channels through which the raw material fluid flows, and main temperature control flow channels through which the heat medium flows along a flow direction of the raw material fluid flowing in the main reaction flow channel; and a pre-reactor core including pre-reaction flow channels of which an outlet side connects with an inlet side of the main reaction flow channels and through which the raw material fluid flows, and pre-temperature control flow channels of which an inlet side connects with an outlet side of the main reaction flow channels and through which the product serving as the heat medium flows along a flow direction of the raw material fluid flowing in the pre-reaction flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihisa Yano, Tatsuya Oka, Hiroyuki Kamata, Shigeki Sakakura, Nobuyuki Honma, Yusuke Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10464815
    Abstract: A thermochemical energy storage system and method of storing thermal energy are disclosed. The energy storing system described herein comprises a reactor comprising a CO2 sorbent comprising i) CaO and mayenite or ii) Li4SiO4, or a combination thereof, and b) a CO2 source, wherein the CO2 source is in fluid communication with the reactor to allow flow of CO2 between the CO2 source and the reactor. Further, methods are disclosed for storing thermal energy through a wide temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Southern Research Institute
    Inventors: Ryan Melsert, Santosh Kumar Gangwal, Tim A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 10214448
    Abstract: A method includes transferring at least one feed stream including calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, water, and a fluidizing gas into a fluidized bed; contacting the calcium oxide with the water; based on contacting the calcium oxide with the water, initiating a hydrating reaction; producing, from the hydrating reaction, calcium hydroxide and heat; transferring a portion of the heat of the hydrating reaction to the calcium carbonate; and fluidizing the calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, and the calcium carbonate into a first fluidization regime and a second fluidization regime. The first fluidization regime includes at least a portion of the calcium carbonate and at least a portion of the calcium oxide, and the second fluidization regime includes at least a portion of the calcium hydroxide and at least another portion of the calcium oxide. The first fluidization regime is different than the second fluidization regime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Carbon Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenton Robert Heidel, Robert A. Rossi
  • Patent number: 9825316
    Abstract: In aspects of the disclosure, a fuel cartridge wherein the fuel is in a powdered form is admixed with inert materials such as alumina or other ceramics to improve thermal conductivity. Said cartridge having fuel zones, heating zones, and controllers to selectively heat fuel zones and thereby generate hydrogen via decomposition of fuel is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventors: Peter David Hood, Henri Winand
  • Patent number: 9295961
    Abstract: A radiant heat chemical reactor is configured to generate chemical products including synthesis gas products. Two or more tubes in the radiant heat chemical reactor separate an exothermic heat source, such as flames and gas from a regenerative burner, from the endothermic reaction of the reactant gas occurring within the cavity of the refractory vessel. The exothermic heat source heats a space inside the tubes. One or more feed lines supply chemical reactants to the cavity area between an inner wall of the cavity of the refractory vessel of the chemical reactor and the two or more tubes that are internally heated located with the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Sundrop Fuels, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy E. Laska, John T. Turner
  • Publication number: 20150148434
    Abstract: A system includes a syngas cooler and a compatible seal gas system. The syngas cooler may be configured to cool a syngas. The compatible seal gas system may be configured to supply a compatible seal gas to a seal of the syngas cooler. The seal may be configured to block the syngas from a passage between an outer wall of the syngas cooler and a tube cage of the syngas cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anindra Mazumdar, Jay Christopher Schleicher, Atul Kumar Vij, Uma Chinnadurai, Paromita Bhattacharya, Rajeshwar Sripada
  • Publication number: 20150147249
    Abstract: A system and method of collecting and transporting exhaust gases, preferably gases generated via the burning of fossil fuels, to a remote treatment facility. The exhaust gases include greenhouse gases, airborne particulates, and other pollutants. The present system comprises a gas extraction cap for collecting exhaust gas emitted from a point source of pollution, a pump for drawing water from a water source, a means for mixing the captured exhaust gas with the drawn water, a pipeline for transporting the gas-water solution to a remote treatment facility, and one or more high-pressure boilers for separating the water from the gas-water solution, leaving the exhaust gases available for treatment at the facility. Once the gas-water mixture arrives at the processing location, it then goes through one or more boiling steps in order to separate the water from the captured gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Jahchinedu James
