Discrete Sequential Reaction Stages Patents (Class 422/630)
  • Patent number: 11440853
    Abstract: Methods of delivering microorganisms loaded onto an inorganic porous medium. Methods of treating wastewater to increase effluent and biosolids quality. Methods of reducing ammonia and denitrifying wastewater effluent. Methods of reducing phosphorous concentration in wastewater effluent. Composition of biosolids derived from wastewater treatment. Wastewater treatment assemblage for increasing wastewater effluent and biosolids quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: DRYLET, INC.
    Inventors: M. Scott Conley, Mark Menendez
  • Patent number: 10744475
    Abstract: A system and method of continuous production of methanol is disclosed utilizing enriched syngas and a homogenous liquid catalyst comprising an organo-nickel compound, an ether solvent, and an organic methoxide salt. The syngas is directed into a reaction chamber in such a way as to maximize the gas-liquid interface (e.g., an eductor nozzle or bubble column) while two condensers receive tail gas and reactant fluid from the reaction chamber, the latter after undergoing flash separation. Liquid catalyst is recovered and recycled back into the system via the second condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Inventors: David O. Trahan, Srinivasan Ambatipati
  • Publication number: 20150140342
    Abstract: Compositions comprising boron chain embedded carbon nanotubes, methods of making, and methods of using are provided. Electroluminescent compositions comprising the same are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Arockiadoss Thevasahayam
  • Publication number: 20150132201
    Abstract: When processing cellulosic biomass, it may be desirable for a digestion unit to operate without being fully depressurized for process efficiency purposes. Methods for processing cellulosic biomass may comprise providing a biomass conversion system comprising a pressurization zone and a digestion unit that are operatively connected to one another; providing cellulosic biomass at a first pressure; introducing at least a portion of the cellulosic biomass into the pressurization zone and pressurizing the pressurization zone to a second pressure higher than the first pressure; after pressurizing the pressurization zone, transferring at least a portion of the cellulosic biomass from the pressurization zone to the digestion unit, which is at a third pressure that is less than or equal to the second pressure but higher than the first pressure; and digesting at least a portion of the cellulosic biomass in the digestion unit to produce a hydrolysate comprising soluble carbohydrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Juben Nemchand CHHEDA, Thomas Lamar FLOWERS, Joseph Broun POWELL
  • Patent number: 9028766
    Abstract: A radial-flow plate heat exchanger (5) embedded in the catalytic bed of an isothermal chemical reactor (1) has heat exchange plates (10) comprising fluid passages (13) between a first metal sheet (20) and a second metal sheet (21) joined by perimeter weld seams (23) on a first surface (A) of the plate, a feeding channel (14) and a collecting channel (15) for the heat exchange fluid are formed with suitable metal sheets which are seam welded (25) directly to the opposite surface (B) of the plate, this structure allows the manufacturing of the plate (10) with an automated seam welding process, such as laser beam welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Enrico Rizzi, Ermanno Filippi, Mirco Tarozzo
  • Patent number: 9028781
    Abstract: A renewable energy storage system that stores renewable energy, includes: an electrical power generator that converts renewable energy into electrical power; an electrical storage device that stores the electrical power; a hydrogen production device that produces hydrogen using the electrical power from the electrical power generator and/or the electrical power stored in the electrical storage device; a hydrogenation device that adds the hydrogen produced by the hydrogen production device to the unsaturated hydrocarbon; a saturated hydrocarbon storage device that stores the saturated hydrocarbon produced by the addition of the hydrogen to the unsaturated hydrocarbon; an unsaturated hydrocarbon storage device that stores the unsaturated hydrocarbon; and an unsaturated hydrocarbon supply controller that controls the supply of unsaturated hydrocarbon stored in the unsaturated hydrocarbon storage device to the hydrogenation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroto Naito, Masatoshi Sugimasa, Takao Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9023298
    Abstract: An apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The apparatus involves changing the design of reformers and associated equipment to allow for increasing the processing temperatures in the reformers and heaters. The reformers are operated under different conditions to utilize advantages in the equilibriums, but require modifications to prevent increasing thermal cracking and to prevent increases in coking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Moser, Clayton C. Sadler, Mark P. Lapinski, Kurt M. VandenBussche
  • Patent number: 9023297
