Compact Bed Of Particulate, Fluid Contact Material And Means Providing Gravity Flow Of Material Within Bed Patents (Class 422/216)
  • Patent number: 6291603
    Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from an organic-based feed stream which includes the use of a layer of reticulated ceramic material to filter the organic-based feed stream and to provide liquid distribution upstream of the catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Crystaphase International, Inc.
    Inventor: John N. Glover
  • Patent number: 6224838
    Abstract: Conduits for a radial flow reactor to provide fluid/solid contacting are improved structurally in terms of possessing good flexibility and a high resistance to vertical buckling when subjected to radially and axially directed stresses. The desired conduit characteristics are obtained using connection flaps to flexibly join a curved profile wire front side to a flatter back side that is proximate to the reactor vessel wall. The rigid profile wire section is maintained at some distance from the vessel wall so that the conduit can flex without permanent damage in an environment where stresses are imparted due to either temperature or thermal expansion differences within the reactor environment. The radial flow reactor of this invention is especially suited for processes such as catalytic reforming where thermally-induced stresses result from both transient and discontinuous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gary A. Schulz, Jeffrey E. Burgard
  • Patent number: 6090351
    Abstract: A chamber comprising a moving bed of solid particles, delimited by at least one screen with thickness e, circulating in a downward direction substantially parallel to the screen, the bed being traversed by at least one fluid flowing in the bed in a principal direction which is different to that of the ensemble of particles and leaving the bed by an outlet screen. In accordance with the invention, the chamber comprises at least one opening for introducing solid particles located above the bed and comprising at least one orifice for the flow of the particles, located at a distance of at least 0.6 e from the outlet screen. The chamber advantageously comprises at least two extraction openings, one extraction opening being located at a distance not more than 0.5 e from the outlet screen, and the other at a distance of at least 0.5 e from the outlet screen. The invention is applicable to catalytic reactors, in particular to catalytic reforming reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Euzen, Daniel Vuillemot, Roland Huin
  • Patent number: 5997823
    Abstract: Processes and apparatus for removing acid gases from hot flue gases utilizing a slurry consisting of water, calcium chloride and at least one absorbing agent selected from a group consisting of calcium oxides, magnesium oxides, calcium hydroxides, magnesium hydroxides, alkali metal oxides, alkali metal hydroxides, and alkali metal carbonates, introducing the slurry into the rising stream of hot flue gas to absorb the acid gas into the water and thereafter to react the absorbed acid gas with the absorption agent and thereafter to evaporate the water to produce dry solids comprising reaction products and unreacted absorption agents suspended in the flue gas. The calcium chloride reduces the water vapor pressure of the slurry to reduce the rate at which the water evaporates so as to increase the rate at which the acid gas is absorbed into the water before the water evaporates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Noxso Corporation
    Inventor: John L. Haslbeck
  • Patent number: 5976472
    Abstract: An integrated micro-ceramic chemical plant having a unitary ceramic body formed from multiple ceramic layers in the "green" state which are sintered together including the unitary ceramic body defining a catalytic reaction chamber position and a first and second passages for providing communication with the catalytic reaction chamber position so that two or more fluids may be delivered to such reaction chamber position for reaction. The integrated micro-ceramic chemical plant further includes a unitary ceramic body defining a receiving chamber which includes the catalytic reaction chamber position, a movable member insertable into the receiving chamber and defining a plurality of catalytic reaction chambers. The movable member moves to the catalytic reaction chamber position where one of the catalytic reaction chambers is in communication with the first and second passages to cause the catalytic reaction of the fluids to produce reaction products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dilip K. Chatterjee, Syamal K. Ghosh, Edward P. Furlani
  • Patent number: 5965092
    Abstract: An integrated micro-ceramic chemical plant having a unitary ceramic body formed from multiple ceramic layers in the "green" state which are sintered together includes the unitary ceramic body defining a reaction chamber and a first passage for providing communication with the catalytic reaction chamber so that two or more fluids may be delivered to such reaction chamber for reaction; the unitary ceramic body defining a receiving chamber connected to the reaction chamber. The integrated micro-ceramic chemical plant further includes a movable member insertable into the receiving chamber and having a plurality of micro- filters for separating the reaction products so as to retrieve desired reaction products; and the movable member is moved to a position where one of the micro filters is in communication with the reaction chamber for separating the reaction products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dilip K. Chatterjee, Syamal K. Ghosh, Edward P. Furlani
  • Patent number: 5961930
    Abstract: An integrated micro-ceramic chemical plant having a unitary ceramic body formed from multiple ceramic layers in the "green" state which are sintered together includes the unitary ceramic body defining a receiving chamber which includes a reaction chamber position and having first and second passages for providing communication with the reaction chamber position so that two or more fluids may be delivered to such reaction chamber position for reaction; the unitary ceramic body defining a receiving chamber which includes the reaction chamber position. The integrated micro-ceramic chemical plant further includes a movable member insertable into the receiving chamber and defining a plurality of separate catalytic reaction chambers and micro-filtering chambers, each such catalytic reaction chamber being provided by a micro-porous ceramic member which includes a catalyst impregnated into the micro-porous ceramic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dilip K. Chatterjee, Syamal K. Ghosh, Edward P. Furlani
  • Patent number: 5942194
    Abstract: A gas phase process for producing olefin polymer graft copolymers, including providing a reaction apparatus having first and second reaction zones operatively connected to each other into which particles of an olefin polymer and a free-radical polymerizable monomer are fed while maintaining free-radical polymerization conditions and a substantial non-oxidizing environment in said zones and from which the grafted copolymer product is discharged. An apparatus suitable for practicing this process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Montell North America Inc.
