Patents Represented by Attorney Elwood L. Haynes
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Patent number: 8210259Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery method is provided. This method includes; introducing a first essentially pure oxygen stream into a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well, and initiating and sustaining in-situ combustion in the vicinity of the injection well. This method also includes introducing a second essentially pure oxygen stream and a hydrocarbon-containing fuel gas stream into the combustion device of a power generation system, wherein the combustion device produces an exhaust gas stream comprising water and carbon dioxide. This method also includes separating the exhaust gas stream into a stream of essentially pure water, and a stream of essentially pure carbon dioxide, and introducing at least a portion of the essentially pure carbon dioxide stream into the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation prior to initiating the in-situ combustion.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: American Air Liquide, Inc.Inventor: Errico De Francesco
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Patent number: 8210505Abstract: The invention relates to a corrugated criss-crossing packing structure for installations that transfer material and/or heat between a gas phase and a liquid phase, comprising a first surface (10), called the primary surface, having a number of parallel channels (11). According to the invention, this structure has a second surface (20), called the secondary surface, comprised of a number of secondary packing elements (21, 31), each secondary packing element being placed inside a channel (11) of said primary surface (10) and being formed separately from the first surface. The invention is for use in cryogenic distillation.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventor: Jean-Yves Thonnelier
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Patent number: 8202351Abstract: A process for gas purification or separation intended to produce a gas mixture containing mainly hydrogen and, to a minor extent CO, it being imperative for the CO content to remain below a set value is presented. This invention particularly relates to adsorption processes and even more particularly to processes of the PSA (“Pressure Swing Adsorption”) type.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2008Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude Et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Christian Monereau, Pluton Pullumbi, Guillaume Rodrigues
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Patent number: 8202914Abstract: The present invention provides a process for decreasing or eliminating unwanted hydrocarbon and oxygenate products caused by FTS reactions in a syngas treatment unit by utilizing heat exchangers and optionally associated pipes that are substantially fabricated of a metal material selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, cobalt, carbon steel or stainless steel and having deposited on the metal surfaces that will come in contact with the coldbox overhead gas stream an inert coating selected from the group consisting of silicon based materials, zinc based materials, tin based materials, chromium based materials, polymers, ceramics and mixtures thereof for heating up gas streams having a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and obtained from a front end purification unit/cold box unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2010Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude Et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Yudong Chen, Christian Monereau, Trapti Chaubey, Guillaume Rodrigues
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Patent number: 8192525Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing carbon monoxide consisting, during an adsorption step, in using N adsorbers (4A, 4B), wherein N is equal to greater than two, each of which follows, at an offset; the same period T cycle during which adsorption and regeneration phases succeed each other, in exposing, at the beginning of the adsorption phase, each adsorber to an eluting phase during which only a part of a nominal flowrate of the mixture is transferred to the adsorber until said adsorber is substantially carbon monoxide saturated while at least the second adsorber is maintained in the adsorption phase and a purified gaseous mixture is partially liquefied for producing a liquefied gaseous mixture, in storing said mixture in a capacity (7) and in transferring the liquefied gaseous mixture from the capacity to at least one column (11) for the separation thereof into a carbon monoxide rich product and, during at least one part of the adsorber eluting phases, the liquid level in the container is decreaType: GrantFiled: January 23, 2006Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude Et l'Exploration des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Guillaume Teixeira, Jean-Marc Peyron, Jean-François Rauch, Natacha Haik-Beraud, Jean Billy
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Patent number: 8187363Abstract: A process for improving the thermodynamic efficiency of a hydrogen generation system is provided. This includes producing a syngas stream in a reformer, wherein the reformer has a combustion zone. This also includes introducing a syngas stream into a pressure swing adsorption unit, thereby producing a product hydrogen stream and a tail gas stream. This also includes heating the tail gas stream by indirect heat exchange with a heat source, thereby producing a heated tail gas stream; and introducing the heated tail gas stream into the combustion zone.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2009Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.Inventor: Bhadra S. Grover
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Patent number: 8168687Abstract: The present invention provides a process for decreasing or eliminating unwanted hydrocarbon and oxygenate products caused by FTS reactions in a syngas treatment unit by utilizing heat exchangers and optionally associated pipes that are substantially fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of chromium containing alloys and carbon steel for heating up gas streams having a carbon monoxide partial pressure greater than one bar obtained from a front end purification unit/cold box unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2009Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Trapti Chaubey, Yudong Chen
