From Elemental Hydrogen And Nitrogen Patents (Class 423/359)
  • Patent number: 11826693
    Abstract: Utilization of nitrogen oxides contained in the ambient air including a system and a method with which the nitrogen oxides can be utilized for the production of liquid or solid chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Simone Müller-Hellwig, Hagen Seifert, Alexander Krajete
  • Patent number: 11548789
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of making ammonia using stable ammonia absorbents. The system and method for producing ammonia, comprises a reactor comprising a catalyst that converts at least a portion of nitrogen feed gas and at least a portion of hydrogen feed gas to ammonia (NH3) forming a reaction mixture comprising the ammonia, unreacted nitrogen, and unreacted hydrogen. An absorber configured to selectively absorb ammonia from the reaction mixture at a temperature of about 180 deg. C. to 330 deg. C. and a pressure of about 1-20 bar, the absorber comprising a solid absorbent. Preferably the solid absorbent is at least one metal halide and a solid support. The unabsorbed ammonium, the unreacted nitrogen, and unreacted hydrogen gas are recycled to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: Edward Cussler, Alon McCormick, Mohammadmahdi Malmali
  • Patent number: 11498845
    Abstract: The present invention is a production method for ammonia and ammonia derivatives in a Multi-Reaction Zone Reactor. Said production method comprising the steps of: a) producing at least some section of ammonia as a result of balance reaction of ammonia by means of nitrogen and hydrogen catalyst in at least one primary reaction zone (RZ-1), b) realizing absorption by means of chemical or physical absorbents of at least some section of ammonia which is in gas form and which is produced in primary reaction zone (RZ-1) in at least one secondary reaction zone (RZ-2) which is not separated by discrete physical barriers with the primary reaction zone (RZ-1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ONDOKUZ MAYIS ÜNIVERSITESI
    Inventor: Galip Akay
  • Patent number: 11420867
    Abstract: A process for the combined production of methanol and ammonia, wherein a reactant stream includes carbon monoxide is supplied to a recovery assembly to obtain first and second hydrogen-containing streams, each having an increased molar proportion of hydrogen compared to the reactant stream. The recovery assembly includes a shift conversion in which the carbon monoxide of at least one carbon monoxide-containing stream is at least partially converted into hydrogen and carbon dioxide by reaction with steam to obtain a converted stream having hydrogen and carbon dioxide at least partially recycled to a hydrogen recovery from which the first and second hydrogen-containing streams are obtained. A nitrogen stream and, at least partially, the first hydrogen-containing stream are supplied to an ammonia reactor assembly for at least partial conversion into ammonia and, at least partially, the second hydrogen-containing stream is supplied to a methanol reactor assembly for at least partial conversion into the methanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: GASCONTEC AG, THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Alexander Schulz, Johannes Völkl, Sina Kunz, Dierk Müller, Ulrich Koss
  • Patent number: 11312635
    Abstract: A process for increasing the productivity of equilibrium-restricted reactions and for increasing the productivity of a target compound includes the steps of (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising reactants; (b) subjecting the reaction mixture to the equilibrium reaction in a reactor or sequence of reactors, to obtain a reactor outlet mixture comprising the target compound and at least one of the reactants; (c) regenerating the loaded sorbent obtained in step (e), by flushing the loaded sorbent with the reactor outlet mixture originating from step (b), to obtain regenerated sorbent and an effluent comprising desorbed product; (d) separating the effluent originating from step (c) into a product stream and a reactant stream; and (e) a sorption step to obtain a loaded sorbent and a depleted mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Paul Dean Cobden, Rudie Johan Hendrik Grisel, Jurriaan Boon
  • Patent number: 11117809
    Abstract: In a novel method for start-up heating of a converting re-actor in an ammonia synthesis plant, the conventional use of a gas fired heater is replaced by inductive heating. The inductive heating is obtained using an alternating high frequency current, which is passed through an inductive coil located inside the reactor, especially mounted inside a pressure shell. The method makes it possible to run reactions at high temperatures and high pressures in a very efficient way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventor: Poul Erik Højlund Nielsen
  • Patent number: 10941497