    Inventors: Albert A. Hummel, Adolfo Brusaferro, Roberto Rinaldi
  • Patent number: 5932179
    Abstract: There is disclosed a waste gas treatment apparatus in which dust concentration at a treated gas outlet is sufficiently reduced and the desulfurizing efficiency and denitrating efficiency of grains are increased. The waste gas treatment apparatus includes an inlet member, an outlet member, a moving layer of the grains therebetween, a first perforated plate disposed between the inlet member and the outlet member for defining a front chamber in combination with the inlet member, a second perforated plate disposed between the inlet member and the outlet member for defining an intermediate chamber in combination with the first perforated plate and for defining a rear chamber in combination with the outlet member, and flow controllers for setting the moving speed of grain in the front, intermediate and rear chambers. The moving speed of grains in the front chamber is higher than that in the intermediate chamber and the moving speed of grains in the intermediate chamber is higher than that in the rear chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Watanabe, Hiromi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5879566
    Abstract: A method and system for processing waste dries and reforms a sludge stream of the waste with a first reformed effluent stream to produce a gas effluent stream and a solids effluent stream. The gas effluent stream is reformed further to produce the first effluent stream, which is then directed back to the sludge stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Scientific Ecology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Stephen Snyder, Matthew Reed Cage, John Gregorie Wagner, Bryan Arthur Roy
  • Patent number: 5876469
    Abstract: A reformed gas composed mainly of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to be used for a fuel cell is produced by using a multi-tubular reformer provided with bayonet type double-wall catalyst tubes and feeding hydrocarbon gas such as natural gas and steam to the reformer. Porous media of a ceramic material are arranged in such a manner in a shell side flue gas inlet part of the interior of the reformer as to envelop the leading end parts of the catalyst tubes. The transfer of heat from the flue gas to the catalyst tubes is enhanced because the porous media accumulate the heat from the flue gas and radiate the accumulated heat in the direction of the walls of the outer tubes of the catalyst tubes. The otherwise possible uneven transfer of heat to the catalyst tubes is prevented because the wall effect and the channelling of the flue gas are repressed. This invention, therefore, permits effective utilization of the thermal energy of the flue gas for the reforming reaction and enables the reformer to be stably operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Chiyoda Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuo Moriya, Takao Kawai, Hiroshi Yagi, Ryosuke Shimizu, Yasumasa Morita
  • Patent number: 5855741
    Abstract: A column having a region for reaction with distillation of fluid streams is provided with structures including catalyst-filled containers having liquid permeable upper surfaces which allow for the accumulation and flow of liquid from a liquid stream. The containers include catalyst beds positioned beneath the upper surface of the containers. A portion of the liquid on the containers is driven through the catalyst bed by the liquid head created by the accumulated liquid and is catalytically reacted. Another portion of the liquid may be directed through a downcomer which allows the accumulated liquid to leave the container without passing through the catalyst bed so that higher volumetric flow rates can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Koch Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Koch, Neil Yeoman
  • Patent number: 5833936
    Abstract: A vessel, in which a chemical reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst, comprises a bed (4) of solid catalytic particles, delimited by at least one wall (1, 10, 11) and a base (2). The base comprises at least one gravity extraction device (3) for the particles and a succession of ridges and hollows forming pleats. The ridges and hollows are oriented towards the extraction device. This succession is advantageously formed by an assembly of facets, which are preferably trapezoidal. The invention has particular application to mobile bed reactors, in particular those used for catalytic reforming of petroleum cuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean Paul Euzen, Renaud Pontier, Daniel Vuillemot
  • Patent number: 5762888
    Abstract: A vessel arrangement and process for contacting a fluid reactant with a particulate catalyst in a plurality of flow channels and discharging fluid and particles from the flow channels. The particles are discharged axially from the bottom of the flow channels into an unconfined bed of particles. Fluid is discharged in a transverse direction through the sides of the flow channels and across screen openings located a short distance above the channel outlets. A plurality of chambers, additional particulate material or baffles regulate fluid flow through sections of the screens and prevent excessive fluid velocity in any section from holding up particle flow through the flow channels. The reactor arrangement and process of this invention is a particularly useful for arrangements that may be used to operate a reactor under isothermal or other controlled temperature conditions where a heat transfer fluid surrounds a plurality of tubular conduits or multiple flow channels that confine the particles and fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Paul A. Sechrist