  • Publication number: 20150139894
    Abstract: The following invention relates to a novel and efficient nanoparticles synthesis reactor and process production. More particularly, the present invention is applied to the synthesis of nanostructured tin dioxide. The benefits provided by the invention can be seen in various gaseous reactions where occurs the formation of solid and gaseous phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Diego Manuel Ferreira Lusquinos Fontanez, Francisco José Moura
  • Publication number: 20150133348
    Abstract: A fracking fluid hydration unit is provided that has a plurality of hydration tank sections wherein shear is added to the hydrated fluid flow via a recirculation hydrated fluid jetting system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: DON OLDHAM
  • Publication number: 20150132214
    Abstract: A device includes a case having a surface with a perforation and a cavity. A membrane is supported by the case inside the cavity and has an impermeable valve plate positioned proximate the perforation. The membrane is water vapor permeable and gas impermeable and flexes responsive to a difference in pressure between the cavity and outside the cavity to selectively allow water vapor to pass through the perforation into the cavity as a function of the difference in pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Steven J. Eickhoff
  • Patent number: 9028794
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing hydrogen, with reduced carbon dioxide emissions, from a hydrocarbon mixture. In said method, the hydrocarbon mixture is reformed so as to produce a synthetic gas that is cooled, then treated in a shift reactor so as to be enriched with H2 and CO2. Optionally dried, said mixture is treated in a PSA hydrogen purification unit in order to produce hydrogen. The residue is treated by means of partial condensation with a view to capturing CO4 before said residue is sent as fuel to reforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Arthur Darde, Solène Valentin, Philippe Court, Jean-Pierre Tranier, Xavier Traversac, Paul Terrien
  • Publication number: 20150121869
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of sustainable economic development, such as development through an integrated production of renewable energy, material resources, and nutrient regimes. In some embodiments, the system utilizes resources extracted from renewable energy sources to assist in the capture of energy from other renewable energy sources. In some embodiments, the system utilizes energy from renewable energy sources to extract resources from other renewable energy sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 9023284
    Abstract: A reaction system suitable for production of a methionine salt contains a reactive rectification column containing a weir having a height of 100 mm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Joachim Hasselbach, Martin Koerfer, Christof P. Gruener, Franz H. Hanrath, Juergen Stock, Jignesh Gangadwala, Horst Krull
  • Publication number: 20150118118
    Abstract: The present invention provides a membrane reaction apparatus for recovering heat of reaction, which includes a membrane reactor. The said membrane reactor includes a reaction pipeline, a membrane and a sweep pipeline. The reaction pipeline has a reaction space, and an exothermic reaction occurs therein, which generates product gas and heat of reaction. Part of the product gas penetrates through the membrane around the reaction space and enters into the sweep pipeline. Sweeping gas enters into the sweep pipeline and carries the product gas and the heat of reaction away. It is feasible to wrap the product gas around the sweep pipeline, for enhancing the heat transfer from the product gas to the sweeping gas. The heat of reaction brought by the sweeping gas can be further released in a heat exchanger. so that the heat of reaction is available to be recovered and used for other endothermic processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: ATOMIC ENERGY COUNCIL- INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: YAU-PIN CHYOU, YEN-CHO CHEN, PO-CHUANG CHEN, REIYU CHEIN, WEN-JENN SHEU, YU-SHAO LIN
  • Patent number: 9017560
    Abstract: A apparatus for treating ballast water with acrolein which is to be connected to a main ballast water line of a ballast water unit, comprises a reactor device to which acrolein derivate and water is to be fed for generating an aqueous acrolein solution, a branch line which is connected to the main ballast water line for branching off a partial ballast water stream, and a mixing device which is connected to the branch line and an acrolein solution supply line from the reactor device and is designed for diluting the aqueous acrolein solution from the reactor device, and a feed device for supplying the aqueous acrolein solution from the mixing unit to the main ballast water line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: Holger Blum