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Patent number: 8163809Abstract: The present invention provides a process for decreasing or eliminating unwanted hydrocarbon and oxygenate products caused by FTS reactions in a syngas treatment unit by utilizing heat exchangers and optionally associated pipes that are substantially fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of chromium containing alloys and carbon steel for heating up gas streams having a carbon monoxide partial pressure of less than or equal to one bar and obtained from a front end purification unit/cold box unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2009Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Trapti Chaubey, Yudong Chen, Robert Gagliano
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Patent number: 8137439Abstract: A process for the recovery of CO2 from a flue gas is provided. This process includes compressing a flue gas to a first pressure, cooling the flue gas to a first temperature, and drying flue gas by a drying means. This process includes adsorbing CO2 in a first adsorbent bed, wherein the first adsorbent bed is isothermally maintained by a first cooling means. The process includes pressurizing the first adsorbent bed to a second pressure with CO2 at a second temperature, wherein the second pressure is greater than the initial pressure, wherein the second temperature is greater than the initial temperature.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2009Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.Inventor: Bhadra S. Grover
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Patent number: 8136369Abstract: A hybrid system which utilizes high purity oxygen from a local pipeline, which is blended with low purity oxygen from an on-site or local cryogenic distillation system, thus resulting in a blend of intermediate quality which satisfies the needs of the customer. In order to offset the operating and energy costs associated with this fairly low profit margin intermediate purity oxygen, high purity nitrogen at high pressure is simultaneously exported to the local pipeline, thereby acting as a credit to the overall system.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2006Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignees: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour L'Etude, et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Air Liquide Process and Construction, Inc.Inventors: Jean-Renaud Brugerolle, Bao Ha
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Patent number: 8124049Abstract: A high thermal efficiency process for hydrogen recovery is provided. The present invention includes combusting a first fuel stream to a reforming furnace, producing reforming heat and a hot exhaust stream. Then exchanging heat indirectly between the hot exhaust stream and a first feed water stream, producing a first steam stream. Then providing a hydrocarbon containing stream and a feed steam stream to the reforming furnace, utilizing the reforming heat and producing a hot raw syngas stream. Then exchanging heat indirectly between the hot raw syngas stream and second feedwater stream, producing a second steam stream and a cooled, raw syngas stream. Then introducing the cooled, raw syngas stream to a CO shift converter, producing a shifted syngas stream. Then introducing the shifted syngas stream into a pressure swing adsorption unit, producing a hydrogen product stream and a tail gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.Inventor: Bhadra S. Grover
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Patent number: 8112300Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a method for optimizing a supply chain management (SCM) problem. A genetic algorithm optimization technique may be used to generate a production solution for the production side of an SCM problem and an ant colony optimization technique may be used to generate a solution for the distribution side of the SCM problem. Together, the genetic algorithm optimization technique and the ant colony optimization technique operate to quickly identify high-quality solutions to an SCM problem.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2006Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Air Liquide Large Industries U.S. LPInventor: Charles N. Harper
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Patent number: 8105973Abstract: Chemical combination (C) between an active solid phase which is covalently bound to the surface of an inert solid phase, characterized in that said solid active phase essentially consists in a solid solution of a mixture of at least a magnesium oxide type phase compound and at least a magnesium silicate type phase compound in which Al, and Rh and/or Ni cations are soluted and characterized in that said inert solid phase is either a compound represented by the general formula (I): AlaNibRhcMgdSieOf??(I) wherein a, b, c, d, and e are integers which are greater than or equal to 0, f is an integer greater than 0, the sum a+b+c+d?0, and wherein (3a+2b+3c+2d+4e)/2=f, or a mixture of compounds represented by the said general formula (I), provided that at least one of the Si, Al, Mg, Rh or Ni elements, which is present in the solid active phase, is also present in the solid inert phase. Use of a catalyst in chemical reactions involving the conversion of hydrocarbonaceous feedstocks.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2010Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploiation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Francesco Basile, Pascal Del Gallo, Giuseppe Fornasari, Daniel Gary, Valentina Rosetti, Angelo Vaccari
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Patent number: 8100636Abstract: A seal gas recovery method including introducing a first seal gas stream to a first mechanically coupled booster/expander assembly, where the first booster/expander assembly includes a first booster, a first expander, a first shaft that mechanically couples the first booster and the first expander, and a first seal on the first shaft. The method further includes removing at least a portion of a first recoverable gas stream from the first seal, where the first recoverable gas stream includes at least a portion of a first process leak gas stream and at least a portion of a first seal gas vent stream. The method further includes introducing a second seal gas stream to a second expander assembly, where the expander assembly includes a second expander, a second shaft, and a second seal on the second shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.Inventor: Nathalie P. Schmitt
