Apparatus For Converting Or Treating Hydrocarbon Gas Patents (Class 48/127.9)
  • Patent number: 11311869
    Abstract: Methods of producing an isomerization catalyst include preparing a catalyst precursor solution, hydrothermally treating the catalyst precursor solution to produce a magnesium oxide precipitant, and calcining the magnesium oxide precipitant to produce the isomerization catalyst. The catalyst precursor solution includes at least a magnesium precursor, a hydrolyzing agent, and cetrimonium bromide. Methods of producing 1-butene from a 2-butene-containing feedstock with the isomerization catalyst are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Afnan Alghannam, Sohel K. Shaikh, Munir D. Khokhar
  • Patent number: 11255271
    Abstract: There is disclosed an igniter for a gas turbine engine including: a base; a glow plug heater rod extending from the base along an axis and terminating in a rod end; and a structure having open porosity disposed adjacent the glow plug heater rod. A method of operating the igniter and a gas turbine engine having such an igniter are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard Freer, Kian McCaldon, Tin-Cheung John Hu, Michel Bousquet, André Fortin
  • Patent number: 11235973
    Abstract: A method and design of providing high temperature heat for an endothermic gasifier without combustion includes flowing a stream of a first hydrocarbon gas sequentially through an annular plenum and a cylindrical plenum while heating the gas using electrical resistance immersion heating elements. These heating elements may be heated by three phase electrical power, minimizing the number of electrical leads emerging from the top of the heating elements. This method and design reduces the risk of extremely hot syngas exiting the gasifier damaging downstream fittings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Raven SR, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry R. Galloway
  • Patent number: 11223058
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is disclosed. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell module including a plurality of unit cells for generating electrical energy by using oxygen of air and hydrogen of a reformed fuel gas; a first module including a burner part which burns an unreacted fuel gas and air discharged from the fuel cell module, an air-heating part which heats air through heat exchange with a hot combustion gas and a flame generated by the burner part and supplies the heated air to the fuel cell module, and a water vapor generation part which converts water, flowing through an inner portion thereof, into water vapor through heat exchange with a hot combustion gas generated by the burner part; and a second module which mixes a fuel supplied from an external fuel supply source and water vapor supplied from a water-vapor generator part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: MICO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Song Ho Choi, Jun Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 11189850
    Abstract: A reformer of the present disclosure includes a reformer body which has a cylindrical shape and extends horizontally, introducing raw fuel and water to perform a reforming reaction, the reformer body including therein a vaporization portion which generates steam, and a reforming portion which reacts the steam generated in the vaporization portion with raw fuel to generate a reformed gas; a raw fuel introduction pipe which introduces the raw fuel into the reformer body; a water introduction pipe including therein a water passage which introduces water into the reformer body; and a vaporization accelerating portion which is disposed in at least one of the vaporization portion and the water introduction pipe and accelerates vaporization of water in the vaporization portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Yokoo, Osamu Yamazaki, Tatsuya Kanbayashi, Takayuki Maruyama, Naruto Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10907104
    Abstract: A syngas generator is disclosed as an exothermic gas generator that can accommodate high combustion temperatures of a natural gas/oxygen flame. The generator consists of four sections: a heavily insulated combustion chamber, a catalyst chamber, a spray chamber, and a heat exchanger. These four sections may be arranged in series and tightly bolted together to form a gas-tight system. Natural gas, oxygen and steam are supplied to a burner at the inlet end of the combustion chamber. This mixture is ignited and the resulting hot process gas is then fed into a catalyst bed where it reacts with the steam and is converted to carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syngas). The syngas is fed to a Fischer-Tropsch unit to create liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Greenway Innovative Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Wright
  • Patent number: 10790523
    Abstract: A fuel reformer module (8005) for initiating catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) to reform a hydrocarbon fuel oxidant mixture (2025, 3025) to output a syngas reformate (2027) to solid oxide fuel cell stack (2080, 5040). A solid non-porous ceramic catalyzing body (3030) includes a plurality of catalyst coated fuel passages (3085). A thermally conductive element (9005, 10005, 11005, 13005), with a coefficient of thermal conductivity of 50 W/m° K or greater is thermally conductively coupled with the catalyzing body. A first thermal sensor (8030) is thermally conductively coupled with the thermally conductive element. A second thermal sensor is thermally conductively coupled with a surface of the fuel cell stack. A control method independently modulates an oxidant input flow rate, based on first thermal sensor signal values, a hydrocarbon fuel input flow rate, based on second thermal sensor signal values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Upstart Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Palumbo, Siddhant Singhal, Matthew Otis, Tyler Samuel Cote, Richard Flathers, Paul Osenar