  • Patent number: 5753585
    Abstract: Provided are a catalyst packing method and a catalyst packing apparatus with which a desired packed density can be easily and surely obtained by use of a suspended type catalyst ejector, wherein correlated data giving a scattering height from which a desired packed density can be obtained has been determined and stored beforehand in a memory part 74, and by setting a desired packed density, prior to the scattering of catalyst, a selecting part 75 selects a scattering height corresponding to the desired packed density from the correlated data in the memory part 74 and delivers the same to an adjusting part 76 which controls the catalyst ejector 30 so as to obtain this scattering height, thereby the catalyst bed 11 in a reaction tower 10 can be packed at the desired packed density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Idemitsu Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Minami
  • Patent number: 5711919
    Abstract: A device for catalytic dehydrogenation of a C.sub.2+ paraffinic cut with an improved system for cooling the effluent is applicable, for example, to the synthesis of methyl tert-butyl ether. Liquid charge 12 is evaporated in the calandria of a heat exchanger 13 in the optional presence of at least one part recycled hydrogen 15, then optionally compressed in a compressor 14 before being pre-heated in an exchanger 41 by effluent 1 and introduced into a dehydrogenation reactor 40. The effluent cooled in the tubes of exchanger 13 can be mixed with a cryogenic phase 17 resulting from the isentropic expansion of a hydrogen-rich phase separated in a separator 8, the hydrogen optionally being recycled to the calandria of the heat exchanger. The olefins recovered with the unconverted paraffins are stabilized in a column 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Ari Minkkinen, Jean-Pierre Burzynski
  • Patent number: 5688473
    Abstract: An apparatus for replacing particles in a process that transfers particles is disclosed. The apparatus employs a seal zone which is in communication with two zones of the process and in which particles that are being added to the process are purged. The apparatus allows particles to be replaced without reducing the normal rate of particle transfer through the process, which results in a savings in downtime costs. This invention is adaptable to a multitude of processes for the catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons in which deactivated catalyst particles are regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Roger Reed Lawrence, Frank T. Micklich, Charles T. Ressl, Paul Alvin Sechrist
  • Patent number: 5658539
    Abstract: An enclosure in which there circulates a moving bed of solid particles (for example a moving-bed catalytic reactor such as a reforming reactor), is delimited in the enclosure by at least one grill. In the enclosure a fluid passes through the bed in a direction different from that of the flow of the assembly of the particles and issues from the bed by way of at least one grill. Disposed in the thickness of said bed in an intermediate wall (grill) such as to distribute the thrust forces produced by the fluid on the particles in the zones of the bed which are delimited in that way. Jamming of the particles against the grill or grills is greatly reduced and the admissible fluid flow rate is then decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Euzen, Maurice Berthelin, Jean De Bonneville, Roland Huin, Daniel Vuillemot
  • Patent number: 5648051
    Abstract: An apparatus for quenching in hydroprocessing of a hydrocarbon feed stream, which provides a substantially continuous flow of uniformly distributed hydrogen and hydrocarbon liquid across a densely packed catalyst bed which substantially fills the entire volume of a reactor vessel. Catalyst are selected to be essentially the same density, shape and size at a design feed rate of liquids and gas to prevent ebullation of the packed catalyst bed at the design feed rates. The liquid and gas components of the hydrocarbon feed stream flow into the bed of catalyst and a quenching medium, which is preferably a liquid, is injected into the bed of catalyst. Injection of a liquid quench reduces the gas component of the hydrocarbon feed stream while simultaneously increasing the residence time and reducing the liquid velocity of the liquid component of the hydrocarbon feed stream within the substantially packed bed of catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Harold J. Trimble, Bruce E. Reynolds, Robert W. Bachtel, Robert J. Klett, David N. Brossard, David E. Earls
  • Patent number: 5647892
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and process is provided for scrubbing sulphur oxide gas from combustion flue gas with wet limestone particles as a reactive scrubbing agent. The process is carried out in a moving bed reactor having louvered inlet and outlet sides which permit the flue gas to pass through the reactor while the limestone particles move downward. The flue gas may be flowed through the moving bed reactor at a high velocity to permit scrubbing of large volumes of gas in a thorough and efficient manner. The high velocity of flue gas passing through the reactor causes some of the scrubbing particles to be ejected from the outlet side of the reactor. Problems associated with the ejection of the scrubbing particles are avoided by providing a slot alongside the outlet side of the reactor. The slot is sized so that the flue gas passing therethrough will have insufficient velocity to entrain the ejected scrubbing particles therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: ETS International, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. McKenna, Kenneth W. Appell, John C. Mycock, Joseph F. Szalay