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide conversion system for an environment includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator downstream of the environment; an electrochemical conversion cell downstream of the first gas-liquid contactor-separator; and a cleaned ionic liquid storage intermediate the first gas-liquid contactor-separator and the electrochemical conversion cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Rebecca Kamire, Stephen Yates
  • Patent number: 10941038
    Abstract: A process for producing an ammonia synthesis gas, said process including the steps of: reforming a hydrocarbon feed in a reforming step thereby obtaining a synthesis gas comprising CH4, CO, CO2, H2 and H2O; and shifting said synthesis gas in a high temperature shift step over a promoted zinc-aluminum oxide based high temperature shift catalyst, wherein the steam/carbon ratio in the reforming step is less than 2.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: HALDOR TOPSØE A/S
    Inventors: Annette E. Krøll Jensen, Per Juul Dahl, Niels Christian Schjødt
  • Patent number: 10900384
    Abstract: A method of heat energy recovery in installations including at least one reformer, wherein, for the purpose of heat energy recovery, process condensate is preheated and/or evaporated on a cooling section of the installation by heat exchange with gas generated in the installation, in particular synthesis gas, wherein, prior to being preheated in a flue gas duct of the installation, combustion air is preheated by heat exchange by means of boiler feed water. The invention also relates to a heat energy recovery system for the implementation of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Damien Dumur, Denis Krotov, Bernd Brückner, Josef Kurt
  • Patent number: 10858313
    Abstract: A process for producing ammonia and a derivative of ammonia from a natural gas feed comprising conversion of natural gas into a make-up synthesis gas; synthesis of ammonia; use of said ammonia to produce said derivative of ammonia, wherein a portion of the natural gas feed is used to fuel a gas turbine; power produced by said gas turbine is transferred to at least one power user of the process, such as a compressor; heat is recovered from exhaust gas of said gas turbine, and at least part of said heat is recovered as low-grade heat available at a temperature not greater than 200° C., to provide process heating to at least one thermal user of the process, such as CO2 removal unit or absorption chiller; a corresponding plant and method of modernization are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
  • Patent number: 10829384
    Abstract: Oxycombustion systems and oxycombustion methods include thermally integrated ammonia synthesis. The oxycombustion systems may include an air separation unit that separates air into an oxygen stream and a nitrogen stream. An ammonia synthesis unit synthesizes ammonia from a hydrogen feed and the nitrogen stream to form a crude ammonia stream. An ammonia separation unit condenses the crude ammonia stream and separates the ammonia from any unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen to form a purified ammonia stream. An oxycombustion reactor combusts a fuel from a fuel feed stream in the presence of the oxygen stream from the air separation unit to generate hot water or steam. At least one thermal integration may be present in the oxycombustion systems and may be chosen from a reactor thermal linkage of the ammonia synthesis unit with the oxycombustion reactor, a separator thermal linkage of the air separation unit with the ammonia separation unit, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mourad Younes, Tidjani Niass
  • Patent number: 10773956
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for increasing hydrogen recovery in an integrated refinery and petrochemical complex in which natural gas is used as a co-purge gas in a pressure swing adsorption unit. This natural gas is recovered in tail gas from the pressure swing adsorption unit. This process is useful for refinery off-gas and partial oxidation feeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Bradley P. Russell
  • Patent number: 10722836
    Abstract: Provided is a hydrogen recovery method such that highly concentrated hydrogen gas can be obtained efficiently by adsorbing and removing hydrocarbon gas such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane, using a relatively low pressure, from pyrolysis gas obtained by heat treating biomass. The present invention is the method for recovering hydrogen from pyrolysis gas obtained by heat treating biomass, characterized by including: a first purifying step of adsorbing and removing gas that mainly includes carbon dioxide under pressure from the pyrolysis gas to purify the pyrolysis gas; and a second purifying step of further adsorbing and removing gas that includes carbon dioxide under pressure from purified gas obtained by the first purifying step at a pressure lower than the pressure in the first purifying step to purify the purified gas in order to recover hydrogen from the purified gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: Japan Blue Energy Co., Ltd., Tokyo University of Science Foundation