  • Patent number: 10549991
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process plant and a process for production of a hydrogen rich gas, comprising the steps of (a) directing an amount of a synthesis gas comprising at least 15%, 50% or 80% on dry basis of CO and H2 in combination, a gas comprising steam, and a recycled intermediate product gas to be combined into a first reactor feed gas, (b) directing said first reactor feed gas to contact a first material catalytically active in water gas shift reaction, producing an intermediate product gas, (c) splitting said intermediate product gas in the recycled intermediate product gas and a remaining intermediate product gas, (d) combining said remaining intermediate product gas with a further amount of synthesis gas forming a second reactor feed gas, (e) directing said second reactor feed gas to contact a second material catalytically active in the water gas shift reaction, producing a product gas, characterized in the H2O:CO ratio in said first reactor feed gas being from 0.5 to 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: HALDOR TOPSØE A/S4
    Inventors: Christian Wix, Ib Dybkjær, Rasmus Trane-Restrup
  • Patent number: 10454121
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a solid oxide fuel cell configured to receive a supply of an anode gas and a cathode gas to generate electric power. The fuel cell system includes an anode discharge passage through which an anode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flows, a cathode discharge passage through which a cathode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flows, a joining portion where the anode discharge passage and the cathode discharge passage join. The fuel cell system further includes a gas supply unit configured to supply a fuel gas using a fuel stored in a fuel tank into the anode discharge passage during a system stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentarou Yajima, Masanari Yanagisawa, Susumu Maeshima
  • Patent number: 9917318
    Abstract: The invention relates to an energy generation apparatus (1), in particular for use in a vehicle, which can be operated using hydrocarbons such as diesel and the like, which comprises a fuel cell (2) and is provided with connections (3, 4, 5) for introduction of air and the hydrocarbons and for the output of electric energy. According to the invention, the energy generation apparatus has three essentially physically separate functional units (7, 8, 9), where the first functional unit (7) is configured as a supply device for media and has essentially devices for introduction of fuel and air, a second functional unit (8) is configured for reforming and has essentially devices for converting the hydrocarbons into process gas and a third functional unit (9) is configured for generation of electric energy and has essentially the fuel cell (2), where the process gas produced in the second functional unit (8) is fed to the third functional unit (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: AVL LIST GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Reissig, Juergen Rechberger, Arthur Kliment
  • Patent number: 9809761
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon processing apparatuses and methods of refining hydrocarbons are provided herein. In an embodiment, a method of refining hydrocarbons includes providing a cracked stream that includes a sulfur-containing component and cracked hydrocarbons. The cracked stream is compressed to produce a pressurized cracked stream. The pressurized cracked stream is separated to produce a pressurized vapor stream and a liquid hydrocarbon stream. The pressurized vapor stream includes C4? hydrocarbons and the liquid hydrocarbon stream includes C3+ hydrocarbons. The liquid hydrocarbon stream is separated to produce a first liquid absorption stream that includes C5+ hydrocarbons and a C4? hydrocarbon stream. C3+ hydrocarbons are absorbed from the pressurized vapor stream through liquid-vapor phase absorption using the first liquid absorption stream. The sulfur-containing component is removed prior to absorbing C3+ hydrocarbons from the pressurized vapor stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard Hoehn, Juan Carlos Vargas, Dharmesh Chunilal Panchal
  • Patent number: 9580326
    Abstract: A method for splitting carbon dioxide via a two-step metal oxide thermochemical cycle by heating a metal oxide compound selected from an iron oxide material of the general formula AxFe3-xO4, where 0?x?1 and A is a metal selected from Mg, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, and Mn, or a ceria oxide compound of the general formula MaCebOc, where 0<a<1, 0<b<1, and 0<c<2, where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of at least one of a rare earth metal and an alkaline earth metal, to a temperature greater than approximately 1400° C., thereby producing a first solid-gas mixture, adding carbon dioxide, and heating to a temperature less than approximately 1400 C, thereby producing carbon monoxide gas and the original metal oxide compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventors: James E. Miller, Richard B. Diver, Jr., Nathan P. Siegel
  • Patent number: 9515337
    Abstract: A fuel cell (FC) module includes a fuel cell stack and FC peripheral equipment. The fuel cell module includes a first area where an exhaust gas combustor and a start-up combustor are provided, an annular second area around the first area and where a reformer and a heat exchanger are provided, and an annular third area around the second area and where an evaporator is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Yoshimine
  • Patent number: 9469533