  • Patent number: 9012098
    Abstract: A hydrogen production apparatus includes a burner, a combustion tube provided so as to surround flame of the burner, a reforming unit provided so as to surround the tube, an exhaust gas flow path provided so as to pass through between the tube and the unit, fold back at the other side of the unit, and extend through outside of the unit on a predetermined side, a low temperature shift unit provided on one of inside and outside of an extending portion of the flow path that extends on the predetermined side so as to extend along the extending portion, and a preferential oxidation unit provided on the other of the inside and the outside of the extending portion so as to extend along the extending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Goto, Toshiyuki Unno
  • Publication number: 20150099294
    Abstract: A system and method for producing Syngas from the CO2 in a gaseous stream, such as an exhaust stream, from a power plant or industrial plant, like a cement kiln, is disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes providing the gaseous stream to pyrolysis reactor along with a carbon source such as coke. The CO2 and carbon are heated to about 1330° C. and at about one atmosphere with reactants such as steam such that a reaction takes place that produces Syngas, carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2). The Syngas is then cleaned and provided to a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor to produce Ethanol or Bio-catalytic synthesis reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Gary C. Young
  • Publication number: 20150086432
    Abstract: A system including a mixing apparatus configured to produce a reformer feedstock and comprising one or more cylindrical vessel having a conical bottom section, an inlet for superheated steam within the conical bottom section and an inlet for at least one carbonaceous material at or near the top of the cylindrical vessel, wherein the one or more cylindrical vessel is a pressure vessel configured for operation at a pressure in the range of from about 5 psig (34.5 kPa) to about 50 psig (344.7 kPa); a reformer configured to produce, from the reformer feedstock, a reformer product comprising synthesis gas, and also producing a hot flue gas; a synthesis gas conversion apparatus configured to catalytically convert at least a portion of the synthesis gas in the reformer product into synthesis gas conversion product, and to separate, from the synthesis gas conversion product, a spent catalyst stream and a tailgas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: RANDY BLEVINS, Joshua B. Pearson, Harold A. Wright
  • Publication number: 20150080483
    Abstract: A power station-based methanation system which has a fossil fuel-fired power station together with an electrolysis unit and a methanation reactor is provided. The power station and the electrolysis unit are configured for supplying the methanation reactor with starting materials for a methanation reaction and the electrolysis unit can be operated both in a charging state and in a discharging state, in which charging state the electrolysis unit supplies electric power and a chemical energy store is at the same time charged and in which discharging state the chemical energy store is discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marc Hanebuth, Uwe Lenk, Nicolas Vortmeyer
  • Publication number: 20150080621
    Abstract: A bottom fraction of a product of a hydrocatalytic reaction is gasified to generate hydrogen for use in further hydrocatalytic reactions. In one embodiment, one or more volatile organic compounds is also vaporized using heat generated in the gasification process. In one embodiment, an overhead fraction of the hydrocatalytic reaction is further processed to generate higher molecular weight compounds. In another embodiment, a product of the further processing is separated into a bottom fraction and an overhead fraction, where the bottom fraction is also gasified to generate hydrogen for use in further hydrocatalytic reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph Broun POWELL, Lamar Lane JOFFRION, Todd Paul PELTIER, Kimberly Ann JOHNSON, Thomas Lamar FLOWERS, Franklin Eugene CAPUTO, Hubert Willem SCHENCK, Andries Quinn BOON, Molly GILCHREST
  • Publication number: 20150080622