    Abstract: A plant for preparing monosilane (SiH4) by catalytic disproportionation of trichlorosilane (SiHCl3) includes a reaction column having a feed line for trichlorosilane and a discharge line for silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) formed, and at least one condenser via which monosilane produced can be discharged from the reaction column, wherein the reaction column has at least two reactive/distillative reaction regions operated at different temperatures and containing different catalytically active solids, at least one of the reaction regions containing a catalytically active solid based on vinylpyridine, and at least one of the reaction regions containing a catalytically active solid based on styrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Schmid Silicon Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Adolf Petrik, Christian Schmid, Jochem Hahn
  • Patent number: 9017624
    Abstract: A method comprising: providing an alkyl halide stream; contacting at least some of the alkyl halides with a coupling catalyst to form a product stream comprising higher hydrocarbons and hydrogen halide; contacting the product stream with a solid reactant to remove at least a portion of the hydrogen halide from the product stream; and reacting the solid reactant with a source of oxygen to generate a corresponding halogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Reaction 35, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Stoimenov, Charles Ian Cutler, Jihong Cheng, Charles J. Coronella, Krishna Janmanchi, Zachary J. A. Komon, Saydul Amin Sardar, Vivek Julka, Sagar Gadewar, Philip Grosso, Daniel J. Auerbach, Jean Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20150110691
    Abstract: Techniques, systems, apparatus, and materials are disclosed for generating multi-purpose liquid fuel for isolating contaminants and storing energy. In one aspect, a method of producing a liquid fuel includes forming a gaseous fuel (e.g., by dissociating biomass waste using waste heat recovered from an external heat source). Carbon dioxide emitted from an industrial process can be harvested and reacted with the gaseous fuel to generate the liquid fuel. A hazardous contaminant can be dissolved in the liquid fuel, with the liquid fuel operating as a solvent or continuous phase for a solution or colloid that isolates the hazardous contaminant from the environment. The hazardous contaminant can include at least one of a carbon donor and a hydrogen donor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 9011790
    Abstract: A reactor for carrying out a three-phase reaction of a liquid phase, a gaseous phase, and a catalyst over a fixed catalyst bed is disclosed. The liquid and gaseous phases are passed through the reactor via a mixing and distribution device positioned over the fixed catalyst bed. The mixing and distribution device includes a trough distributor for the liquid phase, having trough-shaped channels, outlet tubes in the trough-shaped channels for the liquid phase, a distributor plate below the trough distributor, and vertical nozzles, having one or more openings for the gaseous phase and one or more openings, arranged below the openings for the gaseous phase. For entry of the liquid phase, the nozzles are installed so that, at a predetermined liquid feed rate, the surface of the liquid on the distributor plate is below the openings for the gaseous phase and above the openings for the liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Stefan Iselborn, Andreas Daiss, Reiner Geier, Marcus Bechtel, Michael Wille, Benjamin Hepfer, John Sauter
  • Patent number: 9011803
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing silane that use electrolysis to regenerate reactive components therein are disclosed. The methods and systems may be substantially closed-loop with respect to halogen, an alkali or alkaline earth metal and/or hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: SunEdison, Inc.
    Inventors: Puneet Gupta, Henry F. Erk, Alexis Grabbe
  • Patent number: 9012707
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the autothermal gas-phase dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon-comprising gas stream by means of an oxygen-comprising gas stream over a heterogeneous catalyst configured as a monolith to give a reaction gas mixture and regeneration of the catalyst in a reactor in the form of a cylinder or prism, wherein the reactor is operated alternately in the production mode of the autothermal gas-phase dehydrogenation and in the regeneration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Gerhard Olbert, Ulrike Wegerle, Grigorios Kolios, Albena Kostova
  • Patent number: 9005553
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for solidifying and converting carbon dioxide into carbonate, comprising: an alkali component extraction reactor for extracting an alkali metal component from a raw slag; a carbonation reactor for injecting carbon dioxide into an alkali metal component solution containing the extracted alkali metal component to produce a carbonate precipitate from the alkali metal component solution; a first filtration device connected between the alkali component extraction reactor and the carbonation reactor to separate a post-treatment slag, from which the alkali component is extracted, from the alkali metal component solution; and a second filtration device connected between an inlet of the alkali component extraction reactor and an outlet of the carbonation reactor to separate the carbonate from the alkali metal component solution after the carbonation reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Steel Company