    Abstract: A method for converting renewable energy source-electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable-electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation-unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the-synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas-generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: INENTEC INC.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma, Leslie Bromberg
  • Patent number: 9409773
    Abstract: A steam-hydrocarbon reforming process utilizing a prereformer where a portion of the effluent from the prereformer is conditioned and the C2+ hydrocarbon content in the conditioned effluent measured. The molar flow rate of steam to the prereformer is increased or decreased responsive to measuring the C2+ hydrocarbon content of the conditioned effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Colling Achilles, Tamara Lynn Daugherty, Michelle Schoonover, Oliver Jacob Smith, IV, Matthew H. MacConnell, Xianming Jimmy Li
  • Patent number: 9406957
    Abstract: Representatively, a method of separating carbon from hydrocarbon molecules, the method including: heating hydrocarbon molecules beyond their boiling point; decomposing the heated hydrocarbon molecules to generate elemental or molecular carbon and hydrogen gas; separating at least some of the elemental or molecular carbon from the hydrogen gas; chemically reacting the hydrogen gas to produce heat; and applying some of the heat in carrying out said heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GREEN Light Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Peter Jackson, Jason Ryan Babcock, Joseph Matthew Zlotnicki
  • Patent number: 9399904
    Abstract: A system and process for recovering oil from an oil-bearing formation. An oil recovery formulation that is first contact miscible with a liquid petroleum composition that is comprised of at least 15 mol % dimethyl sulfide is introduced together with steam or hot water into a subterranean oil-bearing formation comprising heavy oil, extra heavy oil, or bitumen, and oil is produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Stanley Nemec Milam, Erik Willem Tegelaar, John Justin Freeman
  • Patent number: 9365422
    Abstract: A method and system for producing a synthesis gas in an oxygen transport membrane based reforming system that utilizes a combined feed stream having a steam to carbon ratio between about 1.6 and 3.0 and a temperature between about 500° C. and 750° C. The combined feed stream is comprised a pre-reformed hydrocarbon feed, superheated steam, and a reaction product stream created by the reaction of a hydrogen containing stream reacted with the permeated oxygen at the permeate side of the oxygen transport membrane elements and wherein the hydrogen containing stream is a recycled portion of the synthesis gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Shrikar Chakravarti, Brian R. Kromer, Keith A. Craigie, Sean M. Kelly, Juan Li
  • Patent number: 9114986
    Abstract: A mixing device for a fuel reformer for mixing at least two fluids is provided. The mixing device includes at least a first plurality of holes which is arranged along a first row, and a second plurality of holes which is arranged along a second row. The mixing device can be used in a fuel reformer for converting hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen rich gas by auto-thermal reaction process having a, preferably cylindrically shaped and double walled, housing with two side walls forming a reaction chamber of the fuel reformer, wherein hydrocarbon fuel and an oxidizing agent are mixed by the mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: POWERCELL SWEDEN AB
    Inventor: Anders Karlsson
  • Patent number: 9070915
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator associated with the invention comprises a hydro-desulfurizer (1) configured to remove sulfur compounds from a raw material; a reformer (2) configured to generate hydrogen-containing gas with use of the raw material that has passed through the hydro-desulfurizer (1); a raw material supply device (3) configured to supply the raw material to the reformer (2); a recycle flow passage (4) configured to supply a portion of the hydrogen-containing gas, discharged from the reformer (2), to the raw material before the raw material flows into the hydro-desulfurizer (1); an on-off valve (5) provided in the recycle flow passage (4); a pressure detector (6) located at a position upstream of the on-off valve (5) in the recycle flow passage (4); and an abnormality detector (7) configured to detect an abnormal clogging in the recycle flow passage (4) based on a pressure detected by the pressure detector (6), in a state in which the raw material supply device (3) is supplying the raw material to the reform
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio Tamura, Koichi Kusumura
  • Patent number: 9061911
    Abstract: A desulfurizer-reformer reactor system comprising a gradient assembly having a de-sulfurizing material and a reforming catalyst material arranged in a sequential manner and methods of generating energy are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Toledo
    Inventor: Abdul-Majeed Azad
  • Patent number: 9039934
    Abstract: A method for producing a chemical reaction is provided. This method includes providing at least two helical tubes, wherein the helical tubes comprise: a first axis and a second axis; wherein the first axis and the second axis are normal to each other; a cross-sectional shape of a predetermined contour; and an inlet end and an outlet end. The method includes reforming a first gas stream and a second gas stream into a third gas stream in the presence of a catalyst. The method includes surrounding a heat source with the helical tubes are, and operating the tube with an average catalyst temperature of above 500 F. An apparatus for producing a chemical reaction is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.