  • Patent number: 5648049
    Abstract: A purging electrostatic gun for uniformly and essentially completely electrostatically charging the outer surfaces of a flow of sorbent material particles passed therethrough under pressure that are then injected into a polluted gas stream for contacting to electrostatically attract and react to pollutant particles and pollutant gases in that gas stream that are then removed in a conventional pollution control filtration device. The purging electrostatic gun includes a housing wherein a charging electrode is maintained that is electrically coupled to receive a high voltage and is axially centered in a cylindrical barrel charging section wherethrough a laminar flow of sorbent material is directed. The charging electrode has a forward portion that extends beyond a barrel charging section forward end and is immediately opposite to a surface of a grounding ring or collar. The grounding ring or collar is maintained in the housing and is connected to earth ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Alanco Environmental Resources Corp.
    Inventors: James T. Jones, Larry Kersey, Michael Walters
  • Patent number: 5641397
    Abstract: A device for separating inorganic material polluted by organic material from a fluid, especially of sand polluted by organic material in sewage devices, is provided with a circular shaped container (1), which in its upper region has a feed device (19) for the introduction of the fluid into the container (1), with an extractor device (32) for the inorganic material positioned in the lower region (7) of the container (1) and with an extractor device (29) to discharge the organic material and the fluid. A fluidized sand bed (14) is provided in the lower region (7) of the container (1) in order to separate the organic material from the inorganic material. The fluidized sand bed (14) is kept in motion by an upward flow of liquid distributed via a perforated base (8). A by-pass (38) is provided to transfer part of the sand from the fluidized sand bed (14) into the extractor device (32) in the lower region (7) of the container (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Hans Huber GmbH Maschinen-und Anlagenbau
    Inventor: Johann Grienberger
  • Patent number: 5635139
    Abstract: Apparatuses for treating gas streams containing variations in VOC concentration whereby the VOC's are destroyed in a combination non-catalytic/catalytic oxidation system are disclosed. A non-catalytic destruction matrix composed of inert ceramic materials that enhance process mixing and provide thermal inertia for process stability is used when VOC concentrations are high and a catalytic oxidizer is principally used when VOC concentrations are low. The exhaust from the non-catalytic destruction matrix is passed through the catalytic oxidizer to maintain proper catalytic oxidizer operating temperatures. Supplemental fuel and air are added as appropriate upstream or downstream of the non-catalytic oxidizer to maintain proper heat values in each portion of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Thermatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Holst, Richard J. Martin
  • Patent number: 5624644
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and process is provided for scrubbing sulphur oxide gas from combustion flue gas with wet limestone particles as a reactive scrubbing agent. The process is carried out in a moving bed reactor having louvered inlet and outlet sides which permit the flue gas to pass through the reactor while the limestone particles move downward. The flue gas may be flowed through the moving bed reactor at a high velocity to permit scrubbing of large volumes of gas in a thorough and efficient manner. The high velocity of flue gas passing through the reactor causes some of the scrubbing particles to be ejected from the outlet side of the reactor. Problems associated with the ejection of the scrubbing particles are avoided by providing a slot alongside the outlet side or the reactor. The slot is sized so that the flue gas passing therethrough will have insufficient velocity to entrain the ejected scrubbing particles therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: ETS International, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. McKenna, Kenneth W. Appell, John C. Mycock, Joseph F. Szalay
  • Patent number: 5607893
    Abstract: A method for the uniform loading of catalyst tubes with catalyst particles, which tubes are mounted at tube inlet side in a tube sheet, the method comprises introducing a feedstream of catalyst particles on the tubesheet in a number of substreams with a substantial equal particle flow and velocity by dividing the feedstream and each resulting substream into at least two streams in two or more dividing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Haldor Tops.o slashed.e A/S
    Inventor: Ebbe J. Diekmann
  • Patent number: 5591412