    Inventors: Tae Young Kim, Sung Yeup Chung, Ki Chun Lee, Dong Cheol Park, Min Ho Cho, Seok Gyu Sonh
  • Publication number: 20150094494
    Abstract: An alkylating process such as hydroalkylating process comprising feeding a gas material and a liquid material into the reactor, distributing the liquid material to the upper surface of a bed of a catalyst substantially uniformly. The substantial uniform distribution of the liquid material to the upper surface allows for substantially uniform distribution of liquid reaction medium in the bed, thereby preventing hot spot and undesirable continuous liquid zone, both of which can cause the production of undesired by-products. The invention is particularly useful for the hydroalkylation reaction of benzene in making cyclohexylbenzene, which can be used for making cyclohexanone and phenol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Gabor Kiss, Keith H. Kuechler
  • Publication number: 20150083971
    Abstract: A method and assembly for producing substantially tar free product gas from gasification of carbonaceous material. The assembly preferably includes a first stage gasifier to produce char-ash and tar laden product gas and a second stage gasifier which has a char-ash heating zone, at least one cyclone, and at least one standpipe for the purpose of allowing selective delivery of char-ash to the char-ash heating zone. A char-ash heating zone that utilizes oxidation of char-ash is preferred and this results in the heat required to convert tar, additional yield of product gas, and an oxidized, activated carbon surface to facilitate tar conversion in the riser, thereby reducing the temperature required to achieve the desired tar conversion. Alternatively, external heat is supplied to the heating zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas J Paskach, Jerod Smeenk
  • Patent number: 8986405
    Abstract: A gas generator and process for converting a fuel into an oxygen-depleted gas and/or hydrogen-enriched gas. The gas generator is preferably used for generating protection gas or reducing gas for start up, shut down or emergency shut down of a SOFC or SOEC. The process for converting fuel into oxygen-depleted gas and/or a hydrogen-enriched gas includes combusting the fuel in a primary catalytic burner with an oxygen-containing gas to produce a flue gas with oxygen, combusting or partially oxidizing the flue gas comprising oxygen with excess fuel in a secondary catalytic burner to produce a gas with hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and reducing the trace amounts of oxygen from the gas comprising traces of oxygen and obtaining an oxygen-depleted gas, or reducing the carbon monoxide present in the gas by conversion to carbon dioxide or methane to obtain a hydrogen-enriched gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Topsoe Fuel Cell A/S
    Inventor: Hassan Modarresi
  • Publication number: 20150068110
    Abstract: Techniques, systems and material are disclosed for transport of energy and/or materials. In one aspect, a method includes generating gaseous fuel (e.g., from biomass dissociation) at a first location of a low elevation. The gaseous fuel can be self-transported in a pipeline to a second location at a higher elevation than the first location by traveling from the first location to the second location without adding energy of pressure. A liquid fuel can be generated at the second location of higher elevation by reacting the gaseous fuel with at least one of a carbon donor, a nitrogen donor, and an oxygen donor harvested from industrial waste. The liquid fuel can be delivered to a third location of a lower elevation than the second location while providing pressure or kinetic energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Publication number: 20150065769
    Abstract: Disclosed are reactors and reaction processes for contacting hydrocarbon reactant in the presence of oxygen stored and released within a thermal mass region of the reactor, and catalytically converting at least a portion of alkane, e.g., methane, in the hydrocarbon reactant to produce a reaction mixture comprising a C5+ composition. Oxygen storage and release for carrying out the catalytic conversion is achieved by including an oxygen storage material in a thermal mass region of the reactor. Flow-through reactors can be used to carry out oxygen storage and the hydrocarbon conversion reactions. Reverse-flow reactors are examples of flow-through reactors, which can be used to carry out oxygen storage and the hydrocarbon conversion reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Juan D. Henao, Paul F. Keusenkothen
  • Patent number: 8968685
    Abstract: A fuel processing system for converting a logistical fuel and air into a liquid product comprising methanol. One such system comprises a fuel injection system configured to combine a logistical fuel and ambient air to produce a logistical fuel and air mixture, a synthesis gas production system configured to convert the logistical fuel and air mixture to synthesis gas, and a methanol synthesis system configured to convert the synthesis gas to a crude methanol liquid. Related methods are additionally disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Alliant TechSystems Inc.