    Inventors: Naoki Dowaki, Mitsuo Kameyama, Kiyoshi Dowaki
  • Patent number: 10710893
    Abstract: Process for the synthesis of ammonia comprising the steps of reforming of a hydrocarbon feedstock into a raw product gas, purification of said raw product gas obtaining a make-up synthesis gas, conversion of said synthesis gas into ammonia; said purification includes shift conversion of carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and the reforming process requires a heat input which is at least partially recovered from at least one of said step of shift conversion, which is carried out with a peak temperature of at least 450° C., and said step of conversion into ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Ermanno Filippi, Umberto Rossi
  • Patent number: 10584422
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a synthetic ammonia system for making hydrogen by electrolysis in a thermal power plant includes an electrolytic hydrogen making device and a synthetic ammonia equipment; a power input end of the electrolytic hydrogen making device is electrically connected with a power generation output end of the thermal power plant; a hydrogen output end of the electrolysis hydrogen making device is connected with a hydrogen inlet of the synthetic ammonia equipment, a nitrogen inlet of the synthetic ammonia equipment is connected with a nitrogen source, the synthetic ammonia equipment is used for using the hydrogen produced by the electrolysis hydrogen making device and nitrogen of the nitrogen source to synthesize ammonia; an ammonia output end of the synthetic ammonia equipment is communicated to an ammonia supply pipeline and/or a liquid ammonia tank of the thermal power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: HEPU TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusen Yang, Hui Chen, Hua Cui, Bo Xu, Zhi Tan
  • Patent number: 10464818
    Abstract: A process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from the reforming of hydrocarbons with steam in a primary reformer (1) equipped with a plurality of externally heated catalytic tubes and then together with air in a secondary reformer (2) is characterized in that the reaction of said hydrocarbons with said steam in said primary reformer (1) is performed at an operating pressure of more than 35 bar in the catalytic tubes, in that air is added to said secondary reformer in excess over the nitrogen amount required for ammonia synthesis and in that the excess of nitrogen is removed downstream the secondary reformer preferably by cryogenic separation or by molecular sieves of the TAS or PSA type. This process allows to obtain high synthesis gas production capacities and lower investment and energy costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Marco Badano, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
  • Patent number: 10457564
    Abstract: The ammonia production plant includes a feed gas compression section, a process air compression section, a syngas compression section and a refrigerant compression section. At least two of these compression sections are combined together forming a combined compression train driven by a single driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie SRL
    Inventors: Marco Fiori, Sergio Ghezzi, Antonio Pelagotti
  • Patent number: 10435304
    Abstract: A process for production of ammonia includes: providing a reaction stream including carbon monoxide and hydrogen; passing the reaction stream and steam over a water gas shift catalyst in a catalytic shift reactor, forming a shifted gas mixture depleted in carbon monoxide and enriched in hydrogen; passing the shifted gas mixture with an oxygen-containing gas over a selective oxidation catalyst at ?175° C., forming a selectively oxidized gas stream with a portion of the carbon monoxide converted to carbon dioxide; removing some of the carbon dioxide from the selectively oxidized gas stream in a carbon dioxide removal unit; passing the carbon dioxide depleted stream over a methanation catalyst in a methanator to form a methanated gas stream, optionally adjusting its hydrogen:nitrogen molar ratio to form an ammonia synthesis gas; and passing the ammonia synthesis gas over an ammonia synthesis catalyst in an ammonia converter to form ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: John David Pach, Daniel Sheldon, David Wails
  • Patent number: 10351962