    Inventor: Albertus J. Ekelmans
  • Patent number: 9028571
    Abstract: A process and system for cooling syngas provides effective syngas cooling and results in reduced levels of fouling in syngas cooling equipment. A process for cooling syngas includes blending syngas with cooled recycled syngas in an amount effective for providing a blended syngas with a temperature at an inlet of a syngas cooler of about 600° F. to about 1400° F. The blended syngas changes direction of flow at least once prior to the inlet of the syngas cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ineos Bio SA
    Inventors: Peter S. Bell, Nicolas Vanhecke, Bernard Descales
  • Patent number: 9017436
    Abstract: Hydrogen-producing assemblies, fuel cell systems including the same, methods of producing hydrogen gas, and methods of powering an energy-consuming device. Hydrogen-producing assemblies may include a monolithic body that defines at least a reforming conduit, and in some embodiments a plurality of reforming conduits, in which a feed stream is catalyzed into a reformate gas stream containing hydrogen gas, and a burner conduit, in which a fuel-air stream is combusted. The monolithic body is constructed to conduct heat generated by the exothermic reaction of the combustion from the burner conduit to the reformer conduit. In some hydrogen-producing assemblies, the monolithic body further defines a vaporizing conduit, in which liquid portions of the feed stream are vaporized prior to being delivered to the reformer conduit, and the monolithic body may be constructed to conduct heat from the burner conduit to the vaporizing conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: DCNS
    Inventors: Zhen Chen, John Karim Kamel Ibrahim, Xun Ouyang, Curtiss Renn, Ryan Thomas Sturko
  • Patent number: 9017435
    Abstract: A system, including a gasifier comprising a wall defining a chamber, an inlet, an outlet, and a port, a combination feed injector coupled to the inlet, wherein the combination feed injector is configured to inject a first fuel and air or oxygen into the chamber to preheat the gasifier, and the combination feed injector is configured to inject a second fuel and oxygen into the gasifier after preheating to gasify the second fuel, an optical device coupled to the port, a sensor coupled to the optical device, and a monitoring system coupled to the sensor, wherein the monitoring system is configured to acquire data from the sensor, process the data, and provide an output representative of a condition of the gasifier based on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas Frederick Leininger
  • Patent number: 9011561
    Abstract: A solids circulation system receives a gas stream containing char or other reacting solids from a first reactor. The solids circulation system includes a cyclone configured to receive the gas stream from the first reactor, a dipleg from the cyclone to a second reactor, and a riser from the second reactor which merges with the gas stream received by the cyclone. The second reactor has a dense fluid bed and converts the received materials to gaseous products. A conveying fluid transports a portion of the bed media from the second reactor through the riser to mix with the gas stream prior to cyclone entry. The bed media helps manipulate the solids that is received by the cyclone to facilitate flow of solids down the dipleg into the second reactor. The second reactor provides additional residence time, mixing and gas-solid contact for efficient conversion of char or reacting solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Thermochem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Jonathan A. Zenz, Dave G. Newport, Hamilton Sean Michael Whitney
  • Publication number: 20150096231
    Abstract: Elemental sulfur carrying capacity of a hydrocarbonaceous solvent is improved by first loading the solvent with sulfur and subsequent hydrotreatment under conditions that convert at least some of the elemental sulfur in the sulfur loaded solvent to hydrogen sulfide while preserving at least 95% of the monoaromatic and polyaromatic components in the solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Curt Graham, Garry Jacobs, Jesus Cabrera, Ghaith Aljazzar
  • Patent number: 8999022
    Abstract: A method for producing synthetic gas from biomass by: a) grinding the biomass, feeding the biomass into a pyrolysis furnace while spraying a first superheated water vapor into the pyrolysis furnace, controlling the temperature of the pyrolysis furnace at 500-800° C., contacting the biomass with the first superheated water vapor for a pyrolysis reaction to yield crude synthetic gas and ash including coke; b) cooling the ash, and separating the coke from the ash; c) transporting the crude synthetic gas and the coke into a gasifier, spraying a second superheated water vapor into the gasifier, controlling the gasifier at an operating temperature of 1200-1600° C., contacting the biomass with the second superheated water vapor for a gasification reaction to yield primary synthetic gas; and d) cooling, removing dust, deacidifying, and desiccating the primary synthetic gas to obtain clean synthetic gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sunshine Kaidi New Energy Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yilong Chen, Hongming Tang, Yanfeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 8999019