    Inventors: Sabrina Hawkins, Jason S. Tyll, Florin Girlea
  • Patent number: 8968686
    Abstract: Disclosed are process and apparatus for vertical splitting of the oxygen supply to a post-oxidation reactor. Further disclosed are process and apparatus for supplying reaction medium to a post-oxidation reactor at a mid-level inlet. Such apparatus and process can assist in reducing oxygen pinch throughout the post-oxidation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Grupo Petrotemex, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Ashfaq Shaikh, Alan George Wonders
  • Publication number: 20150057475
    Abstract: Processes and bi-functional catalysts are disclosed for hydrotreating bio-oils derived from biomass to produce bio-oils containing fuel range hydrocarbons suitable as feedstocks for production of bio-based fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Huamin Wang, Guo-Shuh J. Lee, Suh-Jane Lee
  • Publication number: 20150057477
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for producing a fuel from a renewable feedstock. The method includes deoxygenating the renewable feedstock with a hydrogenation catalyst in a deoxygenation reaction zone to produce normal paraffins. The normal paraffins are isomerized to form isomerized paraffins using an isomerization catalyst in an isomerization reaction zone. Aromatic compounds are formed from non-aromatic compounds with an aromatic catalyst in an aromatic production zone downstream from the deoxygenation reaction zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Ellig, Stanley Joseph Frey, Timothy A. Brandvold
  • Patent number: 8956584
    Abstract: Production of polycrystalline silicon in substantially closed-loop processes and systems is disclosed. The processes and systems generally involve disproportionation of trichlorosilane to produce silane or dichlorosilane and thermal decomposition of silane or dichlorosilane to produce polycrystalline silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: SunEdison, Inc.
    Inventors: Puneet Gupta, Yue Huang, Satish Bhusarapu
  • Patent number: 8956428
    Abstract: A process for treating offshore natural gas includes processing the natural gas on an off-shore processing facility by, (i) liquefying and fractionating the natural gas to generate a liquefied natural gas stream and a higher hydrocarbon stream, (ii) vaporizing at least a portion of the higher hydrocarbon stream, (iii) passing the vaporized higher hydrocarbon stream and steam over a steam reforming catalyst to generate a reformed gas mixture comprising methane, steam, carbon oxides and hydrogen, (iv) passing the reformed gas mixture over a methanation catalyst to generate a methane rich gas, and (v) combining the methane-rich gas with the natural gas prior to the liquefaction step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey PLC
    Inventors: Peter John Herbert Carnell, Ginny Yuen Che Ng
  • Publication number: 20150044122
    Abstract: A device and a method are provided for reacting a starting material in at least two reactors connected to each other, including the reacting of the starting material in a first reactor to a first product, removing the first product from the first reactor using a jet pump, wherein a negative pressure zone of the jet pump is operationally connected to the first reactor, so that the first product of the first reactor moves through the negative pressure zone in a propulsion jet of a propulsion medium of the jet pump, conducting the propulsion medium having the first product into a second reactor, wherein the first product is allowed to react into a second product, separating the second product from the propulsion medium and discharging the separated second product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Stefan Zikeli, Friedrich Ecker
  • Patent number: 8945488
    Abstract: A gas-to-liquids process and plant for treating natural gas, in which the natural gas is subjected to expansion through a flow restrictor so as to undergo cooling through the Joule Thomson effect, enables liquids to be separated from the gas stream. The natural gas may be cooled before it reaches the flow restrictor by heat exchange with fluid that has passed through the flow restrictor. This decreases the proportion of longer-chain hydrocarbons in the natural gas, which may simplify subsequent processing, and may enable the size of the plant to be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: CompactGTL Limited
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Bowe, Robert Peat, David James West, Philip Hawker
  • Patent number: 8940253
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feed in a hydrotreating unit and hydrocracking a second hydrocarbon stream in a hydrocracking unit. The hydrocracking unit and the hydrotreating unit may share the same recycle gas compressor. A make-up hydrogen stream may also be compressed in the recycle gas compressor. The second hydrocarbon stream may be a diesel stream from the hydrotreating unit. The diesel stream may be a diesel and heavier stream from a bottom of a hydrotreating fractionation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul R. Zimmerman, Peter Kokayeff
  • Patent number: 8940255
    Abstract: Disclosed are process and apparatus for vertical splitting of the oxygen supply to a post-oxidation reactor. Further disclosed are process and apparatus for supplying reaction medium to a post-oxidation reactor at a mid-level inlet. Such apparatus and process can assist in reducing oxygen pinch throughout the post-oxidation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Grupo Petrotemex, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Ashfaq Shaikh, Alan George Wonders