    Abstract: A bottom fraction of a product of a hydrocatalytic reaction is gasified to generate hydrogen for use in further hydrocatalytic reactions. In one embodiment, one or more volatile organic compounds is also vaporized using heat generated in the gasification process. In one embodiment, an overhead fraction of the hydrocatalytic reaction is further processed to generate higher molecular weight compounds. In another embodiment, a product of the further processing is separated into a bottom fraction and an overhead fraction, where the bottom fraction is also gasified to generate hydrogen for use in further hydrocatalytic reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph Broun POWELL, Lamar Lane JOFFRION, Kimberly Ann JOHNSON, Juben Nemchand CHHEDA, Molly GILCHREST, Andries Quirin Maria BOON
  • Publication number: 20150060335
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus ultimately for converting a carbonaceous material to liquid hydrocarbons suitable for use, for example, as transportation fuels. In a first step the carbonaceous material is converted to a syngas product, and in subsequent steps the syngas product is converted to the desired liquid hydrocarbons. In one embodiment, coal and methane are converted to syngas, and the syngas product is converted to hydrocarbons through a methanol intermediate. An example use for the methods and apparatus of the invention is in the preparation of aviation fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: SRI International, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Steele, Robert B. Wilson, Ripudaman Malhotra, Brian Adair
  • Publication number: 20150056528
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to a reforming chamber housing a hydrocarbon-water mixture and receiving a control voltage signal to cause molecular breakdown of the mixture and create a feed of hydrogen and carbon and dioxide that can be supplied to fuel cells. The reforming chamber includes multiple electrodes positioned across from a ground plane inside a cylindrical support structure. An input tube receives and directs the mixture to the vertical cavity where the mixture rises past the electrodes. Mixture that is not broken down is recycled back to the bottom of the vertical cavity by a fan while the resultant hydrogen and carbon dioxide is allowed to rise to a trap that separates the hydrogen from the carbon dioxide. The hydrogen can then be directed to the fuel cells or other hydrogen-dependent devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: 19TH SPACE ENERGY, LLC
    Inventors: Babak Fahimi, Daniel Christopher Dial
  • Publication number: 20150045458
    Abstract: A method for converting carbon dioxide in flue gas into natural gas using dump energy. The method includes: 1) transforming and rectifying a voltage of dump energy generated from a renewable energy plant, introducing the voltage-transformed and rectified dump energy into an electrolyte solution to electrolyze water therein to yield H2 and O2; 2) purifying industrial flue gas to separate CO2 therein and purifying CO2; 3) transporting H2 generated and CO2 to a synthesis equipment, allowing a methanation reaction between H2 and CO2 to happen to yield a high-temperature mixed gas with main ingredients of CH4 and water vapor; 4) employing the high-temperature mixed gas to conduct indirect heat exchange with process water to yield superheated water vapor; 5) delivering the superheated water vapor to a turbine to generate electric energy, and returning the electric energy to step 1); and 6) condensing and drying the mixed gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Yanfeng ZHANG, Yilong CHEN, Zhilong WANG, Zhangjian FANG, Xingcai ZHENG
  • Publication number: 20150044102
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation apparatus is configured to be supplied with a raw material containing a hydrocarbon component and generate a hydrogen-containing fuel gas. The hydrogen generation apparatus includes: a reformer configured to cause a reforming reaction of a mixed gas of the raw material and steam; a combustor configured to combust a combustible gas to heat the reformer; a hydrodesulfurizer configured to be supplied with heat from the reformer, and cause a reaction between sulfur in the raw material that is to be supplied to the reformer and hydrogen to remove the sulfur from the raw material; a first heat insulating material disposed between the hydrodesulfurizer and the reformer; and a heat equalizing plate disposed between the hydrodesulfurizer and the first heat insulating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi Kimura, Masaru Fukuda, Hiroki Fujioka, Yuji Mukai, Yutaka Yoshida, Kiyoshi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 8951475
    Abstract: A chemical heat accumulator includes a receptacle, a first reaction vessel, and a second reaction vessel. The first reaction vessel is hermetically connected to the receptacle and supplied with water from the receptacle. The first reaction vessel contains a chemical compound that causes a hydration reaction with the water from the receptacle to generate water vapor by a heat of reaction, and causes a dehydration reaction by receiving heat. The second reaction vessel is hermetically connected to the first reaction vessel and supplied with the water vapor from the first reaction vessel. The second reaction vessel contains a chemical heat storage material that generates heat by causing a hydration reaction with the water vapor from the first reaction vessel and stores heat through a dehydration reaction caused by receiving heat. The chemical heat storage material is thermally in contact with an object to be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Komaki, Hiroshi Mieda, Tadahiro Nakagawa, Takashi Shimazu, Tomohisa Wakasugi, Hiroyuki Mitsui, Hideo Sobukawa