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and system for gasifying biomass or other carbonaceous feedstocks in an indirectly heated gasifier and provides a method for the elimination of condensable organic materials (tars) from the resulting product gas with an integrated tar removal step. More specifically, this tar removal step utilizes the circulating heat carrier to crack the organics and produce additional product gas. As a benefit of the above process, and because the heat carrier circulates through alternating steam and oxidizing zones in the process, deactivation of the cracking reactions is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Taylor Biomass Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Mark A. Paisley
  • Patent number: 8992640
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include systems for using an expander. In a first embodiment, a system includes a flow path and a gasification section disposed along the flow path. The gasification section is configured to convert a feedstock into a syngas. The system also includes a scrubber disposed directly downstream of the gasification section and configured to filter the syngas. The system also includes a first expander disposed along the flow path directly downstream from the scrubber and configured to expand the syngas. The syngas comprises an untreated syngas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Khodaram Rustom Khosravian, Ronald Frederick Tyree, Patrick Joseph McKenna
  • Patent number: 8986404
    Abstract: The present application is directed to gas generators comprising a fuel mixture and a catalyst. The catalyst is contained in a self-regulated reactor or buoy, and selectively opens and closes to produce a gas in accordance with the demand for gas. This fuel mixture is generally a solution formed by dissolving a solid fuel component in a liquid fuel component. The mixing preferably occurs before the first use, and more preferably occurs immediately prior to the first use. The inventive gas generators preferably further comprises a starting mechanism that isolates the solid fuel from the liquid fuel or vice versa before the first use. In one embodiment, the starting mechanism further comprises a catalyst shield mechanism that isolates the catalyst in the reactor or buoy from the liquid and/or the solid fuel prior to the first use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignees: Societe BIC, The Commissariat a l'energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA)
    Inventors: Alain Rosenzweig, Andrew J. Curello, Constance R. Stepan, Michael Curello, Paul Spahr
  • Patent number: 8980802
    Abstract: A chemically-modified mixed fuel includes methane gas from at least two methane-production sources and can be utilized in any process that incorporates a Kellogg Primary Reformer. A method for producing the chemically-modified mixed fuel described herein includes providing a first methane-containing gas from a first methane-production source, providing a second methane-containing gas from a second methane-production source and blending the first methane-containing gas with the second methane-containing gas at a suitable pressure to form a chemically-modified mixed fuel. In some cases, at least one additional methane-containing gas can be provided from at least one additional methane-production source and blended with the chemically-modified fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Togna, Craig T. Euen, Steven W. Weeks, Mohammed I. Loya, Matthew C. Warren, Richard H. Kendrick
  • Patent number: 8974557
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides tunable catalytic gasifier systems suitable for gasifying coal, biomass, and other fuel sources. The gasifier reactors of the disclosed systems may be heated by, e.g., a catalytic tube or other jacket that generates heat by catalytically combusting syngas, which syngas may be syngas produced by the gasifier system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Good Earth Power Corporation
    Inventor: John Dooher
  • Patent number: 8969644
    Abstract: A method is proposed for providing an oxygen-containing gas stream for the endothermic reaction of an initial stream comprising one or more hydrocarbons, having a predetermined oxygen concentration and a predetermined temperature, wherein a fluid fuel stream is combusted with a primary air stream at ? values of the primary air stream to the fluid fuel stream of from 0.6 to 1.2 to obtain a combustion gas stream, and a secondary air stream is admixed to the combustion gas stream to obtain the oxygen-containing gas stream for the endothermic reaction, with the predetermined oxygen concentration and the predetermined temperature of the oxygen-containing gas stream being adjusted via the flow rate and the temperature of the secondary air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Gerhard Olbert, Franz Corr, Sven Crone
  • Patent number: 8969422