  • Publication number: 20150021523
    Abstract: Processes for alkylating hydroxyaryl compounds by reacting a hydroxyaryl with at least one olefin of a complex hydrocarbon stream. The complex hydrocarbon stream preferably comprises a fraction of a cracked hydrocarbon feed stream or the reaction products of a dehydrogenation of a paraffinic feedstock. The olefin of the complex hydrocarbon stream is preferably a branched olefin, e.g., isobutylene or isoamylene. The alkylated compositions are suitable for forming liquid phosphite compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Addivant USA LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Hill, Maurice Power, Paul Stott, Peter Smith
  • Publication number: 20150025283
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a multimetallic catalyst and its use in a reactor system in a C9+ aromatics conversion process in order to reduce the saturation of aromatic species, reduce the production of C6+ non-aromatics byproducts, and achieve higher benzene purity. The multimetallic catalyst exhibits improved selectivity towards aromatic hydrocarbons in comparison to a traditional Pt/ZSM-5 catalyst and comprises ZSM-5, a Group 6-10 metal, and an additional metal not in Group 6-10. The C9+ aromatics conversion reactor system comprises a top bed containing the multimetallic catalyst for dealkylation of ethyl and propyl side chains, a second bed containing a catalyst comprising a hydrogenation component for transalkylation, and an optional third bed containing a catalyst without a hydrogenation component to convert non-aromatic hydrocarbons to gas products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Jane C. Cheng, Christopher G. Oliveri
  • Patent number: 8936769
    Abstract: A system for the production of conversion products from synthesis gas, the system including a mixing apparatus configured for mixing steam with at least one carbonaceous material to produce a reformer feedstock; a reformer configured to produce, from the reformer feedstock, a reformer product comprising synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the reformer feedstock; 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 tailgas comprising at least one gas selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane; and one or more recycle lines fluidly connecting the synthesis gas conversion apparatus with the mixing apparatus, the reformer, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: RES USA, LLC.
    Inventors: Randy Blevins, Joshua B. Pearson, Harold A. Wright
  • Patent number: 8932528
    Abstract: The Invention relates to an apparatus or installation for producing active carbon, in particular by carbonization and subsequent activation of polymeric, organic, preferably sulphonated, starting materials, wherein the apparatus or installation comprises optionally a drying device for drying the starting materials, optionally a sulphonating device, arranged downstream of the optionally present drying device, for sulphonating and/or peptizing the optionally previously dried starting materials, a carbonizing device, arranged downstream of the optionally present drying device and/or the optionally present sulphonating device, for carbonizing the optionally previously dried and/or sulphonated and/or peptized starting materials, as well as an activating device, arranged downstream of the carbonizing device, for activating the starting materials previously carbonized in the carbonizing device, wherein the apparatus or installation also comprises at least one exhaust-gas treatment device for treating the exhaust gas
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Blücher GmbH
    Inventors: Hasso von Blücher, Raik Schönfeld
  • Publication number: 20150004062
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to a system to prepare a fuel from a biomass and a petroleum fraction wherein a renewable fuel oil is obtained via pyrolysis, delivered to the injection point of a refinery system, and then co-processed with a petroleum fraction in the presence of a catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Patent number: 8912382
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a method of modifying an alkylation unit to increase capacity. The method may include combining a first alkylation zone with a second alkylation zone. Generally, the first alkylation zone includes a first settler having a height and a width. Typically, the width is greater than the height. In addition, the second alkylation zone may have a second settler having a height and a width. Usually, the height is greater than the width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Daryl Dunham, Dale James Shields
  • Patent number: 8906311
    Abstract: A process unit, comprising: a) an alkylation reactor; and b) a control system that enables the alkylation reactor to be operated in an alkylate mode and in a distillate mode; wherein the alkylation reactor can switch back and forth from operating in the alkylate mode to the distillate mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye Kyung Cho Timken, Shawn Shlomo Winter, Howard Steven Lacheen, Sven Ivar Hommeltoft
  • Publication number: 20140348733
    Abstract: A method oxidizes ferrous iron to ferric iron. The method includes providing a liquid, which includes the ferrous iron, and a gas, which includes an oxidizing agent, such as oxygen and/or chlorine; providing two separate mixes, with both mixes including the gas and the liquid; and colliding the separate mixes, thereby obtaining the ferric iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Tessenderlo Chemie NV