    Abstract: An electrostatic gun for electrostatically charging and injecting sorbent particles into a flue gas stream to contact, and electrostatically charge, pollution particles in that flue gas stream. The electrostatic gun is for inclusion as a component of an apparatus for the remediation of pollution particles from a flue gas stream whereafter the clean gas flow is vented to atmosphere. The electrostatic gun receives laminar flow of a selected sorbent material and charges, either positively or negatively, the surface of each sorbent particle in that flow. To provide electrostatic charging to the individual particles, the flow is directed through a straight barrel of a housing of the electrostatic gun to pass alongside a charging wand that is centered axially in the straight barrel. The charging wand is connected to receive a voltage from a high voltage power supply to produce a corona discharge wherethrough the sorbent materials pass to electrostatically charge each sorbent particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Alanco Environmental Resources Corp.
    Inventors: James T. Jones, Larry M. Kersey, Richard A. Steinke
  • Patent number: 5573736
    Abstract: A reactor is provided for carrying out highly exothermic reaction between liquids such as hydrogen peroxide and propylene. The reactor is made up of a series of separate zones containing a packed bed of solid catalyst; liquid from each zone is cooled with the main portion recycled to the same zone and a minor portion passing to the next successive zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: ARCO Chemical Technology, L.P.
    Inventor: John C. Jubin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5554348
    Abstract: Diffuser elements are provided to facilitate mass transfer in endothermic or exothermic solid/gas reactions between a reactive gas and a reactive composite material and are implanted in the reactive composite material to facilitate the diffusion of the reactive gas. These diffuser elements are profiles formed of porous carbonaceous material. The elements have a small loss of charge in a circulation direction of the reactive gas, and in a diffusion direction perpendicular to the circulation direction, these elements have a measured resistance to crushing of at least 1 MPa and permeability of at least 10.sup.-5 m.sup.3 /M.sup.2.s.Pa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Le Carbone-Lorraine
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Bauer
  • Patent number: 5545382
    Abstract: A reactor arrangement and process for contacting a fluid reactant with a particulate catalyst in a plurality of flow channels and discharging converted reactant fluid and particles from the flow channels. The particles are discharged axially from the bottom of the flow channels into an unconfined bed of particles. Reactants are discharged in a transverse direction through the sides of the flow channels and across screen openings located a short distance above the channel outlets. A plurality of chambers regulate fluid flow through sections of the screens and prevent excessive fluid velocity in any section from holding up particle flow through the flow channels. The reactor arrangement and process of this invention is particularly useful for arrangements that may be used to operate a reactor under isothermal or other controlled temperature controlled conditions where a heat transfer fluid surrounds a plurality of tubular conduits or multiple flow channels that confine the particles and reactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Paul A. Sechrist
  • Patent number: 5527514
    Abstract: A desulfurizing and denitrating apparatus wherein an inner space of a tower body, which has an introduction port for a gas to be processed and a processed gas discharge port formed respectively in opposite side walls, is partitioned in a direction from the side wall having the processed gas introduction port toward the side wall having the processed gas discharge port by an inlet louver, a perforated plate and an outlet louver all extending vertically parallel to each other, a constant-rate discharging device for setting a moving speed of a carbon-base adsorbent in a small chamber defined between the inlet louver and the perforated plate and a constant-rate discharging device for setting a moving speed of a carbon-base adsorbent in a large chamber defined between the perforated plate and the outlet louver are provided, the moving speed of the carbon-base adsorbent in the small chamber is set to be 2 to 4 times greater than an average moving speed, and the distance from the inlet louver to the perforated plate
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Watanabe, Hiromi Tanaka, Kouji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5496446
    Abstract: A reaction with distillation structure utilizes a plurality of distillation trays and catalyst containers which provide a catalytic reaction zone and a primary flow path for descending liquid streams. Catalytic reaction of the liquid streams within the catalyst reaction zone formed in the containers occurs concurrently with fractionation of the reaction products on the distillation trays. The containers may extend continuously through the reaction zone of the distillation reactor to allow for dump loading and removal of the solid particulate catalyst. Alternatively, the catalyst containers may extend from one tray toward a lower tray without passing through the latter. Structure may also be provided within the containers to influence system hydraulics through the accumulation of liquid within the catalyst bed. This is done by providing an open area interiorly of the catalyst bed into which liquid on the distillation tray is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Koch Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Yeoman, Ronald Pinaire, Michael A. Ulowetz, Timothy P. Nace, David A. Furse