    Abstract: A method for operating and electrolytic system may include an electrolyzer for generating hydrogen and oxygen as product gas. Hydrogen and oxygen produced during the electrolytic process are discharged from the electrolyzer. As a result, the efficiency of the electrolytic system is improved, at least one of the product gases in the expansion turbine is expanded, and a generator is driven by the expansion turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jochen Herold, Martin Kautz
  • Patent number: 10351518
    Abstract: Processes for separating carbon dioxide from CO2-containing gases and an apparatus for providing carbon dioxide for the synthesis of urea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Yevgeny Makhynya, Joachim Johanning, Daniela Dostal
  • Patent number: 10259718
    Abstract: In a process for co-production of ammonia and methanol, the outlet stream from the reformer is split into two parts, one of which is subjected to shift, carbon dioxide removal, methanation, compression and ammonia synthesis, while the other part is compressed and fed to a once-through methanol synthesis section. Methanol is withdrawn from the methanol synthesis section, and the remaining effluent from said section is divided into two streams comprising hydrogen, of which one is fed to the shift section, while the other is recycled to the desulfurization unit. This way a favourable co-production method is obtained because recycle hydrogen for the desulfurization is provided, and furthermore a compression step is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: HALDOR TOPSØE A/S
    Inventor: Per Juul Dahl
  • Patent number: 10196348
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for increasing the capacity of a urea production complex, the method comprising a step of adding to an existing urea production complex a CO2 production unit, which unit employs a CO2 production method comprising: i) subjecting a hydrocarbon feed to short contact time catalytic partial oxidation (SCT-CPO) to produce a first gas mixture comprising H2, CO and CO2, ii) subjecting said first gas mixture to a water gas shift reaction yielding a second gas mixture, iii) separating CO2 from said second gas mixture yielding a purified CO2 stream and a hydrogen containing stream and subsequently iv) reacting said purified CO2 stream with ammonia from the ammonia production unit to produce urea. The invention also provides a urea production complex realized by the application of this method and a urea production method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: STAMICARBON B.V.
    Inventors: Gaetano Iaquaniello, Joey Dobree
  • Patent number: 10112841
    Abstract: A method for catalytic ammonia synthesis under concentrated solar energy and related catalysts. The method includes placing a catalyst in a reaction apparatus, feeding nitrogen and hydrogen into the reaction apparatus, and controlling a surface temperature of the catalyst to reach about 300° C. to 550° C. under irradiation of concentrated sunshine, to synthesize ammonia. The catalyst includes an amorphous and electron-rich black nano TiO2-z (0<z<2) with a disordered surface serves as a carrier material, and an elemental nano-crystal of Fe or Ru serves as an active ingredient. The active ingredient is loaded on the carrier material. Sunshine is used as the energy during ammonia synthesis reaction, and light in the whole wave band can be utilized sufficiently. Ammonia can be synthesized under solar energy with a high efficiency, and no fossil energy or electrical energy is needed. A synergetic catalytic effect of optical energy and thermal energy can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: CENTRAL CHINA NORMAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Lizhi Zhang, Chengliang Mao, Falong Jia
  • Patent number: 10077407
    Abstract: A biomass gasification system. The system includes: a) a gasifier; b) a waste heat exchanger; c) a waste heat boiler; d) a cyclone separator; e) a gas scrubber; f) a shift reactor; g) a desulfurizing tower; h) a first decarburizing tower; i) a synthesizing tower; and j) a second decarburizing tower. In the system, the gasifier, the waste heat exchanger, the cyclone separator, the gas scrubber, the shift reactor, the desulfurizing tower, the first decarburizing tower, the synthesizing tower, and the second decarburizing tower are connected sequentially. In addition, CO2 outlets of the first decarburizing tower and the second decarburizing tower are both connected to a cold medium inlet of the waste heat exchanger; and a cold medium outlet of the waste heat exchanger is connected to a gasifying agent entrance of the gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: WUHAN KAIDI ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanfeng Zhang, Liang Zhang, Minggui Xia, Wenyan Liu
  • Patent number: 9981845