    Inventors: Philippe Quénon, Rudy Peeters
  • Patent number: 8889088
    Abstract: An integrated facility is disclosed for simultaneous production of butanal and methacrylic acid products where the facility utilizes a mixed methacrolein and isobutanal stream to make methacrylic acid. The facility is also designed to utilize downstream n-butanal products such as n-butanol and/or 2-ethyl-hexanol to make butyl-methacrylates and 2-ethyl-hexyl-methacrylate. A method is also disclosed which integrates the production of butanal derived products and methacrylic acid derived products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Scott A. Stevenson, Wugeng Liang
  • Patent number: 8888873
    Abstract: A method for generating and purifying syngas and to an apparatus for generating and purifying syngas is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Natacha Haik-Beraud, Antoine Hernandez, Pascal Marty, Bernd Polster
  • Publication number: 20140330048
    Abstract: Maintaining long residence times during hydrothermal digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be complicated by a number of factors, including biomass compaction. Advantages in this regard may be realized by digesting cellulosic biomass solids in an inclined digestion unit. Such methods can comprise: introducing cellulosic biomass solids to a hydrothermal digestion unit comprising one or more inclined surfaces therein; introducing a fluid phase digestion medium containing a slurry catalyst to the hydrothermal digestion unit, the slurry catalyst being capable of activating molecular hydrogen; supplying an upwardly directed flow of molecular hydrogen from a source disposed along each inclined surface as the cellulosic biomass solids descend along each inclined surface; and heating the cellulosic biomass solids as they descend along each inclined surface in the presence of the slurry catalyst and the molecular hydrogen, thereby forming an alcoholic component derived from the cellulosic biomass solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Broun POWELL, Alouisius Nicolaas Renee BOS, Peter Anton August KLUSENER, Ingmar Hubertus Josephina PLOEMEN
  • Publication number: 20140330059
    Abstract: Use of a particular form of carbon—carbon nanotubes—as the catalyst. The present technology uses CNTs produced via air-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD), which can produce these extremely active catalysts (over an order higher in the magnitude of the activity of the catalyst as compared to the conventional Fe based catalyst) in a single step for converting carbonaceous materials such as coal, biomass, natural gas to liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene etc. . . . , which is generally accomplished through three process blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Board of Trustees, Southern Illinois University
    Inventors: Saikat Talapatra, Kanchan Mondal
  • Patent number: 8877147
    Abstract: A system for converting fuel is provided and includes a first reactor comprising a plurality of ceramic composite particles, the ceramic composite particles comprising at least one metal oxide disposed on a support, wherein the first reactor is configured to reduce the at least one metal oxide with a fuel to produce a reduced metal or a reduced metal oxide; a second reactor configured to oxidize at least a portion of the reduced metal or reduced metal oxide from the said first reactor to produce a metal oxide intermediate; a source of air; and a third reactor communicating with said source of air and configured to regenerate the at least one metal oxide from the remaining portion of the solids discharged from the said first reactor and the solids discharged from the said second reactor by oxidizing the metal oxide intermediate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Ohio State University
    Inventors: Liang-shih Fan, Fanxing Li
  • Publication number: 20140322781
    Abstract: A method for converting an alcohol to a hydrocarbon fraction having a lowered benzene content, the method comprising: converting said alcohol to a hydrocarbon fraction by contacting said alcohol, under conditions suitable for converting said alcohol to said hydrocarbon fraction, with a metal-loaded zeolite catalyst catalytically active for converting said alcohol to said hydrocarbon fraction, and contacting said hydrocarbon fraction with a benzene alkylation catalyst, under conditions suitable for alkylating benzene, to form alkylated benzene product in said hydrocarbon fraction. Also described is a catalyst composition useful in the method, comprising a mixture of (i) a metal-loaded zeolite catalyst catalytically active for converting said alcohol to said hydrocarbon, and (ii) a benzene alkylation catalyst, in which (i) and (ii) may be in a mixed or separated state. A reactor for housing the catalyst and conducting the reaction is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Chaitanya K. Narula, Brian H. Davison, Martin Keller
  • Patent number: 8858661
    Abstract: A gasification system reduces volume of a bulky carbonaceous feedstock by pyrolysis to bring about a significant reduction in volume. The system includes a pyrolysis chamber, a reformer, a syngas burner, and a syngas storage tank. Flue gas is provided from the chamber to the reformer. Hot gases are introduced to the reformer from the syngas burner. The pyrolysis reaction occurs in the reformer to produce syngas of at least 1200° C. Some of the produced syngas is used to heat the pyrolysis chamber and the rest returns to the reformer with the flue gas. The syngas burner is situated horizontally at the bottom of the reformer, while the pyrolysis chamber is situated vertically at the top of the reformer. The reformer is inclined relative to each of the syngas burner and the pyrolysis chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Hyun Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 8858900