  • Patent number: 5470544
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating liquid or slurry having a heat treating zone through which is provided counter current flow of heated gas and independently moveable bodies through the heat treating zone in contact with a feed stream. A steam reforming detoxification reactor is also provided and gas is circulated from the heat treating zone gas outlet, through the reactor and to the heat treating zone gas inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Synthetica Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry R. Galloway
  • Patent number: 5456385
    Abstract: A process for discharging solids from a vessel having at least three successive beds of solid particulate material with at least two of the beds being of different solid material than the other. The process comprises opening a lowermost closure and discharging the lowermost bed from the vessel while maintaining other closures in closed positions. After discharging the lowermost bed, opening the next-to-lowermost closure to permit the next-to-lowermost bed of solids to replace the lowermost bed, and repeating this operation up through all the beds without mixing of the beds, and discharging each bed separately from the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Bernard Poussin, Jean-Paul LePage, Roland Huin
  • Patent number: 5405812
    Abstract: In a method for purifying a carbon-containing adsorption medium used for treating flue gases within a flue gas scrubbing process the adsorption medium is introduced into an adsorption medium reactor where the adsorption medium adsorbs pollutants from the flue gas. The adsorption medium laden with pollutants is then removed from the adsorption medium reactor and conveyed into a thermal regeneration apparatus. At temperatures of 350.degree. to 650.degree. C. the pollutants are desorbed in the thermal regeneration apparatus, resulting in a desorption gas. In the desorbing step, pollutants in the form of heavy metals are vaporized and pollutants other than heavy metals are released from the adsorption medium and optionally decomposed. The desorption gas is then guided into an adsorption apparatus where the heavy metals are removed from the desorption gas by adsorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Steag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hermann Bruggendick
  • Patent number: 5401475
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for generating elemental sulfur and re-usable metal oxide from spent metal-sulfur compound. Spent metal-sulfur compound is regenerated to re-usable metal oxide by moving a bed of spent metal-sulfur compound progressively through a single regeneration vessel having a first and second regeneration stage and a third cooling and purging stage. The regeneration is carried out and elemental sulfur is generated in the first stage by introducing a first gas of sulfur dioxide which contains oxygen at a concentration less than the stoichiometric amount required for complete oxidation of the spent metal-sulfur compound. A second gas containing sulfur dioxide and excess oxygen at a concentration sufficient for complete oxidation of the partially spent metal-sulfur compound, is introduced into the second regeneration stage. Gaseous sulfur formed in the first regeneration stage is removed prior to introducing the second gas into the second regeneration stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: G.E. Environmental Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul E. Ayala, Eli Gal
  • Patent number: 5397458
    Abstract: A regeneration process and apparatus eliminates the need for an external chlorination recycle loop. The method and apparatus uses two-pass internal mixing of a chlorine compound input stream and drying gas to both mix and heat the chlorination gas before entering the chlorination zone. The only heat required for the process is a small amount for vaporizing the chlorine containing input stream to prevent the formation of chloride droplets. All other heat for the chlorination zone is supplied internally in the regeneration vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Frank T. Micklich, Paul A. Sechrist
  • Patent number: 5391355
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substantially vertically disposed vessel for the continuous gravity plug flow of solid particles and countercurrent flow of fluid, the improvement comprising the vessel having at least one fluid inlet and a fluid distributing member communicating therewith and extending therefrom for the introduction of fluid into the vessel, the fluid distributor being of a generally inverted V-shape to provide for the substantially uninterrupted mass plug flow of particles past said distributor and discharge of gas out the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Merton L. Dibble, Paul K. Scherrer
  • Patent number: 5366704