    Abstract: A gasification-liquefaction disposal method, system and equipment for MSW are disclosed. The method involves the MSW pretreatment of dehydrating and separating, thus reducing water and inorganic substance content of the waste. Then, the MSW is introduced into a plasma gasifier (23) by a carbon dioxide air-sealed feeding device (13) and gasified therein to obtain hydrogen-rich syngas. The hydrogen-rich syngas is then cooled, deacidified, dedusted and separated to obtain carbon dioxide. Then, the hydrogen-rich syngas is catalyzed to produce methanol product in a methanol synthesis reactor (52). The separated carbon dioxide is sent back to a carbonation reaction chamber (2007) of a gasification system to perform carbonation reaction with calcium oxide, thereby releasing heat to provide assistant heat energy for gasification and avoiding greenhouse gas from being discharged into environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Quzhou City Guangyuan Domestic Garbage Liquefy Technology Institute
    Inventor: Kaigen Zhou
  • Patent number: 8951311
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a fuel gasification system includes optimizing a conversion of solid components in the fuel to gaseous fuel components, controlling the flux of solids entrained in the product gas through equipment downstream of the gasifier, and maximizing the overall efficiencies of processes utilizing gasification. A combination of models, when utilized together, can be integrated with existing plant control systems and operating procedures and employed to develop new control systems and operating procedures. Such an approach is further applicable to gasification systems that utilize both dry feed and slurry feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Peter L. Rozelle, Victor K. Der
  • Patent number: 8951312
    Abstract: A compact, chemical-mechanical apparatus, having no electrical components, for storing and generating hydrogen safely, on-demand, at the time and point of use in small or large quantities using the environmentally clean chemical reaction between sodium metal and water to generate hydrogen (H2) gas and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) byproduct is presented, for powering electricity generating fuel cells for large scale commercial and private electric motor vehicle transport. The apparatus of the present invention supports hydrogen gas generation by the controlled addition of liquid water to solid sodium metal to produce hydrogen gas and sodium hydroxide using only mechanical components without electrical components that require external power and can generate sparks or short circuits, producing catastrophic failure in hydrogen systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventor: Alvin Gabriel Stern
  • Patent number: 8951310
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are multiple embodiments of a hydrogen generator (10) that measures, transports or stores a single dose of a viscous fuel component from first fuel chamber (12) in storage area (38) when the internal hydrogen pressure (44, 44?) of the hydrogen generator is high, and transports this single dose to a metal hydride fuel component in second fuel chamber (14) when the internal pressure is low, so that the viscous liquid and metal hydride fuel components react together to generate more hydrogen and to restart the cycle. The viscous fuel component can be water or alcohol, such as methanol, in liquid or gel form, and the metal hydride fuel component can be sodium borohydride or other metal hydride that chemically reacts with the viscous fuel to produce hydrogen. The metal hydride fuel component can be in solid or viscous form, e.g., aqueous form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Societe BIC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Curello, Constance R. Stepan, Anthony Sgroi, Paul Spahr, Michael Curello, Alain Rosenzweig, Kurt Rath
  • Patent number: 8945248
    Abstract: Biomass gasification systems including a biofilter assembly adapted to be disposed within a filter unit of a biomass gasification system are provided. The biofilter assemblies may be adapted to filter particulate matter from a producer gas flowing through the filter unit while allowing a remainder of the producer gas to pass through the biofilter assembly. The biofilter assembly may include a support structure and a biofilter disposed on the support structure and including a biomaterial adapted to be gasified in a biomass gasification reactor of the biomass gasification system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Omprakash Mall, Amol Mahulkar
  • Patent number: 8940061
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating hydrogen for fuel cells is provided. The apparatus includes a housing, a button, a first separating plate, a solid state reactant, and a separating membrane. The housing has an opening and a reservoir. The button connected to the housing covers the opening. The first separating plate disposed in the housing divides the reservoir into first and second sub-rooms. The opening communicates with the first sub-room and the first sub-room is suitable for storing a liquid reactant. The first separating plate has a through hole opposite to the button. The solid state reactant is disposed in the second sub-room. The separating membrane disposed on the through hole separates the first sub-room from the second sub-room. When the button is pushed, the button damages the separating membrane. Therefore, the liquid reactant flows to the second sub-room and reacts with the solid state reactant to generate hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Young Green Energy Co.