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Patent number: 8092716Abstract: Process for the preparation of a catalytic specie consisting essentially of a metallic support, which is coated with a ceramic active phase layer, mainly compound of the general formula (I): [RhxNiyMglAlm(OH)2]z+(An?z/n)kH2O,??(I) wherein An? is mainly a silicate or a polysilicate anion; 0?x?0.3; 0?y?0.9; 0?l?0.9; 0?m?0.5; 0?k?10; x+y>0; 0.5?y+l?0.9; x+y+l+m=1; and z is the total electrical charge of the cationic element or a compound of the general formula (II): [AzA?1-z][B1-x-yNixRhy]O3-???(II) wherein A and A? are different and are selected from the Lanthanide or the Actinide families or from the group IIa of the Mendeleev's periodical table of elements; B is selected from the transition metal groups of columns IIIb, IVb, Vb, VIb, VIIb, Ib and IIb and group VIIIb of the Mendeleev's periodical table of elements; 0?x?0.7, 0?y?0.5, 0?x+y?0.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2007Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Daniel Gary, Pascal Del-Gallo, Francesco Basile, Angelo Vaccari, Giuseppe Fornasari, Valentina Rosetti, Erika Scavetta, Domenica Tonelli
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Patent number: 8080070Abstract: A method of hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons for syngas production is presented. A hydrogenation feed reactor stream is introduced into a hydrogenation reactor, thereby producing a reformer feed stream. The reformer feed stream is introduced into a reformer, thereby producing a crude syngas stream. The crude syngas stream is introduced into a water gas shift converter, thereby producing a hydrogen-rich stream. The hydrogen-rich stream is separated in a separation means, thereby producing a carbon dioxide-rich stream and a hydrogen product stream. At least a portion of the hydrogen product stream is combined with a refinery fuel gas stream, and a natural gas stream, to form the hydrogenation reactor feed stream.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.Inventor: Bhadra S. Grover
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Patent number: 8080090Abstract: An improved process for the separation of carbon dioxide from the flue gas of an oxy-combustion power plant is provided. An inlet stream containing carbon dioxide and oxygen is at least partially condensed in the reboiler of a stripping column. The condensed inlet stream is then separated in a separator, thereby producing a first liquid stream and a first gas stream. The first liquid stream is then separated into a top gas stream and a bottom liquid stream in the stripping column. The top gas stream is then warmed by indirect heat exchange in the heat exchanger. The warmed top gas stream is then recycled and combined with the inlet stream.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2007Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.Inventor: Bao Ha
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Patent number: 8080207Abstract: A reactor vessel system includes a reactor vessel including a first port in fluid communication with an interior of the reactor vessel and an outlet port connected in fluid communication with the interior of the reactor vessel. A base supports the reactor vessel. A first coil of tubing is connected in fluid communication with the first port and disposed around a perimeter of the reactor vessel. A method of operating a reactor vessel system includes providing a reactor vessel including a first port in fluid communication with an interior of the reactor vessel and an outlet port connected in fluid communication with the interior of the reactor vessel, providing a first coil of tubing connected in fluid communication with the first port and disposed around a perimeter of the reactor vessel, and flowing steam through the first coil and into the reactor vessel.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2008Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Franklin D. Lomax, Christopher H. Van Dyke, Edward T. McCullough
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Patent number: 8073654Abstract: Process for controlling the energy performance of an industrial unit, in which process: the value of a set (V) of variables relating to the industrial unit and to the environment are measured, as is the value of a quantity representing the energy performance (W), an estimate (We) of the quantity representing the energy performance is calculated, the value of an energy performance indicator (TE, TE+) is determined and the value of this indicator is compared with at least one threshold value (S) determined so as to detect a drift in the energy performance. The invention proposes the learning of a model based on the best energy performance (W) observed for each value of a set (V) of input variables and in the proposing in real time to the operator of a best configuration and of best settings (CR) of the equipment based on those associated with this best energy performance (W) observed in the past for the current value of the set (V) of input variables.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2005Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude Et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Caroline Drouart, Thierry Roba
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Patent number: 8065879Abstract: A process for the integration of a cryogenic air separation plant and an oxy-combustion power plant is presented. This process includes producing a pressurized nitrogen stream and a pressurized oxygen stream, burning a fuel stream thereby generating a steam stream from a boiler feed water stream, wherein the stream is used for work expansion within the oxy-combustion power plant. This process also includes heating the pressurized nitrogen stream and the pressurized oxygen stream with a compressed air stream, thereby forming a heated pressurized nitrogen stream and a heated pressurized oxygen stream. This process also includes heating the heated pressurized nitrogen stream to form a hot pressurized nitrogen stream, work expanding the hot pressurized nitrogen stream to a lower pressure thereby forming a hot exhaust nitrogen stream and recovering energy, and heating the boiler feed water stream by indirect heat exchange with the hot exhaust nitrogen stream.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Jean-Renaud Brugerolle, Bao Ha