    Abstract: A fluid solid-contacting device eliminates the accumulation of deposits behind distribution collection conduits, reduces the differential expansion between the conduits and a containment vessel, and improves fluid distribution by extending the perforations into a back side of a distribution conduit that abuts the vessel. This apparatus has greatest application to scallop-shaped conduits that are commonly used in radial flow reactors. The perforations, extended into the back side of the scallop, ventilate the area between the scallop and the vessel holding the scallops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: William J. Koves, Roger L. Throndson, Kenneth D. Peters
  • Patent number: 5356462
    Abstract: A fluid-permeable wall component of a sandwich-type construction has a slotted hole screen with substantially parallel extending vertical slot-limiting elements. A stabilizing grate is connected to the slot-limiting elements and includes connecting rods extending transverse to the slot-limiting elements and a louver-type construction with slats that extend transverse to the slot-limiting elements. The wall component is employed in an adsorption medium reactor of the fluidized bed type as a dividing wall for dividing the treatment chamber into compartments or an outer limiting wall. It retains particles of the adsorption medium within the divided compartments of the treatment chamber without obstructing the transverse fluid flow and allows separate removal of adsorption medium from either compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: STEAG Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hermann Bruggendick
  • Patent number: 5338517
    Abstract: A distillation column reactor is provided having special trays arranged within the column to provide better mixing and thus achieve better mass and energy transfer between the liquid, vapor and catalyst. The trays comprise a slotted support plate for the catalyst with openings to allow vapor passage through the catalyst from the tray below. A draft chimney or riser is provided directly above the slotted openings to increase the vapor velocity and carry the liquid and catalyst upward on the tray. A hood is included at the upper end of the chimney to direct the liquid-vapor-catalyst flow back down onto the tray. The liquid from the tray above is distributed onto the tray about the chimney by distributors which preferably extend below the static catalyst level on the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Chemical Research & Licensing Company
    Inventors: William T. Evans, III, Karl Stork
  • Patent number: 5330726
    Abstract: A device for separating undesired exhaust gas components from a fluid comprises a reactor with a reaction chamber and having a top and a bottom. The top has a device for introducing a granular adsorption medium. The bottom comprises first and second oppositely slanted sidewalls arranged parallel to one another and forming between them a gutter open in an upward direction. Sections of the gutter form removal funnels with a funnel mouth for removing the granular adsorption medium. The bottom further has fluid inflow openings for admitting the fluid into the reaction chamber, whereby the funnel mouths and the fluid inflow openings are arranged alternatingly in the gutters. The funnel mouths are arranged to form a grid structure. The bottom also has distributing elements for covering the fluid inflow openings. The distributing elements have a pyramid, a cone, a pyramid sector, or a cone sector shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Steag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hermann Bruggendick, Karl Klinginger
  • Patent number: 5312598
    Abstract: A hopper system and electrostatic gun for injecting electrostatically charged sorbent particles into a polluted gas stream for inclusion in an apparatus that utilizes electrostatically charged sorbent particles for removing particulate matter and gases from a polluted gas stream. The invention includes a hopper system with a bin that is selected to hold a required volume of dry sorbent material and is arranged to feed a metered quantity of sorbent materials, preferably by a screw feed, to receive an air flow from a regenerative blower the air flow mixes with sorbent materials in a throat of a venturi line and transports that flow into a barrel an electrostatic gun. The air entrained sorbent materials travel around and along a charging wand that is centered longitudinally in the barrel bore, and is electrically connected to received a controlled voltage from a high voltage power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Alanco Environmental Resource Corp.
    Inventors: Larry M. Kersey, Richard A. Steinke
  • Patent number: 5308590
    Abstract: Apparatus arranged in a closed system for removing particulate matter and gases from a polluted gas stream that includes a sorbent particulate charging and injection gun for electrostatically charging sorbent particles and injecting them into a polluted gas stream to charge and agglomerize pollution particulates therein, the stream flowing into a collection system housing that contains a series of moving and static bed filters and provides for operations at pressures less than atmospheric, and at temperatures up to two thousand (2000) degrees F. The filter beds are maintained across the housing and spaced apart from front to back therein, each filter containing a media material selected for removing the charged agglomerized pollution and sorbent reacted particulates and reacting with gases in the polluted gas stream, providing for removal thereof to clean that gas stream that is then vented to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Alanco Environmental Resources Corp.