  • Publication number: 20150037218
    Abstract: A membrane-integrated hydration reactor that is operable to produce an associated alcohol product from an olefin using water includes a solid acid olefin hydration catalyst in a production zone and a hydrophilic membrane operable to selectively permit pervaporation of water one-way and not permit pervaporation of the associated alcohol or permeation of the olefin at olefin hydration process conditions in a separations zone. The production zone is operable to form a production zone product mixture made of the associated alcohol and any unreacted water. The associated separations zone is operable to form and produce both the associated alcohol product and a pervaporated water product from the production zone product mixture. A method of olefin hydration for forming an associated alcohol product from an olefin using water uses the membrane-integrated hydration reactor at olefin hydration process conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Aadesh HARALE, Wei XU, Ibrahim ABBA
  • Publication number: 20150037246
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of hydrogen in a reactor system comprising a steam reforming reaction zone comprising a reforming catalyst and a membrane separation zone comprising a hydrogen-selective membrane. The process involves a reaction system of so-called open architecture, wherein the reforming zone and the membrane separation zone operate independently of each other. The invention provides the heat for the reforming reaction through heat exchange from liquid molten salts, preferably heated by solar energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Barbara Morico, Annarita Salladini, Gaetano Iaquaniello
  • Patent number: 8940188
    Abstract: A system for the production of synthesis gas and, for the production thereof, where the system is preferably a net carbon dioxide absorber. The invention covers both the methodology for the development of the process and the system for the implementation of the process, inclusive of the required utility systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: University of the Witwartersrand Johannesburg
    Inventors: James Alistair Fox, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser, Bilal Patel, Brendon Hausberger, Baraka Celestin Sempuga
  • Patent number: 8936759
    Abstract: A double helix gas hydrate reactor is disclosed. The reactor includes an inlet port (510) into which water and gas are supplied, an outlet port (540) disposed opposite the inlet port, a hollow jacket (580) extending from the inlet port to the outlet port, a hollow outer helix (550) installed in the hollow jacket, and an inner helix (560) installed in the outer helix. The gas and water that are supplied into the inlet port react with each other to form gas hydrate in a channel defined between the inner helix and the hollow jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Industrial Technology
    Inventors: Ju Dong Lee, Jin Woo Lee, Kyeong Nam Park, Joung Ha Kim
  • Publication number: 20150014594
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for molten slag gasification of solid fuels in a molten slag gasifier with increased output, an increased range of solid fuels that can be used and improved gas quality. The process is conducted such that, by means of a molten slag gasifier comprising a feed of the coarse-grained solid fuels and comprising a gas takeoff, both at the head of the molten slag gasifier, comprising a slag bath and comprising a slag bath takeoff at the bottom of the molten slag gasifier, comprising a feed for first gasifying means by means of gasifying means nozzles above the slag bath, comprising a filling of the fixed bed above the slag bath, in addition to the first gasifying means a second gasifying means are injected by way of at least one gasifying means nozzle that reaches into the upper region of the fixed bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Envirotherm GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Meyer, Martin Gräbner
  • Publication number: 20150001447
    Abstract: The present invention provides a CO shift conversion device and a CO shift conversion method which improves CO conversion rate without increasing usage of a shift conversion catalyst. A CO shift conversion device includes: a CO shift converter 10 having a catalyst layer 5 composed of a CO shift conversion catalyst and performing CO shift conversion process on a gas flowing inside; and a CO2 remover 51 removing CO2 contained in a gas introduced. The catalyst layer 5 is composed of a CO shift conversion catalyst having a property that a CO conversion rate decreases with an increase of the concentration of CO2 contained in a gas flowing inside. The concentration of CO2 contained in a gas G0 to be processed is lowered by the CO2 remover 51 and, after that, the resultant gas is supplied to the CO shift converter 10 where it is subjected to the CO shift conversion process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: RENAISSANCE ENERGY RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Okada, Kaori Morimoto, Chihiro Ito