    Abstract: This invention relates to a power recovery process in waste steam/CO2 reformers whereby a waste stream can be made to release energy without having to burn the waste or the syngas. This invention does not make use of fuel cells as its critical component but makes use of highly exothermic chemical reactors using syngas to produce large amounts of heat, such as Fischer-Tropsch. It also relates to control or elimination of the emissions of greenhouse gases in the power recovery process of this invention with the goal of producing energy in the future carbonless world economy. A New Concept for a duplex kiln was developed that has the combined functionality of steam/CO2 reforming, heat transfer, solids removal, filtration, and heat recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Intellergy, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry Galloway
  • Patent number: 8852538
    Abstract: A reactor in the form of a cylinder or prism wherein the interior of the reactor is divided by a cylindrical or prismatic gastight housing G which is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the reactor into an inner region having one or more catalytically active zones, in which in each case a packing composed of monoliths stacked on top of one another, next to one another and behind one another and before each catalytically active zone in each case a mixing zone having solid internals are provided, and an outer region B arranged coaxially to the inner region A, wherein the inner region A is insulated from the outer region B of the reactor by means of a microporous high-performance insulation material having a thermal conductivity 1 at temperatures up to 700° C. of less than 0.05 W/m*K is proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Gerhard Olbert, Ulrike Wegerle, Grigorios Kolios, Carlos Tellaeche Herranz, Reinhold Höchst, Andrea Gienger, Roland Bauer
  • Publication number: 20140296590
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for processing a renewable feedstock are provided herein. In one example, a method comprises dividing a H2-rich make-up stream into a first H2-rich portion and a second H2-rich portion. The second H2-rich portion has a lower mass flow rate than the first H2-rich portion. The renewable feedstock is deoxygenated in the presence of the first H2-rich portion at hydroprocessing conditions effective to form a deoxygenating reaction zone effluent that contains normal paraffins. At least a portion of the deoxygenating reaction zone effluent is isomerized in the presence of the second H2-rich portion at isomerization conditions effective to form an isomerization reaction zone effluent that contains branched paraffin. The isomerization conditions include a first hydrogen partial pressure of about 4,140 kPa gauge or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Charles P. Luebke, Daniel Ellig, Geoffrey William Fichtl
  • Patent number: 8845972
    Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for recovering dichlorohydrins from a hydrochlorination reactor effluent stream comprising dichlorohydrins, one or more compounds selected from esters of dichlorohydrins, monochlorohydrins and/or esters thereof, and multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds and/or esters thereof, and optionally one or more substances comprising water, chlorinating agents, catalysts and/or esters of catalysts. The reactor effluent stream is distilled to produce a dichlorohydrin-rich vapor phase effluent stream. The dichlorohydrin-rich vapor phase effluent stream is cooled and condensed in two unit operations conducted at two different temperatures and a portion of the liquid phase effluent stream produced by the first unit operation is recycled to the distillation step for reflux. Product streams produced by the process and apparatus are suitable for further processing in a further unit operation, such as dehydrochlorination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Anil Mehta
  • Patent number: 8840853
    Abstract: An integrated facility for the co-production of ethanol and biodiesel fuel is provided. Ethanol and corn oil, the primary product and a by-product from the ethanol plant, are utilized as feedstocks for a biodiesel plant operating within the same general facility as the corn ethanol plant. By-products of the biodiesel plant, principally crude liquid glycerol and gaseous ethanol or methanol, are recycled to various parts of the ethanol plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: WB Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Rachel Overheul, Brandon Awtrey, Daniel Johnson
  • Patent number: 8840854
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for hydrocracking hydrocarbon feed in a hydrocracking unit and hydrotreating a diesel product from the hydrocracking unit in a hydrotreating unit. The hydrocracking unit and the hydrotreating unit shares the same recycle gas compressor. A warm separator separates recycle gas and hydrocarbons from diesel in the hydrotreating effluent, so fraction of the diesel is relatively simple. The warm separator also keeps the diesel product separate from the more sulfurous diesel in the hydrocracking effluent, and still retains heat needed for fractionation of lighter components from the low sulfur diesel product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Andrew P. Wieber, Paul R. Zimmerman