    Inventors: Larry M. Kersey, Richard A. Steinke
  • Patent number: 5291989
    Abstract: A reaction with distillation structure utilizes a plurality of distillation trays and interconnecting catalyst containers which provide a catalytic reaction zone and a primary flow path for descending liquid streams. Catalytic reaction of the liquid streams within the catalyst reaction zone formed in the containers occurs concurrently with fractionation of the reaction products on the distillation trays. The containers preferably extend continuously through the reaction zone of the distillation reactor to allow for dump loading and removal of the solid particulate catalyst. Structure may also be provided within the containers to influence system hydraulics through the accumulation of liquid within the catalyst bed. This is done by providing an open area interiorly of the catalyst bed into which liquid on the distillation and fractionation tray is radially driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Koch Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Pinaire, Michael A. Ulowetz, Timothy P. Nace, David A. Furse
  • Patent number: 5277880
    Abstract: Apparatus for regenerating spent hydrocarbon conversion catalyst. Catalyst particles in a vertically-elongated movable tapered bed are contacted with a hot oxygen-containing gas stream in order to remove, by means of combustion, coke which accumulated on the catalyst particles while they were used in a hydrocarbon conversion zone. Catalyst moves downward under the influence of gravity. The catalyst bed is tapered such that the thickness of the bed, in a dimension which is transverse to the direction of catalyst movement, varies from a minimum at the top of the tapered bed to a maximum at the bottom of the tapered bed. Gas passes through the tapered bed in a direction which is substantially transverse to the direction of catalyst movement. Substantially, all of the catalyst in the bed is in contact with the flowing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Paul A. Sechrist, William J. Koves
  • Patent number: 5275790
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for concurrently catalytically reacting fluid streams and distilling the reaction product. A catalytic structure is provided within a distillation column reactor and includes mass transfer devices presenting hollow spaces and a fixed catalyst bed formed from solid catalyst particles. The mass transfer devices are interconnected gas and liquid permeable elements. The liquid phase preferentially flows along channels formed in the catalyst bed before contacting the devices for mass transfer with the vapor phase which primarily flows through the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Koch Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Buchholz, Ronald Pinaire, Michael A. Ulowetz
  • Patent number: 5271907
    Abstract: A system for high temperature desulfurization of coal-derived gases using regenerable sorbents. One sorbent is stannic oxide (tin oxide, SnO.sub.2), the other sorbent is a metal oxide or mixed metal oxide such as zinc ferrite (ZnFe.sub.2 O.sub.4). Certain otherwise undesirable by-products, including hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S) and sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2) are reused by the system, and elemental sulfur is produced in the regeneration reaction. A system for refabricating the sorbent pellets is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: TDA Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Copeland
  • Patent number: 5238659
    Abstract: A moving granular bed dust removal and reaction apparatus using glanular reaction agent as a granular bed material comprises a generally cylindrical, air-tight vessel disposed vertically, which has a gas outlet port, a reaction agent supply port and a reaction agent storage portion in an upper portion thereof, a gas inlet port, a gas chamber connected to the gas inlet port and a reaction agent passage defined in the gas chamber by a louver device in an intermediate portion and a lower portion having a regulatable discharge device. The reaction agent passage of the intermediate portion is communicated with a lower end of the reaction agent storage portion form a single column of reation agent. The regulatable discharge device regulates the moving speed of granular reaction agent supplied through the reaction agent supply port and allows it to move down by gravity to fill the single reaction agent column while filtering and adsorbing dust and toxic substances contained in upwardly moving gas therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironori Tajiri, Kenji Kamei
  • Patent number: 5232673
    Abstract: A shielded fluid-stream injector assembly is provided for particle bed reactors. The assembly includes a perforated pipe injector disposed across the particle bed region of the reactor and an inverted V-shaped shield placed over the pipe, overlapping it to prevent descending particles from coming into direct contact with the pipe. The pipe and shield are fixedly secured at one end to the reactor wall and slidably secured at the other end to compensate for thermal expansion. An axially extending housing aligned with the pipe and outside the reactor and an in-line reamer are provided for removing deposits from the inside of the pipe. The assembly enables fluid streams to be injected and distributed uniformly into the particle bed with minimized clogging of injector ports. The same design may also be used for extraction of fluid streams from particle bed reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: John E. Notestein
  • Patent number: 5230872
    Abstract: Activated carbon regeneration is carried out in a downwardly moving bed with superheated steam moving upwardly through the bed. The superheated steam is maintained in a closed loop which comprises the steam treatment vessel, a steam pump and a steam superheater. The superheated steam is supplied at low pressure (e.g. less than about 10 psig) and provides the heat for volatilizing water and desorbed organic volatiles. The resulting dry, partially regenerated activated carbon may be re-used directly, but preferably is treated in a vacuum chamber to remove residual water and additional adsorbate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Tigg Corporation
    Inventors: Donald D. Tiggelbeck, George M. Goyak