    Abstract: A metal-supporting catalyst for decomposing ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen. The catalyst shows a high performance with a low cost and being advantageous from the viewpoint of resources, and an efficient method for producing hydrogen using the catalyst. The catalyst catalytically decomposes ammonia gas to generate hydrogen. The hydrogen generation catalyst includes, as a support, a mayenite type compound having oxygen ions enclosed therein or a mayenite type compound having 1015 cm?3 or more of conduction electrons or hydrogen anions enclosed therein, and metal grains for decomposing ammonia are supported on the surface of the support. Hydrogen is produced by continuously supplying 0.1-100 vol % of ammonia gas to a catalyst layer that comprises the aforesaid catalyst, and reacting the same at a reaction pressure of 0.01-1.0 MPa, at a reaction temperature of 300-800° C. and at a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 500/mlg?1h?1 or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventors: Hideo Hosono, Fumitaka Hayashi, Toshiharu Yokoyama, Yoshitake Toda, Michikazu Hara, Masaaki Kitano
  • Patent number: 9970343
    Abstract: The production efficiency of ammonia is more raised while avoiding the necessity for a user to supply water for himself/herself in order to produce the ammonia. An exhaust gas purification apparatus comprises a catalyst which purifies an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine by using ammonia; and an ammonia supplier which supplies the ammonia to the catalyst; wherein the ammonia supplier includes an ammonia producer which produces the ammonia from nitrogen and water; a nitrogen supplier which separates the nitrogen from air and which supplies the nitrogen to the ammonia producer; and a water supplier which separates the water from the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine and which supplies the water to the ammonia producer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akira Kato
  • Patent number: 9932229
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a hydrogen containing gas mixture comprising the following steps: (i) providing a preheated mixture comprising a fossil fuel, preferably methane, and steam, (ii) conducting an adiabatic reaction between the fossil fuel and the steam, in the presence of a catalyst, wherein a first reaction product mixture is formed comprising methane, hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and (iii) conducting an oxygen-assisted reforming reaction in the presence of a catalyst between said first reaction product mixture and an oxygen comprising stream, wherein the oxygen comprising stream comprises at least 40 vol % oxygen, forming a second reaction product mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The invention also relates to a system suitable for hydrogen production from a hydrocarbon feed according to the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: STAMICARBON B.V.
    Inventors: Gaetano Iaquaniello, Emma Palo, Palma Contaldo
  • Patent number: 9914645
    Abstract: A system for producing ammonia comprises a reactor configured for receiving nitrogen feed gas and hydrogen feed gas, the reactor comprising a catalyst configured to convert at least a portion of the nitrogen gas and at least a portion of the hydrogen feed gas to ammonia to form a reactant mixture comprising the ammonia and unreacted nitrogen feed gas and unreacted hydrogen feed gas, an adsorbent configured to selective adsorb at least a portion of the ammonia from the reactant mixture, and a recycle line to recycle the unreacted nitrogen feed gas, the unreacted hydrogen feed gas, and unabsorbed ammonia to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Heath H. Himstedt, Mark S. Huberty, Alon V. McCormick, Lanny D. Schmidt, Edward L. Cussler
  • Patent number: 9815692
    Abstract: A crude oil processing plant that comprises a Fischer-Tropsch reactor is disclosed. The crude oil processing plant comprises a crude oil processing section and a hydrogen production section. The hydrogen production section is coupled to a hydrocracker in the crude oil processing section to deliver a high purity hydrogen stream. The Fischer-Tropsch reactor receives a syngas stream from the hydrogen production section and produces a hydrocarbon stream. When light crude oil is processed, the hydrocracker typically has excess capacities to upgrade the hydrocarbon stream from the Fischer-Tropsch reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Ravikumar, Paul E. Koppel, Sanjiv Dabee, Johnathon Zychowicz
  • Patent number: 9586831
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a pressurized ammonia-containing gas stream from aqueous urea. The method comprising pumping an aqueous urea-containing solution to a fluid-tight enclosure at a rate to match the external demand for ammonia-gas, wherein a fluid heat transfer medium is applied to the exterior of the fluid-tight enclosure to transfer heat to the aqueous urea-containing solution sufficient to hydrolyze the solution to an ammonia gaseous product. The systems comprise means for carrying out the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Wahlco, Inc.