    Inventors: Yu-Hsiang Lin, Po-Kuei Chou, Men-Chi Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8936656
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hydrogen generator for producing hydrogen by the steam-reforming reaction of hydrocarbons, in which a pressure loss induction structure for artificially reducing the pressure of exhaust gas is provided between a combustion unit and an exhaust gas discharge pipe, thus improving the uneven distribution of exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Dae Kim, Jae Suk Choi, Jin Sik Yang, Myung Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 8926719
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator including a reactor chamber having a feedstock inlet and an inlet seal positioned at the feedstock inlet. At least one pair of feed rollers is positioned to draw a feedstock through the inlet seal and into the reactor chamber. At least one pair of distressing rollers is positioned in line with the feed rollers to produce stress in the feedstock. Steam is provided to the reactor chamber through a steam inlet and hydrogen is collected from a hydrogen outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 8926720
    Abstract: The mass flow rate of a first reactant stream supplied to a fuel processor is controlled based on a combined feed-forward and feedback control regime. The method is particularly applicable for actively controlling the fuel supply to a fuel processor in a system comprising a combustion engine, in which the fuel processor is fluidly connected to receive at least a portion of an engine exhaust stream from the engine. In embodiments of the system and method, the supply of fuel is controlled based on three mass flow factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventor: Xuantian Li
  • Patent number: 8915980
    Abstract: A process for the discharge of slag and ash from a gasification reactor is disclosed. These solids are directed from the gasification reactor into a water bath housed with the gasification reactor in a pressure vessel. There are at least two lock hoppers underneath the water bath which are fed with a stream of water/solids via a pipe and a flow divider element, it being possible to supply the lock hoppers individually and in a controlled manner with a stream of water/solids via shut-off devices. The filling is performed in a manner that encourages the sett-ling process by withdrawing a stream of liquid from the lock hopper being filled, the filling time being controlled so as to prevent the solids settling above the valves and lock hoppers. Also disclosed is an apparatus with at least two lock hoppers underneath the water bath of a gasification reactor, there being, in an advantageous embodiment, a flow divider element and shut-off devices between the water bath and the lock hoppers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: UHDE GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Hanrott
  • Patent number: 8915979
    Abstract: The present application is directed to a gas-generating apparatus. Hydrogen is generated within the gas-generating apparatus and is transported to a fuel cell. The first fuel component is introduced into the second fuel component through a conduit which punctures a septum separating the reaction chamber and the first fuel component reservoir, and the fuel conduit introduces the first fuel component to different portions of the second fuel component to produce hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Societe BIC
    Inventors: Alain Rosenzweig, Kurt Rath
  • Patent number: 8900334
    Abstract: The goal of the invention consists in making available a method for supplying fuel to a pressurized gasification system, which ensures, in economically efficient manner, that the emission of pollutants from the coal transfer and the transport is minimized or completely avoided. This is achieved in that a gas that contains at least 10 ppm vol. CO is used for transfer and/or conveying, whereby a gas that contains oxygen is mixed into this gas, and that this gas mixture is heated to a temperature that oxidizes at least 10% of the pollutants contained in the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp UHDE GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Kowoll, Stefan Hamel, Michael Rieger
  • Patent number: 8894729
    Abstract: A gasification reactor comprising a gasifier with a tubular gastight wall arranged within a pressure vessel. The gasification reactor comprises one or more pressure responsive devices comprising a sleeve with a cooled section extending outwardly from an opening in the gastight wall. The pressure responsive devices can, e.g., include a pressure measurement device and/or a pressure equalizer. Method of using a pressure responsive device with such a gasifier, wherein a heat sluice is used formed by a sleeve with a cooled section extending outwardly from an opening in the gastight wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Ibrahim Kar, Manfred Heinrich Schmitz-Goeb
  • Patent number: 8894728
    Abstract: In the case of a device for gasification of carbonaceous fuels, having a discharge for slags into a slag bath, a solution is supposed to be created with which the gasifier discharge opening is reliably kept at a temperature that guarantees that the slag will flow out. This is achieved in that the gasifier discharge opening (6) is equipped with a ceramic drip edge (7) that can be electrically heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Uhde GmbH
    Inventors: Domenico Pavone, Ralf Abraham, Muhammad Iqbal Mian
  • 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: 20140335002
    Abstract: Systems and methods for separating CO2 and H2S from a natural gas stream are provided herein. The system includes a first loop of co-current contacting systems configured to remove H2S and CO2 from a natural gas stream and a second loop of co-current contacting systems configured to remove the H2S from the CO2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Paul Scott Northrop, Charles J. Mart, J. Tim Cullinane