  • Publication number: 20150005399
    Abstract: A method for producing synthetic gas with which a virtually soot-free synthetic gas having a good composition can be efficiently obtained by a simple device using a liquid biofuel as the starting material, and it is thereby possible to produce a high-quality liquid fuel such as methanol, gasoline or kerosene. Steam and a liquid biofuel produced by pyrolysis of a biomass are fed to the gasification space inside a reactor tube that is not loaded with a catalyst inside the reactor tube and heated to 800 to 1,200° C. from the outside via the reactor tube walls to induce an endothermic reaction and thereby a steam reforming chemical reaction between the steam and the liquid biofuel. By setting the molar ratio of the fed steam and carbon in the liquid biofuel ([H2O]/[C]) at 0.3 or higher, a synthetic gas having a good composition that is virtually free of tar and soot and is primarily H2 and CO is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Masayasu Sakai, Nobuaki Murakami, Nobutaka Morimitsu, Yasunori Takei, Akira Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20150005557
    Abstract: A system or method for producing gasoline from natural gas via methanol can effectively use the heat of reaction generated during the synthesis of gasoline and is capable of readily cooling the gasoline synthesis column in the production of gasoline from natural gas via methanol. A steam reformer 10 steam-reforms natural gas to generate reformed gas, methanol is synthesized by a methanol synthesis column 20 from the reformed gas, and in synthesizing gasoline from methanol by using a gasoline synthesis column 30, combustion air 41 to be supplied to the steam reformer 10 is preheated with the heat of reaction generated in the gasoline synthesis column 30, and then the preheated combustion air 41 is supplied to the steam reformer 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Patent number: 8920740
    Abstract: An atmospheric pressure plasma jet device for converting carbon dioxide into organic products by using an atmospheric pressure plasma technique, comprising: an inner electrode made of a conductive metal, and having an insulating layer covering a portion of the inner electrode; a first conductive metal wall surrounding the inner electrode with a predetermined distance apart, such that a cavity is formed between the inner electrode and the first conductive metal wall, and a through hole is formed on a side of the first conductive metal wall, such that a reactant can flow into the cavity; and a diffusing unit including an insulating component and a conductive metal component. Wherein the insulating component is disposed on a side of the insulating layer, and covers another portion of the inner electrode. The conductive metal component further covers the insulating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Arnold Chang-Mou Yang, Chun-Chih Chang, Chung-Sung Tan
  • Patent number: 8921619
    Abstract: A membrane-integrated hydration reactor that is operable to produce an associated alcohol product from an olefin using water includes a solid acid olefin hydration catalyst in a production zone and a hydrophilic membrane operable to selectively permit pervaporation of water one-way and not permit pervaporation of the associated alcohol or permeation of the olefin at olefin hydration process conditions in a separations zone. The production zone is operable to form a production zone product mixture made of the associated alcohol and any unreacted water. The associated separations zone is operable to form and produce both the associated alcohol product and a pervaporated water product from the production zone product mixture. A method of olefin hydration for forming an associated alcohol product from an olefin using water uses the membrane-integrated hydration reactor at olefin hydration process conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Aadesh Harale, Wei Xu, Ibrahim Abba
  • Publication number: 20140374660
    Abstract: The use of porous materials in the dead space of reciprocating engines is described. The porous material can be used to condition the cylinder gases. In addition, the porous material may include a catalyst for driving chemical reactions. The catalytic process occurs on the porous material, not on the cylinder walls. The engine parameters (number of cycles, number of strokes per cycle, compression ratio, engine speed, cylinder volume, valves timing, gas composition, pressure and temperature) are adjusted to optimize gas compression or chemical reactor performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Alexander Sappok, John G. Brisson, William H. Green