    Inventors: Madoka Fujita, William G. Hankins, Peter Paul Anderson
  • Patent number: 9446962
    Abstract: A process and a plant for producing ammonia, where an ASU (3) delivers an oxygen stream and a nitrogen stream; the oxygen stream (9) is fed to the secondary reformer of a front-end reforming section (1); the nitrogen stream (10) is used to wash a purge gas or tail gas taken from the synthesis loop (2), preferably in a cryogenic section; a methane-free and inert-free gas stream is recovered and recycled to the synthesis loop (2) or at the suction of the main syngas compressor, to recover the hydrogen contained therein. A corresponding method for increasing the capacity of an ammonia plant, by providing the ASU and feeding the oxygen stream to the secondary reformer and the nitrogen stream to a suitable purge gas recovery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Sergio Panza, Pietro Moreo, Elio Strepparola
  • Patent number: 9447996
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide removal system includes a chilled ammonia carbon capture system; an absorber refrigeration system in fluid communication with the chilled ammonia system; and a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) in fluid communication with the chilled ammonia system and the absorber refrigeration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Sanjay Kumar Dube
  • Patent number: 9343764
    Abstract: In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for integration of molten carbonate fuel cells with a methanol synthesis process. The molten carbonate fuel cells can be integrated with a methanol synthesis process in various manners, including providing synthesis gas for use in producing methanol. Additionally, integration of molten carbonate fuel cells with a methanol synthesis process can facilitate further processing of vent streams or secondary product streams generated during methanol synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Paul J. Berlowitz, Timothy Andrew Barckholtz, Anita S. Lee, Frank Hershkowitz
  • Patent number: 9308509
    Abstract: A reformer 1 of the present invention is formed by stacking each other a reforming layer 2 configured to reform a reforming fuel with a reforming catalyst 5, and a heating layer 3 configured to heat the reforming layer 2 through an exothermic reaction with a combustion catalyst 8. A gas mixture obtained by mixing a to-be-combusted gas with a combustion-assisting gas is supplied to a heating passage 25 in the heating layer 3. The heating passage 25 is separated into multiple separation passages 31a to 31c by separation walls 11, 13 parallel to a wall surface coated with the combustion catalyst 8. The multiple separation passages 31a to 31c respectively eject the gas mixture to different positions of the combustion catalyst 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasunori Iwakiri, Takao Izumi
  • Patent number: 9260303
    Abstract: A process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon source, comprising: conversion of the hydrocarbon source into a raw synthesis gas (14) in ATR or POX reactor (11) which is fired with oxygen (12) or oxygen-enriched air (28); a water-gas shift treatment of the raw synthesis gas (14), which consist of a medium-temperature shift (15) at a temperature of 200-300° C., thus obtaining a shifted synthesis gas (16); purification of said shifted synthesis gas (16) including at least a step of pressure-swing adsorption (17) to remove residual carbon oxides and methane from the synthesis gas, obtaining a purified synthesis gas (18), and optionally, addition of nitrogen (19) to said purified synthesis gas (18), thus obtaining ammonia synthesis gas with a desired hydrogen to nitrogen ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Raffaele Ostuni
  • Patent number: 9145850
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power system comprising a condensation injection system positioned downstream of an EGR cooler. The condensation injection system comprises a condensation pump and a condensation injector. The condensation injector is positioned downstream of the condensation pump. The condensation pump is configured to pump the condensation to the condensation injector, and the condensation injector is configured to inject the condensation into the intake gas, the intake gas being a combination of a fresh intake gas and a recirculated portion of an exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Erik L. Piper, Richard E. Winsor
  • Patent number: 9139431
    Abstract: A process and a plant for producing a makeup synthesis gas (6) for the synthesis of ammonia where a hydrocarbon feedstock is reformed in a primary reformer (10) and in an autothermal reformer (14) in parallel with said primary reformer; nitrogen is furnished by an air separation unit (13), and O2-enhched air (8) produced in said air separation unit is fed to the autothermal reformer. A method for the revamping of the front-end of an ammonia plant is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventor: Sergio Panza
  • Patent number: 9138712
    Abstract: A system (8; 9; 50) is described of walls for catalytic beds of synthesis reactors (1), in which there is a wall (14) in direct contact with a catalytic bed (7) for containing it, said wall (14) having a plurality of portions (17) permeable to the gases and a plurality of portions (19; 54; 55) impermeable to the gases, said portions (17) permeable to the gases being equipped with slits (18; 52, 53; 60; 70) of a size such as to allow the free passage of the synthesis gases through them but not the passage of the catalyst, in which the slits are obtained with milling, water cutting or electro-erosion processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Mirco Tarozzo, Ermanno Filippi, Enrico Rizzi
  • Patent number: 9040012
    Abstract: System and method for sustainable economic development which includes hydrogen extracted from substances, for example, sea water, industrial waste water, agricultural waste water, sewage, and landfill waste water. The hydrogen extraction is accomplished by thermal dissociation, electrical dissociation, optical dissociation, and magnetic dissociation. The hydrogen extraction further includes operation in conjunction with energy addition from renewable resources, for example, solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, or biomass resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 9040011
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from the reforming of hydrocarbons with steam in a primary reformer (1) equipped with a plurality of externally heated catalytic tubes and then in a secondary reformer (2) together with an oxidant gas. In this process, the reaction of said hydrocarbons with said steam in said primary reformer (1) is performed at an operating pressure of at least 45 bar in the catalytic tubes and a flow of essentially pure oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is added to said secondary reformer as oxidant gas for substantially reforming together with said all the hydrocarbons content of said product gas exiting the primary reformer (1). In the case essentially pure oxygen is used as oxidant gas, a flow of nitrogen is added downstream the secondary reformer (2) to reach a N2/H2 molar ratio corresponding to or close to the stoichiometric ratio for ammonia synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Marco Badano, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
  • Publication number: 20150141535
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the modification of the hydrocarbon production sequence of operations including the Fischer-Tropsch process for the production of hydrocarbon fuels in an efficient manner, along with the production of commercially valuable co-products from by-products of the hydrocarbon production process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Steve Kresnyak
  • Publication number: 20150125377
    Abstract: A system for producing ammonia comprises a reactor configured for receiving nitrogen feed gas and hydrogen feed gas, the reactor comprising a catalyst configured to convert at least a portion of the nitrogen gas and at least a portion of the hydrogen feed gas to ammonia to form a reactant mixture comprising the ammonia and unreacted nitrogen feed gas and unreacted hydrogen feed gas, an adsorbent configured to selective adsorb at least a portion of the ammonia from the reactant mixture, and a recycle line to recycle the unreacted nitrogen feed gas, the unreacted hydrogen feed gas, and unabsorbed ammonia to the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Heath H. Himstedt, Mark S. Huberty, Alon V. McCormick, Lanny D. Schmidt, Edward L. Cussler
  • 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: 9011814
    Abstract: Reactive diluent fluid (22) is introduced into a stream of synthesis gas (or “syngas”) produced in a heat-generating unit such as a partial oxidation (“POX”) reactor (12) to cool the syngas and form a mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid. Carbon dioxide and/or carbon components and/or hydrogen in the mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid is reacted (26) with at least a portion of the reactive diluent fluid in the mixture to produce carbon monoxide-enriched and/or solid carbon depleted syngas which is fed into a secondary reformer unit (30) such as an enhanced heat transfer reformer in a heat exchange reformer process. An advantage of the invention is that problems with the mechanical integrity of the secondary unit arising from the high temperature of the syngas from the heat-generating unit are avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: GTLpetrol LLC
    Inventors: Shoou-I Wang, John Michael Repasky, Shankar Nataraj, Xiang-Dong Peng
  • Patent number: 8992842
    Abstract: A system for producing ammonia includes sources of hydrogen and nitrogen gas, a hydrogen gas booster for producing produce pressurized hydrogen gas, a nitrogen gas booster for producing pressurized nitrogen gas, and a synthesis reactor that receives a mixture of the pressurized hydrogen and nitrogen gases. The synthesis reactor includes an inlet for receiving the pressurized gas mixture, a heating zone adjacent the inlet for heating the gas mixture, a catalyst zone downstream from the heating zone for catalyzing a reaction of the mixture to form ammonia and a by-product, and a cooling zone downstream from the catalyst zone for cooling the ammonia and the by-product. The system has a separator for separating the ammonia from the by-product, an ammonia storage tank for collecting the ammonia, and a recycle loop for re-circulating the by-product back to the synthesis reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Roger Gordon
  • Publication number: 20150086465
    Abstract: A process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from the reforming of hydrocarbons with steam in a primary reformer (1) equipped with a plurality of externally heated catalytic tubes and then together with air in a secondary reformer (2) is characterized in that the reaction of said hydrocarbons with said steam in said primary reformer (1) is performed at an operating pressure of more than 35 bar in the catalytic tubes, in that air is added to said secondary reformer in excess over the nitrogen amount required for ammonia synthesis and in that the excess of nitrogen is removed downstream the secondary reformer preferably by cryogenic separation or by molecular sieves of the TAS or PSA type. This process allows to obtain high synthesis gas production capacities and lower investment and energy costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Casale SA
    Inventors: Ermanno FILIPPI, Marco BADANO, Geoffrey Frederick SKINNER
  • Publication number: 20150072400
    Abstract: Methods of cultivating autotrophic microorganisms, particularly microalgae or diatoms, in a bioreactor by entraining a culture of the microorganisms in a tenuous, gelated, thixotrophic carrier medium having nutrients therefor and moving the medium along a passage at a sufficiently slow speed to enable laminar flow which in cross section is closed and which has transparent walls through which the culture is irradiated to enable photosynthesis. The method includes effecting convective turnover of the culture and medium as they flow along the passage by differentially heating the medium laterally relative to the flow direction so as to produce a generally helical flow of the culture and medium. Also described are processing methods, both physical and chemical, performed underground e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: William Severn Clarke
  • 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: 20150073062
    Abstract: Techniques, systems and material are disclosed for thermochemical regeneration of biomass into renewable engineered fuel, storage of the renewable engineered fuel, respeciation of the renewable engineered fuel and transport. In one aspect, a method includes generating low density hydrogen fuel from biomass dissociation at a first location of a low elevation. The low density hydrogen fuel is 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 high density hydrogen carrier is generated at the second location of higher elevation by reacting the low density hydrogen fuel with at least one of a carbon donor, a nitrogen donor and an oxygen donor harvested from industrial waste. The high density hydrogen carrier is delivered to a third location of a lower elevation than the second location while providing pressure or kinetic energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 8968694
    Abstract: A method for preparing high purity ammonia is provided, which comprises the following three steps of: (1) obtaining the required feed gases (i.e., hydrogen-nitrogen gas mixture) by catalytic cracking ammonia; (2) purifying the hydrogen-nitrogen gas mixture; and (3) synthesizing high purity ammonia by using the hydrogen- nitrogen gas mixture with high purity. In the provided method, the obtained ammonia with undesired purity is fed back to an ammonia catalytic cracking unit. The whole production system is a closed system without any discharging of ammonia and thus is environment friendly. Each step of the method can reduce cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hunan HiEND Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianren Bao, Lingqi Zeng, Zehua Zhu